Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with Belgium over ‘neo-colonial delusions’
Rwanda has severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing the European nation of consistently undermining it during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The Rwandan government has given Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.
Brussels has been at the forefront of calls for European nations to impose sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged support for M23, a rebel group central to DR Congo’s crisis. Despite assertions from the UN and the US that Rwanda is backing M23, Kigali has repeatedly denied the allegations.
In a statement on Monday, Rwanda accused Belgium of attempting to “sustain its neo-colonial delusions.” The statement further claimed that Belgium had taken sides in the regional conflict and was actively working against Rwanda by spreading misinformation to destabilize the country and the region.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, described Rwanda’s decision as “disproportionate” and stated that Belgian authorities would respond accordingly. He added that in retaliation, Rwandan diplomats in Belgium would be declared “persona non grata,” a status that could lead to their expulsion.
Before the diplomatic fallout, Rwandan President Paul Kagame had vowed that his country would “stand up” to Belgium. Speaking on Sunday, Kagame questioned Belgium’s authority over Rwanda, saying, “Who put you in charge of us?”
The diplomatic crisis comes amid escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, where M23 rebels have taken control of key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. According to Congolese authorities, around 7,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the year, while over 850,000 have been displaced, according to UNICEF.
On Monday, the European Union sanctioned three Rwandan military commanders, citing their alleged ties to M23. The EU also imposed sanctions on the head of Rwanda’s state mining agency, accusing it of exploiting DR Congo’s conflict to extract valuable resources.
The timing of Rwanda’s decision to cut ties with Belgium is significant, as it came just a day before planned peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 rebels. However, the rebels announced on Monday that they would no longer participate, accusing unspecified international institutions of undermining peace efforts.
Credit: BBC
