Brussels – The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on Rwandan military officials and leaders of the M23 rebel group for their roles in the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The sanctions come amid a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Western nations, with Belgium and Rwanda suspending each other’s ambassadors and severing diplomatic ties earlier today.
The EU’s Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/509, announced on March 17, specifically “condemns Rwanda’s military involvement in the DRC, accusing the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) of violating Congolese sovereignty and sustaining armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the region.”
The measures align with recent actions taken by the United States, which sanctioned Rwandan Minister of State for Regional Integration, Gen. James Kabarebe, over his alleged role in supporting the M23 rebellion and orchestrating the exploitation of DRC’s mineral wealth.
Key Figures Sanctioned
Among those sanctioned by the EU are top Rwandan military leaders operating in eastern DRC:
• Major General Eugene Nkubito, Commander of the RDF’s 3rd Division in North Kivu, accused of leading operations in support of M23.
• Brigadier General Pascal Muhizi, head of the RDF’s 2nd Division, which has been deployed in eastern DRC since mid-2023.
• Major General Ruki Karusisi, the Special Forces commander overseeing RDF troops in eastern DRC.
Additionally, the EU has placed several M23 leaders under sanctions, including:
• Bertrand Bisimwa, M23’s political leader, accused of orchestrating rebel governance in occupied areas.
• Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi, the group’s finance chief, who allegedly oversees the sale of conflict minerals.
• John Imani Nzenze, an intelligence officer for M23 responsible for military coordination.
• Joseph Bahati Musanga, whom M23 appointed as “Governor of North Kivu” in occupied territories.
Targeting Rwanda’s Mineral Trade
The Gasabo Gold Refinery, a Kigali-based company, has also been sanctioned.
The EU accuses the refinery of laundering illegally extracted gold from eastern DRC, which is then mixed with legally sourced minerals and exported.
The illegal mineral trade has been cited as a key driver of the ongoing conflict, financing armed groups operating in the region.
The sanctions are part of an escalating diplomatic crisis between Rwanda and Western nations.
Earlier today, Belgium and Rwanda cut diplomatic ties, with Brussels accusing Kigali of destabilizing eastern DRC, while Rwanda denounced Belgium’s “neo-colonial meddling” in the region.
The EU’s restrictive measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and financial restrictions on the targeted individuals and entities.
They follow mounting international pressure on Rwanda to withdraw its forces from DRC, as demanded by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773.
Implications
The sanctions reflect a coordinated Western response to Rwanda’s role in the DRC conflict, with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium also imposing measures against Kigali in recent weeks.
However, Rwanda has strongly denied backing M23, accusing the Congolese government of failing to address the root causes of the crisis.
The development comes a day before peace talks between DRC and M23 open in Angola’s capital Luanda this Tuesday.
As peace talks mediated by Angola continue, the effectiveness of these sanctions in pressuring Rwanda and M23 remains uncertain.