STABLE DRC Act

Summary#

This bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person that violates or knowingly undermines the Washington Accords, the June 2025 peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Sanctions described include blocking and prohibiting transactions in the person's property under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and making the person inadmissible to the United States, including revoking visas and entry documents. The bill allows exceptions for obligations under the U.N. Headquarters agreement, for humanitarian assistance (including food, medicine, and transport), and for authorized U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, and national security activities. The President must establish a sanctions program and may use IEEPA authorities and penalties; the authority to impose these sanctions sunsets seven years after enactment. The bill also includes findings that Rwandan forces aided M23, that DRC forces supported the FDLR, and that both groups committed serious abuses.

What it means for you#

  • Foreign persons found to violate or knowingly undermine the Washington Accords can have assets blocked in or controlled from the United States and can be declared inadmissible to the United States with visas revoked.
  • U.S. persons could be barred from engaging in transactions involving blocked property and may face penalties under IEEPA if they violate implementing regulations.
  • Humanitarian organizations and activities for food, medicine, medical devices, and transport of humanitarian assistance are explicitly excepted from these sanctions.
  • The President will create a sanctions program to identify and list affected foreign persons; the program ends seven years after the law is enacted.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s findings and policy statements say the measures will support the Washington Accords, uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the parties, treat the eastern DRC conflict as a regional threat, and use sanctions as a tool to help end the conflict involving the DRC, M23, and Rwanda.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.