US imposes visa restrictions on senior Rwandan officials over eastern Congo
The United States has announced plans to impose visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials, accusing them of contributing to instability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The decision was announced by the United States Department of State in a statement released on Friday, March 6, 2026.
According to the statement, the U.S. government will suspend the issuance of visas to multiple high-ranking officials from Rwanda due to what Washington describes as their role in destabilizing the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The U.S. Department of State will implement visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials due to their involvement in destabilizing eastern DRC,” the statement said.
Washington said the move is based on accusations that some Rwandan officials continue to support the M23 rebel group and have violated commitments made under the Washington Agreement on Eastern Congo Security. U.S. authorities claim such actions contribute to ongoing violence and undermine peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.
The decision follows earlier sanctions imposed by the United States on members of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), including four senior officers, whom Washington accused of supporting M23 operations in eastern Congo.
The United States also emphasized that all parties involved in the Washington agreement must fulfill their commitments in order to restore peace in the region.
Washington stated that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must “immediately dismantle” the armed group FDLR and other affiliated militias. At the same time, it said Rwanda must withdraw its troops and military equipment from Congolese territory.
According to the U.S. government, implementing these measures is essential to achieving long-term peace and economic stability in the Great Lakes region.
The statement further warned that individuals found to be involved in supporting or directly contributing to the disruption of lasting peace in the region could face additional diplomatic consequences.
Washington explained that the visa restrictions are based on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the Secretary of State authority to deny entry to foreign nationals whose presence in the United States could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
In addition to the targeted officials, some of their family members may also be affected by the visa restrictions.
