Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo, a move Kigali termed "punitive".

The UK said it would suspend some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its role in the conflict in neighboring DR Congo. Kigali, which denies backing the M23 rebel group that has seized key cities in eastern DRC in recent weeks, called the suspension “punitive.”

Rwanda suspended development cooperation with Belgium for trying to “sabotage” its access to financing amid disagreements over its role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Britain will introduce sanctions soon against Rwanda over fighting in neighbouring Congo, a minister in the UK Foreign Office told Reuters on Monday.

U.K. authorities are punishing Rwanda over its support of the rebels who now control two major cities in eastern Congo.

The UK's decision to suspend some aid to Rwanda is "punitive", authorities in the East African country have said. In a statement, the UK said it was against Rwanda's support for the M23, a rebel group that has captured swathes of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a deadly uprising.

Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo. Rwanda is facing global pressure over allegations it supports the M23 group which,