Germany is halting new development assistance to Rwanda and reviewing existing cooperation between the two countries.
This decision, reported by Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, comes after Rwanda faced criticism for its role in the escalating conflict in neighboring DR Congo.
The DR Congo’s army is currently fighting against the rebel group M23, which Rwanda is accused of supporting.
M23’s original goal was reportedly to protect the Rwandan Tutsi people, who were persecuted and discriminated against.
However, critics have accused Rwanda of using the rebel group to plunder DR Congo’s minerals.
Rwanda denies these accusations, and the country’s Foreign Ministry has called Germany’s decision “wrong and counterproductive.”