HRW says US sanctions against Kigali are insufficient
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Beto
Human Rights Watch says US sanctions on Rwanda’s Defence Ministry and Zigama Credit and Savings Society will not be enough to protect civilians in eastern DR Congo. The organisation is calling for direct measures against abuses and impunity, recalling the role attributed to the M23, according to its 30 October statement.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) believes that US sanctions targeting Rwanda’s Defence Ministry and Zigama Credit and Savings Society will not be enough to protect civilians in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to a statement published on 30 October 2026. The organisation is calling on Washington and its partners to act against abuses and impunity.
HRW is calling for the protection of populations and justice to become priorities in peace negotiations. The organisation is also calling on the Congolese authorities to investigate violations committed by their own forces and prosecute those responsible. It recalled that the UN identified the M23 as the main perpetrator of documented human rights violations in the DRC in 2025, ahead of the DRC’s armed forces.
The US Treasury Department announced the sanctions this week. They provide for the freezing in the United States of the assets of the two entities and restrict their access to dollar transactions. According to US authorities, Zigama Credit and Savings Society allegedly facilitated payments intended for the Rwandan army and the M23.
HRW’s reaction came after Kinshasa welcomed US sanctions targeting Kigali on 29 October. The following day, the organisation called for economic pressure to be complemented by measures to protect civilians and combat impunity.
