US Sanctions Rwanda’s Defence Ministry

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a Rwandan financial institution over alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

 

The sanctions, announced by the US Department of the Treasury on Wednesday, October 28, target the Ministry of Defence and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, which Washington accuses of facilitating military and financial assistance to M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were meant to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, which the Congolese and Rwandan presidents signed in December 2025. “Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC,” Bessent said.

According to the Treasury Department, Rwanda’s security forces have deployed thousands of troops in North and South Kivu provinces, where they allegedly operate alongside M23 and provide the group with military equipment, supplies, logistical assistance, and training. 

 

Washington also accused Rwandan forces of introducing advanced weaponry, including surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jamming equipment, which it says pose risks to civilian aviation in eastern Congo.

The Treasury Department further alleged that Zigama facilitated payments to suppliers in China and other countries for weapons, ammunition, and military equipment for the Rwanda Defence Force. 

 

The institution allegedly also facilitated payments for military training and transactions worth tens of millions of dollars involving M23 and the Congo River Alliance. The US government also accused a Zigama branch of facilitating the transportation of gold extracted from M23-controlled territory in eastern Congo to Rwanda.

The sanctions come amid continued fighting in eastern Congo despite diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi signed the US-brokered Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity on December 4, 2025. 

 

The agreement was intended to advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict while promoting regional trade, investment, and transparency in critical mineral supply chains.

However, fighting has continued, with M23 maintaining control over strategic areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which the group captured in early 2025. Rwanda has consistently denied supporting armed groups in Congo. 

 

Kigali has argued that its security concerns include the activities of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group whose origins are linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The Congolese government welcomed the latest sanctions, calling on Rwanda to honour its commitments under the Washington Accords and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory. The new measures follow sanctions Washington imposed in March 2026 on the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officials for their alleged support for M23. 

 

Under the latest sanctions, assets belonging to the designated institutions that fall within US jurisdiction or are held or controlled by US persons must be blocked. 

Transactions involving the sanctioned entities are generally prohibited for US persons unless authorised or exempted under applicable regulations. The Treasury Department said the ultimate objective of the sanctions was to change behaviour and secure compliance with commitments aimed at restoring peace in eastern Congo.