The United States has imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of the Congo president Joseph Kabila over allegations that he supported armed groups fueling instability in eastern Congo.
In a statement released Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Kabila for allegedly backing the March 23 Movement and the Congo River Alliance—two entities accused of driving violence and political unrest in the mineral-rich eastern region.
According to Treasury officials, the M23 rebel movement, has seized significant territory, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu. The group operates as the military wing of AFC, a political-military coalition seeking to overthrow the government in Kinshasa.
U.S. authorities allege that Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, provided financial and political support to AFC and encouraged defections from the Congolese army to bolster rebel ranks. He is also accused of attempting to orchestrate attacks against the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and backing opposition figures to regain influence over the country’s leadership.
“President Donald Trump has been clear that those who continue to sow instability will be held accountable,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, linking the sanctions to Washington’s broader peace efforts in the region.
The move is part of actions related to with the U.S.-brokered Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity signed in December 2025 between the DRC and Rwanda, aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo and promoting regional economic integration, particularly in critical minerals supply chains.
Eastern DRC has long been plagued by conflict, but recent offensives by M23 have intensified the crisis, triggering mass displacement and civilian casualties. The resurgence of violence has also drawn in multiple armed factions, further complicating efforts to restore stability.
Under the sanctions, all property and financial interests belonging to Kabila within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. U.S. persons and entities are prohibited from engaging in transactions with him, and non-U.S. actors risk penalties if they facilitate dealings that violate the restrictions.
Treasury emphasized that sanctions are intended to pressure behavioral change rather than serve as punishment, noting that designated individuals can seek removal from the blacklist if they meet legal criteria.
