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The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on former Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Washington alleges Kabila provided financial backing to M23, encouraged defections from the Congolese army and “sought to launch attacks” on the military from outside the country.
The 54-year-old former leader, who governed DR Congo from 2001 to 2019, had not responded to a request for comment from the BBC.
The U.S. said the sanctions formed part of a broader effort to support last year’s peace agreement between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, which Washington helped broker.
The U.S. also alleges Rwanda supports M23 and in March sanctioned several senior commanders of the Rwanda Defence Force.
Kigali denies backing the rebels, insisting its military presence in the region is a defensive response to threats posed by armed groups inside DR Congo.
A statement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury alleged that Kabila sought to destabilise Kinshasa and position an opposition figure to regain political influence.
Under the measures, all of Kabila’s U.S.-based assets have been frozen. American citizens and companies are barred from doing business with him, while banks and foreign partners have been warned against even indirect dealings, with violations carrying significant civil or criminal penalties.
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Washington said the sanctions were intended not only to punish but to force behavioural change, signalling its readiness to target former leaders accused of fuelling conflict.
Eastern DR Congo has faced decades of violence involving numerous armed groups. At the start of 2025, M23 seized large areas of the mineral-rich region, including several major cities.
The U.S. said the new sanctions also reinforced a regional economic agreement aimed at “enhancing transparency in critical minerals supply chains.” Last December, the U.S. and DR Congo agreed to expand cooperation on access to minerals such as cobalt, coltan and copper.
Kabila’s current whereabouts are unclear. Twelve months ago, he appeared in Goma, then under M23 control.
In September last year, he was sentenced to death in absentia by a Congolese military court for war crimes and treason linked to his alleged support for the rebels. He denied the charges and declined to appear in court, calling the case “arbitrary.”
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