United States sanctions Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense

The United States has sanctioned Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense and Kigali-based Zigama Credit and Savings Society, which it says helped facilitate Rwanda’s support for M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The U.S. Treasury says thousands of Rwandan troops have operated alongside M23 in North and South Kivu and provided the group with weapons, supplies, logistical support, and training. The article notes that the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity were signed by the Congolese and Rwandan heads of state on December 4, 2025.