Rwanda kicked Belgium out yesterday, cutting all official ties between the countries. The Rwandan government told every Belgian diplomat to pack up and leave within two days. They blamed Belgium for meddling in regional affairs and turning other nations against Rwanda. Their official statement pointed to Belgium as a harmful force that acted against Rwanda before and during the current Congo fighting.
Rwanda accused Belgium of clinging to outdated colonial ideas and backing groups that deny the Rwandan genocide happened. The statement hammered Belgium for taking sides in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict. Rwanda defended its right to protect itself from outside pressure. They warned that Belgian actions threatened peace across central Africa.
Belgium fired back fast. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot called Rwanda's move extreme. He claimed Rwanda runs away from talking when faced with criticism. Belgium announced they would kick out Rwandan diplomats, too. They called Rwanda's representative in Brussels for an emergency meeting and canceled all government partnership deals.
The fight between these countries heated up recently as Belgium pushed European banks to stop funding Rwanda. Belgium led efforts to punish Rwandan officials like James Kabarebe, who they say helps the M23 rebels. Belgium wants the European Union to freeze military aid and cancel raw materials deals with Rwanda. Rwanda denies helping M23 and claims Belgium supports attacks against the Tutsi people in eastern Congo.
This breakup marks the worst relations between Belgium and Rwanda in many years. The diplomat expulsions and canceled agreements will hurt trade, development projects, and security teamwork. Belgium ranks as Rwanda's third biggest foreign donor, giving money for city planning, farming, and health systems. All these programs face an uncertain future as the Congo crisis pulls more countries into the conflict.
Rwanda accused Belgium of clinging to outdated colonial ideas and backing groups that deny the Rwandan genocide happened. The statement hammered Belgium for taking sides in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict. Rwanda defended its right to protect itself from outside pressure. They warned that Belgian actions threatened peace across central Africa.
Belgium fired back fast. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot called Rwanda's move extreme. He claimed Rwanda runs away from talking when faced with criticism. Belgium announced they would kick out Rwandan diplomats, too. They called Rwanda's representative in Brussels for an emergency meeting and canceled all government partnership deals.
The fight between these countries heated up recently as Belgium pushed European banks to stop funding Rwanda. Belgium led efforts to punish Rwandan officials like James Kabarebe, who they say helps the M23 rebels. Belgium wants the European Union to freeze military aid and cancel raw materials deals with Rwanda. Rwanda denies helping M23 and claims Belgium supports attacks against the Tutsi people in eastern Congo.
This breakup marks the worst relations between Belgium and Rwanda in many years. The diplomat expulsions and canceled agreements will hurt trade, development projects, and security teamwork. Belgium ranks as Rwanda's third biggest foreign donor, giving money for city planning, farming, and health systems. All these programs face an uncertain future as the Congo crisis pulls more countries into the conflict.
