Rwanda announced it was cutting diplomatic ties with Belgium on the same day a new list of EU sanctions targeting Rwandan officials was published.
Kigali said Belgium had “taken sides” against Rwanda in its conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and cited colonial and genocide memories to accuse Belgium of wanting to “preserve its neo-colonial illusions.”
Belgium has called for sanctions agreed today by EU foreign ministers against five Rwandan and four Congolese officials in the context of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda remain high due to the ongoing conflict in the east of the country, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have captured key towns including Goma and Bukavu, prompting accusations of territorial expansion and resource exploitation by the DRC.
Diplomatic efforts have stalled, with Rwanda denying direct involvement and accusing the DRC of supporting Hutu militias, and both countries facing international pressure amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
In a post on X, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevost expressed regret over Rwanda's decision to sever diplomatic ties, calling it “disproportionate” and saying Kigali preferred “not to engage in dialogue.”
He announced that Belgium would take similar measures, namely declaring Rwandan diplomats personae non gratae and denounced the government's cooperation agreements between the two countries.
Source: Source
