United States Imposes Sanctions On Rwanda’s Military And Four Top Generals For Supporting M23 Rebels In DRC

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Monday, 2 March 2026, imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four of its senior officials.

In a press release, the Treasury said the RDF has been actively supporting, training, and fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23), a U.S. and United Nations-sanctioned armed group responsible for human rights abuses and a mass displacement crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The United States added that the RDF helped M23 seize territory in eastern DRC, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, as well as key mining areas.

According to the U.S., the M23’s offensives would not have been possible without the active support and involvement of the RDF and its senior leaders. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said:

“President Trump is the Peace President, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that the parties to the Washington Accords uphold their obligations.

“We expect the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons, and equipment.”

The United States has accused the RDF of providing direct operational support to the M23 rebel group and its affiliates in eastern DRC.

According to a U.S. Treasury statement, the RDF has supplied advanced military equipment to the battlefield, including GPS jamming systems, air defence equipment, drones, and other materiel.

Thousands of RDF troops are reportedly deployed across eastern DRC, actively taking part in combat operations and helping M23 maintain control of seized territory.

The RDF is also accused of training M23 fighters at its military centres and supporting recruitment efforts, including the recruitment of refugees.

With RDF support, M23 is said to have carried out extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture.

Four RDF officials have been sanctioned: Vincent Nyakarundi, Ruki Karusisi, Mubarakh Muganga, and Stanislas Gashugi.

Nyakarundi serves as the Army Chief of Staff, Karusisi is a major general and commander of the RDF’s 5th Infantry Division, Muganga is the RDF’s Chief of Defence Staff, and Gashugi is Special Operations Force Commander.

OFAC said all property and interests of these individuals in the United States—or under the control of U.S. persons—are blocked and must be reported.

Any companies owned 50 per cent or more by the sanctioned individuals are also blocked. Unless authorised by OFAC, all transactions involving their property are prohibited.

Violating U.S. sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign persons.