Brussels finally approved sanctions on 17 March against senior Rwandan military and M23 officials. The rebels, who are supposed to be heading to Luanda, Angola, for talks with Congolese authorities, continue to advance in eastern DRC.
The second attempt proved successful. In Brussels, all 27 EU member states agreed to sanction several Rwandan officers and leaders of the M23, the rebel group fighting in eastern DRC with backing from Kigali. The decision was announced on 17 March after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Nine individuals and one entity have been targeted.
Among the most senior names is Major General Ruki Karusisi, until recently commander of the Rwandan Defence Forces’ (RDF) special forces. Just two days before the EU’s announcement, on 15 March, President Paul Kagame replaced him with Brigadier General Stanislas Gashugi.
UN experts had already pointed the finger at Karusisi in June 2023, accusing him of overseeing RDF operations in eastern DRC under the direction of James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s minister for regional cooperation, also subject to US sanctions. Karusisi is sanctioned alongside Major General Eugène Nkubito, head of the RDF’s third division, and Brigadier General Pascal Muhizi, who commands the second division. Both units are currently deployed in eastern Congo.
On the M23 side, the EU has sanctioned Bertrand Bisimwa, head of the group’s political wing, and Colonel John Imani Nzenze, its intelligence chief. Also named is Erasto Bahati Musanga, appointed in February by the rebels as ‘governor’ of North Kivu.
The entity targeted is the Gasabo Gold Refinery, accused of processing gold illegally extracted from Congolese territory. The EU has also sanctioned Francis Kamanzi, head of the Rwanda Mining Board. The move puts at risk a strategic minerals partnership between the EU and Rwanda, agreed in February 2024, that had drawn anger from Kinshasa.
Breakdown in Rwanda-Belgium ties
The sanctions, long expected since the European Parliament called for them, were delayed at the last minute on 24 February. During that earlier meeting of foreign ministers, Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel blocked the move, urging colleagues to give regional diplomacy more time.
Bettel pointed to a planned meeting between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) set for 28 February – that never took place. Bettel’s veto caused frustration in Brussels and the EU settled for suspending security talks with Rwanda and promised to “review” its strategic minerals partnership.
