January 30, 2025
Dear Secretary Lammy,
I write to you with urgency and conviction regarding the United Kingdom’s continued financial support to Rwanda, despite its repeated violations of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) sovereignty and the catastrophic human toll that has resulted from its aggression. With Rwanda’s most recent invasion of Goma through its proxy, the M23 rebel group, we are witnessing another chapter in a decades-long tragedy enabled, in part, by the indifference or tacit support of the international community. Now is the time for the United Kingdom to demonstrate principled leadership by immediately suspending all foreign aid to Rwanda until it ceases its destabilization of the region and is held accountable for its role in this conflict.
Your recent statement before Parliament, where you warned that Rwanda’s involvement in the DRC conflict could place its $1 billion in annual global aid at risk—including £32 million from the UK—is a step in the right direction. But warnings alone will not suffice. The UK must act decisively to cut this financial lifeline to a regime that has consistently undermined regional stability, violated international norms, and inflicted untold suffering on millions of people in eastern Congo.
This week’s events are not an isolated incident. They are part of a larger pattern of Rwandan aggression that dates back to the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, when remnants of the conflict spilled over into Congo. Under President Paul Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has pursued a policy of expansion and economic exploitation in the DRC, using proxy forces like the M23 to secure access to the region’s vast mineral wealth. These minerals—coltan, gold, and diamonds—have enriched Rwanda’s elite while fueling violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises for the Congolese people. Reports by the United Nations Group of Experts have repeatedly documented Rwanda’s role in plundering the DRC’s resources and orchestrating armed rebellions, yet the international community has failed to hold Kagame accountable.
The recent capture of Goma, a city of 2 million people, is a stark reminder of this ongoing tragedy. As M23 rebels march through the eastern DRC, entire communities are being uprooted. Women and children bear the brunt of this violence, facing displacement, sexual violence, and hunger. Meanwhile, Rwanda continues to deny any involvement, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary from the United Nations, the United States, and other Western powers. It is this pattern of deception and impunity that makes continued financial support to Rwanda unconscionable.
Your statement in Parliament rightly drew parallels between Rwanda’s actions in the DRC and the aggression we condemn elsewhere in the world, including in Europe. As you noted, the principle of respecting territorial integrity must apply universally. Just as the UK has taken a firm stance against violations of sovereignty in Ukraine, it must do the same in Africa. To tolerate Rwanda’s aggression is to undermine the very principles upon which the international order is built.
Moreover, continued aid to Rwanda sends a dangerous message: that strategic partnerships and geopolitical interests outweigh the suffering of millions of innocent people. For years, Rwanda has relied on its status as a post-genocide success story to garner international sympathy and financial support. But behind this façade lies a regime that is increasingly authoritarian at home and belligerent abroad. Kagame’s government has stifled dissent, silenced opposition figures, and maintained power through sham elections. Meanwhile, its military adventures in the DRC have caused untold suffering and instability, not only in Congo but throughout the Great Lakes region.
The UK’s support for Rwanda is not only morally indefensible but strategically short-sighted. By propping up Kagame’s regime, the UK risks exacerbating the very instability it seeks to prevent. Rwanda’s actions in the DRC have already drawn in neighboring countries like Uganda and Burundi, raising the specter of a broader regional conflict. If this happens, the human and financial costs will be staggering—not only for the region but for the international community, which will be called upon to manage the fallout.
History offers a cautionary tale. As my article, Kagame Captures Goma Again, highlights, this is not the first time Rwanda has invaded Goma. In 2012, a similar scenario unfolded, with M23 rebels capturing the city under Rwandan direction. At that time, international pressure—led by then-US President Barack Obama and supported by an intervention brigade of South African and Tanzanian troops—forced Rwanda’s withdrawal. But this withdrawal was temporary, and the root causes of the conflict remained unaddressed. A decade later, we find ourselves back in the same place, with the same players, and with even higher stakes.
To break this cycle of violence, the international community must adopt a more comprehensive and sustained approach. Cutting aid to Rwanda is a necessary first step, but it must be accompanied by diplomatic efforts to hold Kagame accountable. The UK should work with the United Nations, the African Union, and other partners to:
- Impose an arms embargo on Rwanda to prevent the regime from using its military to destabilize neighboring countries. This embargo must include restrictions on the export of weapons, military equipment, and dual-use technology that could be used in combat operations in the DRC. Such measures are vital to curbing Rwanda’s capacity to wage proxy wars.
- Impose targeted sanctions on Rwandan officials responsible for supporting armed groups in the DRC, including travel bans and asset freezes.
- Support independent investigations into human rights abuses and war crimes committed by Rwandan forces and their proxies.
- Provide humanitarian assistance to the millions of Congolese civilians affected by the conflict.
- Facilitate dialogue between regional leaders to address the root causes of the conflict and promote long-term peace and stability.
- Support community organizations and civil society in the peacemaking and peace-building process in the DRC, Rwanda, and the Great Lakes region. Local actors, including faith-based organizations, women’s groups, youth movements, and human rights advocates, are essential to fostering sustainable peace. By empowering these organizations, the UK can help build trust among communities, address grievances, and lay the groundwork for reconciliation and development.
- Advocate for and support an international conference on ending Rwanda’s war in the DRC. This conference should include key stakeholders, including the UN, African Union, European Union, and regional leaders, to negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement. Such an agreement must address the underlying causes of the conflict, Rwanda’s withdrawal from the DRC, and mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
- Support post-war reconstruction efforts in the DRC, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced communities, and fostering economic development. The UK should collaborate with international partners to create a sustainable post-conflict development strategy prioritizing local ownership and long-term stability.
Secretary Lammy, the UK has a unique opportunity to lead by example. By cutting aid to Rwanda, imposing an arms embargo, advocating for an international peace conference, and supporting civil society and reconstruction efforts, the UK can help break the cycle of violence in the Great Lakes region and restore hope to millions of people who have suffered for far too long.
Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. The time to act is now.
Sincerely,
Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa
Co-Founder, Rwanda Truth Commission, and Rwanda Freedom Movement-ISHAKWE
