JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The U.S. government said Saturday that it has cut this year’s planned military assistance to Rwanda amid concerns that the government in Kigali is supporting rebel movements in neighboring Congo.
“The United States has been actively engaged at the highest levels to urge Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support, which threatens to undermine stability in the region,” State Department spokesman Darby Holladay said in an e-mailed statement.
Rwanda has denied reports by the United Nations and rights groups that it is supporting the so-called M23 rebel movement in East Congo, which has sparked new fighting in the area that has forced more than 200,000 civilians from their homes since April.
“The United States government is deeply concerned about the evidence that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to Congolese rebel groups, including M23,” the statement said.
The U.S. — usually a staunch Rwandan ally — therefore cuts $200,000 of initially pledged military aid for a training academy, the State Department said.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 07/22/2012