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Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs, James Kabarebe, said international sanctions against the country will reduce the incentive for Kinshasa to engage in peace talks with M23 rebels who have made lightning advances in eastern Congo this year.

Recall that Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized eastern Congo’s two largest cities over the past month in a conflict that has displaced around half a million people since January.

Last Thursday, the United States Treasury imposed sanctions on Kabarebe for his alleged role as a government liaison to the M23. He didn’t specifically refer to the sanctions against himself in his comments.

Britain said on Tuesday that it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali until there was significant progress in ending hostilities and a withdrawal of all Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, estimated by the United Nations to number several thousand.

The European Union also said on Monday that it would review its agreement with Rwanda for strategic minerals over Kigali’s links with the rebels.

However, Rwanda denied providing arms and troops to M23, and says its forces are acting in self defence against the Congolese army and militias hostile to Kigali.

“As they push for sanctions against Rwanda, (Congo’s president), seeing that Rwanda is being targeted, will refuse to participate in any negotiations,” Kabarebe said.

Kabarebe also accused Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, who has refused to negotiate with M23, of offering the international community minerals in exchange for sanctions.