Latest news with #Hutu-led
Al Jazeera
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
DR Congo, Rwanda agree to draft peace deal by May 2
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2, committing to respect each other's sovereignty and refraining from providing military support to armed groups. DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe signed the agreement in a tense meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday, in which the two did not shake hands. The deal, part of diplomatic efforts to end the violence in eastern DRC, came two days after Qatar brokered an unexpected truce between the African nations. The United States brought the two countries' foreign ministers together and voiced an interest in investment in the DRC's turbulent but mineral-rich east, where fighting between DRC forces and M23 rebels has intensified since January. The M23 has captured key cities in the east in a campaign that has left thousands dead. The US and the United Nations experts say M23 is backed by Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied the charge, saying it is defending its security against hostile militias operating in DRC, including remnants of the Hutu-led group behind the 1994 genocide. Friday's joint declaration, signed in front of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pledged the two sides would halt military support to non-state armed groups, though it avoided naming M23 directly. Wagner later said the deal amounted to a commitment for Rwandan forces to withdraw, as outlined in a UN Security Council resolution. 'The good news is there is hope for peace. The real news – peace must be earned, and it will require seriousness, transparency and sincerity,' she said. Nduhungirehe said US President Donald Trump had made a 'real change in the conversation' on DRC, including by drawing a link to efforts to expand US private-sector investment. Rubio described the agreement as a 'win-win', suggesting it could unlock major US-backed investment in energy and mining – areas where China already has significant influence. A new US envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, recently visited both nations and urged Kigali to stop backing M23 and pull out troops. Since 2021, the two sides have agreed to at least six truces that later collapsed. The latest bout of violence since January has killed thousands and raised fears of a wider regional war. Analyst Martin Ziakwau Lembisa believes the US pressure pushed both governments towards diplomacy. 'If it were up to the M23, they would have advanced further,' he told AFP news agency. 'But how far the Americans will really get involved is the whole question.'
Voice of America
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Germany stops new aid to Rwanda over DR Congo conflict
Germany said on Tuesday it had halted new development aid to Rwanda and was reviewing its existing commitments in response to the African nation's role in the conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The German development ministry said Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the move and urged it to withdraw support for the M23 rebel group, which has made advances in eastern Congo. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. Rwanda's foreign ministry called Germany's action "wrong and counterproductive." "Countries like Germany that bear a historical responsibility for the recurring instability in this region should know better than to apply one-sided, coercive measures," Rwanda's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. The German ministry said Berlin last pledged aid of $98 million to Rwanda in October 2022 for the period 2022 to 2024. The M23 group has captured swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits since January. The ongoing onslaught is the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany halts new aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has halted new development aid to Rwanda and is reviewing its existing commitments in response to the African nation's role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo, the German development ministry said on Tuesday. "In coordination with partners, Germany will further restrict bilateral cooperation with Rwanda," said a statement, adding that Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the move and urged it to withdraw support for the M23 rebel group, which has made advances in Congo. According to the ministry, Germany last pledged aid of 93.6 million euros ($98 million) to Rwanda in October 2022 for the period 2022 to 2024. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Rwanda is facing global pressure over allegations it supports the M23 group which, since January, has captured swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits. Their ongoing onslaught is already the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. ($1 = 0.9508 euros)
Reuters
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Germany halts new aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict
BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - Germany has halted new development aid to Rwanda and is reviewing its existing commitments in response to the African nation's role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo, the German development ministry said on Tuesday. "In coordination with partners, Germany will further restrict bilateral cooperation with Rwanda," said a statement, adding that Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the move and urged it to withdraw support for the M23 rebel group, which has made advances in Congo. According to the ministry, Germany last pledged aid of 93.6 million euros ($98 million) to Rwanda in October 2022 for the period 2022 to 2024. Rwanda is facing global pressure over allegations it supports the M23 group which, since January, has captured swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits. Their ongoing onslaught is already the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. ($1 = 0.9508 euros)
CBC
04-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Rwanda calls Canada's export permit, business suspension over Congo war 'shameful'
Rwanda said on Tuesday that Canada's position on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was "shameful," adding that measures announced by Ottawa against Kigali would not solve the conflict. Late on Monday, Canada announced it had suspended the issuance of permits for the export of controlled goods and technologies to Rwanda, as well as suspending pursuing new government-to-government business and trade missions with Rwanda, and support to private-sector business development activities. It also said it would review Canadian government participation at international events hosted by Rwanda in the future. Canada joins the European Union and the United Kingdom, both of which have also announced plans to suspend bilateral aid to Rwanda. The U.S. also announced sanctions against James Kabarebe, a Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs. The Tutsi-led M23 rebel group entered the city of Goma at the end of January and have since made an unprecedented advance into eastern Congo, capturing territory and getting access to valuable minerals. Their ongoing onslaught, which started in late December, is already the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. On Monday, Canada's foreign affairs, international development, and export promotion, international trade and economic development ministers repeated the accusations against Rwanda while announcing the suspensions.
