The United States has announced sanctions against Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and Zigama Credit and Savings Society (Zigama CSS), accusing them of supporting the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The sanctions were announced on October 28, 2026, by the US Department of the Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which administers and enforces economic sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States had fulfilled President Donald Trump’s pledge to press Rwanda to honour its commitments under the Washington Accords aimed at promoting peace and development.
He said the US was calling on Rwanda to end its alleged support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC.
In its statement, the US Department of the Treasury said Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence oversees the country’s security institutions, including the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
The US accuses the RDF of deploying thousands of troops to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where it says they operate alongside M23.
Rwanda has consistently rejected these allegations.
The US alleges that Zigama CSS, a financial institution serving Rwanda’s security sector, helped facilitate payments to Chinese and other foreign companies that supplied the RDF with weapons, ammunition and other military equipment.
It also accuses the institution of facilitating payments for travel and accommodation for military personnel attending training programmes.
Regarding mineral resources, the US says a subsidiary of Zigama helped facilitate the transportation to Kigali of gold that it alleges originated from areas of South Kivu controlled by M23.
Rwanda had not issued a statement on the US sanctions as of the time of publication.
When the US sanctions an individual or entity, any assets or property held in the United States or controlled by US persons are generally blocked.
US persons are prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities unless authorised by law or a licence.
If a sanctioned individual owns at least 50 per cent of another entity, that entity’s assets may also be blocked under US sanctions rules.
Individuals or entities that violate these regulations may face civil penalties or criminal prosecution.