On October 28, 2026, the United States took another significant step by imposing sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and its Zigama CSS bank over their alleged support for the M23, now operating under the name FRN, which continues to devastate eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The move signals a further deterioration in relations between Washington and Kigali, whose ties have traditionally remained close for nearly three decades.
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READ ALSO: According to Reuters, Rwanda has sent between 7,000 and 12,000 soldiers to eastern Congo to support M23 rebels. US wants them all out of Congo before peace deal signed.
Here is the original official English text as published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on October 28, 2026:
Press Releases
Treasury Sanctions Rwandan Ministry of Defence and Financial Institution Supporting M23
October 28, 2026
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Ministry of Defence and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution that has played a key role in facilitating Rwanda’s support for the March 23 Movement (M23) and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance.
“Today, the United States makes good on President Trump’s promise to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.“Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC.
On October 12, the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation announced its formation as the successor to the Congo River Alliance. M23 is a U.S.- and United Nations-designated armed group that has illegally seized territory in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With support from Rwanda’s security apparatus, including the deployment of thousands of troops and provision of military equipment, logistics, and training, M23 has captured key population centers and mining areas in eastern DRC, where it has perpetrated human rights abuses, subjected civilians to exploitation and forced labor, and contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement.
The historic U.S.-brokered Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity (Washington Accords) were signed by the DRC and Rwandan heads of state on December 4, 2025. In addition to paving the way for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern DRC, the Washington Accords incorporated a regional economic framework to expand trade and investment, enhance transparency in critical minerals supply chains, and promote greater investment in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
THE RWANDAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: ENABLING REBELLION IN EASTERN DRC
The Rwandan Ministry of Defence (Rwandan MoD) is the umbrella organization for Rwanda’s security services, including the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which OFAC sanctioned on March 2, 2026. At the direction of the Rwandan MoD, the RDF has deployed thousands of troops across eastern DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces, where they conduct operations alongside M23 and provide the armed group with military equipment, supplies, logistical support, and training. The RDF has also introduced advanced weaponry to the battlefield, including surface to air missile systems and jamming equipment, creating risks for civilian aviation in eastern DRC.
Since its rebellion reemerged in 2021, M23 has carried out extrajudicial killings, unlawful detentions, and torture or other physical abuses in areas under its control. In early 2025, M23 captured Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals of North and South Kivu provinces, respectively. M23 has also taken control of mining areas in eastern DRC, including gold mines in South Kivu province and Rubaya, an expansive area for coltan mining in North Kivu province. In M23-controlled mining areas, civilians have been subjected to forced labor, dangerous working conditions, and illegal “taxation” schemes. Minerals sourced from M23-controlled territory are integrated into supply chains in Rwanda, whose domestic mining capacity is smaller than export volumes reported since M23’s rebellion began. On July 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement of concern related to mineral supply chains that contribute to ongoing instability in eastern DRC.
The Rwandan MoD is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13413, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of the RDF.
ZIGAMA CSS: FINANCING REBELLION, PARTICIPATING IN MINERALS SMUGGLING
Zigama Credit and Savings Society (Zigama) is a Rwandan financial institution that operates on behalf of Rwanda’s security services. Zigama has facilitated payments to entities in China and additional countries for weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment for the RDF. Zigama has also facilitated payments for RDF travel and accommodation for training activities.
As Treasury highlighted in a previous designation, the RDF and M23 control gold mining sites in South Kivu province. Following the removal of gold from these sites, Rwandan government forces have maintained strict oversight of the gold. A Zigama branch enabled the transportation of gold sourced from M23-controlled territory in eastern DRC to Kigali. In addition, Zigama has facilitated financial transactions for M23 and the Congo River Alliance, amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
Zigama is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13413, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the RDF, M23, and the Congo River Alliance.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List. Click here for more information on the persons designated today.
You may also read:U.S. Sanctions Against the Rwandan Army: What You Need to Know
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA (a.k.a. MINADEF OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; a.k.a. MOD OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; a.k.a. RWANDAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE), Ministry of Defence, KG 1 Roundabout, Kigali, Rwanda; Website https://www.mod.gov.rw; Organization Established Date 1962; Organization Type: Defense activities; Target Type Government Entity [DRCONGO].
ZIGAMA CREDIT AND SAVINGS SOCIETY (a.k.a. ZIGAMA CREDIT AND SAVINGS BANK; a.k.a. “ZIGAMA CSS“), KG 178 Street 3, P.O. Box 4772, Kigali, Rwanda; Website https://zigamacss.rw; Organization Established Date 1997; alt. Organization Established Date 19 Apr 2010; Target Type Financial Institution; Business Registration Number RCA/546/2010 (Rwanda) [DRCONGO].
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Mwalimu Hakizimana Maurice is a teacher, a translator-interpreter, and a writer based in Paris, France.
Professor Hakizimana Maurice is the author of the book “UTABA AMATEKA NTABONA ITAKA” (Editions Scribes).
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