The UK has warned Rwanda that its role in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could threaten the over $1 billion in aid the country receives annually.
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured Goma, a major city in the DRC with a population of 2 million, on Monday, despite widespread calls for a ceasefire. The rebels expanded their offensive by Wednesday.
Congo, the United States, and other Western nations have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 in Goma, a claim Rwanda denies.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy told Parliament on Tuesday that Rwanda receives over $1 billion in aid each year, including around £32 million ($39.8 million) in bilateral assistance from the UK. However, he warned that such aid could be at risk if Rwanda continues its actions. “All of that is under threat when you attack your neighbours,” Lammy stated. “We cannot tolerate countries challenging the territorial integrity of others, whether in Europe or elsewhere.”
The recent escalation marks the most significant intensification of the conflict in eastern Congo since 2012. The hostilities stem from the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the fight for control over Congo’s valuable mineral resources.
From Reuters
