The United States has imposed financial and legal sanctions on two senior commanders of armed groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing them of grave human rights abuses and attacks on civilian populations.

In an official statement, the US State Department said the measures target Gustave Kubwayo, a leader within the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, and John Imani Nzenze, described as the head of intelligence for the Congo River Alliance/M23. Washington states these actions are part of broader efforts to foster peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, and to push all conflict parties to honour international commitments, including those linked to the Washington Accords for peace and prosperity and the Doha process.

According to the State Department, Kubwayo is implicated in multiple atrocities attributed to the FDLR, including ethnically motivated violence, recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, and cross-border attacks threatening Rwanda’s security. Nzenze, meanwhile, is accused of playing a role within the M23, a group Washington considers backed by Rwanda. The US holds this movement responsible for numerous killings, serious human rights violations, and repeated assaults on civilian communities in eastern DRC.

In a parallel development, the Congolese army announced that 204 fighters from the AFC-M23 surrendered during April and May 2026. Major Dieudonné Kasereka, spokesperson for the 34th military region, stated that these former combatants gave themselves up in several operational zones in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including Lubero, Rutshuru, Masisi, and Kalehe. Military authorities said they have taken the necessary steps to handle the surrenderees. Major Kasereka also called on remaining fighters still active in forested areas to lay down their weapons and join the surrender process.

These developments come as clashes continue between the AFC-M23 and the Armed Forces of the DRC, supported by the Wazalendo self-defence groups. Fighting remains especially intense in several territories of North Kivu and South Kivu, where the security situation remains worrying.