Germany Cancels Meeting With Rwanda Govt Officials Over Involvement In DR Congo Crisis 

GERMANY on Tuesday said it had cancelled a planned meeting with Rwandan officials scheduled for next month over Rwanda’s role in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A spokesman for Germany’s development ministry said it had “cancelled the government consultations planned for February with Rwanda”, and was “coordinating with other donors about further measures.”

“There can be no business as usual amid the current escalation”, the spokesman said in a statement.

He said, “Talks on development cooperation can only resume when Rwanda and M23 end the escalation and withdraw.”

At least 17 people have been killed and 367 wounded during two days of fighting, according to reports from Goma hospitals.

A lightning offensive in the eastern DRC by fighters from the M23 armed group and Rwandan forces has led to clashes around the besieged city of Goma and a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

Eighteen-Eleven Media