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DR Congo - US - EU - Rwanda: EU Council Imposes Sanctions on RDF - AFC- M23 Leaders as RDF and UPDF Prepare to Seize Kisangani and Kill Luanda Peace Process

M23 Rebels in Rwanda in March 2013

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On  March 18, 2025,  The council of the European Union  listed  and sanctioned  several  top  commanders of the  Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) and  top Congolese leaders  the rebel movement Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and M23, accused of  being responsible of serious human rights abuses, including killings of and attacks and sexual violence against civilians, child recruitments, and  the looted mineral trafficking.  AfroAmerica Network sources in DR Congo and Rwanda, the leaders and the people in  DR Congo continue to thank the  EU and the US Government for theirs action, while the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and RDF top military leaders, very angry against the US Government and EU , are very worried about the next steps. Meanwhile, Rwandan dictator has severed relations with Belgium and  based on the AfroAmerica Network, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni held a secret meeting to plan the invasion and capture of the main city of Kisangani and surrounding  areas in upcoming weeks.  All these dynamics were unfolding a day before the  Congolese government and M23 rebels are set to meet in Luanda, Angola,  for peace talks, after many firm oppositions by Congolese President  Félix Tshisekedi to any negotiation with M23 rebels.  Feeling the heat, AFC/M23 fell in their own trap and officially withdrew from the planned Luanda peace talks at the last minute. 

  In these latest action The Council of the European Union, implementing the council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DR Congo,   imposed sanctions on RDF and AFC/M23  commanders and leaders for  being  "responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings of and attacks and sexual violence against civilians, as well as for child recruitment." and their  involvement  "in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC", including systematic massacres of civilians, rapes, looting of rich mineral and other natural resources, and other.

The Sanctions follow those imposed by the United States Government on February 20, 2025 and July 25, 2024,  and  the European Union (EU) on July 26, 2024 against  the top RDF  leaders and  top Congolese leaders and commanders of AFC and M23, for war crimes, looting, and human tragedies.

Rwandan Defense Forces troops, under the cover of AFC/M23 rebels and Twirwaneho, have been responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for more than a decade.  Since the beginning, AfroAmerica Network has reported, based on the sources within the Rwandan Government, that M23 rebels  and Twirwaneho were just a cover of the Rwandan troops (see DR Congo - US - Rwanda: US Government Imposes Sanctions Against Leaders of AFC- M23 - Twirwaneho Rebels in DRC).  

All these  sanctions point to serious human rights violations including  war crimes,  killings, sexual violence, attacks on civilians, as well as child recruitment. The sanctions target individuals for their  widespread  approval and encouraging systematic  massacres of civilians including children, women, elderly, disabled, and others. The  massacres of Rwandan refugees and Congolese civilians  by Rwandan defense forces directly and  under the cover of M23 and other Congolese militia  have reached  over 16 millions killed civilians including women, children, and elderly,  over  the last 30 years, as documented by the United Nations Group of Experts and other Non Government Organization and independent organizations and activists.

The Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 of The council of the European Union  include travel ban,  freezing of assets, economic resources  and funds  and  the  companies being forbidden from making funds available to the sanctioned entities and individuals.


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US  and EU Sanctions Expanding to  Rwandan Leaders Covering  the Invasion of DR Congo by Rwandan Regime.

EU  Sanctions now target a total of 40  individuals and five entities. In previous reports, one of the  key challenging questions was whether the latest  US and EU  sanctions, would finally be imposed on the  top Rwandan military leaders behind AFC, M23, Twirwaneho, and RED Tabara.  Among the Rwandan Defense Forces top Military leaders that had  been considered for sanctions for leading the invasion of the DRC, under the cover of M23 Rebels and Twirwaneho and soon Burundi, under RED Tabara  were:

