The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed financial sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Force, or RDF, and four senior Rwandan military officials for their role in supporting the M23 movement in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reuters reported on March 3. Sanctions apply to entities that are directly or indirectly majority-owned by the RDF, freeze all RDF assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibit U.S. persons and entities from engaging in any transaction with the RDF or sanctioned individuals.

Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June 2025 whereby Kinshasa committed to disarming the radical Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda militia in exchange for Rwanda withdrawing its forces from eastern Congo. However, the implementation of the deal has effectively stalled for several months, with the M23 and pro-government forces continuing to clash in eastern Congo.