US sanctions Rwanda's Ministry of Defence and a Rwandan financial institution over support for M23 rebels in eastern Congo

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and on Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution, on Wednesday 28 October over their alleged support for the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Treasury said the ministry directed the Rwanda Defence Force, which OFAC sanctioned in March, to deploy thousands of troops in North and South Kivu, where it said they operate alongside M23 and supply equipment, logistics and training. It said Zigama paid for weapons and military equipment and helped move gold from M23-held areas to Kigali.

“Today, the United States makes good on President Trump’s promise to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC.” Any of their assets in the US are blocked.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told the BBC that the accords’ commitments on neutralising the FDLR, a militia Kigali links to the 1994 genocide, were “wholly unmet, and with no accountability”. She said Rwanda “remains ready to fully implement the Washington Accords” if Congo does the same, KT Press reported. Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told AFP on Wednesday that Rwanda should not be held responsible for developments in its neighbour, CGTN reported. Congo’s foreign ministry welcomed the sanctions, Africanews reported.

Background

The UN has said M23 is backed by Rwanda, which Kigali has denied. M23 captured Goma and Bukavu in early 2025. The presidents of Congo and Rwanda signed the US-brokered Washington Accords on 4 December 2025, but fighting has continued, according to Africanews. See also: DR Congo government says Kabila is planning a ‘general attack’.