US sanctions Rwanda military over M23 attacks in Congo

The United States has sanctioned the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) and 4 elder RDF officers for “direct operational support” to the March 23 Movement (M23) and its affiliates successful eastbound Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The U.S. said days aft President Donald Trump presided implicit the December 4, 2025 signing of the Washington Accords for Peace by President Felix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, Rwanda-backed M23 captured Uvira metropolis successful Congo.

M23 has been implicated successful quality rights abuses, executions, and unit against civilians, including women and children. Already nether U.S. and United Nations sanctions, M23 has grown from hundreds of members successful 2021 to implicit 8,000.

On Monday, the State Department emphasized that the dependable backing from the RDF and its enactment has enabled M23 to instrumentality implicit locations successful DRC sovereign territory—including Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira—and perpetrate sedate abuses.

Reiterating enactment for calm successful eastbound DRC and the wider region, the American authorities said the Washington Accords people a decisive turning constituent for the Great Lakes portion and acceptable a caller people for peace, cooperation, and prosperity among neighbors.

The sanctions impact Gen. Mubarakh Mu...