The United States on Monday announced sanctions against the Rwandan army for its support of the anti-government forces of the M23 group in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) despite a peace agreement signed in December under the auspices of Donald Trump. Since the end of 2021, the M23 (the “March 23 Movement”) has seized vast areas in the eastern part of the DRC, rich in resources and plagued by conflicts for over 30 years with the support of Kigali and its army. “Today, the United States is sanctioning the Rwandan Defense Forces and four senior officers of the FDR for their direct operational support to the March 23 Movement (M23) and its affiliates in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the State Department said in a statement. Among the officers targeted is the chief of staff of the army, Vincent Nyakarundi.
“In December, President Donald Trump brought together the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC to sign a peace agreement, anticipating a ‘great miracle.’ However, a few days later, the State Department noted that the M23 had taken the strategic city of Uvira in the eastern province of South Kivu in the DRC. The M23’s initiative then angered Washington. “The M23, sanctioned by the United States and the UN, is responsible for atrocious human rights violations, including summary executions and acts of violence against civilians, including women and children,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. “The continued support of the FDR and its senior officials has allowed the M23 to seize sovereign territory in the DRC and continue these serious violations,” the State Department added.
“As President Trump has clearly stated, the United States is ready to use all means at its disposal to ensure that the DRC and Rwanda uphold the promises of this historic agreement,” the statement further added. Shortly after the announcement, Rwanda stated that the American sanctions “unjustly targeted one party” and insisted in a statement released Monday evening that such a measure “does not reflect reality and distorts the facts of the conflict.”
It also accused the DRC of “manifest violations of cease-fire agreements.” Kinshasa, on the other hand, expressed its “deep gratitude to the United States” in a statement released on Monday evening, welcoming Washington’s decision. “These measures constitute a clear signal in favor of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” Congolese authorities said.
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