The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, and senior militant Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston for their roles in fueling conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the sanctions on Tuesday, citing Kabarebe’s involvement in Rwanda’s backing of the March 23 Movement (M23), an armed group accused of human rights violations in eastern DRC.
Kanyuka, a key figure in M23 and the Congo River Alliance, was also sanctioned alongside two companies he owns in the United Kingdom and France.
Kabarebe, a former Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) general, has been linked to military operations supporting M23. He is accused of overseeing RDF’s assistance to the rebel group and facilitating the illegal extraction and export of critical minerals from the DRC.
According to OFAC, Kabarebe “is responsible for actions that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the DRC.”
“He has coordinated the export of extracted minerals from mining sites in the DRC for eventual export from Rwanda.” the statement further added.
M23, which first emerged in 2012 before being defeated in 2013, resurfaced in 2021 with Rwanda’s support. The group has since launched an aggressive campaign, capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. In its latest offensive, M23 also seized Kavumu Airport, a key transport hub in the region.
Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated;
“Today’s action underscores our intent to hold accountable key officials and leaders like Kabarebe and Kanyuka, who are enabling the RDF and M23’s destabilizing activities in the eastern DRC.”
The U.S. State Department has previously condemned M23’s role in displacing thousands of Congolese civilians and its control over Rubaya, one of the world’s largest critical mineral mining areas.
Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s spokesperson, was also designated for sanctions. He is accused of leading the group’s public relations and diplomatic outreach, particularly through the Congo River Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups seeking to overthrow the DRC government.
“Kanyuka is central to M23 and the Congo River Alliance’s messaging strategy and conducts media and diplomatic outreach on their behalf,” OFAC stated.
Two of his companies—Kingston Fresh, a U.K.-registered food services company, and Kingston Holding, a mining consultancy in France—have also been sanctioned.
“These firms are owned or controlled by Kanyuka and are being used to facilitate M23’s activities,” the Treasury Department noted.
The sanctions freeze all U.S.-based assets belonging to Kabarebe, Kanyuka, and their affiliated companies. American citizens and businesses are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the sanctioned individuals and entities.
OFAC warned that any financial institution or person dealing with the designated individuals risks exposure to penalties.
“The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior,” the Treasury Department said.
The sanctions come as part of U.S. efforts to curb escalating violence in eastern DRC and push for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.
