The United States has imposed financial and legal sanctions on two senior leaders of armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), citing their involvement in serious human rights violations and attacks on civilian populations.
In an official statement, the U.S. Department of State identified Gustave Kubwayo, a commander within the Rwandan Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and John Imani Nzenze, reportedly the intelligence chief of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC-M23), as targets of these measures. The announcement underscores Washington’s commitment to fostering peace and stability in the Great Lakes region while urging all conflict parties to uphold their international obligations, including commitments outlined in the Washington Peace Accords and the Doha Process.
According to U.S. authorities, Gustave Kubwayo is accused of orchestrating multiple atrocities attributed to the FDLR, including ethnic violence, the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual assaults, and cross-border attacks that threaten Rwanda’s security. Meanwhile, John Imani Nzenze is alleged to have played a key role within the M23, a group Washington accuses of receiving support from Rwanda. The U.S. holds the AFC-M23 accountable for numerous killings, severe human rights abuses, and repeated assaults on civilian communities in eastern DRC.
In a separate development, the Congolese Armed Forces reported the surrender of 204 AFC-M23 fighters during April and May 2026. A statement from the spokesperson of the 34th Military Region, Major Dieudonné Kasereka, confirmed that these former combatants laid down their arms in key operational zones across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including Lubero, Rutshuru, Masisi, and Kalehe. Military authorities have assured that measures are in place to provide for their reintegration.
Major Kasereka also issued a call to remaining fighters active in forested areas to lay down their weapons and join the surrender process. These events unfold against a backdrop of ongoing clashes between the AFC-M23 and the DRC Armed Forces, which are bolstered by the Wazalendo self-defense groups. Fighting remains particularly intense in several territories of North Kivu and South Kivu, where the security situation continues to raise serious concerns.