US sanctions Rwanda for backing M23 rebels

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda, accusing its military of backing the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The measures were announced by the US Department of the Treasury. Officials said Rwanda provided “direct operational support” to M23, enabling the group to seize large areas of Congolese territory.

M23 has captured several strategic cities in the mineral-rich east. Among them are Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals of North and South Kivu. The armed group has been under US sanctions since 2013.

Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23. Kigali has rejected similar accusations made by the DRC, the United Nations and Western governments.

In a separate statement, the US Department of State said M23 continued advancing late last year in violation of a US-mediated peace agreement.

In December, President Donald Trump hosted leaders from Rwanda and the DRC in Washington. The talks produced a peace accord aimed at ending hostilities. At the time, Trump described the agreement as a potential “great miracle.”

However, within days of the signing, M23 fighters captured the Congolese city of Uvira, according to US officials. Although the rebels later withdrew under international pressure, they still control key territories.

The sanctions target senior figures within the Rwanda Defence Force. Those named include Vincent Nyakarundi, the army chief of staff; Major-General Ruki Karusisi; Mubarakh Muganga, chief of defence staff; and Stanislas Gashugi, commander of special operations forces.

US officials said these individuals were instrumental in M23’s battlefield gains.

“M23, a US- and UN-sanctioned entity, is responsible for horrific human rights abuses,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. He cited summary executions and violence against civilians, including women and children.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would use all available tools to ensure compliance with what he called the Washington peace commitments. He called for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops, weapons and equipment from Congolese territory.

Rwanda responded sharply. Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the sanctions were unjust and distorted the reality of the conflict. She accused the DRC of violating the peace deal through drone strikes and ground offensives.

In comments to Reuters, Rwanda’s government insisted it remained committed to disengagement. It also accused Kinshasa of failing to dismantle armed groups hostile to Rwanda.

The Congolese government welcomed the US action. Officials in Kinshasa described the sanctions as a strong signal in defense of their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting continues across eastern DRC. A separate peace deal signed last year in Qatar between M23 and the Congolese government has also failed to bring lasting calm.

The conflict in eastern Congo is complex. Nearly 100 armed groups operate in the region, competing for land, influence and control of valuable mineral resources. M23 is among the most powerful.

The humanitarian toll is severe. According to the United Nations refugee agency, more than seven million people have been displaced by violence in the DRC. Aid agencies warn that renewed clashes risk deepening one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

The Treasury Department also warned that M23’s presence near the border with Burundi could widen the conflict into a broader regional war.

The latest US sanctions signal a tougher stance toward Kigali. Whether they will alter realities on the ground remains uncertain. For now, the fragile peace in eastern Congo hangs in the balance.