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 will soon impose sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized territory in eastern Congo, including key cities and mineral-rich areas. Britain will introduce sanctions soon against Rwanda over fighting in neighbouring Congo, a minister in the UK Foreign Office told Reuters on Monday.

The Rwandan High Commission in London has defended its security policies in response to a summons by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), citing existential threats from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the armed group FDLR.