{
  "id": 16982490,
  "title": "US sanctions Rwandan defence ministry over M23 ties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/us-sanctions-rwandan-defence-ministry-over-m23-ties",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T00:13:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/29/us-sanctions-rwandan-defence-ministry-over-m23-ties"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwandan defence ministry and a financial institution in Rwanda over their alleged ties to the M23 armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo. President Donald Trump had previously promised to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity. The M23 group has seized mineral-rich territory in eastern Congo since resuming its insurgency in 2021, despite a US-brokered truce in December. Fighting has continued in the region, home to valuable minerals, which has seen an Ebola epidemic. In early 2025, an offensive by the M23 and Rwandan army resulted in the capture of Goma and Bukavu, the capitals of North and South Kivu provinces. While UN experts claim that Rwanda still has thousands of troops aiding the M23 and exerts de facto control over the group, the DRC has denied providing the M23 with military support. The US department of state confirmed that thousands of troops from Rwanda's Defence Force continued to fight alongside the M23 in North and South Kivu provinces. In Wednesday's move, the US blocked financial transactions with Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a financial institution serving Rwanda's security services. The US had previously sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force in March.",
  "summary": "Despite a US-brokered truce in December, fighting has continued to rage in a region that has been torn apart by conflict for three decades.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}