Rwanda Expels Belgian Diplomats As Feud Escalates

Rwanda which has been encroaching on the sovereignty of Democratic Republic of Congo with its renewed conflict with the country has cut diplomatic ties with her former colony Belgium, accusing it of “neo-colonial delusions.”

Coming after severing diplomatic ties with Congo, Rwanda has expelled Belgian diplomats, following mounting international sanctions and pressure from the African Union over Kigali’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized vast territories and captured two cities in the EasternDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year alone. Belgium has led efforts to penalize Kigali over her involvement in the conflict that has claimed millions of lives, and destroyed livelihoods, pushing for measures such as blocking a minerals deal, suspending development aid, and withdrawing support for Rwandan peacekeepers in Mozambique.

On Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions on three Rwandan military commanders and the head of the state mining agency for their alleged role in backing the rebels. In recent weeks, Britain, Germany, and Canada have also cut aid funding to Rwanda.

Rwanda’s foreign ministry ordered the Belgian diplomats to leave Kigali in 48 hours, accusing Brussels of making “pitiful attempts to sustain its neo-colonial delusions.” Kigali claimed that Belgium, its former colonial ruler, had consistently undermined Rwanda and was now attempting to destabilize both the country and the wider region.

“Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilise both Rwanda and the region.” the statement read.

Over the weekend, President Paul Kagame, who has led Rwanda since 2000, condemned Belgium’s actions toward his country.

“One of the biggest problems we faced is that we were colonized by a small country like Belgium, which cut our country up so it can be small, like it,” Kagame said. “Belgium has killed us throughout history and keeps coming back to kill us more.”

While Kigali denies direct involvement in the Congolese conflict, it argues that Rwanda’s security remains at risk owing to the presence of a Rwandan armed group in the DRC with roots in the 1994 genocide—one that it claims Western nations have ignored. A United Nations report last year alleged that Rwanda effectively controls the M23 rebels and has deployed around 4,000 troops in the DRC.

Rwanda’s severance of diplomatic ties with Belgium marks a major escalation in its tensions with Western countries, not just Belgium over the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The immediate fallout of this action may include increased diplomatic isolation, economic strain due to suspended development assistance, and heightened regional instability. This may push Rwanda to seek stronger alliances with countries like China and Russia, but there are hopes that African countries like South Africa or Kenya may attempt mediation efforts to prevent further destabilization, however, whether Rwanda can withstand mounting Western pressure remains to be seen.