The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and several senior defense officials over their alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, urging an immediate withdrawal from the mineral-rich region.
The sanctions target the Rwanda Defence Force and key military leaders, including army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi. Also sanctioned are Rwanda’s chief of defence staff, the commander of the special operations force, and the head of the 5th Infantry Division, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Washington accuses Rwanda of backing the AFC/M23 rebel group, which has seized significant territory in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past year. While Kigali has consistently denied supporting the rebels, the U.S. Treasury said the group’s territorial gains would not have been possible without Rwandan assistance. The State Department separately alleged that Rwanda’s support enabled “horrific human rights abuses.”
In response, Rwanda’s government rejected the sanctions, describing them as unjust and one-sided. In a statement, Kigali said the measures misrepresented the facts of the conflict and unfairly targeted only one party involved in the peace process. Rwanda maintained it remains committed to disengaging its forces in coordination with Congo under U.S.-led mediation efforts, while accusing Kinshasa of failing to meet its own commitments, including ending support for militias.
Congo’s government welcomed the sanctions, calling them a strong signal in support of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The latest developments come despite a peace agreement signed by Rwanda and Congo in Washington in December, brokered as part of efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to stabilize the region and encourage Western investment.
However, tensions escalated shortly after the deal when AFC/M23 fighters entered the eastern Congolese city of Uvira, near the Burundian border, marking the most significant flare-up in months. Although the rebels later withdrew under U.S. pressure, the Treasury Department warned that their continued presence near Burundi’s border risks expanding the conflict into a wider regional war.
Fighting persists across multiple fronts in eastern Congo. Over the weekend, Congolese officials accused AFC/M23 of carrying out a drone attack on the airport in the strategic city of Kisangani, located hundreds of kilometers from active front lines. The rebel group later claimed responsibility for the strike.
The situation remains volatile as diplomatic efforts struggle to contain the escalating violence.