The United States announced on Monday sanctions against the Rwandan army for its support of the anti-government forces of the M23 group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite a peace agreement signed in December under the auspices of Donald Trump. Since the end of 2021, the M23 (“March 23 Movement”) has seized vast areas in eastern DRC, rich in resources and ravaged by conflicts for over 30 years, with the support of Kigali and its army. “Today, the United States is sanctioning the Rwandan Defense Forces and four senior officers of the FDR for their direct operational support to the March 23 Movement (M23) and its affiliates in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the State Department said in a statement. Among the officers targeted is the army’s chief of staff, Vincent Nyakarundi.
In December, President Donald Trump brought together the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC to sign a peace agreement, anticipating a “great miracle,” but a few days later, the State Department noted that the M23 had taken the strategic city of Uvira in South Kivu province, DRC. The M23’s initiative then drew the ire of Washington. “The M23, sanctioned by the United States and the UN, is responsible for heinous human rights violations, including summary executions and violence against civilians, including women and children,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. “The continued support of the FDR and its senior officials has allowed the M23 to take control of sovereign territory in the DRC and continue these serious violations,” the State Department continued.
“As President Trump clearly stated, the United States is ready to use all means at its disposal to ensure that the DRC and Rwanda fulfill the promises of this historic agreement,” the statement added. Shortly after this announcement, Rwanda stated that the American sanctions “unjustly target one party” and emphasized, in a statement released Monday evening, that such a measure “does not reflect reality and distorts the facts of the conflict.”
It also accused the DRC of “manifest violations of cease-fire agreements.” Meanwhile, Kinshasa expressed its “deep appreciation to the United States” in a statement released Monday evening, praising Washington’s decision. “These measures are a clear signal in favor of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” the Congolese authorities stated.
[Context: The news article reports on the United States imposing sanctions on the Rwandan army for supporting the M23 group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite a peace agreement signed in December.] [Fact Check: The M23 group has been accused of serious human rights violations, including executions and violence against civilians.]
