Visa Restrictions for Undermining Great Lakes Peace

State Dept EB Bureau

Filed March 6th, 2026

Detected March 6th, 2026

Summary

The Department of State has imposed visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials for fueling instability in eastern DRC and violating the Washington Accords. This action targets individuals undermining peace in the Great Lakes Region, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Department of State announced visa restrictions on senior Rwandan officials for their alleged support of the M23 group and violation of the Washington Accords, which are seen as undermining peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. This policy, enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, renders individuals deemed to have seriously adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States inadmissible. Certain family members may also be subject to these restrictions.

This action signifies a direct consequence for individuals involved in destabilizing activities in the DRC and Great Lakes region. While the announcement does not specify a compliance deadline for regulated entities, it highlights the U.S. government's commitment to enforcing peace agreements through targeted sanctions. Affected individuals and potentially their families will face entry restrictions into the United States.

What to do next

Review the list of sanctioned individuals and their associated family members.
Assess any potential impact on U.S. operations or personnel related to the Great Lakes region.
Monitor further announcements from the Department of State regarding the Great Lakes region and sanctions.

Penalties

Visa restrictions rendering individuals inadmissible to the United States.

Source document (simplified)

Home Office of the Spokesperson Press Releases … Announcement of Visa Restriction Policy Targeting Individuals Undermining Peace in the Great Lakes Region hide

Announcement of Visa Restriction Policy Targeting Individuals Undermining Peace in the Great Lakes Region

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

March 6, 2026

The Department of State will impose visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials for fueling instability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). By continuing to support M23 and violating the Washington Accords, these individuals are driving violence and undermining the stability of the entire Great Lakes Region.

The United States expects all parties to the Washington Accords to fully implement their commitments, including by the DRC immediately neutralizing the FDLR armed group and its associated groups and Rwanda withdrawing its troops and military equipment from the DRC. Only then will the immense economic potential of the Great Lakes region be realized. Individuals believed to be responsible for, complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in undermining or impeding a sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region will face consequences.

This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the Secretary of State to render inadmissible any alien whose entry into the Unites States “would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” Certain family members may also be covered by these restrictions.