Rwanda calls for Canadian export licenses, commercial suspension of Congo war is “shameful”

Rwanda said on Tuesday that Canada's conflict stance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was “shameful”, adding that the measures announced by Ottawa against Kigali would not resolve the conflict.

Late Monday, Canada announced it had suspended the licensing of exports of controlled goods and technologies to Rwanda and suspended new government-to-government business and trade missions with Rwanda, and supported private sector business development activities.

It also said it would review the participation of the Canadian government in international events held in Rwanda in the future.

Canada has joined the European Union and the United Kingdom, both of which have announced plans to suspend bilateral aid to Rwanda. The United States also announced sanctions on Rwanda Foreign Minister James Kabarebe.

The M23 rebel group of TUTSI-LED entered the city of Goma in late January and has since advanced like never before, entering eastern Congo, occupying territory and obtaining precious minerals.

Their ongoing storm began in late December and was already the worst escalation of the long-term conflict in Congo, which was rooted in Rwanda's genocide in 1994, and a struggle to control the vast amount of mineral resources in Congo.

In Congo, UN experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of supporting the organization.

Rwanda denied this and said it was defending its hutu militia in an effort to massacre Tussis in Congo and threaten Rwanda.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Development and Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development on Monday repeated allegations against Rwanda while announcing the suspension.