Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo, a move Kigali termed "punitive".

Kigali condemns London’s sanctions over the M23 advance in DR Congo as ‘punitive measures’. Rwanda has said international sanctions will reduce the likelihood of peace with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after the United Kingdom said it would pause some bilateral aid and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali.

The UK said it would suspend some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its role in the conflict in neighboring DR Congo. Kigali, which denies backing the M23 rebel group that has seized key cities in eastern DRC in recent weeks, called the suspension “punitive.”

The UK says it will also suspend future defense training assistance and demands that Kigali withdraw its troops from Congo.

Britain will introduce sanctions soon against Rwanda over fighting in neighbouring Congo, a minister in the UK Foreign Office told Reuters on Monday.

Rwanda suspended development cooperation with Belgium for trying to “sabotage” its access to financing amid disagreements over its role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

U.K. authorities are punishing Rwanda over its support of the rebels who now control two major cities in eastern Congo.

Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo. Rwanda is facing global pressure over allegations it supports the M23 group which,

The UK's decision to suspend some aid to Rwanda is "punitive", authorities in the East African country have said. In a statement, the UK said it was against Rwanda's support for the M23, a rebel group that has captured swathes of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a deadly uprising.