The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) and four of its senior officers over alleged support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The measures, announced on Monday, March 2 by the United States Department of the Treasury, target the following senior Rwandan military officials:
▪️ Major General Vincent Nyakarundi – Chief of Staff, accused of involvement in ground operations supporting M23-AFC.
▪️ Major General Ruki Karusisi – Commander of the 5th Infantry Division and former Chief of Special Operations.
▪️ Gen Mubarakh Muganga – Chief of Staff of the Rwandan forces since 2023 and former head of the army ground forces.
▪️ Brig Gen Stanislas Gashugi – Commander of Special Operations Forces since March 2025.
According to the U.S. Treasury, the sanctions are linked to what Washington describes as direct operational backing of M23 activities in eastern Congo. The rebel group, already under U.S. and UN sanctions, has been accused of destabilizing the region and committing serious human rights violations.
The measures include the freezing of any assets belonging to the targeted individuals and the RDF that fall under U.S. jurisdiction, as well as a prohibition on U.S. persons engaging in transactions with them.
Washington is also demanding the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern DRC, stating that the sanctions are intended to increase pressure for the restoration of peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.
The latest action marks a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure on Kigali and signals Washington’s readiness to enforce compliance with regional peace efforts.
