Rwanda has summoned the UK High Commissioner in Kigali following remarks made by a British official linking Rwanda to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist group operating in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The latest diplomatic spat comes against the backdrop of punitive sanctions imposed by the UK on Rwanda over its alleged role in the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
During a parliamentary session on February 26, Lord Collins of Highbury, the UK Minister for Africa, responded to a question regarding an ADF attack on a church in DR Congo.
He claimed that when he met Rwanda’s foreign minister, the latter "actively denied and refuted these accusations."
Kigali swiftly rejected the claim, calling it false and misleading. In response, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the UK’s envoy to demand a formal correction and an official apology from the UK government.
Rwanda's foreign ministry described Lord Collins' comments as "insulting and dangerous," emphasising that the issue of ADF had never been discussed in the meeting between the two ministers in Geneva.
The government also condemned any attempt to link Rwanda to the ADF, a group affiliated with ISIS, operating far from Congo’s eastern borders and mainly waging insurgency against Uganda.
Rwanda argued that such claims not only mislead the public but also embolden what it describes as "the DR Congo propaganda machine," fuelling conspiracy theories and undermining peace efforts in the region.
The UK’s diplomatic misstep adds further strain to an already tense relationship. Kigali recently condemned Britain's decision to impose sanctions on Rwanda, describing it as an unreasonable demand to compromise its national security.
The UK announced on February 25 a series of punitive measures, including suspending high-level engagement with Rwanda, limiting trade promotion activities, and halting bilateral financial aid.
The UK also suspended future defence training assistance to Rwanda and initiated a review of export licenses for the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
The measures, which London framed as part of efforts to address the ongoing war in eastern DR Congo, follow recent military offensives by the M23 rebel group and Rwandan forces, including the reported capture of key cities such as Goma and Bukavu.
The UK Foreign Secretary has argued that there is no military solution to the conflict and accused Rwanda of violating DR Congo’s sovereignty.
Kigali, however, has consistently denied direct involvement in the fighting, maintaining that it has been forced to defend its borders against continued aggression from DR Congo.
Rwanda has sharply criticised the UK's approach, arguing that it unfairly targets Kigali while failing to hold DR Congo accountable for repeated attacks on civilians.
The Rwandan government has pointed to the ongoing bombing of Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu as an example of Kinshasa’s alleged violations that have gone unchecked by the international community.
Kigali insists that such selective pressure on Rwanda only emboldens DR Congo to pursue a military path rather than seeking a negotiated settlement.
Despite the UK’s sanctions, Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to working with regional partners through the African-led peace process, which continues to face hurdles.
The diplomatic row with the UK, however, signals a worsening of relations between Kigali and Western powers, particularly as pressure mounts over Rwanda’s role in the DR Congo conflict.
While Rwanda calls for greater recognition of its security concerns, international actors remain divided over the next steps in addressing the volatile situation in the Great Lakes region.