Rwanda's Kagame Slams US Sanctions as 'Affronts

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has characterized US sanctions as a personal affront, stating that they are essentially "insults thrown in the face" of Rwanda, while also asserting that Washington is applying "heavy pressure" on Kigali, in contrast to its more cautious approach towards the DR Congo.

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In early March, the United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan army due to its alleged support for the M23 anti-government group, which has been occupying large areas of the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since 2021.

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A peace deal was signed between the DRC and Rwanda in December, at the urging of US President Donald Trump, in an attempt to bring an end to the conflict, but clashes have persisted on the front lines.

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President Kagame expressed his sentiments in an interview with Jeune Afrique, which was conducted at the end of March and published on Friday, stating that "sanctions and threats are nothing but insults thrown in the face of my country".

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Kagame also emphasized that the US government "must not give the impression of exerting heavy pressure on one while treating the other delicately", highlighting the perceived disparity in treatment between Rwanda and the DRC.

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According to Kagame, Rwanda is fulfilling "all its obligations under the agreements" signed in Washington, unlike the DRC, which he claims "only very partially meets them or not at all".

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The M23 group made significant advances in early 2025, capturing key eastern cities such as Goma and Bukavu.

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Just days after the signing of the US-brokered peace deal, the armed group seized another major city, Uvira, located on the border with Burundi, prompting a strong response from the United States.

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Rwanda has consistently maintained that its involvement in the eastern DRC is solely for the purpose of protecting against an enemy militia formed from the remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis.

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Kagame emphasized that he will not lift Rwanda's defense measures while the US is not taking action to stop the threats facing his country, stating "don't expect me to lift our defence measures while you are doing nothing to stop what threatens my country".

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Additionally, Kagame called upon oil giants such as Total, Exxon Mobil, or Eni to "find a way to finance the security they need" in Mozambique's oil-rich but volatile northern Cabo Delgado province.

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Rwanda had previously threatened to withdraw its troops fighting Islamist insurgents from Cabo Delgado if financing was not guaranteed by the European Union, which funds the deployment, and this threat was made just last month.

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Rwandan forces have been deployed to the area since 2021, with the operation receiving backing in the form of 40 million euros ($46 million) in EU funding for equipment and strategic airlift, according to Brussels.