Washington targets key figures behind eastern DRC unrest
The United States has escalated pressure on armed groups destabilizing eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by imposing fresh sanctions on senior commanders linked to the FDLR and M23 rebellions.
In an official statement, Washington identified Gustave Kubwayo as a key target. The State Department accused the FDLR intelligence and special operations commander of orchestrating ethnic violence against civilians, recruiting child soldiers, and committing sexual crimes. The statement also highlighted cross-border attacks that threaten regional stability, particularly in Rwanda.
Among those sanctioned was John Imani Nzenze, head of intelligence for the Rwanda-backed M23 movement. American authorities accused him of involvement in extrajudicial killings, widespread human rights abuses, and deliberate attacks on unarmed civilians in eastern DRC.
These measures form part of a broader strategy to enforce compliance with the Washington Accords of December 2025 and the Doha Framework, agreements aimed at ending hostilities and restoring peace in the Great Lakes region. The Trump administration emphasized its commitment to using all available levers—diplomatic, economic, and legal—to compel armed factions to honor their commitments and curb ongoing violence.