  • General James Kabarebe, until recently the Defense and Security Adviser to the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame, who  designed and coordinated the invasion;
  •  Military leaders who designed the strategy and led the implementation of the operations:  General Jean Bosco Kazura, Lieutenant General Mubarakh Muganga, Major General Franck Mugambage, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, Major General Ruki Karusisi, Major General Eric Murokore, and Brigadier General Rugumyangabo Gacinya; 
  • Brigadier General Andrew Nyanvumba: Coordination of on ground operations by  RDF special and reserve forces (sanctioned);
  • Command of deployed RDF troops 201st and 301st brigades brigades, RDF special forces: Major General Ruki Karusisi, Major General Alexis Kagame,  Major General Emmy Ruvusha, and Captain Niragire Jean Pierre, aka alias Gasasira.

The latest US sanctions against General James Kabarebe  was a major step.  Now, more RDF commanders have been added by the EU council. These include:

  • Ruki Karusisi, Major General and  commander of the Special Force Command  of RDF 
  • Eugène Nkubito,  Major General and commander of the 3rd Division RDF deployed in Eastern DR Congo
  • Pascal Muhizi, Brigadier General and commander of the 2nd Division RDF deployed in Eastern DR Congo
  • Désire Rukomera,  Head of  de recrutement et propaganda for  M23

Two entities involved in the looting and whitewashing  of the minerals in the DRC Congo were targeted by the sanctions:

  • Francis Kamanzi, CEO of  Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB), involved in illicit trafficking for the benefit of Rwandan leaders and the puppet leaders of AFC/M23
  • Gasabo Gold Refinery, based in Kigali Rwanda. It is the only gold refinery in Rwanda, with the role covering the extraction and engaging in the illicit trafficking of natural mineral resources from Eastern DRC

The leaders of AFC/M23 targeted by the latest EU Council sanctions include:

  • Bertrand Bisimwa,  Vice- President and Political Coordinator of AFC/M23
  • John Imani Nzenze, Colonel and responsible for intelligence for  M23
  • Jean Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi, Head of Finances  and Production Department for  M23
  • Joseph Musanga Bahati (aka Bahati Erasto),  former Chief  of Finances, now  M23 Governor of  North -Kivu  Province.

 In previous reports, one of the  key challenging questions was whether the latest  US and EU  sanctions will continue to expand and reach top leaders of the RDF and  troops from other countries  involved in the invasion of DR Congo.

Impact of EU Sanctions on Already Improbable Peace Negotiations in Luanda, Angola.

The diplomatic confrontations between the Rwandan dictatorship and  Belgium come a day before the  Congolese government and M23 rebels were  set to meet in Luanda, Angola,  for peace talks. The planned negotiations follow an long-standing  open opposition by Congolese President  Félix Tshisekedi to any negotiation with M23 rebels, labelled "a terrorist group under the cover of  which the RDF  troops have  been invading the Eastern DR Congo."

Then a surprise came at the last minute. Feeling the heat of international sanctions and condemnations, RDF under the cover AFC/M23  fell in  their the trap and  withdrew from the planned Luanda peace talks at the last minute.   In a statement released on March 17, 2025 in reaction to EU sanctions,  the  AFC/M23  group leaders  accused the word powers and  institutions of deliberately undermining the peace negotiations process  by imposing sanctions on its leaders.

In the  statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka  said, “Our organization can no longer continue its participation in the discussions,”  said in a Monday statement, citing government coalition's continued military operations and EU sanctions on its members as key factors jeopardizing the talks. .. The successive sanctions imposed on our members, including those adopted on the eve of the Luanda discussions, seriously compromise direct dialogue and prevent any progress. .. Under these circumstances, the talks have become impracticable.” 

According to AfroAmerica Network sources in Angola, the DR Congo team members already in Luanda were full of joy when they read the statement.  "At least the world, now,  has tangible proofs of who  the dictator Paul Kagame, his RDF killing machine,  and  his puppets,  under the cover of AFC/M23 cover, truly are," they said loudly. 

