️ The US has accused the Rwandan military of violating a peace agreement signed alongside former President Trump in December last year.
️ The US on Monday announced sanctions on Rwanda's military and senior officials for supporting the rebel March 23 Movement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
️ The DRC government expressed its "deep appreciation" to the US, calling the sanctions "a clear signal of support" for respect of its "sovereignty and territorial integrity."
️ The latest sanctions follow a US-brokered peace deal signed in December by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington, with US President Donald Trump present.
️ At the time, Trump praised the leaders, as the agreement allowed the US greater access to the region's critical mineral reserves.
️ The US accused the Rwandan military of breaching the peace deal in mineral-rich DRC and called for its withdrawal from the area.
️ The US alleged that M23 would have maintained a stronghold in the region without active support from the Rwandan government and key senior officials.
️ "We expect the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons and equipment," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
️ "M23, a US- and UN-sanctioned entity, is responsible for horrific human rights abuses, including summary executions and violence against civilians, including women and children," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
️ The top military officials facing sanctions are Vincent Nyakarundi, RDF army chief of staff; Ruki Karusisi, a major general; Mubarakh Muganga, chief of defence staff; and Stanislas Gashugi, special operations force commander.
️ Rwanda has repeatedly rejected all allegations from Congo, the UN, and Western states of supporting the AFC/M23 rebel group, which has been under US sanctions since 2013.
️ The sanctions "unjustly" target Rwanda and "misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict" in eastern Congo, a Rwandan spokesperson said in a Monday statement, alleging Congo violated the agreement through "indiscriminate" drone attacks and ground offensives.
️ The Congolese government and M23 are negotiating terms for a peace deal, mediated by Qatar and the US.
Source: www.dw.com