This comes in the wake of allegations of supporting the M23 rebel group during the fighting with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s army and its coalition.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied these claims while raising concerns about the DRC's collaboration with the FDLR, a genocidal terrorist group that threatens its security.
In a statement released on March 4, 2025, Germany announced that it will suspend new financial commitments, review existing development cooperation with Rwanda, and halt high-level participation in development-related events organized by the Rwandan government.
Rwanda, in response, criticized Germany's stance as 'wrong and counterproductive,' accusing Berlin of reinforcing the DRC's aggressive posture and prolonging the conflict.
"Germany contradicts its own claims of supporting the African-led process to resolve the conflict in eastern DRC by letting the DRC off the hook for numerous violations,' Rwanda's Foreign Ministry stated.
The statement further condemned Germany for failing to acknowledge the threat posed by the DRC-backed FDLR militia, which has targeted both Rwandan security and Congolese Tutsi communities.
'For a country which prides itself on taking seriously the warning signs of ethnic extremism, Germany shows an utter lack of courage by ignoring the threat posed by DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militias,' the statement read.
Rwanda also called out Germany for adopting a one-sided approach, arguing that historical responsibility for the region's instability should warrant a more balanced and constructive engagement.
'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,' the statement emphasized.
Despite Germany's actions, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security while continuing to engage in the regional peace process.
"Rwanda will continue to protect its national security while remaining fully engaged in the ongoing regional peace process," the government declared.
Germany's move comes amid ongoing tensions in the Great Lakes region, where Rwanda has consistently called for international actors to take a more impartial approach in addressing security concerns.
IGIHE
