Germany stops new aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict
Reuters
Germany said on Tuesday it had halted new development aid to Rwanda and was reviewing its existing commitments in response to the African nation's role in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The German development ministry said Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the move and urged it to withdraw support for the M23 rebel group, which has made advances in eastern Congo.
Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda.
Rwanda's foreign ministry called Germany's action "wrong and counterproductive".
"Countries like Germany that bear a historical responsibility for the recurring instability in this region should know better than to apply one-sided, coercive measures," Rwanda's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.
The German ministry said Berlin last pledged aid of 93.6 million euros ($98 million) to Rwanda in October 2022 for the period 2022 to 2024.
The M23 group has captured swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits since January.
The ongoing onslaught is the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources.
08:12
DRC and Rwanda vow to draft peace deal by May 2
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
16:30
Rwanda
Rwanda welcomes M23 rebels’ withdrawal from Walikale, pledges support for peace initiatives
Rwanda has expressed support for the M23 rebel group's decision to withdraw from the strategic mining town of Walikale in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and for the DRC's commitment to halting hostilities as part of ongoing peace efforts.
18:10
Congo
Congo rebel leader brushes off ceasefire call, vowing to fight on
Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa rejects a ceasefire call in east Congo, vowing to fight until their cause is heard. He condemns a proposed U.S. minerals-for-security deal as "treachery" while M23 fighters advance deeper into Congolese territory, seizing strategic towns.
18:30
Rwanda
Rwanda asks UK for £50 million over cancelled asylum deal, source says
Rwanda is reportedly seeking a £50 million payment—approximately $63.6 million—from Britain over a cancelled asylum deal, according to a source close to the Rwandan government.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment