UK Announces Severe Aid Cuts, Funding Shift to Defense

The United Kingdom announced severe cuts to its global aid spending by approximately 40% in February 2025. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated to Parliament on March 19 that this decision was made to fund defense spending.

Impact on Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Dr. Manenji Mangundu, director of Oxfam in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), stated that the consequences of these cuts would be significant. Last year, the U.K. spent over $100 million (80 million pounds) on aid to the DRC, supporting protection for survivors of sexual violence, and providing water and food.

Mangundu indicated that environmental conservation, healthcare, and education programs would be affected. He mentioned that around 4.5 million children are at risk of losing access to schools.

Health officials in the DRC have expressed concerns about losing resources to treat daily health problems and managing ongoing disease outbreaks such as cholera, mpox, and Ebola.

Wider Regional Effects

The DRC is one of many countries across Africa and the Middle East facing drastic cuts from the U.K., with 56% of aid to countries in Africa being reduced.

Pete Baker, deputy director of the Global Health Policy Program at the Center for Global Development, noted that Sierra Leone and Malawi are likely to lose most or all U.K. health support. This is despite both countries being among the world's poorest with high maternal mortality rates.

Countries like Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia, which have high rates of child malnutrition, are also facing funding reductions.

UK's Stated Priorities and Criticism

Foreign Secretary Cooper stated that allocating a reduced budget necessitates difficult choices and trade-offs. She affirmed that the U.K. would focus aid on "the people and places that need it most."

Flora Alexander, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee in the U.K., expressed that these cuts would impact child malnutrition and child health in Somalia, where food insecurity is a constant risk. Alexander also noted that disruptions to food and fertilizer markets due to the conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz compound the issue.

The U.K. plans to prioritize support for countries and communities facing the worst humanitarian need, specifically Ukraine, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Sudan.

Pete Baker suggests these locations align with geopolitical interests for the U.K., indicating a shift from development objectives to tactical and strategic reasons.

Geopolitical Context

Baker characterized the cuts as a departure for the U.K., which previously championed aid and development. The U.K. was known for establishing global institutions like GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and The Global Fund.

Alexander attributed a wider geopolitical shift to the Trump administration's foreign aid reductions, suggesting it set a precedent that could lead other countries to reduce aid.

Mangundu expressed surprise at the cuts to the DRC, citing the country's importance for critical minerals sought by the U.S. and U.K.

He questioned how the local population would benefit if humanitarian support is reduced while mineral extraction continues.