WASHINGTON – The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday against a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of the M23 militant group for their involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration and a former general, was sanctioned for orchestrating Rwanda’s support for the M23 group, which has captured major cities in eastern Congo, worsening the region’s humanitarian crisis. Kabarebe is accused of managing the flow of revenue from DRC’s mineral resources, facilitating the export of these minerals to Rwanda.
M23, already under U.S. sanctions since 2013 for violations of international law, has been accused of targeting civilians, committing sexual violence, and using child soldiers.
In addition to Kabarebe, Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, an M23 leader and spokesperson, was also sanctioned. The U.S. Treasury Department targeted two companies he controls in the UK and France.
Rwanda has rejected the allegations of supporting M23 with arms and troops, claiming it is simply defending itself from a Hutu militia fighting alongside the Congolese military. Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo described the sanctions as unjustified, arguing that if sanctions were effective, the conflict would have ended long ago.
The DRC government welcomed the sanctions, calling for stronger measures to pressure Rwanda to withdraw its forces and cease its activities in eastern Congo.
