U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Minister Over DR...

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Minister Over DRC Conflict

Zim Now Writer

The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of an armed group for their alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rwanda-backed M23 militant group has recently taken control of two major cities in eastern DRC, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

This escalation has also fueled speculation about a possible coup against President Felix Tshisekedi's government in Kinshasa.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned Rwanda’s involvement, stating that the aggression has undermined the territorial integrity of the DRC and warning that the violence could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

She urged Rwanda to halt its support for M23 and return to Angola-led peace negotiations.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced financial sanctions on James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration and a retired general, accusing him of orchestrating Rwandan support for M23 and profiting from illicit mineral exports from the DRC.

Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, a senior member and spokesperson of M23 and the Congo River Alliance, was also targeted, along with two companies under his control in Britain and France.

M23 has been under U.S. sanctions since 2013 for alleged violations of international law, including the recruitment of child soldiers, civilian killings, and sexual violence.

Rwanda has denied supporting M23, arguing that it is defending itself from a Hutu militia allegedly allied with the Congolese military.

Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed the sanctions, stating that they were unjustified and that the international community should support, rather than undermine, ongoing regional efforts toward a political solution.

She also questioned the effectiveness of sanctions, pointing out that they have not resolved conflicts in the region in the past.

Meanwhile, the DRC welcomed the U.S. decision, with government spokesman Patrick Muyaya calling for further sanctions from the U.N. Security Council, the European Union, and other international partners.

He stated that this should be the beginning of a broader effort to force Rwanda to withdraw its troops and cease its activities in the DRC.