On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s ministry of defence over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Kigali and end the fighting.
The US Treasury Department said the ministry directed the Rwanda Defense Force, previously sanctioned by Washington, to deploy thousands of troops across eastern Congo’s North and South Kivu provinces, where they conducted operations alongside the M23 rebels and provided military equipment and other support.
The United States also sanctioned Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution operating on behalf of the country’s security services. The Treasury accused it of facilitating payments for weapons, ammunition and other military equipment for the Rwanda Defense Force, and said a Zigama branch enabled transportation of gold from rebel-controlled territory in Congo to Rwanda.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC.”
Rwanda denies backing the rebels, now called the Refoundation of the Nation, formerly AFC-M23. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the Washington Accords contain commitments on neutralisation of the FDLR that are unmet, and that Rwanda remains ready to fully implement the Accords concurrently with DRC fulfilling its commitments.
Congo’s ministry of foreign affairs welcomed the sanctions, saying they send a clear message that Rwanda cannot act with impunity and must honour its commitments under the Washington Accords, respect the UN Charter, and withdraw its troops from the DRC.
The move comes against a difficult backdrop: the Trump administration brokered peace between Rwanda and DRC, with a deal signed in 2025, the Washington Accords, but fighting has continued. The UN says Rwanda backs M23.
Source: Reuters report
