Rwanda Fires Back At US Sanctions Over DR Congo Conflict
The Rwandan government has protested the United States’ decision to penalize a government minister for alleged involvement in the fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The US Treasury Department announced the financial sanctions on Thursday, citing Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, a former army chief, as essential to his country’s assistance for the M23 rebel group.
Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23’s spokesman, was also sanctioned, as were two companies he controls in Britain and France, according to the US Treasury.
On Friday, the United Kingdom stated that Rwanda would face “consequences” for its suspected role in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In response to the US move, Rwanda’s foreign ministry stated that the sanctions would not settle the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling them “unjustified and unfounded”.
STATEMENT ON U.S. DESIGNATION
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Int'l Cooperation (@RwandaMFA) February 20, 2025
Today’s designation of Minister of State James Kabarebe by OFAC is unjustified and unfounded. If sanctions could resolve conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we would have had peace in the region decades ago.
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Me7T084764
They come as the M23 appeared to be resuming its offensive after seizing two key cities in recent weeks in the mineral-rich east of DRC.
The rebel organization, which is primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, has captured the cities of Goma and Bukavu, causing a massive humanitarian crisis that has destroyed families.
Western governments have accused Rwanda of providing arms to the M23, as well as backing from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which Rwanda denies.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department said Kabarebe was sanctioned because “he is central to Rwanda’s support” for the M23 armed group.
It stated that Kabarebe and Kanyuka were “linked to violence and human rights abuses” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Today’s action underscores our intent to hold accountable key officials and leaders like Kabarebe and Kanyuka, who are enabling the RDF and M23’s destabilizing activities in the eastern DRC,” said Bradley Smith, acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
“The United States remains committed to ensuring a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”
🇨🇩🇷🇼USA announces sanctions against Rwanda Minister of State James Kabarebe & M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston.
— Harun Kimani (@AllOddsmobile) February 20, 2025
Urges return to peace process.
Way to go.
Immediate CEASEFIRE needed in DRC.
Congolese people deserve to live in peace.
Nothing 'Pan-African' about… pic.twitter.com/fXJOO5wYIu
However, Rwanda downplayed the US intervention, claiming that Kigali’s primary goal was to defend its border and put an “irreversible end to the politics of armed ethnic extremism in our region”.
“Rwandans have the right to live in peace and without the perpetual threat of insecurity originating from the DRC,” the ministry statement stated.
“Punitive measures, including sanctions, make no contribution toward long-term security, peace, and stability for all the countries of the Great Lakes region,” it added.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo applauded the US sanctions and expressed a desire for further similar actions.
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“This marks the beginning of a long series of sanctions that we want to be more robust from the UN Security Council, the European Union, and other partners in order to force Rwanda to withdraw its troops and cease its criminal activities on our soil,” government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a statement posted on social media.
Speaking to G20 foreign ministers in South Africa on Friday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the suspected involvement of Rwandan forces as a “blatant violation of the UN Charter that risks spiraling into a regional conflict.”
Speaking at the event, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira decried the recent attacks on UN soldiers and regional peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
China defended itself by stating that it “firmly supports the African people in independently resolving African problems and opposes external interference in the internal affairs of African countries”.
Rwanda Fires Back At US Sanctions Over DR Congo Conflict
