Thu Feb 20 18:25:08 UTC 2025: ## US Sanctions Rwanda Over Support for M23 Rebels in DR Congo Amidst Refugee Crisis
**KIGALI/KINSHASA/BERLIN** – The United States has imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior M23 rebel leader, escalating international condemnation of Rwanda’s alleged support for the armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Treasury Department targeted Minister of State for Regional Integration James Kabarebe and Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, citing their roles in violence and human rights abuses linked to the M23’s ongoing offensive in eastern DRC. Two companies controlled by Kingston were also sanctioned.
The M23’s advance has triggered a humanitarian crisis, forcing approximately 30,000 Congolese refugees into Burundi, the largest influx in 25 years. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports a continuous flow of refugees across the border. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has corroborated reports of summary executions of children by M23 fighters, some of whom were underage. The M23 denies responsibility, blaming Congolese forces.
Germany joined the chorus of international condemnation, summoning the Rwandan ambassador to protest the M23’s actions and demanding Rwanda withdraw its support. While Rwanda denies accusations of military support for the M23, the UN recently reported the fraudulent export of 150 tons of coltan from the DRC to Rwanda in 2024. The DRC accuses Rwanda of “expansionist ambitions” and mineral theft. Rwanda, in turn, accuses the DRC of harboring the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu group responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The US sanctions underscore calls for Rwanda to return to negotiations under the Angola-led Luanda Process to resolve the conflict. The escalating violence and humanitarian crisis raise serious concerns about regional stability.
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