The African state has accused Belgium of “unwarranted external interference,” which undermines regional efforts to settle the conflict in DR Congo
Rwanda has suspended a five-year cooperation agreement with Belgium, accusing it of taking sides in an ongoing armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and “politicizing development.”
The East African nation’s Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Tuesday after Belgium accused Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, who have seized two major cities in North and South Kivu provinces in renewed attacks against Congolese forces and peacekeepers. Thousands of people, including children, have been killed in the former Belgian colony in the fighting in recent weeks, according to the UN.
“Belgium has led an aggressive campaign, together with DRC, aiming to sabotage Rwanda’s access to development finance, including in multilateral institutions,” the ministry said in a statement.
“These efforts demonstrate that there is no longer a sound basis for development cooperation with Belgium. Accordingly, Rwanda is suspending the remainder of the 2024-2029 bilateral aid program,” it added.
According to the website of Brussels’ embassy in Kigali, Belgium’s budget for the assistance is €95 million ($99 million).
The decades-long conflict in DR Congo has strained relations between Kinshasa and Kigali. The Congolese government has repeatedly alleged that the neighboring state is providing support to the M23, one of several dozen militias vying for control of the eastern region’s rich mineral resources. Last year, a UN expert group also reported that around 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the militants.
Despite consistently denying the allegations, Kigali has faced widespread international condemnation since the return of hostilities at the beginning of the year.
Regional leaders are coordinating efforts, including a recent joint summit in Tanzania to end the conflict, amid ceasefire calls by countries including Russia.
On Tuesday, Rwanda said Belgium’s “political decision,” which aims to “sabotage” Kigali’s access to development finance, is “unwarranted external interference that undermines the African-led mediation process.”
“Rwanda will not be bullied or blackmailed into compromising national security,” the African nation stated, reiterating that its “only aim is a secure border, and an irreversible end to the politics of violent ethnic extremism in our region.”
In response, Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prevot said Brussels is already reconsidering its entire bilateral program with Rwanda due to its “violation of the territorial integrity” of the DR Congo.
“This would have led to measures relating to our cooperation that Rwanda is now anticipating,” he said in a post on X.
Last year, Rwanda blasted the US for “distorting reality” after Washington also criticized Kigali for allegedly backing the M23 fighters. The administration of former US President Joe Biden demanded that Rwanda immediately remove its defense forces and missile systems from the troubled neighboring state.
