The United States is ramping up pressure on Rwanda as a U.S. brokered peace agreement intended to stabilize eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) shows signs of collapse, fuelling frustration within both the Trump administration and the U.S. Congress.
Six weeks after Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed the Washington Accords, violence has continued along the volatile eastern frontier, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the deal.
Rather than easing tensions, clashes intensified shortly after the signing ceremony, particularly between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-linked M23 rebel group in South Kivu province.
Reports of sustained fighting, including shelling across multiple territories, have raised alarm among international observers.
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The United Nations says at least 74 people were killed and more than 80 injured in confrontations across areas such as Uvira, Walungu and Fizi, while an estimated 200,000 residents were forced to flee their homes as the conflict escalated.
In December 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Kigali that continued hostilities, especially the M23 offensive, constituted a breach of the Washington Accords.
In a public statement, Rubio indicated that the United States was prepared to take action to ensure commitments made under the agreement were honoured.
That warning has since translated into growing bipartisan pressure in Washington.
Lawmakers from both major parties have openly discussed the possibility of sanctions against Rwanda, signalling a notable shift in tone toward a long-standing U.S. security partner in the Great Lakes region.
At the centre of the dispute are allegations that Rwanda continues to support M23 fighters operating in eastern Congo, despite pledges to de-escalate and withdraw any military involvement.
U.S. officials argue that the ongoing violence runs counter to the spirit and intent of the Washington Accords, which were designed to pause hostilities and open space for political dialogue and regional security cooperation.
Congressional frustration has intensified as reports of territorial gains by armed groups persist.
Lawmakers have warned that targeted sanctions, potentially aimed at senior officials or state-linked entities, remain on the table if Rwanda fails to demonstrate tangible progress toward restoring stability.
For Washington, the stakes extend beyond regional security. The Trump administration invested significant diplomatic capital in the accord, presenting it as a pathway to peace, deeper economic cooperation, and improved access to strategic mineral resources in the DRC. Continued fighting now threatens to turn the agreement into a diplomatic setback.
Rwanda has consistently rejected accusations that sanctions or diplomatic pressure are justified, arguing that punitive measures will not resolve the conflict.
Kigali has described recent sanctions imposed by Western governments as unfounded, insisting that external pressure risks entrenching positions rather than addressing the underlying causes of insecurity in eastern Congo.
Despite these objections, U.S. officials appear increasingly impatient. The renewed sanctions rhetoric suggests Washington is prepared to reassess its relationship with Rwanda if the peace process continues to stall.
