The United States has stepped up pressure on Rwanda over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), imposing sanctions on Kigali’s defence ministry and a financial institution accused of supporting the M23 rebel group.
The sanctions are aimed at compelling Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo and end its alleged military and financial support for the rebels and their political wing, the Congo River Alliance.
The US Treasury Department also announced sanctions against Zigama Credit and Savings Society, accusing the institution of playing a key role in facilitating Rwanda’s support for the armed group.
According to the Treasury Department, Rwanda’s Defence Ministry directed the deployment of thousands of troops across North and South Kivu provinces in eastern Congo.
It alleged that Rwandan forces conducted operations alongside M23 fighters and supplied the group with military equipment, training and other assistance.
The United Nations has also accused Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied.
The sanctions come amid growing frustration over the limited progress made under a US-brokered peace agreement signed by the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC in Washington months ago.
Despite the agreement, fighting has continued in eastern Congo, where armed groups have been battling government forces and competing for control of territory and resources.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the latest measures were intended to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
The sanctions signal Washington’s determination to use economic pressure to push the parties towards implementing the agreement and addressing the security crisis in the region.
Kinshasa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the US action, reflecting the Congolese government’s longstanding demand for international measures against Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the conflict.
Rwanda has consistently rejected accusations that it supports M23, which re-emerged as a major force in eastern Congo in 2021.
The group expanded its territorial control over subsequent years, capturing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025, intensifying the humanitarian and security crisis in the region.
The latest US measures add to international efforts to pressure Kigali and the rebels to halt hostilities, although it remains uncertain whether the sanctions will lead to an immediate change in the situation on the ground.
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