Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame responded within hours after the United Kingdom (UK) imposed sanctions on him due to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement dated Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Kagame described the sanctions as “punitive” and accused the UK of taking sides in the conflict.
“The punitive measures announced today by the UK government in response to the conflict in eastern DRC — where the UK has now clearly chosen a side — are regrettable,” the statement read.
Kagame Describes Measures by UK as Punitive
Kagame argued that it is unreasonable to expect Rwanda to compromise its national security and the safety of its citizens. According to him, the UK government’s measures will neither help the DRC nor contribute to a sustainable political solution to the eastern DRC conflict.
He further accused the DRC government of indiscriminately bombing villages, targeting a specific community, while the international community remains silent.
“The Government of the DRC has much more to answer for than any other party in the DRC or the region, yet it continues to evade accountability for various violations for reasons that are obvious to all.
Consistently failing to hold the DRC government accountable for repeated attacks on its citizens, including the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of Ban-yamulenge (Tutsi community living in DRC) villages in South Kivu, encourages the DRC to persist down a military path, prolonging the conflict and the suffering of civilians,” Kagame stated.
Despite the sanctions, Kagame reiterated that Rwanda would continue to demand security guarantees, which he asserts the DRC, and the international community have so far been unwilling or unable to provide.
“This perpetual situation of instability seems to benefit, directly or indirectly, many involved in the conflict,” he alleged.
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Moreover, Kagame emphasized that Rwanda is fully committed to collaborating with partner states on the ongoing African-led mediation process and called on the international community to support this effort, which he described as the only credible pathway to a negotiated solution.
On Wednesday, February 25, the UK imposed six sanctions on President Kagame for his alleged involvement in the DRC conflict.
UK Slaps Rwanda Government with Sanctions
A statement from the British government condemned recent offensives by the M23 rebels and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), including the capture of Goma and Bukavu, describing these actions as unacceptable violations of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a breach of the UN Charter.
The UK announced that it would pause direct bilateral financial aid to the Rwandan government, excluding support for the poorest and most vulnerable.
Also Read: Trump Slaps Kagame’s Allies with Sanctions Over M23
The statement also indicated that the UK would coordinate with partners on potential new sanctions, suspend future defense training assistance to Rwanda, and review export licenses for the Rwanda Defence Force.
Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 rebels, with reports suggesting that some Rwandan soldiers are involved in the DRC conflict.
However, Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations.
The US government has also sanctioned two allies of Kagame over the situation in Eastern DRC.
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