EU Diplomats to Discuss Sanctions Against Nine Rwandan Individuals on March 3

On Monday, 3 March, EU diplomats will discuss new sanctions against Rwanda. These sanctions target nine individuals and one organization. This discussion follows a meeting on 24 February where EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas announced that the EU would stop "defence co-operation" with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Source EuObserver

Rwanda's army has been fighting alongside the M23 militia group and has taken control of large areas in eastern DR Congo, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu. However, the EU has not imposed economic sanctions, such as stopping aid payments or peacekeeping funds for Rwanda. The EU also put its minerals trade deal with Rwanda "under review," but did not give a clear timeline for changes. Many EU countries support suspending the Memorandum of Understanding on minerals.

The EU funds several peacekeeping missions led by the Rwandan army, including a long-term €20 million mission in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique. This mission helps protect the region and a TotalEnergies LNG project from attacks by Islamic militant groups. Although EU member states approved a €20 million payment to Rwanda, the EU Commission has not yet sent the money. Some officials say the payment might still be suspended, but insiders believe this is unlikely. Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, opposed the idea of suspending the payment on Monday.

Bettel argued that sanctions should not be imposed before a meeting between foreign ministers from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, which will take place on Thursday and Friday. These two groups are working to negotiate a ceasefire. Bettel said, "It is important, before wanting to take sanctions against Rwanda, to wait for this result, these next three or four days, to see if we are going in the right direction. But at the same time, we agree that new sanctions should be taken to increase the pressure."

Some EU countries worry that funds meant for the Mozambique mission might be used in DR Congo instead. Claude Gatebuke, director of the African Great Lakes Action Network, warned that, "If you arm [Rwandese troops] for an operation in Mozambique, those arms are not going to stay just in Mozambique. They will use them in other places." Evidence suggests that top Rwandan Defence Force officers are being moved between Mozambique and eastern DR Congo.

Meanwhile, the UK government announced on Tuesday that it would impose sanctions on Kagame’s government. The UK suspended £32 million ($40 million) in bilateral aid and also stopped "future defence training assistance," a measure similar to what Brussels did. Rwanda’s foreign ministry criticized the decision, saying the "punitive measures...in response to the conflict in eastern DRC ,where the UK has now clearly chosen a side are regrettable."

Although the US has not imposed economic sanctions on Rwanda, it has targeted individuals. It sanctioned James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister for Regional Integration, under its Global Magnitsky Act. The US accuses him of "orchestrating" the Rwandan army’s support for M23 and helping Rwanda and M23 make money from DR Congo’s mineral resources.