Kampala, Uganda – The United States is imposing visa restrictions on “several senior Rwandan officials to foment instability” in eastern Congo, the State Department said on Friday, increasing pressure on the East African country after it… The sanctions were announced earlier this week.
The unnamed officials target their support for the M23 rebel group in Congo, which the US government says continues despite US mediation. Peace agreement Signed in December between the governments of Rwanda and Congo.
“By continuing to support the March 23 Movement and violating the Washington agreements, these individuals are driving violence and undermining stability” in the region, the statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
The United States said it “expects all parties to the Washington Agreements to fully respect their commitments,” which include expectations that Congo will immediately neutralize armed groups threatening Rwanda as well as the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congo.
On Monday, the United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan army and four of its senior officials for their support of the March 23 Movement, whose rebellion caused the displacement of thousands of people in eastern Congo. The group is also accused of committing human rights violations there.
Rwandan authorities said the US sanctions were unfair, citing what they said were violations of the peace agreement by the Congolese government.
At the time of the signing, US President Donald Trump praised the leaders for their courage, as the deal also opened doors to the region Critical mineral reserves For the US government and US companies.
Despite the agreement, fighting continues between the two parties on several fronts in eastern Congo, resulting in many civilian and military casualties.
M23 It is the most prominent among about 100 armed factions competing for control in eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda. The conflict caused one of the most important humanitarian crises in the world, displacing more than 7 million people, according to the United Nations. To the United Nations Refugee Agency.
Congo, the United States and United Nations experts Rwanda was accused of supporting the March 23 MovementThe number of its members increased from hundreds of members in 2021 to about 6,500 fighters, according to the United Nations.
The March 23 Movement emerged in 2012 as a Tutsi-led rebel group, whose members said that a 2009 agreement signed to foster their interests, including integration into the army and the return of refugees from elsewhere in East Africa, had been violated by the Congolese government.
Paul Kagame, Rwandan President, described the M23 movement’s struggle as justified in defending it Rights of Congolese TutsisWho have sought refuge in neighboring countries for decades.
The conflict has been going on for decades Escalated in January 2025 After the rebels made unprecedented advances in the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, expanding their control over many cities and towns in the hard-hit region.
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