On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Petrolex, a Rwandan oil refinery, accusing it of providing financial and material support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to the Treasury statement, Petrolex has been involved in the illicit trade of refined petroleum products, with proceeds channeled to the M23, which has been engaged in armed conflict in North Kivu province. The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets of the refinery and prohibit American entities from doing business with it.
The M23, a predominantly Tutsi rebel group, has been active in the DRC since 2012, with periodic ceasefires and escalations. The U.S. action follows a United Nations Group of Experts report from May 2026 that documented links between Rwandan economic actors and the M23, though Rwanda has consistently denied state involvement.
The DRC government welcomed the sanctions, calling them a step toward regional stability. The U.S. Treasury emphasized that the sanctions are part of broader efforts to hold accountable those fueling conflict in the Great Lakes region.
