A soldier in camouflage gear carrying a rocket launcher, symbolizing military strength in Africa.
Washington has placed the Rwandan Defence Force and four of its commanders on its sanctions list, accusing them of violating peace accords negotiated between Kigali and Kinshasa. The decision is Washington’s most aggressive move against the small African country in three decades. For years, the Congolese government has been locked in a war against different rebel groups in its eastern region. Recently, one of these groups, the M23, has gained the upper hand, defeating government forces and seizing mineral-rich territories. While Kigali denies it, a UN report accuses it of supporting the M23 rebels with troops and equipment. Last year, the US began mediating the conflict, culminating in a peace agreement signed by Congolese and Rwandan officials in Washington. However, both sides have accused the other of violating these accords. The Rwandan government described Washington’s decision to impose sanctions as unjust and “one-sided,” claiming that the DR Congo government has not upheld its end of the bargain.
Financial Times