US sanctions Rwanda’s defence ministry over alleged M23 support

Sanctions announced

The United States Treasury announced sanctions targeting Rwanda’s defence ministry for alleged support of the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Accusations from Washington

According to the Treasury, the ministry directed thousands of troops to operate alongside M23, providing weapons, equipment, logistics and training. It also claims that minerals extracted from rebel‑held areas – including gold‑mining sites in South Kivu and the coltan‑rich Rubaya region in North Kivu – flow into Rwanda’s supply chains.

Political context

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC. The sanctions follow a US‑brokered peace agreement signed by the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC in December 2025, known as the Washington Accords, which sought to end fighting and boost regional trade.

Continued conflict

Fighting has persisted since early 2025, when M23 seized the cities of Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda denies any backing of the rebels.

Responses

DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, on 24 October, urged the international community to increase pressure on Rwanda to achieve lasting peace.

The Congolese foreign ministry welcomed the sanctions and called on Rwanda to honor its commitments under the Washington Accords and the UN Charter.

Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told the BBC that the Accords contain obligations regarding the neutralisation of the DR Congo‑sponsored FDLR militia, which she said remain unmet.

Background on the FDLR

The FDLR is described as a militia linked to perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, which Kigali views as a security threat and cites as justification for its military presence in eastern DRC.

The sanctions are intended to reinforce the Washington Accords and pressure Rwanda to withdraw its forces and cease support for M23.