Rwanda sanctioned over child soldiers
The United States moved to block US military aid to Rwanda for its support for the M23 Congolese rebel group the use of child soldiers and causing instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The sanctions also apply to the Central African Republic, Myanmar, Sudan and Syria according to the U.S State Department.
U.S State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said, Rwanda was sanctioned for its support for the rebel group M23 which actively recruited and abduct children and threaten the stability in the DRC.
“Rwanda will not receive US International Military Education and Training funds which help train foreign militaries nor will it get US Foreign Military Financing which funds sale of US military equipment and services,” Harf said.
Assistant Secretary for State of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States was invoking the 2008 Child Soldiers Protection Act was used to sanction the Rwandan nation
Responding to the reports, Rwandan Defense spokesperson Brid-Gen Joseph Nzabamwita denied allegations saying his country should not be blamed for the events outside its control.
“It`s surprising that Rwanda would be liable for matters that are neither on its territory nor its practices. As a long term partner of Rwandan Defence Forces, the United States have ample evidence that our forces have never tolerated the use of children in combat,” he said denying the charges.
M23 is a Tutsi dominated rebellion group of former Congolese soldiers that began taking parts of eastern Congo last year accusing the Congolese government to honour the 2009 Peace Deal.
The US keeps track of nations that use children as soldiers as part of its annual report on human trafficking.
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