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.
“We are committed to finding lasting solutions to the conflict in this
region,” said Ms Greening, adding that Britain would continue to work with
the governments of Rwanda and Congo to achieve that goal.
Britain had been Rwanda’s largest bilateral aid donor. President Paul Kagame
addressed the Conservative party conference in 2007 and has been
exceptionally close to successive British Governments.
The Department for International Development had planned to spend £75 million
in Rwanda this year.
Last July, Britain delayed a payment of £16 million of budgetary support when
the UN first reported its concerns about Rwanda’s intervention in Congo.
But Andrew Mitchell chose to announce the release of this money on his last
day in office as International Development Secretary in September.
That decision left Britain as the only European country still giving budgetary
support to Rwanda in the aftermath of the first UN allegations. Ms
Greening’s announcement has brought Britain into line with the other
bilateral donors.
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