Key facts
- US imposes sanctions on commanders of armed groups in eastern DRC.
- Sanctions target M23 commander John Imani Nzenze.
- Sanctions target FDLR commander Gustave Kubwayo.
- The US aims to support peace and end bloodshed in the region.
- Fighting continues between M23 rebels and FDLR militia.
The United States has imposed sanctions on commanders of armed groups involved in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Treasury Department announced sanctions on John Imani Nzenze, identified as the M23 commander and chief of intelligence, and Gustave Kubwayo, an FDLR commander and leader of an intelligence and special operations unit. These actions are intended to support a peaceful resolution and end the bloodshed in a region plagued by persistent violence that exacerbates a dire humanitarian crisis and presents a threat to U.S. interests.
Fighting continues in eastern Congo between M23 rebels, which the UN states are backed by Rwanda, and the FDLR, a Hutu militia with roots in the 1994 genocide. Rwanda has denied backing the M23. Despite a peace deal signed in Washington in December as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to broker peace and attract investment, the conflict has escalated, with M23 rebels briefly entering the city of Uvira before withdrawing under U.S. pressure.