The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila after accusing him of backing the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to a report by BBC News, the sanctions came after US officials alleged that he provided financial support, encouraged defections from the national army, and even attempted to coordinate attacks against Congolese forces from abroad.
Kabila, who ruled from 2001 to 2019, strongly denied the accusations, calling the sanctions “unjustified” and politically motivated. He said they were based on unproven claims and influenced by authorities in Kinshasa.
Under the measures, Kabila’s assets in the United States are frozen, and US citizens and companies are banned from doing business with him. Washington also warned that foreign partners could face penalties for indirect dealings. The US says the sanctions aim not only to punish but also to pressure actors accused of fueling instability.
The move is part of broader US efforts to support a peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda, which has also been accused of supporting M23. Kigali denies the claim, saying its military actions are defensive.
Kabila’s current whereabouts are unknown, but 12 months ago he appeared in the M23-held city of Goma. Last September, he was sentenced to death in absentia by a Congolese military court for war crimes and treason in connection with his alleged support for M23.
DR Congo’s government welcomed the sanctions as a step toward accountability, while Kabila’s camp warned they could be used to silence political opposition.
The conflict has wreaked havoc in the eastern part of Congo, particularly since the M23 rebels captured key locations, including Goma, in 2025. Competition for control of copper and cobalt has fueled tensions.
