Rwanda for the year, citing evidence that the country was supporting rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The move, though involving only a relatively small amount of money, is significant coming from one of Rwanda’s staunchest allies.
Rwanda has denied reports by United Nations experts and rights groups that it is backing eastern Congolese rebels, including the M23 group, which has seized parts of North Kivu Province in fighting that has displaced over 260,000 people since April.
Officials in Rwanda were not available for comment.
Hilary Fuller Renner, a State Department spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed statement: “We will not obligate $200,000 in fiscal year 2012 foreign military financing funds that were intended to support a Rwandan academy for noncommissioned officers.”
Washington has stood by Rwanda in the past despite the tiny nation’s history of involvement in wars in Congo. Rwanda’s foreign minister has called reports of its involvement “disingenuous.” Ms. Renner said Washington was assessing whether to take further steps.
She said the United States would still help Rwanda support peacekeeping missions, including one in Sudan’s Darfur region.
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