Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has accused the United States of displaying "increasingly blatant" bias regarding the peace deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The diplomatic row follows Washington’s imposition of fresh sanctions targeting entities alleged to have links to mineral trafficking from areas controlled by the M23 rebel group.
The sanctions mark a significant escalation in US efforts to regulate the flow of precious metals and rare earths from conflict-affected regions in Africa.
Previous measures included sanctions on a gold refinery in Rwanda, signaling Washington’s intent to cut off financial lifelines to armed groups profiting from the region’s resources.
The latest move targets the supply chains that have long been a point of contention between Kigali and Kinshasa.
For markets, the development underscores the persistent geopolitical risks embedded in African critical mineral supply chains.