Rwanda and Uganda supplying Congo rebels with weapons, says UN - Telegraph

Two of the biggest recipients of British aid in Africa have broken a United Nations arms embargo by supplying rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo with weapons and ammunition, a Security Council investigation found last night.

M23 rebels sit at the back of a pick-up truck captured a week before and formerly used by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as they carry supplies through Bunagana Photo: AFP

By David Blair

6:00AM BST 17 Oct 2012

Rwanda and Uganda, which will receive £75 million and £101.5 million of British aid respectively this year, are giving "direct military support" to the "M23" guerrillas in Congo, according to a UN "Group of Experts".

The "M23" movement, led by an indicted war criminal, has started a new round of bloodshed in eastern Congo, forcing about 470,000 people to flee their homes since March.

Andrew Mitchell, the former International Development Secretary, delayed a payment of £16 million of British money to Rwanda when these allegations first surfaced in July. On his last day in office before moving to become Chief Whip last month, Mr Mitchell released this sum into Rwandan government coffers, with half the money tied to health and education.

Rwanda and Uganda supplying Congo rebels with weapons, says UN - Telegraph