US sanctions on Rwanda's military just put the RDF's role in eastern DRC's bloodshed on full blast, freezing assets and demanding an immediate troop withdrawal.
OFAC hits the Rwanda Defence Force with sanctions
OFAC hits the Rwanda Defence Force with sanctions
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force on March 2.
- Washington accused the RDF of actively fighting alongside the March 23 Movement, a U.S. and UN-sanctioned armed group.
- RDF troops helped M23 grab Goma, Bukavu, and key mining areas in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Secretary Scott Bessent demanded the immediate pullout of all RDF troops, weapons, and equipment.
- Advanced GPS jamming systems, air defence equipment, and drones were supplied by the RDF to M23 fighters.
- Thousands of RDF troops are reportedly deployed across eastern DRC, actively participating in combat operations.
- M23's territorial offensive would have collapsed without direct RDF operational backing, per Washington.
- The RDF also ran training for M23 fighters at its military centres and helped recruit refugees into the group.
- Army Chief of Staff Vincent Nyakarundi, Major General Ruki Karusisi, Chief of Defence Staff Mubarakh Muganga, and Special Operations Force Commander Stanislas Gashugi are all named.
- All U.S.-based property and interests tied to the four officials are immediately frozen and must be reported.
- Any company where sanctioned individuals hold 50 percent or more ownership is also blocked.
- Civil and criminal penalties apply to both U.S. and foreign persons who breach the sanctions.
