• The US has sanctioned Rwanda's military over its support for the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo.
• Rwanda's government rejects the allegations and claims the sanctions misrepresent the facts of the conflict.
• The sanctions block assets and criminalize financial transactions with targeted officials.
• US Treasury expects the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from DRC.
• Fighting continues despite a December peace agreement brokered by the US.

On March 2, 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and several high-ranking military officials due to their involvement in ongoing fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The US Treasury Department cited these actions as facilitating the M23 rebel group's territorial gains, crucially undermining a peace agreement signed in December 2025. This agreement, brokered by President Donald Trump, was described as a "great miracle," aimed at quelling violence in the region, according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

The sanctions specifically target four senior officials, including army chief of staff, Vincent Nyakarundi. The Biden Administration claims that the RDF's support enables the M23 to conduct horrific human rights abuses, including violent actions against civilians. The US State Department's spokesman, Tommy Pigott, stated that without Rwandan backing, M23 would not have made its significant territorial advancements, highlighting the group's responsibility for abuses against civilians, as reported by Reuters, Africa News, and Le Monde.

In response, the Rwandan government has dismissed the sanctions as unjust, claiming they target only one party in the conflict. Kigali argues that it has been committed to disengaging from the DRC in line with the peace agreement but accuses the Congolese government of failing to honor its obligations, including the cessation of support for various rebel groups, as stated by Al Jazeera, Africa News, and Le Monde.

The sanctions entail blocking any assets held by the RDF in the US and criminalizing financial contacts with those officials targeted. This action marks a significant shift in US relations with Rwanda, a long-term partner, emphasizing Washington's discontent with the ongoing violence and lack of compliance with peace treaties in the DRC, as reported by Reuters, Africa News, and Al Jazeera.