Cameron defends £16m aid to ‘role model’ Rwanda

DAVID Cameron yesterday defended sending millions in aid to an African dictator – hours after the United Nations accused his regime of masterminding a bloody rebellion.

The Prime Minister said Britain was right to restore £1 million of aid to Rwanda – hailing the regime led by President Paul Kagame as a ‘role model for development’.

The decision, made by Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell on his last day as International Development Secretary last month, has angered the Foreign Office and caused dismay among human rights activists. But Mr Cameron, who has built up a close relationship with Kagame, defended the regime.

He said: ‘I am clear, Rwanda has been, and continues to be, a success story of a country that has gone from genocide and disaster to being a role model for development and lifting people out of poverty in Africa.

‘I am proud of the fact that the last government, and this government, have continued to invest in that success.’ Mr Cameron said he had been ‘frank and firm’ with Kagame about alleged human rights abuses, but said it was ‘right’ to continue pouring in aid.

His comments came as a UN report accused Rwanda of masterminding a murderous rebellion in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo which has forced half a million from their homes.

Labour called for the immediate suspension of aid to Rwanda, saying the PM’s comments displayed a ‘worrying level of ignorance’ about the situation in east Africa.

The UN report said the uprising by the socalled M23 rebels was receiving ‘direct military orders’ from Rwanda’s army chief and Kagame’s defence minister.

The rebellion is led by Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for alleged war crimes.

Rebels are accused of recruiting child soldiers, waging a campaign of terror against civilians and attacking UN peacekeepers in the region. Human rights organisations allege that political opponents and journalists have been tortured, murdered and imprisoned in Rwanda.