U.S. sanctions former DRC President Joseph Kabila over alleged support for M23 and AFC

**WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 **— The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned former Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila for allegedly supporting the March 23 Movement, or M23, and the Congo River Alliance, known as AFC. Treasury said the groups have driven political instability, civilian deaths and mass displacement in eastern DRC.

Treasury said the action supports the U.S.-brokered Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity signed by the DRC and Rwanda on Dec. 4, 2025, as well as a related regional economic integration framework meant to expand trade, improve transparency in critical minerals supply chains and encourage investment.

According to Treasury, M23 has captured significant territory in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu, with support from the Rwanda Defence Force, which OFAC sanctioned on March 2, 2026. Treasury said AFC serves as M23’s political-military coalition and that Kabila returned to the DRC to help destabilize the government through financial backing for AFC and efforts to encourage defections from Congolese armed forces.

Treasury also said Kabila sought to support attacks from outside the DRC and worked to elevate a candidate opposed to the current president in an effort to regain influence. OFAC designated him under Executive Order 13413, as amended by Executive Order 13671, for materially assisting, sponsoring or providing support to M23 and AFC.

As a result, any property or interests in property belonging to Kabila that are in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally barred from transactions involving those blocked interests unless authorized or exempt, and entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons are also considered blocked.