Through the Treasury Department, the United States has announced a new series of sanctions targeting senior officials in the Rwandan army. They are accused of direct or tacit involvement in the violence shaking the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added Generals Stanislas Gashugi, Ruki Karusisi, Vincent Nyakarundi, and Mubarakh Muganga, alias “MK MUBARKH”, to its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN). The Rwandan army (RDF) itself is also targeted by these measures.

According to the US Treasury, Rwandan troops are deployed throughout eastern DRC.

They are said to be actively participating in the fighting and facilitating the M23’s territorial control, thereby becoming complicit in abuses against civilians.

With the support of the RDF, the M23 is carrying out extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and acts of torture. In January 2025, the RDF carried out attacks against the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), the SADC mission (SAMIDRC) and MONUSCO positions (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC). In exchange for this support, Rwanda gains access to strategic mining areas in the region, thereby financing the rebellion,” the statement said.

The US administration also points out that the RDF trains M23 fighters in its military centers and actively supports the recruitment of new members, including from among refugee populations.

The Treasury Department notes that any violation of these provisions may result in civil or criminal penalties for both US and foreign entities. It is strictly prohibited to induce US persons to violate these measures or to devise schemes to circumvent them.

Under the principle of strict liability, OFAC may impose civil fines. OFAC guidelines detail how these economic sanctions are applied. Financial institutions are also liable to prosecution if they facilitate transactions involving individuals or entities on the SDN list.

These prohibitions include any provision of funds, goods or services to sanctioned persons, as well as the receipt of any contributions from them.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi