"Insults": Kagame defies American sanctions as Trump can still hit harder

In an interview with _Jeune Afrique_, Rwandan President Paul Kagame described the American sanctions against his army as "insults" and accused Washington of treating Kigali harshly while being more lenient towards Kinshasa. On March 2, 2026, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Rwandan Defense Forces and four senior officials, including Chief of Staff Mubarakh Muganga, following the M23's capture of Uvira. Kagame is in a vulnerable position, as his economy significantly relies on foreign funding and international aid.