By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwandan army and four of its senior commanders, alleging that they are complicit in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Despite a US-brokered peace deal in December between the Congolese and Rwandan governments, fighting has continued, undermining the mediation efforts aimed at ending the prolonged conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The US treasury department accused the Rwandan army of not keeping to the peace deal by training, equipping and fighting alongside the M23 rebel group.
Rwanda has however denied the allegation, saying the sanctions had unfairly targeted one side and “misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict”.
Rwanda denies supporting the M23, claiming that its military presence in the region is a defensive measure against threats posed by armed groups in DR Congo to Rwanda’s security.
The sanctions come three months after Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame signed the Washington Accords, aimed at ending hostilities.
The ceremony was hosted by US President Donald Trump, who expressed optimism that it would bring lasting peace and described the signing as “historic”.
The M23 rebels were not signatories but have been part of a parallel peace process led by Qatar, a US ally that has strong ties with Rwanda.
Days after the Washington deal, the M23 captured the strategic Congolese city of Uvira, near the border with Burundi, forcing thousands to flee.
The group later withdrew under pressure from the US government.
However, the treasury department said on Monday that the M23’s continued presence near Burundi’s border “carries the risk of escalating the conflict into a broader regional war”.
It said that the rebels’ offensives would have been impossible without the “the active support and complicity” of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and key senior officials.
“The RDF has introduced advanced military equipment to the battlefield in eastern DRC, including GPS jamming systems, air defence equipment, drones, and additional materiel,” the statement said.
The US expected “the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons, and equipment”, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
In a separate statement about the sanctions, US state department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the M23 was “responsible for horrific human rights abuses, including summary executions and violence against civilians, including women and children”.
The sanctioned Rwandan officials include army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi, Ruki Karusisi, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Mubarakh Muganga, Rwanda’s chief of defence staff and Stanislas Gashugi, head of special operations.
The sanctions freeze any assets held in the US by the RDF or the four officers, and bar US individuals and entities from conducting financial transactions with them.
