US imposes Visa curbs on Rwandan officials over alleged support to Congo rebels

The United States has imposed new visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials , escalating diplomatic pressure on Kigali over its alleged role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Washington accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel movement , a powerful militia operating in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo.

In a statement attributed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio , the officials were accused of undermining regional stability and violating the Washington Accords, a US-mediated peace agreement signed in December between Rwanda and the DRC. The accord called for Rwandan troops to withdraw from Congolese territory and for Congo to disarm armed groups that threaten Rwanda’s security.

Despite the agreement, fighting continues across several fronts in eastern Congo. Earlier this week, the United States also imposed sanctions on the Rwandan military and four senior officials , alleging they provided logistical and military support to the M23 rebels. Rwanda has rejected the accusations, arguing that Congo itself has failed to uphold its commitments under the peace deal .

The M23 movement is one of around 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo , but it has emerged as the most powerful in recent years. UN experts estimate the group has expanded to about 6,500 fighters , with significant territorial control near the Rwandan border. The conflict intensified in January 2025 , when M23 forces advanced into the key cities of Goma and Bukavu .

The roots of the crisis trace back to tensions involving Congolese Tutsi communities and the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide , which pushed thousands of refugees and militias across borders. Rwanda maintains that its actions are aimed at protecting Tutsi populations in the region.

The prolonged conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies , displacing more than seven million people , according to the United Nations.