The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior officials, including its Chief of Staff, Vincent Nyakarundi, for their alleged involvement in supporting the M23 rebel group in the Eastern DRC.

• The US stated that the RDF's backing has enabled M23 to capture DRC sovereign territory and commit human rights abuses.
• The sanctioned individuals and the RDF will have their assets in the United States blocked, and financial transactions with them criminalized.
• This action follows the M23 capture of the strategic city of Uvira shortly after a meeting between Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame for the signing of the Washington Accords.