The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has welcomed sanctions imposed by the United States on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and several of its senior officers.
In a statement issued on Monday, Washington confirmed that the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had sanctioned the RDF as an institution, along with four high-ranking military officials.
According to U.S. authorities, the measures were taken over the RDF’s alleged involvement in supporting the AFC/M23 rebel movement, which has been engaged in fighting against the government of President Félix Tshisekedi in eastern DRC.
Kinshasa described the sanctions as a positive step toward accountability and international recognition of what it has long alleged to be external support for armed groups destabilizing the country’s eastern provinces.
The U.S. Treasury stated that the sanctions target individuals and entities accused of contributing to instability in the region. Under the measures, any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction belonging to those designated are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
The move adds a new diplomatic dimension to the ongoing crisis in eastern Congo, where clashes between Congolese forces and AFC/M23 rebels have intensified despite previous ceasefire efforts.
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the rebel group and has previously criticized similar measures as one-sided and counterproductive to regional peace efforts.
The latest development is expected to further strain relations between Kigali and Kinshasa as regional and international actors continue to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
