US to refuse visas to senior Rwandan officials over DR Congo violence

The United States said Friday it would refuse visas to several senior Rwandan officials, its latest sanction over accusations the country has violated a peace accord in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

President Donald Trump had signed the accord with the two leaders in December at a Washington ceremony where he hailed his deal-making prowess, but M23 fighters have since expanded their territorial gains in vast DRC.

"By continuing to support M23 and violating the Washington Accords, these individuals are driving violence and undermining the stability of the entire Great Lakes Region," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement announcing the visa restrictions.

"Individuals believed to be responsible for, complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in undermining or impeding a sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region will face consequences," he said.

Rubio said the sanctions would affect "several senior Rwandan officials" and potentially their family members. The State Department did not specify further, with visa records considered confidential under US law.

Rubio's announcement came days after the United States also imposed economic sanctions on Rwanda's military and four top officers including the army chief of staff, Vincent Nyakarundi, saying they were critical to M23 gains.

The United States also issued a statement Thursday with key powers including the European Union, France, Britain and former colonial power Belgium, calling for "a permanent ceasefire and a permanent cessation of hostilities."

"There can be no military solution to the conflict," said the statement.

It also called on all parties "to stop incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence," including against people of Rwandan heritage inside DRC.

Rwanda has denied supporting the M23 but has long pressed Kinshasa to crackdown on the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Hutu militants linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Rwanda, which has since grown into one of Africa's most stable countries, had for months tried to curry favor with Trump, offering to take in migrants deported from the United States, one of the president's top priorities.