Berlin: Germany has announced a halt to new development aid for Rwanda and is reassessing its existing support due to Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The German Development Ministry stated that Rwanda had been informed in advance and was urged to cease its support for the M23 rebel group, which has been making territorial gains in eastern Congo.
Accusations from the DRC, the United Nations, and Western nations claim that Rwanda is backing the rebels, though Kigali denies this, arguing that it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias operating in Congo.
Rwanda’s foreign ministry condemned Germany’s decision, calling it "wrong and counterproductive." It further criticized Berlin, stating that countries like Germany, given their historical role in the region’s instability, should avoid imposing "one-sided, coercive measures."
Germany had last committed €93.6 million ($98 million) in aid to Rwanda for the 2022-2024 period. The decision to suspend further assistance comes amid heightened violence, with M23 rebels seizing vast areas of eastern Congo, including territories rich in valuable minerals.
The escalating conflict has deep roots in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing struggle for control over the DRC’s vast natural resources.
