Rwanda: UK suspension of aid over DR Congo war is 'punitive'

The UK says it is halting aid to Rwanda as a result of its support for the M23, a notorious rebel group.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersUK suspension of aid is 'punitive', Rwanda says2 hours agoWedaeli ChibelushiBBC NewsReutersThe Rwanda-backed M23 group have seized the two biggest cities in eastern Democratic Republic of CongoThe UK's decision to suspend some aid to Rwanda is "punitive", authorities in the East African country have said.

In a statement, the UK said it was against Rwanda's support for the M23, a rebel group that has captured swathes of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a deadly uprising.

Rwanda used to deny backing the M23, but recently it has adopted a more defensive line, saying fighting near the border between DR Congo and Rwanda is a threat to its security.

More than 7,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes since the conflict escalated in January, DR Congo's government says.

The UK said the humanitarian situation in DR Congo was "critical" and that it would halt bilateral aid to Rwanda, "excluding support to the poorest and most vulnerable".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8y5j49xgyo

---