The sanctions were announced on March 3 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which accused the RDF of supporting the M23 rebel group and violating commitments made under the Washington peace agreement recently signed by the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC.
Kigali condemns “One-Sided” measures
In an official statement, Kigali dismissed the sanctions as unilateral and unfair, arguing that they misrepresent the root causes of insecurity in eastern Congo.
Rwanda maintains that it has no troops operating inside the DRC, contrary to U.S. claims that RDF forces have supported M23 militarily, including by providing training, facilitating recruitment, and assisting in combat operations.
The government further criticized what it described as the international community’s selective approach to accountability, saying the sanctions ignore what it calls continued violations by the Congolese government.
Accusations against Kinshasa government
According to Kigali, the DRC has breached ceasefire commitments by carrying out drone strikes and other military offensives that have led to civilian casualties. Rwanda also accuses Kinshasa of collaborating with armed groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and local militias known as Wazalendo.
Rwanda argues that the presence and activities of the FDLR, an armed group composed in part of individuals linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, pose a direct security threat to its territory and to Congolese Tutsi communities.
Kigali insists that any engagement related to M23 is rooted in shared concerns over the protection of vulnerable populations and regional stability, not in destabilizing the DRC.
Sanctions and their implications
The U.S. sanctions freeze any assets of the RDF and the designated officers that fall under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit American individuals and entities from conducting business with them. Any companies in which the sanctioned individuals hold a controlling stake are also affected.
Washington has called on Rwanda to withdraw any troops, weapons, and military equipment from eastern DRC, an allegation Rwanda firmly denies.
Commitment to peace process
Despite condemning the sanctions, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the Washington peace agreement signed by President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in the United States. Kigali says it remains ready to work with regional and international partners in what it describes as a fair and impartial manner to achieve lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
The diplomatic standoff adds new strain to already fragile efforts to stabilize eastern Congo, as competing narratives continue to shape the regional security landscape.
