US sanctions Rwanda’s Defence Ministry

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a financial institution over alleged involvement in supporting armed rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

The measures were announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as Washington intensifies pressure on Kigali to end its involvement in the conflict and renews efforts to enforce a peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC.

According to the US Treasury Department, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence directed the deployment of thousands of Rwanda Defence Force troops to North and South Kivu provinces in eastern Congo, where they allegedly conducted military operations alongside the Refoundation of the Nation rebels, formerly known as the AFC/M23 coalition.

The department further accused the Rwandan military of supplying the armed group with military equipment and other forms of assistance.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Rwanda to stop supporting the rebels and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.

“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,” Bessent said.

The sanctions also apply to Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution that Washington alleges operates on behalf of the country’s security services.

The Treasury Department accused the institution of facilitating payments to companies in China and other countries for the purchase of weapons, ammunition and military equipment for the Rwanda Defence Force.

It also alleged that a branch of the financial institution helped facilitate the movement of gold from rebel-controlled areas of eastern Congo into Rwanda.

The latest measures come as fighting continues in eastern Congo despite diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict, including a US-brokered peace agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC in 2025.

The United Nations and several Western governments have accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, who maintain control over extensive areas of North and South Kivu. The Rwandan government has consistently denied backing the armed group.

According to Reuters, representatives of the Rwandan and Congolese governments had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the newly announced sanctions.

Washington had previously imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior military officials in March 2026 over alleged support for M23. At the time, the United States also demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo.