WASHINGTON, D.C.- The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four of its senior officers for their alleged direct operational support to the March 23 Movement (M23), a U.S.‑ and United Nations‑sanctioned rebel group driving instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s response to the protracted conflict that has uprooted millions and threatened regional peace.
The sanctions, announced on Monday by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), come just days after a high‑profile signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, a U.S.‑brokered declaration aimed at ending hostilities between the DRC and Rwanda, signed on December 4, 2025.
Despite the agreement, M23 fighters seized the strategically located city of Uvira, resulting in civilian deaths and mass displacement, a clear breach of the accords, according to U.S. officials.
Under the sanctions, all assets and interests held by the RDF and the designated officers that are in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are frozen.
The measures also prohibit U.S. citizens and entities from engaging in transactions with the listed individuals and any entities owned 50pc or more by them.
Violations can result in severe civil or criminal penalties.
The United States is sanctioning the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) and four senior RDF officials for supporting M23 and perpetuating the conflict in eastern DRC in violation of the Washington Accords. The United States is resolved to uphold the Washington Accords and ensure all
Accusations of Support for M23
Washington’s sanctions target the RDF for allegedly providing direct operational support to M23, including training, military equipment and battlefield coordination that have enabled M23’s capture of DRC territory.
Although the Rwandan government denies backing the rebels, international observers have long accused Kigali of facilitating M23’s advances in eastern Congo.
A recent United Nations expert report noted the presence of thousands of Rwandan troops alongside M23 forces and described sophisticated weaponry and tactical support on the ground.
The four senior officers designated by OFAC include some of the RDF’s key commanders who U.S. officials say played central roles in supporting rebel operations.
The sanctions designate them pursuant to Executive Orders targeting those whose actions threaten peace, stability, and security in the Great Lakes region.
Human Rights Abuses and Regional Instability
M23 has been blamed for serious human rights violations, including summary executions, arbitrary detentions, torture and forced displacement of civilians, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The surge in violence has deepened one of Africa’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and urgent needs for food, shelter and medical care.
The rebel group’s offensives also target valuable mineral‑rich areas of eastern DRC, including coltan and cobalt sites that are vital to the global technology supply chain.
This has drawn international concern, as instability in phosphate‑rich regions threatens foreign investment and undermines economic development efforts.
Global and Regional Reactions
The U.S. action has drawn mixed reactions internationally.
Some Western governments have previously imposed sanctions on individuals connected to M23 and RDF activities, including targeted measures by the European Union, as part of broader efforts to pressure Kigali to cease its alleged backing of the rebels.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council has repeatedly called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and for Rwanda to withdraw any support for M23 under international law.
A resolution passed in 2025 demanded that Kigali end its involvement and urged all parties to engage in negotiated peace talks.
U.S. Position and Future Steps
U.S. officials have framed the sanctions as a demonstration of Washington’s commitment to upholding the Washington Accords and enforcing international peace agreements.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States expects the immediate withdrawal of RDF troops from Congolese territory and a halt to support that fuels the M23 insurgency.
The United States has indicated it will continue to use a range of diplomatic and economic tools to press for peace and stability in eastern Congo.
Analysts say the sanctions could complicate Kigali’s foreign relations and signal broader international pressure on Rwanda to align with regional peace efforts.
As the conflict enters its latest chapter, observers warn that sustained international engagement, coupled with accountability for abuses and a genuine political settlement involving all armed groups, will be essential to bringing lasting peace to the troubled eastern DRC.
