Rwanda feels sad about the UK stopping money help.
"The punishment actions announced today by the UK government because of fighting in eastern DRC are sad," Rwanda said Tuesday night.
Rwanda added that they need to protect their country and keep Rwandan people safe.
The UK government said Tuesday that they were punishing Rwanda because Rwanda helps M23 fighters who control two big cities in eastern Congo.
The United Nations says Rwanda has about 4,000 soldiers fighting with M23 fighters in eastern Congo.
The fighters control Goma, the main city in eastern Congo, and also the main cities of North Kivu and South Kivu areas.
The British government wants Rwanda to take its soldiers out of Congo land and stop helping M23 fighters.
London said until big changes happen, the United Kingdom will make rules to push Rwanda to follow what other countries ask.
Some of the UK's punishment steps against Rwanda include not going to Rwandan events, stopping money help except for poor people, talking with friends about new punishments for Rwandan officials, stopping defense training for Rwanda, and checking permits for army things meant for Rwandan soldiers.
However, Rwanda said these actions do not help the Democratic Republic of Congo or make a lasting answer to the fight in eastern DRC.
"The DRC leaders have more to explain than any group in the DRC itself and nearby, but they avoid trouble for reasons clear to everyone. Not making the DRC leaders answer for attacks on their people, including the bombing of Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu, lets the DRC push harder on fighting, making the conflict and people suffering last longer," the Rwanda government said.
It added, "Rwanda will keep asking for safety promises, which the DRC and world friends have not given yet. This never-ending problem seems to help, directly or not, many people connected to the fight."
Kigali said it wants to work with other countries on the current Africa-led talks and asked world friends to help this effort.
The Rwanda government said this was the only real way to find a talked-out answer in eastern Congo.
"The punishment actions announced today by the UK government because of fighting in eastern DRC are sad," Rwanda said Tuesday night.
Rwanda added that they need to protect their country and keep Rwandan people safe.
The UK government said Tuesday that they were punishing Rwanda because Rwanda helps M23 fighters who control two big cities in eastern Congo.
The United Nations says Rwanda has about 4,000 soldiers fighting with M23 fighters in eastern Congo.
The fighters control Goma, the main city in eastern Congo, and also the main cities of North Kivu and South Kivu areas.
The British government wants Rwanda to take its soldiers out of Congo land and stop helping M23 fighters.
London said until big changes happen, the United Kingdom will make rules to push Rwanda to follow what other countries ask.
Some of the UK's punishment steps against Rwanda include not going to Rwandan events, stopping money help except for poor people, talking with friends about new punishments for Rwandan officials, stopping defense training for Rwanda, and checking permits for army things meant for Rwandan soldiers.
However, Rwanda said these actions do not help the Democratic Republic of Congo or make a lasting answer to the fight in eastern DRC.
"The DRC leaders have more to explain than any group in the DRC itself and nearby, but they avoid trouble for reasons clear to everyone. Not making the DRC leaders answer for attacks on their people, including the bombing of Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu, lets the DRC push harder on fighting, making the conflict and people suffering last longer," the Rwanda government said.
It added, "Rwanda will keep asking for safety promises, which the DRC and world friends have not given yet. This never-ending problem seems to help, directly or not, many people connected to the fight."
Kigali said it wants to work with other countries on the current Africa-led talks and asked world friends to help this effort.
The Rwanda government said this was the only real way to find a talked-out answer in eastern Congo.
