The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior Rwandan military commanders, accusing them of fuelling the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The US Treasury Department said Rwanda’s army had undermined a US-brokered peace agreement by training, arming and fighting alongside the M23 rebel movement. The deal, signed in December by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was intended to end years of fighting in the mineral-rich region.
Rwanda has strongly denied the accusations, saying the sanctions unfairly target one side and “misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict”. Kigali insists its military presence in eastern DR Congo is defensive, aimed at countering armed groups it says threaten Rwanda’s security.
The sanctions come despite the so-called Washington Accords, signed under the auspices of US President Donald Trump, who described the agreement as “historic”. Although the M23 was not a signatory, it has been involved in parallel peace talks mediated by Qatar.
Days after the agreement was signed, M23 fighters seized the strategic city of Uvira, near the Burundi border, displacing thousands of civilians. While the group later withdrew under US pressure, Washington said the rebels’ continued presence in the area risks triggering a wider regional war.
According to the Treasury Department, M23 operations would not have been possible without “active support and complicity” from the RDF. It accused Rwanda of deploying thousands of troops inside DR Congo and introducing advanced military equipment, including drones, GPS-jamming systems and air-defence technology.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington expects the “immediate withdrawal” of Rwandan troops, weapons and equipment from Congolese territory. Separately, the US State Department said the M23 was responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings and violence against civilians.
Those sanctioned include Rwanda’s chief of defence staff Mubarakh Muganga, army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi, 5th Infantry Division commander Ruki Karusisi, and special operations chief Stanislas Gashugi. The sanctions freeze any assets they hold in the US and ban American individuals or companies from doing business with them.
In response, Rwanda accused DR Congo of breaching ceasefire agreements through drone attacks and ground offensives, and of working with ethnic militias and foreign mercenaries. “Protecting our country is a badge of honour,” the Rwandan government said.
The Congolese government welcomed the sanctions, calling them a clear signal of US support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Trump administration said it was prepared to use “all available tools” to ensure both countries uphold their commitments.
Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by conflict for more than three decades, dating back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The region is rich in copper and cobalt—critical minerals used in electric vehicles and mobile phones—making it strategically and economically vital.
