The UK suspends the help of Rwanda because of the role in the conflict of Eastern DR Congo
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The UK suspended the training of defense and financial assistance for Rwanda for its role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that further sanctions would follow if the country does not pull troops from its neighbor.
Rwanda is under the growing international pressure because of the alleged support for the M23 rebel, which have taken a a last month a minerals rich in minerals And two largest eastern cities, gom and noisy. Thousands of people were killed or taken from camps who placed displaced during recent fights.
According to the UN, Rwanda has thousands of troops arranged in Kong. But Government of President Paul Kagama He denies the support of the rebels, claiming that his army defends himself against enemy forces.
Assist freezing indicates a dramatic turn in UK-Rwanda relationships. According to the previous conservative government, Kigali received more than £ 300 million as part of an asylum receipt agreement from the UK. The Labor Party canceled the agreement after winning power last July. No asylum seekers were sent to East African land.
The United Kingdom of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday called for “immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian approach.. Meaningful engagement with peace processes under the guidance of Africa and the withdrawal of all Rwanda’s defense forces from the Congenian territory.”
His statement Added: “Rwanda may have security problems, but it is unacceptable to solve it military. There may only be a political solution to this conflict.”
Regional peace efforts did little to stop the rebel offensive.
Rwanda was one of the biggest recipients of assistance in the UK in Africa since Kagame’s patriotic front caught power in 1994 after ending the genocide against Ethnic Tuts. But a destabilizing role of a tiny nation in Eastern Dr. Congu occasionally disrupted bilateral relations.
The British decision to sanction cygalia followed the weekend of the meeting between the Foreign Minister David Lammy and President Dr. Kongg Félix Tshisecedija.
The UK announced that, until significant progress towards peace, it would stop “high participation” at the events organized by Rwanda, pause bilateral financial assistance “excluding support for the poorest” and suspending future help in defense.
London also said he would “coordinate with partners” about potential further sanctions. The announcement arrived because Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, separately reduced the budget to help in the UK to finance the increased defense costs.
The US, who were also a strong supporter of the Kagame regime, took action last week for a spiral conflict in Eastern Congo. Ministry of Finance imposed sanctions to James KabarebeState Minister Rwanda for Regional Integration and former army chief.
The US cash register said that Kabarebe, one of the closest to Kagame’s assistants and architect of the past military strategy in Dr. Congo, was the central part of the M23 support, and managed the revenue that the rebel group realized from Congolian mineral resources.
The Rwande Foreign Ministry said that the move is now unjustified and that the position of the UK will not do anything according to peace.
“The criminal measures announced by the Government of the UK today in response to a conflict in Eastern DR Congo – where the UK has now obviously chosen the side – they regret,” the Tuesday said.
