Germany has suspended new development aid to Rwanda and is reassessing its existing commitments due to the country’s alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Congo.
- Germany has suspended new development aid to Rwanda and is reassessing its existing commitments.
- The decision is due to Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Congo.
- The United Kingdom had also frozen aid and defence cooperation with Rwanda last month for similar reasons.
The German development ministry announced on Tuesday that it has suspended new development aid to Rwanda and is reassessing its existing commitments due to the country’s alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Congo.
Germany is the latest country to take action to increase pressure on Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who has remained defiant about his country’s role in securing its border with the volatile eastern Congo.
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The ministry stated that “In coordination with partners, Germany will further restrict bilateral cooperation with Rwanda.“
It also noted that Berlin had informed Rwanda of the decision in advance and urged the country to withdraw its support for the M23 rebel group, which has been making territorial gains in Congo.
Germany last committed €93.6 million ($98 million) in aid to Rwanda in October 2022 for the 2022-2024 period, according to the German development ministry, Reuters reported.
Rwanda is under increasing global scrutiny over allegations that it supports the M23 rebel group, which has seized large areas of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits since January.
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Last month, the United Kingdom took action by freezing aid and defence cooperation with Rwanda in response to its alleged role in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict.
The Congolese government, U.N. experts, and Western nations accuse Rwanda of backing M23. However, Rwanda denies these claims, arguing that it is acting in self-defence against ethnic Hutu-led militias operating in Congo, which it says pose a security threat to Rwanda and its Tutsi population.
