US Sanctions Former DRC President Kabila Over Alleged Rebel Support

The US has sanctioned former DRC president Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebels and worsening instability in eastern Congo. The sanctions freeze his US assets and ban Americans from doing business with him.

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila over allegations that he supported the M23 rebels.
In a statement, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control accused Kabila of providing financial backing to the rebel group in an attempt to influence the political situation in eastern Congo. He was also accused of encouraging Congolese soldiers to defect and join the rebels.
The sanctions include freezing Kabila’s assets in the United States and prohibiting American individuals and businesses from engaging in any transactions with him.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s efforts to promote peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that those fueling instability would be held accountable.
The M23 rebel group has been a central player in the conflict in eastern Congo and currently controls key areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which were captured in early 2025.
In an effort to end the long-running conflict, Congo and Rwanda signed a historic peace agreement in Washington DC on December 4. However, fighting has continued in recent days, leading to renewed displacement of civilians, according to local sources.
Bessent added that the Treasury would continue to use all available measures to uphold the integrity of the Washington peace agreement.
Kabila led the country from 2001 to 2019 and has been living in South Africa since 2023. In early 2025, he reappeared publicly in eastern Congo and expressed a desire to return home to help resolve the ongoing crisis.
Meanwhile, a military court in Congo sentenced him to death in absentia last year on charges of treason and war crimes.