---
title: "US imposes sanctions on Rwanda Defence Force"
description: "WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The US on Monday imposed sanctions against Rwanda’s defence force and top military officials, according to the US Treasury Department website, as fighting has continued in recent weeks on several fronts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-02-us-imposes-sanctions-on-rwanda-defense-force/"
published: "2026-03-02T21:30:16"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 98
---

# US imposes sanctions on Rwanda Defence Force

> WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The US on Monday imposed sanctions against Rwanda’s defence force and top military officials, according to the US Treasury Department website, as fighting has continued in recent weeks on several fronts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

By Reuters · Published 2 March 2026, 23:30 SAST

## Content

Rwanda and Congo [signed a peace deal](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL6N3X91J4&linkedFromStory=true) in Washington in December as part of US President Donald Trump's push to broker peace in the region and attract billions of dollars in Western investment.

But fighting has since continued, challenging efforts by the Trump administration to bring peace.

Among those targeted on Monday was Vincent Nyakarundi, Rwanda's army chief of staff, as well as the chief defence staff and two other Rwandans, according to the Treasury Department website.

Rwanda did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Costas Pitas)