By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Rwandan authorities have expressed anger following the decision by the United States to sanction a top government official for his alleged involvement in the violence in the eastern region of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The US Treasury Department on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, a former army chief, saying he was central to his country’s support for the M23 rebel group that has taken over cities in eastern DRC and displaced millions of people.
Also sanctioned was Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23’s spokesman, as well as two companies he controls in Britain and France, the US Treasury announced.
Rwanda would face serious “consequences” for its alleged role in DRC violence, the UK also warned on Friday.
The Treasury Department said Kabarebe was sanctioned because “he is central to Rwanda’s support” for the M23 armed group.
It said Kabarebe, together with Kanyuka, was “linked to violence and human rights abuses” in DR Congo.
“Today’s action underscores our intent to hold accountable key officials and leaders like Kabarebe and Kanyuka, who are enabling the RDF and M23’s destabilising activities in the eastern DRC,” said Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
“The United States remains committed to ensuring a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”
In response to the sanctions, Rwanda’s foreign ministry said they would not resolve the conflict in DR Congo, describing them as “unjustified and unfounded”.
Rwanda said Kigali’s aim was only to secure its border and achieve an “irreversible end to the politics of armed ethnic extremism in our region”.
“Rwandans have the right to live in peace and without the perpetual threat of insecurity originating from the DRC,” the ministry statement read.
“Punitive measures, including sanctions, make no contribution toward long-term security, peace, and stability for all the countries of the Great Lakes region,” it added.
The sanctions come as M23 continues to advance after capturing two major cities in recent weeks in the mineral-rich east of DR Congo, creating fears of a possible coup.
The violence is a spillover from the 1994 genocide. The rebel group, mainly comprised of ethnic Tutsis, has seized the cities of Goma and Bukavu, sparking a major humanitarian crisis that has left families devastated.
Western powers have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 with arms and backing from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), accusations Rwanda denies.
