CSPA Implementation Tracker

Specifically, the president has waived nearly $40,000 in Direct Commercial Sales and more than $1.3 million in International Military Education and Training. Due to CSPA prohibitions, the president denied Rwanda $1,464 in Direct Commercial Sales and $550,000 in International Military Education and Training.

According to the U.S. State Department, the Rwandan government provided support to armed groups that recruit and use child soldiers, including the March 23 Movement (M23) and Burundian opposition groups. In 2012, Rwandan government officials reportedly provided material support – including weapons and ammunition – to the M23, an armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that was known to recruit and use child soldiers in combat and support roles. In 2013, these activities expanded to include the provision of logistical support – including training and reinforcements – by the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF). There were also reports of the RDF conscripting soldiers into the M23 and forcibly returning deserters to the group between 2012 and 2013. There were no reports of these activities continuing in the years immediately following M23’s military defeat in November 2013, and Rwanda was subsequently removed from the CSPA list in 2015.

Rwanda reappeared on the 2016 CSPA list following reports that it facilitated or tolerated the recruitment activities of Burundian opposition groups that recruited child soldiers, as well as reports that it provided these groups with training. In 2015, these armed groups recruited Burundian refugees – including at least three children – from a refugee camp in Rwanda for use in their effort to overthrow the Burundian government. Rwandan security forces tasked with protecting the camp reportedly facilitated or tolerated the recruitment activity, including by threatening and physically assaulting those who refused recruitment attempts. Rwandan military personnel also provided weapons training to Burundian recruits, some of whom were children. There were no reports of these activities continuing in 2016, and Rwanda was removed from that year’s CSPA list.

From 2013 to 2016, Rwanda took several steps to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers by government and government-backed forces. For example, the Rwandan government continued its victim protection efforts, including by providing psycho-social support, education, and reintegration services to former child soldiers, in part to prevent their re-recruitment. It passed and implemented a national anti-trafficking action plan in 2014, and increased government spending on anti-trafficking programs the following year. However, the Rwandan government – in addition to supporting armed groups that recruited and used child soldiers – did not allow former M23 child soldiers to reintegrate through its facilities, nor did it investigate credible allegations that Rwandan officials were complicit in child soldier recruitment.

Rwanda reappeared on the CSPA list in 2023 following renewed reports of child soldier recruitment and use by government-supported actors. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda coordinated with and provided support for M23 between April 2022 and March 2023, during which time the group forcibly recruited and used child soldiers, including in direct hostilities.

For more information, see the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report and Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.