Voici la traduction de l’article en anglais :
Kigali is accused of orchestrating troop deployments in eastern DRC. A Rwandan financial institution is also targeted.
Washington, October 28, 2026. The United States announced sanctions on Wednesday against the Rwandan Ministry of Defense and the Zigama Credit and Savings Society, accusing them of supporting the M23 rebellion in eastern DRC, according to a U.S. Treasury Department statement.
What the U.S. Treasury alleges. According to the Treasury, the Ministry of Defense ordered the Rwanda Defense Force to deploy thousands of soldiers to North Kivu and South Kivu, where they fought alongside the rebels and provided them with military equipment and other forms of support. Zigama reportedly operates on behalf of Rwandan security services, according to the U.S. government.
Calculated pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented the decision as the fulfillment of Donald Trump’s promise to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Agreements. He demanded that Kigali end its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC. These agreements were signed between the DRC and Rwanda on December 4, 2025.
Practical impact. Assets and interests of the targeted entities located in the United States, or held by U.S. persons, are frozen. Individuals or institutions engaging in certain transactions with them also face civil or criminal penalties.
An escalation. This is not the first measure of its kind. The Rwanda Defence Force was previously sanctioned on March 2, 2026, and four high-ranking military officials were sanctioned in March 2026.
Reactions. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo stated that the Washington Agreements contain unfulfilled commitments regarding the neutralization of the FDLR. Kigali continues to deny supporting M23, despite claims to the contrary by the UN and Western governments. In Kinshasa, the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the sanctions in a statement.
Little change on the ground. Fighting continues despite mediation efforts, including those led by the United States, which have done little to alter the situation so far. Meanwhile, M23 seized Goma and Bukavu in early 2025.
Via Reuters
