A minister in the UK Foreign Office, Ray Collins, on Monday said Britain will introduce sanctions soon against Rwanda over fighting in neighbouring Congo.
Asking questions from Reuters, Collins, who covers Africa policy as a junior minister in the foreign office, said Britain would impose sanctions on Rwanda very soon.
The “UK has made its position clear to Rwanda and will act soon,” he added, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.
Rwanda is facing global pressure over allegations it supports the M23 group, which, since January, has captured swathes of eastern Congo, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, and valuable mineral deposits.
Kigali denies backing the group but says its own troops are acting in self-defence against hostile groups based in Congo.
Last week Thursday, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on James Kabarebe, a high-profile ally of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, accused by Washington of serving as “a Rwandan government liaison” to M23. Rwanda said the sanctions were unjustified.
