The Trump administration announced it was sanctioning former Congolese President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting armed groups active in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In statements Thursday, U.S. Treasury and State officials said Kabila would be subject to a freeze on any assets he has in the United States or that move through financial institutions in U.S. jurisdictions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the administration’s action was aimed at what he described as Kabila’s support for the Rwanda-backed M23 and the Congo River Alliance, both of which operate as rebel groups seeking to destabilize or topple the current Congolese government. Bessent said the administration would continue using tools available to it to support what it called the “integrity of the Washington Accords.”
The State Department issued its own statement framing the decision as part of a broader effort to press regional leaders to curb violence in the DRC. It said the United States stands with the Congolese people and called on regional leaders to reject those who perpetuate violence and instability, adding that the action sends a message that the United States will hold accountable anyone who obstructs peace efforts in the DRC.
Kabila served as Congo’s president from 2001 until 2019. The sanctions action was announced in the context of diplomatic efforts intended to end the long-running conflict in eastern Congo, including a U.S.-mediated peace deal reached between Congo and Rwanda last year.
The administration has pointed to progress on the negotiation while saying the agreement has been hindered by numerous violations. As the peace efforts have struggled, the U.S. announcement placed additional weight on alleged support for rebel activity, with the government saying it would hold accountable individuals it links to groups seeking to topple the current Congo government.
The sanctions’ financial mechanism includes freezing assets in the United States and assets that transit through U.S.-jurisdiction institutions, according to the Treasury and State Department announcements. Officials described the step as a warning aimed at those continuing to drive instability in the region, while maintaining support for attempts to implement the U.S.-mediated framework.