US sanctions Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and the Zigama financial institution over support for M23 in eastern Congo

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and on a Rwandan financial institution, Zigama Credit and Savings Society, accusing both of supporting the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the designations on 28 October 2026, and the State Department said the measures respond to what it called Rwanda’s destabilising activities in the region.

According to the Treasury press release, both entities were designated under Executive Order 13413, as amended. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Rwanda must stop supporting M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern Congo.

What Treasury alleges

Treasury says the Rwandan Ministry of Defence oversees the country’s security services, including the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which OFAC itself sanctioned on 2 March 2026. The release alleges that the RDF has deployed thousands of troops in eastern Congo, supplied M23 with equipment, logistics and training, and introduced surface-to-air missile systems and jamming equipment.

Zigama is described as an institution that acts on behalf of Rwanda’s security services. Treasury alleges that it facilitated payments to entities in China and other countries for weapons and military equipment for the RDF, as well as for RDF training travel, and that one of its branches helped move gold from M23-controlled territory to Kigali. The release also alleges that Zigama handled transactions for M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance, totalling tens of millions of dollars.

These are the allegations of the US government. Wire reports said Rwanda denies backing the rebels, and that spokespeople for the Rwandan and Congolese governments had not immediately commented on the new measures.

The Washington Accords and the new rebel front

Treasury presents the sanctions as enforcement of the Washington Accords, which the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda signed on 4 December 2025 and which it says Rwanda is failing to honour. The release describes M23 as a group designated by both the United States and the United Nations that has seized territory in eastern Congo, and says M23’s political wing was reorganised on 12 October as the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, successor to the Congo River Alliance. It also cites reports of abuses by M23, including forced labour in mining areas, and notes that Rwanda’s mineral exports exceed its domestic mining capacity.

For the United Nations’ own account of the fighting and of the Washington and Doha negotiating tracks, see our report Eastern DR Congo: UN envoy tells Security Council the situation “has continued to worsen” despite Washington and Doha tracks.

Effect of the designations

All property of the designated entities that is in the United States or in the hands of US persons is blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by blocked persons are also blocked. US persons are generally barred from dealing with them without a licence, and violations can bring civil or criminal penalties. Treasury notes that a petition process exists for removal from its sanctions lists.