Rwandan President Paul Kagame has criticized fresh sanctions imposed by the United States, describing the measures as unfair and misleading amid the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The sanctions, announced earlier this week, target the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and several senior military officials accused by Washington of supporting the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo.
In response, the Rwandan government said the decision “misrepresents the reality and distorts the facts” surrounding the conflict, arguing that Rwanda is being unfairly singled out while other parties involved in the fighting are ignored.
US authorities claim the RDF provided operational support to the M23 rebels, enabling them to capture strategic areas in eastern Congo, including towns and mineral-rich territories.
Washington has also imposed visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials it accuses of fueling instability in the region despite a peace agreement signed in December between Rwanda and the DRC.
However, Rwanda insists it remains committed to the peace process but argues that the Congolese government has also violated ceasefire agreements through military offensives and drone strikes.
President Kagame has repeatedly defended Rwanda’s position, saying the country’s security concerns are linked to armed groups operating in eastern Congo that Kigali says threaten its borders.
The diplomatic dispute has raised concerns about worsening tensions in the Great Lakes region, where fighting between government forces and rebel groups has displaced millions of civilians and triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Regional analysts warn that the latest sanctions could strain relations between USA and Rwanda, which have remained relatively close for nearly three decades.
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