When Donald Trump stood with Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame in Washington late last year to sign a US-mediated peace agreement, he declared: “Today, we're succeeding where so many others have failed.”
Fighting has continued in mineral-rich eastern Congo between the Congolese government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, despite the accord and peace efforts by the Trump administration.
On Wednesday, the US imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s defence ministry and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution, over alleged support for M23.
The Treasury Department said the ministry had “deployed thousands of troops across eastern DRC's North and South Kivu provinces, where they conduct operations alongside M23 and provide the armed group with military equipment, supplies, logistical support, and training.”
It said Rwandan authorities had “introduced advanced weaponry to the battlefield, including surface-to-air missile systems and jamming equipment, creating risks for civilian aviation in eastern DRC”.
M23 took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and other key cities in eastern Congo during a lightning assault last year. The group is one of about 100 armed groups seeking a foothold in the mineral-rich region.
Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, announced the measures on social media on Wednesday and said: “Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC.”
The Treasury said Zigama Credit and Savings Society had “played a key role in facilitating Rwanda's support” for M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance.
The US had already imposed sanctions earlier this year on the Rwandan Defense Forces and four senior officials for supporting M23.
Rwanda has signalled that it sees implementation of the agreement as dependent on all sides. Yolande Makolo, the government spokesperson, told The Associated Press: “Rwanda remains ready to fully implement the Washington Accords, concurrently with the willingness of the DRC to fulfill those commitments, and with the mediator holding all parties accountable.”
The sanctions place a direct US demand on Kigali while the conflict that the Washington agreement sought to address continues on the ground.
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