US sanctions former Congo president for backing rebel groups

Investing.com -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Thursday against former Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabange Kabila for supporting armed groups attempting to overthrow the current government.

The sanctions target Kabila for his role in backing the March 23 Movement and the Congo River Alliance, a political-military coalition. M23 is a Rwanda-backed armed group operating in eastern DRC, while the Congo River Alliance serves as M23’s political-military coalition seeking to topple the DRC government.

"President Trump is paving the way for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and he has been clear that those who continue to sow instability will be held accountable," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

The action supports the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed by DRC and Rwandan heads of state on December 4, 2025.

M23 has captured large portions of territory in eastern DRC, including the capitals of North and South Kivu provinces, Goma and Bukavu, with direct military, financial, and logistical support from the Rwanda Defence Force, which was sanctioned on March 2, 2026.

Kabila served as DRC president from 2001 until 2019. He extended his second term beyond its scheduled 2016 conclusion by delaying elections. In 2025, he traveled to Goma, where he has lived under M23 protection.

The Treasury said Kabila provided financial support to the Congo River Alliance and encouraged Armed Forces of the DRC troops to defect and join the coalition’s forces in eastern DRC. Kabila also attempted to launch attacks from outside DRC on government forces, though the effort was unsuccessful.

The sanctions block all property and interests in property of Kabila that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. The regulations prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons that involve any property or interests in property of the blocked person.

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