OFAC sanctions Rwanda Defence Force, four officials over Congo support

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four of its senior officials, citing the force’s support for the March 23 Movement, also known as M23, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Treasury said the Rwanda Defence Force is “actively supporting, training, and fighting alongside” M23, which it described as a U.S.- and United Nations-sanctioned armed group responsible for human rights abuses and mass displacement in the DRC. Treasury said the Rwanda Defence Force has supported M23 as it seized territory in eastern DRC, including the provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu, and strategic mining sites.

Treasury identified the designated officials as:

• Vincent Nyakarundi, described as the army chief of staff of the Rwanda Defence Force.
• Ruki Karusisi, described as a major general and commander of the force’s 5th Infantry Division.
• Mubarakh Muganga, described as the force’s chief of defense staff.
• Stanislas Gashugi, described as the force’s special operations force commander.

According to OFAC, the Rwanda Defence Force was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13413, as amended by Executive Order 13671, including for actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of the DRC and for materially assisting M23. The four officials were designated under the same authority as leaders of the Rwanda Defence Force, OFAC said.

In a related action, OFAC issued Democratic Republic of the Congo-related General License 1, titled “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving the Rwanda Defence Force,” and updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

Treasury said OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict-liability basis and warned that financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for certain transactions involving designated or otherwise blocked persons.