Di United States don sanction former president of Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, on Thursday, 30 April 2026. Di US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, wey dem dey call OFAC, add am to dia blacklist, accusing am of contributing to instability in di country.
According to di statement from OFAC, Joseph Kabila dey support di M23 armed group and im political arm, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). Di US say di former leader dey try to destabilise di current government of RDC through dis support.
Di sanction mean say any property wey Joseph Kabila get for United States go dey frozen. Also, American citizens and companies no go fit do any business with am. Di statement say, all assets wey dey inside US or under control of US persons wey belong to Kabila must dey reported to OFAC.
Di US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, talk say, President Donald Trump dey work for peace for RDC and don make am clear say those wey dey cause instability go face consequences. Dis sanction dey support di Washington Accords for peace and prosperity, wey di US negotiate and di leaders of RDC and Rwanda sign on 4 December 2025.
Di Washington Accords include promises to push regional economic integration, improve transparency for critical mineral supply chains, and open door for more investment for di region. Di M23 group, wey Rwanda dey support, don cause plenty violence for eastern RDC, killing thousands of civilians and forcing many people to run from dia homes.
Joseph Kabila, wey rule RDC from 2001 to 2019, don dey under pressure before. On 30 September 2025, Congolese court condemn am to death in absentia for complicity with M23. Di court say im dey support di group wey dey fight against government.
Di sanction come at a time when di security situation for eastern RDC still dey very bad. Di M23 and AFC don take control of some areas, and di government dey try to stop dia advance. Di US action dey show say international community dey watch di matter well well.
Meanwhile, inside Kinshasa, di ruling party UDPS/Tshisekedi don announce say dem go hold a peaceful march on Saturday, 2 May 2026, to support di US sanctions against Joseph Kabila. Di party say di march go start from Boulevard Triomphal at 9:30am and go end at US embassy, where dem go hand over a memorandum of thanks. Di party dey call on allies, civil society, religious groups, and students to join di march.
Before di march, on Friday 1 May, di party go hold a sensitisation meeting at dia national headquarters for Limete to mobilise members. Di party president say dis sanction na big step to address di insecurity for eastern RDC.
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