The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four of its senior commanders, accusing them of backing rebel operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and undermining a US-brokered peace deal.
In a statement, the US Treasury Department said the Rwandan army had trained, equipped and fought alongside the M23 rebel group despite a December agreement — known as the Washington Accords — signed by President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame. The deal, hosted by US President Donald Trump, was intended to end years of instability in mineral-rich eastern Congo.
Washington alleges that M23’s recent offensives, including the brief seizure of the strategic city of Uvira near the Burundi border, would not have been possible without the “active support and complicity” of Rwandan forces. The Treasury said the RDF had deployed advanced military equipment — including drones, air defence systems and GPS jamming technology — and thousands of troops across eastern Congo.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for the “immediate withdrawal” of Rwandan troops and military assets from Congolese territory, warning that continued rebel activity risked escalating the conflict into a broader regional war.
The sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to the RDF and the named officers, and prohibit American individuals or entities from conducting financial transactions with them.
Kigali rejected the accusations, saying the sanctions unfairly targeted one side and distorted the facts of the conflict. Rwanda has long denied supporting M23, maintaining that its military posture is defensive and aimed at countering armed groups that threaten its security from across the border.
The Congolese government welcomed the measures, describing them as a strong signal of support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The latest escalation comes despite parallel diplomatic efforts, including talks facilitated by Qatar. Eastern DR Congo has endured more than three decades of violence involving numerous armed groups competing for territory and control of valuable resources such as copper and cobalt — key minerals used in global battery production.
The Trump administration said it remained prepared to use “all available tools” to ensure both Rwanda and DR Congo honour their commitments under the peace agreement.
