The UK’s retreat from aid and surge in defence spending marks a historic reversal, with funds once tied to humanitarian relief now redirected towards military ends, arguably leaves fragile states, particularly in Africa, exposed to deeper instability and preventable loss of life.

The UK’s suspension of aid to Rwanda in February 2025 reflects growing international concern that development assistance may be indirectly fuelling conflict in the DRC through Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group.

The previous Conservative governments’ financial dealings with Rwanda, amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds, are under scrutiny for potentially funding a regime accused of proxy warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo and human rights abuses, with Labour now scrapping the policy but leaving taxpayers with no tangible gains.