Photo by MeanieHyaena (CC BY 4.0.)

On March 2, 2026, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior Rwandan military officials for their involvement in supporting the March 23 Movement (M23).

According to the Treasury Department, the RDF has assisted M23 operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including through military cooperation that enabled the group to capture territory in the region. The announcement also referenced M23’s capture of the city of Uvira near the DRC–Burundi border shortly after the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity. It also referenced allegations of human rights abuses committed by M23, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and torture.

The designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 13413, as amended by Executive Order 13671, which authorizes sanctions against persons responsible for actions threatening the peace, security, or stability of the DRC. As a result, property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States, or under the control of US persons, are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving them unless authorized by OFAC.