David Lammy has issued a stark warning to Rwanda, condemning its alleged support for the M23 militia group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and cautioning that such actions will have serious consequences.
The Foreign Secretary accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame of escalating tensions in eastern DRC, warning that the conflict risks spiralling into a regional war.
Rwanda stands accused of arming and supporting M23 rebels, a group linked to war crimes, child soldier recruitment, and atrocities against civilians in the DRC.
The militants have already captured two major cities, Goma and Bukavu, and appear to be expanding their offensive.
Speaking to G20 foreign ministers, Lammy condemned Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) operations in eastern DRC, calling them a “blatant breach of the UN Charter”.
He made it clear that further violations of DRC’s sovereignty would not go unpunished.
The United States has already imposed sanctions on Rwandan officials accused of fueling the ongoing violence. Among them is James Kabarebe, a former army chief alleged to have played a key role in supporting M23’s military operations.
Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the sanctions were intended to hold key officials accountable for destabilising activities in the region.
Despite mounting evidence of Rwanda’s involvement, Kagame continues to deny allegations that his government is backing the M23 militia, even as reports of war crimes, mass killings, and human rights abuses emerge from the conflict zone.
The escalating crisis comes amid efforts by the UK’s new Labour government to repeal the Safety of Rwanda Act, a law pushed through by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declaring Rwanda a permanently safe country for asylum seekers.
Critics warned at the time that Rwanda was on the brink of conflict, yet the Conservative government ignored security concerns in a desperate attempt to salvage its controversial deportation scheme.
The UK has already handed over £700 million to Rwanda as part of the asylum deal, with further payments promised.
However, the scheme has failed spectacularly, with only four asylum seekers ever sent to Rwanda—and all on a voluntary basis.
The Labour government has vowed to repeal the Safety of Rwanda Act under its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, describing Sunak’s policy as dangerous and unworkable.
Before the general election, the Tories repeatedly refused to acknowledge Rwanda’s role in the DRC conflict, despite internal Foreign Office warnings that the UK must call for the protection of civilians if violence escalated.
It has also been revealed that former Home Secretary James Cleverly planned to spend £30 million in public funds on “sweeteners” to persuade asylum seekers to relocate to Rwanda—a move that has further fuelled controversy over the waste of taxpayer money on a failed deportation scheme.
With international pressure mounting, the UK is expected to continue pushing for diplomatic action against Rwanda.
However, the unfolding crisis raises serious questions about the previous government’s decision to label Rwanda a safe country, despite warnings of its involvement in regional instability and human rights abuses.
