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Rwanda has condemned the UK’s decision to suspend some aid over Kigali’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group, calling the move “punitive” and politically biased.
The UK government announced the suspension in response to Rwanda’s backing of M23, which has seized large parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in a violent conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands since January, according to Congolese authorities.
UK Cites Humanitarian Crisis in DR Congo
The UK described the humanitarian situation in DR Congo as “critical” and confirmed that while general bilateral aid to Rwanda—estimated at £32 million ($40 million) annually—would be halted, support for the poorest and most vulnerable would continue.
The UK is also considering further measures, including potential sanctions and suspending “future defence training assistance,” until Rwanda makes “significant progress” in ending hostilities and withdrawing its troops from DR Congo.
UN experts estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are currently deployed in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda Denies Wrongdoing, Accuses UK of Bias
Rwanda has previously denied supporting M23 but recently shifted its stance, arguing that ongoing fighting near the border threatens its national security.
In response to the UK’s announcement, Rwanda’s foreign ministry accused London of “clearly choosing a side” in the conflict and dismissed the measures as ineffective.
“These measures do nothing to help the Democratic Republic of Congo, nor do they contribute to achieving a sustainable political solution to the conflict in eastern DRC,” the ministry said in a statement.
US Sanctions Rwandan Official Over M23 Links
The UK’s decision follows growing international pressure on Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the conflict.
Last week, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, accusing him of playing a central role in supporting M23. The US also sanctioned M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka and two companies he controlled in France and the UK.
Rwanda dismissed the US sanctions as “unjustified.”
Strained Relations Amid Past UK-Rwanda Ties
The UK and Rwanda have historically maintained strong diplomatic ties, including a controversial 2022 asylum deal in which the UK planned to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, legal challenges and a shift in UK leadership led to the agreement’s collapse last year.
Meanwhile, DR Congo has been urging global powers to cut aid and impose sanctions on Rwanda, blaming it for fueling instability in the region.
M23’s Role in the Conflict
The M23 rebels claim to be fighting for the rights of DR Congo’s Tutsi minority and to restore order in what they describe as a failed state.
The group has made major territorial gains and has reportedly captured eastern DR Congo’s two largest cities, Goma and Bukavu.
With pressure mounting from both the UK and US, Rwanda now faces growing diplomatic isolation over its alleged role in the crisis.
