The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a financial institution over alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), intensifying pressure on Kigali to honour its peace commitments.
The US Department of the Treasury announced the sanctions on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, targeting Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, which Washington accuses of facilitating military operations and financing activities linked to the conflict.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were intended to compel Rwanda to end its alleged support for M23 and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.
“Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC,” Bessent said.
The sanctions come amid efforts to implement the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed in December 2025 by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to end hostilities and improve relations between the neighbouring countries.
According to the Treasury Department, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence oversees the country’s security services, including the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which Washington sanctioned in March over its alleged involvement in the fighting in eastern Congo.
US authorities accuse Rwandan troops of operating alongside M23 fighters in North Kivu and South Kivu, providing military equipment, logistical assistance and training.
The allegations also include the deployment of advanced military systems, including surface-to-air missiles and electronic jamming equipment, which Washington says have increased risks to civilian aviation.
Zigama Credit and Savings Society is accused of facilitating financial transactions linked to military procurement, including payments for weapons and ammunition from suppliers in China.
The Treasury Department further alleges that the institution financed travel and training expenses for Rwandan security personnel and processed transactions worth tens of millions of dollars connected to M23 and the Congo River Alliance.
It also accuses the financial institution of facilitating the movement of gold from territories controlled by M23 in eastern Congo to Kigali.
Under the sanctions, all property and financial interests belonging to the designated entities within US jurisdiction are blocked. US citizens and companies are also generally prohibited from conducting business with them without authorisation.
The restrictions extend to entities that are directly or indirectly owned 50 per cent or more by the sanctioned parties.
The latest action comes as fighting continues in eastern DRC, where M23 has expanded its territorial control, capturing major cities, including Goma and Bukavu, during offensives in early 2025.
The group’s advances have also given it access to economically significant mining areas, raising concerns about the exploitation of mineral resources to finance the conflict.
M23 has faced accusations of human rights violations and abuses against civilians, including forced labour, while continued fighting has displaced large numbers of people across the region.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied directly supporting M23 and previously criticised US sanctions against its military officials, arguing that Washington’s actions misrepresent the security challenges facing the country.
The new sanctions add to Washington’s financial and diplomatic pressure on Kigali as regional and international efforts to implement the peace agreement continue.
The Rwandan government had not issued an immediate public response to the latest sanctions by the time of publication.
