Wayne Lumbasi
The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence over its alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), intensifying pressure on Kigali as Washington seeks to halt the fighting and advance a regional peace agreement.
The measures target Rwanda’s defence ministry and ZigamaCredit and Savings Society, a financial institution serving members of the country’s security services. The US government accuses the two entities of supporting Rwanda’s military involvement in eastern DRC and facilitating financial activities linked to the M23 rebel group, which has seized control of strategic areas in the mineral-rich region.
According to the US Treasury Department, Rwandan forces have provided military support to M23, including weapons, training, supplies and logistical assistance. Washington has also accused Rwanda of deploying troops across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces to support the rebels’ operations. Rwanda has repeatedly disputed allegations of backing armed groups in the neighbouring country.
The US Treasury has further accused Rwanda of introducing advanced military equipment into the conflict, including surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jamming devices, which it says pose risks to civilian aviation. The allegations come as M23 continues to hold important population centres and mining areas, including Goma and Bukavu, which the group captured in early 2025. The fighting has contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis, forcing large numbers of people from their homes and exposing civilians in affected areas to violence and exploitation.
The sanctions also target Zigama Credit and Savings Society, which Washington accuses of facilitating financial transactions linked to the Rwandan military and M23. According to the US government, the institution processed payments for weapons, ammunition and military equipment from suppliers in China and other countries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses associated with military training. Washington also alleges that the institution helped facilitate the movement of gold from M23-controlled territory in eastern Congo to Rwanda and handled financial transactions linked to the rebel group and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance.
Under the sanctions, assets belonging to the designated entities that fall under US jurisdiction must be frozen, while US individuals and companies are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them unless authorised or exempt. The restrictions may also expose foreign institutions and businesses to sanctions risks if they engage in certain prohibited transactions involving the designated entities.
The move comes as Washington seeks to enforce the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on December 4, 2025, following US mediation. The agreement was intended to help end the conflict while creating opportunities for regional trade, investment and greater transparency in the supply chains for critical minerals. However, fighting has continued despite the diplomatic initiative.
Rwanda has rejected accusations that it supports M23 and has maintained that its security concerns, including the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in eastern Congo, must also be addressed. Kigali has said it remains ready to implement the peace agreement while arguing that the Congolese government has not fulfilled its own commitments.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has called on Rwanda to honour the peace agreement and withdraw its troops. Washington, meanwhile, says the measures are intended to compel Kigali to end its alleged support for the rebellion and help restore stability in the region.
The latest sanctions mark a further escalation in US pressure on Rwanda and underscore the difficulties facing efforts to resolve the conflict. With fighting continuing across eastern Congo and civilians bearing much of the cost, the key question is whether the financial restrictions will persuade the parties to fulfil their commitments and create conditions for a lasting peace.
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