As vast swaths of Congolese territory are seized by a Rwandan-backed armed group, Congo’s president looks to make a minerals deal with the United States.

The Trump administration sanctioned one of Rwanda’s most powerful officials for his role in supporting the M23 rebel movement in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United States announced sanctions against a Rwandan official and a Rwandan-backed rebel in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo over a rapidly expanding war in the area. On Thursday, the departments of State and Treasury announced sanctions against Rwandan Minister of State for Regional Integration James Kabarebe and Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston,