US sanctions Rwanda's defense ministry over Congo fighting

Washington dropped the hammer Wednesday, sanctioning Rwanda's ministry of defense over the war raging in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent didn't mince words: Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and pull its troops out of eastern DRC, he said in a statement. The Treasury says the ministry directed the Rwanda Defense Force to push thousands of troops into North and South Kivu, where they fought alongside the rebels and handed over military equipment.

The Treasury had already sanctioned the Rwanda Defense Force. Now its parent ministry joins the list, part of a White House push to squeeze Kigali into ending a conflict it has spent months trying to broker peace for.

A second target got caught in the net: Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution the Treasury describes as operating on behalf of the country's security services. According to the Treasury, Zigama facilitated payments to entities in China and other countries for weapons, ammunition and military gear for the Rwanda Defense Force. One branch also helped move gold out of rebel-held Congolese territory and into Rwanda, the department said. Zigama's CEO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On the ground, the fighting hasn't stopped. The UN says Rwanda backs the rebels, now known as the Refoundation of the Nation and formerly as AFC-M23, who are battling Congolese forces and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a Hutu militia rooted in the 1994 genocide. Rwanda denies backing the group.

Kigali fired back through government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, who said the Washington Accords contain commitments on neutralizing the FDLR that remain unmet. Rwanda stands ready to fully implement the accords, she added, provided the DRC holds up its end and the mediator holds all parties accountable.

Congo's foreign ministry welcomed the sanctions, saying they send a clear message that Rwanda cannot act with impunity. Its statement called on Kigali to honor the Washington Accords, respect the UN Charter and withdraw its tens of thousands of troops from Congolese soil. The two countries signed that deal in 2025, though US efforts have so far brought little change on the ground.