US sanctions Rwandan minister over DR Congo fighting
Africa
By
AFP
| Feb 21, 2025
A soldier of the M23 movement supervises as motorcycle taxi drivers sift through abandoned military items looking for weapons and unoxploded ammunitions at the port of Goma, on February 18, 2025. [AFP]
The United States on Thursday unveiled sanctions against a Rwandan government minister over his support for the M23 armed group fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
With support from the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF), the M23 have in recent weeks made big gains in the eastern DRC, seizing the cities of Goma and Bukavu and prompting warnings to the United Nations Security Council. The unrest has stoked fears of a regional conflagration.
READ MORE
Troubled Uchumi's creditors to know fate of their billions
Why tourism is Kenya's best bet to accelerate economic growth
BAT to pay Sh50 dividend despite 19pc profit dip
Appetite for Kenya's 'green gold' spawns new crop of millionaires
Policy Statement promises nothing unusual in CS Mbadi's first Budget
UNGA President Yang backs Equity's plan to boost youth innovation
Why you may not escape paying toll fees on major roads and highways
State struggles to justify contentious housing levy
Running a business? Here's why trademarking can save your brand
Kenya Airways expands passenger fleet with acquisition of Boeing 737-800
The US Treasury Department said it had designated the country's minister for regional integration James Kabarebe, accusing him of being "central" to Rwanda's support for the M23.
Kabarebe "is a Rwandan government liaison to M23 and orchestrates RDF support for the armed group," it said in a statement.
"He has coordinated the export of extracted minerals from mining sites in the DRC for eventual export from Rwanda," it added.
Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, told AFP that the sanctions against Kabarebe were "unjustified and unfounded."
"The international community should support not undermine ongoing regional efforts towards a political solution," she said. "If sanctions could resolve conflict in eastern DRC, we would have had peace in the region decades ago."
The Treasury also unveiled sanctions against Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, a member of the M23 and another group known as the Congo River Alliance, along with two of his companies.
Treasury's actions are intended to hold accountable officials "enabling the RDF and M23's destabilizing activities in the eastern DRC," said Bradley Smith, the acting Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States was calling on Rwanda's leaders "to end their support for M23" and withdraw troops from the DRC.
"We also urge the Governments of Rwanda and the DRC to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and abuses," she said in a statement.