London - The British governement has decided to stop giving aid to Rwanda’s government because of its backing for a a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the London Government announced on Friday.
Ms Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, decided to withhold the next payment of £21 million of “general budget support”, which had been due in December.
This was necessary because of “credible and compelling reports” that Rwanda had supported the “M23” rebels in neighbouring Congo, said Ms Greening.
A United Nations investigation concluded that Rwanda had given weapons, training and recruits to the insurgents, even deploying combat troops to fight in Congo.
Ms Greening said that Rwanda’s intervention in Congo “constitutes a breach of the partnership principles” set out in a “memorandum of understanding” with the British Government. Respect for “human rights” is one of those principles.
The M23 guerrillas have forced at least 500,000 people to flee their homes since the onset of their rebellion in April. Last week, they captured Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, in defiance of the United Nations Security Council.
Britain had been Rwanda’s largest bilateral aid donor and the Department for International Development had planned to spend £75 million ($120 million) in Rwanda this year. (ANA)

AB- 30 November 2012- ---