WASHINGTON—The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four of its top commanders, accusing the Rwandan military of actively supporting and fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The sanctions were announced today by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), marking a major escalation in Washington’s response to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
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According to the Treasury Department, the RDF has provided direct operational, logistical, and technological support to M23, including advanced military equipment such as GPS jamming systems, air defense systems, drones, and other materiel. Thousands of RDF troops are reportedly deployed across eastern DRC, where they are said to be engaged in combat operations and facilitating M23’s territorial expansion.
Washington demands immediate withdrawal
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the sanctions are aimed at safeguarding peace efforts under the recently signed Washington Accords.
“President Trump is the Peace President, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that the parties to the Washington Accords uphold their obligations,” Bessent said. “We expect the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons, and equipment.”
The announcement comes just days after Donald J. Trump hosted Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame for the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, M23 subsequently captured the strategic border city of Uvira, near Burundi, triggering civilian deaths and mass displacement. Though the group later withdrew from the city, U.S. officials warned that its continued presence near the border, coupled with RDF support, risks expanding the conflict into a broader regional war.
In a joint statement, the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes condemned M23 and RDF military operations and called for Rwanda’s withdrawal from eastern DRC.
Senior RDF commanders targeted
The sanctions specifically designate four senior Rwandan military officials:
- Vincent Nyakarundi , RDF Army Chief of Staff
- Ruki Karusisi , Commander of the 5th Infantry Division
- Mubarakh Muganga , Chief of Defence Staff
- Stanislas Gashugi , Special Operations Force Commander
U.S. authorities accuse the commanders of playing key roles in planning and executing operations supporting M23’s offensives in eastern Congo.
Accusations of human rights abuses
The U.S. alleges that, with RDF backing, M23 has engaged in extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and attacks against Congolese forces, regional peacekeepers, and UN positions.
In January 2025, RDF forces reportedly attacked the Congolese armed forces and defensive positions of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
Washington further claims that Rwanda has gained access to mineral-rich territories in eastern Congo as part of its support for M23’s armed rebellion — a long-standing accusation in the protracted conflict.
What the sanctions mean
Under the sanctions:
- All property and interests belonging to the RDF and the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.
- U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the sanctioned entities.
- Entities owned 50 percent or more by the designated individuals are also blocked.
- Violators risk civil or criminal penalties.
OFAC emphasized that sanctions are intended not as punishment but as leverage to compel behavioral change and restore stability.
The move places significant diplomatic pressure on Kigali and raises fresh questions about the fragile security situation in eastern DRC, where fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and heightened fears of regional escalation.
More updates to follow.
