US imposes sanctions on Rwandan defence ministry over links to Congo rebels

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's defense ministry, accusing it of helping to sustain the M23 rebel group fighting in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Washington's hoping to increase pressure on Kigali to withdraw troops from its neighbor and end support for the group and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance. It's also imposed sanctions on Zigama Credit and Saving Society, which it says plays a key role in facilitating Rwanda's support for the rebels. Kinshasa's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the sanctions. They come months after the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington aimed at ending the conflict. So far, this has brought little change on the ground, where fighting continues. The M23 emerged as a major force in the eastern Congo in 2021, taking control of large swathes of the region and capturing the key cities of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025.