The United States announced on Friday, March 6, 2026, that it will deny visas to several senior Rwandan officials, escalating pressure over alleged violations of peace agreements in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the measures target individuals accused of undermining regional stability by supporting the M23 rebel group, which has expanded territorial control in eastern DRC despite a 2023 Washington-brokered peace accord.
This marks the latest in a series of US actions, including recent economic sanctions against Rwanda’s military leadership. Rubio emphasized that those "driving violence" in the Great Lakes Region would face consequences, with potential restrictions extending to family members of implicated officials.
International partners, including the EU, France, and Belgium, echoed calls for a permanent ceasefire and an end to hostilities. A joint statement urged all parties to halt hate speech and protect Rwandan heritage communities within DRC.
Rwanda continues to deny backing M23 but maintains its demand for DRC to address Hutu militant groups linked to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. The visa bans come amid heightened scrutiny of Kigali’s foreign policy, despite its reputation as a stable African nation and past diplomatic overtures to the US.
