The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and several senior commanders, accusing them of backing the M23 rebel movement in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), fueling intensified fighting and human-rights abuses.
Washington demanded an immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces from the mineral-rich region, where clashes have escalated despite a recent peace agreement.
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Vincent Nyakarundi is among the four senior Rwandan commanders targeted.
The sanctions respond to the March 23 Movement’s rapid territorial gains, which U.S. officials say would not have been possible without Rwandan military support.
Congo’s government welcomed the sanctions, viewing them as reinforcement of its sovereignty, while M23 has not commented.
The measures follow the breakdown of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed by regional leaders in December.
While the accords aimed to reduce tensions and open the area’s cobalt and copper reserves to U.S. investment, M23 forces quickly advanced into Uvira near the Burundi border, prompting renewed regional concern.
Rwanda dismissed the allegations, claiming the Congolese military has violated the ceasefire and that its forces are acting to counter the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia linked to the 1994 genocide, which it says operates alongside Congolese forces and local self-defence groups.
Kigali expressed willingness to scale back its troop presence if Congo meets its obligations, urging international partners to apply pressure evenly.
Meanwhile, M23 has accused Congolese forces of recent drone strikes on civilian areas in South Kivu and affirmed its intention to maintain control, claiming its actions protect local communities.
The conflict has displaced over seven million people, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
