The United States has imposed financial and legal sanctions on two senior commanders of armed groups active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing them of involvement in serious human rights abuses and attacks against civilian populations.
According to a statement from the US State Department, the measures target Gustave Kubwayo, a member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and John Imani Nzenze, described as the head of intelligence for the Congo River Alliance/M23 (AFC-M23).
Washington says these sanctions are part of broader efforts to foster peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. US authorities also aim to compel all conflict parties to honour their international commitments, particularly those under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity and the Doha process.
The State Department reports that Gustave Kubwayo is allegedly involved in multiple abuses attributed to the FDLR, including ethnically motivated violence, recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, and cross-border attacks threatening Rwanda’s security.
John Imani Nzenze, meanwhile, is accused of playing a role within the M23, an armed group Washington believes is backed by Rwanda. The United States attributes several killings, serious human rights violations, and repeated attacks on civilian communities in eastern DRC to this movement.
Meanwhile, the Congolese army has announced the surrender of 204 AFC-M23 fighters during April and May 2026. According to a statement from Major Dieudonné Kasereka, spokesperson for the 34th military region, these former combatants surrendered in several operational zones within North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including Lubero, Rutshuru, Masisi, and Kalehe.
Military authorities say they have made the necessary arrangements for their processing. Major Kasereka also appealed to other fighters still active in forested areas to lay down their weapons and join the surrender process.
These developments come as clashes continue between the AFC-M23 and the Armed Forces of the DRC, supported by the Wazalendo self-defense groups. Fighting remains especially intense in several territories of North Kivu and South Kivu, where the security situation remains worrying.
