Germany announced on Tuesday that it is stopping new development aid to Rwanda and reviewing its existing commitments, citing concerns over Rwanda’s role in the conflict in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The German development ministry said that Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the decision and urged the African nation to withdraw its support for the M23 rebel group, which has made significant advances in eastern Congo.
The move comes amid accusations from Congo, U.N. experts, and Western governments that Rwanda is backing the M23 group. Rwanda, however, denies these claims, asserting that its actions are aimed at defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias that threaten Tutsi populations in Congo and Rwanda’s own security.
In a statement released late Tuesday, Rwanda’s foreign ministry criticized Germany’s decision, calling it “wrong and counterproductive.” The ministry added, “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.”
Germany’s development ministry had last pledged aid worth 93.6 million euros (approximately $98 million) to Rwanda for the period 2022 to 2024. Since January, the M23 group has captured large areas of eastern Congo, including valuable mineral deposits, marking a significant escalation in a conflict that has its roots in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the long-standing struggle for control over Congo’s vast mineral resources.
The decision by Germany underscores growing international concern over the destabilizing impact of external involvement in the Congo conflict and highlights the challenges of balancing development assistance with regional security considerations.
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