Kigali. Photo: Adrien K/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
The United States sanctioned Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a financial institution Wednesday, widening pressure on the country’s security apparatus over support for the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the ministry and Zigama Credit and Savings Society under Executive Order 13413, as amended. The October 28 announcement links both institutions to support for the Rwanda Defence Force, which OFAC sanctioned in March.
The immediate financial effect is to block property and interests in property of the designated institutions that are in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons. U.S. transactions involving that property are generally prohibited unless licensed or exempt. Entities owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly and individually or in aggregate, by blocked persons are also blocked.
The action targets the named institutions and covered entities. It does not announce a blanket prohibition on all Rwandan trade or all of the country’s banks.
Treasury said the defence ministry directs military support for M23, including troops, equipment, logistics and training. It accused the Rwanda Defence Force of operating alongside the group in North and South Kivu and introducing advanced weapons that create risks for civilian aviation.
The department said M23 controls mining areas, including gold sites and the Rubaya coltan-mining area. It alleged that civilians in those areas face forced labor, unsafe conditions and illegal taxation, and that minerals enter supply chains in Rwanda.
Treasury described Zigama as a financial institution operating on behalf of Rwanda’s security services. It said Zigama facilitated payments for weapons and military training and financial transactions worth tens of millions of dollars for M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance. Those are the U.S. government’s allegations supporting the designations.
The sanctions follow the U.S.-brokered Washington Accords signed by Rwanda and the DRC in December 2025. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw troops from eastern DRC.
JBizNews Desk | World
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