The United States announced sanctions targeting Rwanda’s defence ministry, citing its alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The action aims to pressure Kigali to withdraw military forces from the region and discontinue backing for the rebels, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The sanctions follow months after Rwanda and the DR Congo signed a US-brokered peace agreement in December 2025 intended to resolve the conflict. Despite the accord, fighting has persisted in eastern DR Congo since early 2025, when M23 seized control of the cities of Goma and Bukavu. The US Treasury alleges that Rwanda’s defence ministry deployed thousands of troops alongside M23 forces, providing weapons, equipment, logistics and training support.
American officials contend that M23 has captured mineral-rich territories, including gold-mining sites in South Kivu and Rubaya, a major coltan-producing area in North Kivu. Washington asserts that minerals from rebel-controlled areas flow into Rwanda’s supply chains, noting that Rwanda exports more minerals than it independently produces. The sanctions also target Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a financial institution serving Rwanda’s security services, which US authorities say facilitated tens of millions of dollars in transactions for M23 and related entities.
Rwanda’s government has denied backing M23 and stated its readiness to implement the peace agreement, provided the DR Congo fulfills its obligations. A Rwandan government spokesperson cited the unmet neutralization of the FDLR, a militia linked to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, as a security concern justifying Rwanda’s military positioning in the region. The latest sanctions follow earlier American measures imposed in March 2026 against Rwanda’s army and senior military commanders, along with additional sanctions in June 2026 targeting a gold refinery and mining companies accused of handling conflict minerals.
International scrutiny of Rwanda extends beyond military matters. Two US senators have urged the National Basketball Association to reconsider its commercial relationships with Rwanda over human rights concerns. Rwanda’s international sports partnerships have become subjects of debate as the country pursues high-profile sponsorships to enhance its global profile.
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