The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a financial institution accused of helping fund military support for rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The sanctions were announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Kigali to end its involvement in the conflict and revive efforts to implement a peace agreement with the DRC.
The US Treasury Department accused Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence of directing the Rwanda Defence Force to deploy thousands of troops across North and South Kivu provinces in eastern Congo, where they allegedly conducted operations alongside the Refoundation of the Nation rebels, formerly known as the AFC/M23 coalition.
The department also accused the Rwandan military of providing the armed group with military equipment and other support.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Rwanda must end its support for the rebels and withdraw its troops from eastern Congo.
“Today, the United States makes good on President Trump’s promise to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity,” Bessent said.
The sanctions also target Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution that the US government said operates on behalf of the country’s security services.
The Treasury Department alleged that the institution facilitated payments to companies in China and other countries for weapons, ammunition and military equipment for the Rwanda Defence Force. It also accused a branch of the institution of facilitating the transportation of gold from rebel-controlled areas of Congo to Rwanda.
The sanctions come amid continued fighting in eastern Congo despite diplomatic efforts, including a US-brokered peace agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC in 2025.
The United Nations and Western governments have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, who control large areas of North and South Kivu. Kigali has repeatedly denied supporting the group.
Representatives of the Rwandan and Congolese governments had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the latest sanctions, according to Reuters.
The United States had previously sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior military officials in March 2026 over alleged support for M23, demanding the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo.