Rwanda Defence Force. UN Group of Experts reports document command-and-control over M23, with thousands of RDF troops deployed in North and South Kivu, and advanced systems (surface-to-air missiles, GPS jamming, drones). Kigali cites the FDLR threat as justification and denies involvement. The US sanctioned the RDF and four senior officers (2 Mar 2026), then the Rwandan Ministry of Defence and the Zigama Credit and Savings Society (28 Oct 2026).
Origin: Rwanda
Recent (to 3 Nov 2026)
- 28 Oct 2026: US sanctions on the Rwandan MoD and Zigama; see US sanctions on Rwanda’s MoD and Zigama (Oct 2026).
Relationships
- Backs / commands (UN GoE): M23
- Backs: AFC
- Backs: FRN
- Accused of backing: Twirwaneho
- Accused of backing (by Burundi): RED-Tabara
- Hostile to: FDLR
- Signatory: Washington Accord (June 2025)
- Sanctioned in: US sanctions on Rwanda’s MoD and Zigama (Oct 2026)
Referenced by
- AFC (Backed by)
- FDLR (Hostile to)
- FRN (Backed by)
- M23 (Backed by)
- RED-Tabara (Accused backer)
- US sanctions on Rwanda’s MoD and Zigama (Oct 2026) (Target)
- United States (Sanctioned)
- Uvira offensive and withdrawal (Dec 2025 – Jan 2026) (Attacker)
- Washington Accord (June 2025) (Signatory)