Rwanda President Promotes General Sanctioned by U.S.

In what could be interpreted as defiance or protest against Washington, President Paul Kagame promoted the military officer sanctioned by the U.S. for involvement in the conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Brigadier-General Andrew Nyamvumba was named to a new position, along with numerous key army officers including Major. Generals. Emmy Ruvusha, and Eugene Nkubito.

The appointment comes barely a week after the U.S. Department of Treasury classified Nyamvumba as one of six individuals in the eastern DR Congo implicated for their alleged roles in backing abusive armed groups in the conflict.

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi's administration accuses the neighboring country of supporting the rebels, an accusation Rwanda has denied.