On July 26, 2024, The European Union (EU) Council listed and sanctioned a commander of the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) and top Congolese leaders and commanders of the rebel movement Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and M23. The sanctions follow those imposed on July 25, 2024 by the United States Government, designating and sanctioning top Congolese leaders of the rebel movement Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), M23, and Twirwaneho and those of August 24, 2023 against a Rwandan military general, Brigadier General Andrew Nyanvumba, leading the Congolese invasion by Rwandan troops under the cover of M23 rebels.
Politics
DR Congo - US - Rwanda: US Government Imposes Sanctions Against Leaders of AFC- M23 - Twirwaneho Rebels in DRC
On July 25, 2024, The United States Government designated and sanctioned top Congolese leaders of the rebel movement Alliance Fleuve Congo, M23, and Twirwaneho. The sanctions target the leader Corneille Yobeluo Nangaa (aka Nangaa), of Congo River Alliance (Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)), Bertrand Bisimwa (aka Bisimwa) , President of M23, and Charles Sematama (aka Sematama), the commander and deputy military leader of Twirwaneho.
The sanctions follow those imposed on August 24, 2023 against a Rwandan military general, Brigadier General Andrew Nyanvumba, leading the Congolese invasion by Rwandan troops under the cover of M23 rebels, that were enacted a week after the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called to put pressure on Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame, regarding the invasion of the DRC.
Rwanda-USA-France: USA, French, and Former RPF Leaders Reaffirm that the Rwandan Genocide Targeted All Ethnic Groups.
During the commemoration of the 30 Years anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, the US Government leaders have expressed their empathy towards and solidarity with the Rwandan people, regardless of their ethnic group. Reacting to US Government leaders' statements, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame publicly expressed his concern that the US Government has included victims of the 1994 tragedy from all ethnic groups. His comments have shocked the world, especially given the indisputable facts on the genocide committed in Rwanda in 1994. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has maintained his position that France has responsibility but was not an accomplice in the Rwandan massacres. Moreover, former RPF top leaders have reinforced their testimony that the RPF army was responsible of the assassination of late Rwandan President General Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira, an event which became the catalyst of the Rwandan genocide..
USA - Africa - Democracy: Rwanda's Paul Kagame Mocking and Challenging the US, Following Sanctions for War Crimes in DR Congo
In December 2023, African presidents and dictators attended the US - Africa Summit convened by US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC. Aside the event, Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned the US leaders against bullying him for the repression, the lack of democracy, and abuses of human rights in his regime, raising other African leaders' eyebrows. He has done it again. In recent interviews with media journalists in Kigali, Rwanda, Paul Kagame mocked the US Government. He told the media that the criticism of the US against his repressive regime “feels and sounds just like a joke.”