US sanctions Rwanda defence ministry and bank over M23 support for DR Congo

United States don put sanctions on Rwanda Ministry of Defence and one Rwandan financial institution, Zigama Credit and Savings Society, dey accuse dem say dem dey support M23 armed group for eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announce the measures on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. All assets the two entities get for United States, or wey US persons control, don freeze and dem must report am to OFAC. Americans and foreign nationals no fit do business with dem, and if person violate, e fit get civil or criminal penalties.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent link the move to Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, wey presidents of Rwanda and DRC sign on 4 December 2025 with US mediation.

"Rwanda must stop im support for M23 and withdraw im troops from eastern DRC," Bessent talk.

Wetin Washington allege

According to Treasury, Rwanda Ministry of Defence direct say make dem deploy thousands of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) troops enter North and South Kivu provinces. E talk say those troops fight alongside M23 and give the group weapons, supplies, training and logistics. Dem sanction RDF itself in March 2026, along with four senior military officials.

OFAC also talk say Rwandan forces carry surface-to-air missile systems and jamming equipment enter the conflict zone, wey raise risks for civilian aircraft.

On Zigama, Treasury allege say the institution process payments to companies for China and elsewhere for weapons, ammunition and military equipment for RDF, and e cover travel and accommodation for training. One Zigama branch, e talk, help move gold from M23-controlled mines for South Kivu go Kigali, and e handle tens of millions of dollars in transactions for M23 and im political wing, Congo River Alliance.

M23, wey both US and United Nations call armed group, capture provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu early 2025. Treasury talk say civilians for areas wey e control face extrajudicial killings, unlawful detention, torture, forced labour for mining and illegal taxation.

Rwanda don deny backing M23 many times. Reuters report say Rwandan and Congolese government representatives no respond immediately to requests for comment.

Why e matter beyond the region

Eastern DRC get some of world richest deposits of coltan and gold, minerals wey dey feed global electronics and jewellery supply chains. Treasury talk say minerals from M23-held areas dey enter Rwandan supply chains, and say Rwanda own mining output smaller than volumes wey e report say e dey export.

The fighting don displace plenty people and deepen humanitarian crisis. For Nigeria, the sanctions na reminder of how conflict minerals and arms financing dey move through global banking, and of compliance checks wey African banks and traders dey face more and more.

Treasury talk say im sanctions aim to change behaviour rather than punish forever, and say entities wey dem list fit apply make dem remove dem.