KAMPALA, Uganda — The United Kingdom announced new measures on Tuesday aimed at sanctioning Rwanda over its alleged involvement in supporting rebels who have taken control of key cities in eastern Congo.
The steps outlined by U.K. authorities include halting direct financial aid to Rwanda, except that which benefits the country’s poorest citizens. Additionally, the U.K. plans to suspend “high-level attendance at events hosted by” the Rwandan government and will limit trade engagements with the East African state, according to a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The U.K. intends to collaborate with international peers on “potential new sanctions designations” against Rwanda. Other actions planned include stopping future defense training assistance and examining the export licenses issued to the Rwandan army. However, the specifics of the financial aid provided by the U.K. to Rwanda remain unclear.
These decisions add pressure on Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who has previously taken a firm stance on the country’s initiative to secure its border with the often lawless regions of eastern Congo. Accusations against Kagame are mounting, with claims that around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are reportedly fighting alongside M23 rebels in eastern Congo. U.N. experts note that these rebels have seized important provincial capitals in North Kivu and South Kivu.
M23 stands out as one of the most formidable armed factions vying for influence in eastern Congo, a territory rich in untapped mineral wealth vital for global technological advancements.
Congo’s leader, President Félix Tshisekedi, has rejected the notion of peace talks with the M23, accusing them of acting as a proxy force for Rwanda aimed at seizing Congo’s natural resources unlawfully.
In response to the U.K.’s actions, Rwandan officials have labeled the measures as punitive and disappointing. The Rwandan government stated on X, emphasizing that compromising on national security is not a viable expectation and that these actions will neither aid Congo nor facilitate a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The United States has also imposed sanctions against a prominent figure within Kagame’s administration for his suspected participation in the M23 rebellion.
In related developments, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, emphasized the inviolability of Congo’s territorial sovereignty and announced the suspension of EU defense discussions with Rwanda. Furthermore, the memorandum of understanding on critical raw materials that the EU and Rwanda signed a year earlier is under reevaluation.
The European Union and Rwanda maintain cooperation on peacekeeping operations within Mozambique, among other locations. Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to caution that the conflict in eastern Congo poses broader regional risks, adding to longstanding unrest that has resulted in the displacement of millions.
