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US sanctions former DRC President Kabila for supporting M23 rebels and AFC

The United States imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on April 30, 2026, accusing him of providing financial and political support to the M23 rebel group and the Congo River Alliance in eastern DRC. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Kabila for materially assisting these armed groups, which aim to destabilize the current government. He has funded the groups, encouraged army defections, and sought to install an opposing candidate.

These sanctions target Kabila's efforts to undermine peace in eastern DRC, a region plagued by ongoing armed conflict. By blocking his US assets and barring transactions, the US aims to curb support for rebels and bolster stability. The move underscores international pressure on actors fueling violence in one of Africa's most volatile areas.

  • The Congo River flows over 4,700 km, making it Africa's second-longest river after the Nile.
  • M23 rebels draw their name from a 2009 peace deal signed on March 23.
  • Laurent-Désiré Kabila launched a 1996 rebellion from Tanzania's Kigoma region.
US sanctions former DRC President Kabila for supporting M23 rebels and AFC | Implica