On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on two individuals and two entities linked to violence and human rights abuses in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The sanctions target Rwanda's Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, as well as the M23 group and its spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, alongside two of Kanyuka's companies, Kingston Fresh and Kingston Holding. The U.S. State Department confirmed the move through spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Since mid-December 2024, the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has expanded its control in the DRC, seizing the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma, on January 27, and the South Kivu provincial capital, Bukavu, on February 16. This aggression has destabilized the region, undermining the DRC's territorial integrity and causing the displacement, injury, and deaths of thousands of civilians. The violence has also resulted in the deaths of three UN peacekeepers and injured several others, further threatening regional stability.
Tammy Bruce emphasized that Thursday's action highlights the necessity for Rwanda to return to negotiations under the Angola-led Luanda Process to resolve the conflict in eastern DRC. The U.S. urges Rwanda to end its support for the M23 group, which is already designated by both the U.S. and the UN, and to withdraw all Rwandan Defense Force troops from DRC territory. The U.S. also calls on both Rwanda and the DRC to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable. The ongoing conflict hinders economic development and discourages U.S. business investment in both Rwanda and the DRC, resulting in a loss for the region and the American people.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury took this action pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13413, as amended by E.O. 13671.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
