**Fatshimetrie: The Urgency of Targeted International Sanctions Against Rwanda**
In an already highly unstable regional context, the issue of international sanctions against Rwanda is a crucial problem that cannot be ignored. While the United States and the European Union have recently imposed limited sanctions on individuals involved in the instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Congolese government has expressed frustration with this partial approach. According to it, it is imperative to further target Rwandan leaders, the real instigators of the unrest and violations of international law in the Great Lakes region.
Indeed, by simply sanctioning specific individuals and entities without going all the way to the highest levels of Rwandan power, the international community risks missing the opportunity to put a lasting end to the conflicts and recurring crises that are shaking this part of Africa. The Congolese government’s calls for additional targeted sanctions against Rwanda are therefore legitimate, in that they aim to identify and hold accountable the real actors of these troubles by putting them under international pressure.
It is undeniable that Rwanda occupies a key position in the region and that any action aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Great Lakes requires an awareness of the responsibility of its leaders. By focusing attention on the Rwandan president and his close entourage, the international community would send a strong and clear message that violations of international law will not go unpunished. This approach would also restore a balance of power and promote fairer negotiations between the different parties involved in regional conflicts.
It is also important to stress that peace and security in the Great Lakes region can only be guaranteed if Rwanda ceases to benefit from the tacit support of certain foreign powers. The DRC, despite its own challenges and fragilities, is strengthening its military capabilities and asserting its sovereign interests on the international stage. The rise of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) is a strong signal that the balance of power could shift in the country’s favor, creating new opportunities for stabilizing the region.
In conclusion, the urgency of targeted international sanctions against Rwanda cannot be underestimated. It is time for the international community to take concrete steps to hold the real perpetrators of the unrest in the Great Lakes accountable and to promote a peaceful and lasting resolution of the conflictsSanctions should not be seen as an end in themselves, but as a means to restore justice, promote peace and prevent new crises in a region already marked for too long by instability and human suffering.