"Rwanda Faces UK Aid Freeze Over M23 Involvement"
"The UK has suspended aid to Rwanda, citing its involvement in the M23 rebellion in eastern DRC and human rights violations."
Rwanda Faces Consequences as UK Halts Aid Over M23 Involvement
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
For the past year, the M23 rebel group, alongside other armed factions, has engaged in ongoing conflicts with government forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These armed groups made significant territorial advances, briefly taking control of Goma in November last year.
Rwanda has been accused by President Félix Tshisekedi's administration in the DRC and the United Nations (UN) of supporting these rebels. However, during a CNN interview last month, President Paul Kagame firmly denied these allegations, maintaining that Rwanda does not provide funding or support to the M23 group.
In addition to these accusations, Kagame was questioned about the presence of Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) troops in DRC. He responded by stating that he had no information regarding Rwandan soldiers operating on Congolese soil. The president further clarified that military operations conducted by Rwanda were primarily focused on neutralizing the FDLR rebels, a group that poses a direct threat to Rwanda's national security.
In a related development, the United Kingdom has now taken measures against Rwanda for its alleged involvement in the M23-led offensives in eastern DRC, as well as for human rights abuses tied to these actions. This punitive step marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions and comes after growing international scrutiny.
The Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, that the UK has begun suspending aid to Rwanda, signaling its disapproval of the country's alleged role in exacerbating the violence in the DRC region.
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