US sanctions DR Congo ex-President Joseph Kabila for aiding rebels

The United States on Thursday announced the imposition of sanctions on Joseph Kabila, a former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in self-imposed exile since 2023.

The U.S. government indicated that 54-year-old Kabila assists armed groups destabilizing the eastern DRC. He was linked to the designated Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23).

The Treasury Department said M23 and its political-military arm, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), have been wreaking havoc, causing the deaths of thousands of civilians and mass displacement.

Kabila, who backs a candidate opposed to the current leader, is accused of funding the AFC to regain influence over the government and encouraging DRC troops to defect and join the AFC forces.

According to a State Department readout, financial and political support from individuals, including Kabila, enabled militant organizations to be the “principal drivers of violence and instability in the region.”

Washington expressed its solidarity with the Congolese people and urged regional leaders to reject those who perpetuate violence, vowing to hold accountable anyone who obstructs peace efforts.

The Trump Administration reiterated its resolve to ensure all parties uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity and the Doha Framework.

Kabila, DRC’s fourth president from 2001 to 2019, took office after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. In 2025, a Kinshasa military court convicted him of treason and war crimes.

Reacting to the sanction, DRC Deputy Prime Minister Jacquemain Shabani called Kabila “the instigator, the initiator, the architect of the destabilization of Congo,” and among those making peace elusive.

Last week, representatives from the DR Congo, Rwanda, the U.S., Qatar, and Togo (African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission met to assess implementation of the Peace Agreement.

The fifth meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee, held in Washington, DC., saw a presentation by DRC and Rwanda on ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.

Qatar also gave an update on the mediation between the DRC and AFC/M23. The parties affirmed a shared dedication to sustain the momentum in the peace process and build on the headway achieved so far.