U.S Threatens to Sanction Rwanda for Breaching DRC–Rwanda Peace Accord

The United States has warned that it could impose new sanctions against Rwanda as fighting resumes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signaling that Washington’s diplomatic push may now hinge on measurable changes on the ground.

In an interview broadcast on February 16 on France 24, Massad Boulos, described as Donald Trump’s Africa advisor, said the agreement signed in Washington between Kigali and Kinshasa should be viewed as “a starting point” rather than a final settlement. He described the deal as part of a broader mechanism aimed at securing “total peace and stability in the region.”

Why is this warning significant?

The US position reflects a shift from facilitation toward conditional enforcement. By stating that Washington has “a number of tools” at its disposal, including possible sanctions, US officials are signaling that diplomatic commitments alone are not sufficient. Implementation, particularly on the battlefield, will be the test.

Boulos referred to what he called a “serious violation” of the agreement following the reported capture of Uvira by the M23 armed group, which the United States and several UN reports have accused Rwanda of supporting. Kigali denies backing the group. According to Boulos, discussions with Rwandan authorities led to a withdrawal from Uvira, though he said fighters remained in certain positions around the city.

The warning comes amid renewed international scrutiny. The UN Security Council has called on Rwanda to cease any support for M23 and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory. Rwanda has consistently rejected those allegations.

Linking Washington to Doha

Another key element is Washington’s effort to connect its bilateral agreement with the Qatar-led Doha process, which focuses more directly on the M23-DRC track. By emphasizing what Boulos called the “essential complementarity” of the two processes, alongside support from the European Union, the US is framing the crisis within a coordinated diplomatic structure rather than a standalone negotiation.

This alignment suggests that pressure on Kigali is not limited to bilateral US-DRC diplomacy but is part of a broader multilateral effort involving regional and international actors.

Kigali’s position

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, speaking at the “Umushyikirano” national dialogue in Kigali, attributed tensions with the DRC to the presence of Rwandan Hutu rebels from the FDLR on Congolese territory. He rejected allegations of mineral exploitation motives or territorial ambitions.

For Washington, the next step appears to depend on “concrete measures on the battlefield.” Whether the warning of sanctions translates into action will likely hinge on developments in eastern Congo and on Rwanda’s response to international calls for de-escalation.