What is was the trap. According to sources close to RDF and UPDF commanders, AFC/M23 leaders were asked to fake the engagement to the Luanda peace negotiations while a plan and  a military strategy to capture Kisangani and advance on Kinshasa were being finalized.

EU  Sanctions as Rwandan Dictator Severed Diplomatic Relations with Belgium and Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni Held a Meeting to Plan to Capture the Strategic City and Area of Kisangani.

As the EU Council was enacting the sanctions against RDF and AFC/M23 leaders and Commanders, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame cut diplomatic ties with Belgium, blaming the leaders of Belgium of having "consistently undermined" Rwandan dictatorship by accusing it of invading the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 The blames by the Rwandan dictator are based on the fact that Belgium political leaders have been the leading voice in calling the UE and all European countries to support and enact sanctions against the Rwandan government for invading the DR Congo, under the cover of M23.  In the statement issued by the government of the Rwandan dictatorship on March 17, 2025, Belgian government is accused of seeking to "sustain its neo-colonial delusions" and taking sides " in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilize both Rwanda and the region".
The invasion of Eastern DR Congo by RPF troops under the cover of M23 has been unquestionably confirmed by both the United Nations, the US, EU, and other independent organizations and political observers. 
Before the decision to sever the ties and the sanctions by EU Council, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame mocked Belgium in a public statement, saying "We would ask [Belgium]: 'Who are you by the way? Who put you in charge of us? Rwandans believe in God, but did God really put these people in charge of Rwanda?" 

Paul Kagame's dictatorship has given Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave Rwanda.

The Belgian Government has, through Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, consequently,  also declared  the Rwandan diplomats in Belgium as "persona non grata".  

Meanwhile, AfroAmerica Network, through sources close to Ugandan and Rwandan top government and military leaders,  has learned that as thes dynamics around the sanctions by EU Council and severing diplomatic ties  were ongoing, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and Ugandan Dictator Yoweri Museveni held a secret meeting. The meeting was attended by some top leaders of AFC/M23 and top commanders of both UPDF and RPF. It was not clear whether Corneille Nangaa, also labelled "Pastor BiziNanga" by his RDF assistants and intelligence agents, referring to the fact that he has been playing the puppet role similar to the one played by the former Rwandan president Pasteur Bizumungu, when he served as the marionnette of RPF de facto leaders  during the 1990-1994 Rwandan invasion, becoming the president after the invasion, before being disgracefully removed from the position when his role as a figurehead was no longer needed.

The objective was to finalize the military strategy and actions to expand the invasion towards Kinshasa. The focus of the meeting was on seizing the town of Kisangani as the first step.

Once the  Kisangani town and areas are seized the  RDF/UPDF forces, under the cover of AFC/M23 rebels,  will be able to march on the capital Kinshasa without facing strong military resistance, given that the two areas are separated by empty lands and waters, especially the equatorial and tropical rain forests.

Meanwhile, a key question remains: Will Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and the other top Rwandan military and Political leaders mentioned  for their roles in leading the invasion of DR Congo and, as planned,  of  Burundi,  be sanctioned soon, along with their families and associates? 

According to public information the US State Department has accused  Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame regime, his associates and family members,  of violating various U.S. statutes by utilizing the U.S. financial system to transfer funds from illicit trade of minerals.  These actions violate the provisions of  the Anti-Money Laundering Act,  the Bank Secrecy Act, the Foreign Assistance Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

How about the Ugandan Military Leaders, especially the Chief of Defence of UPDF, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni, who has sent the Ugandan People's Defense forces (UPDF) to reinforce the RDF in their invasions and now is preparing the seizure of Kisangani (see:DR Congo - Rwanda - Uganda: DRC Balkanization Plan In Progress; Is The World Ready for a Nightmare Similar to the 1990-1994 Rwandan Tragedy?).

AfroAmerica Network is still following the dynamics.

©2025 AfroAmerica Network. 


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