Experts comment on the deterioration of Rwanda-Belgium relations

There are other ways to view Rwanda’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Belgium, which has been described as a powerful message to the European nation.

In the last two months, the historically strained relations between the two nations have deteriorated, with Rwanda’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Belgium and order its diplomats to go within 48 hours being the most recent event.

Instead of supporting diplomatic solutions to the issue, Rwanda has repeatedly criticized Belgium for picking sides in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and starting an effort to undermine the nation’s collaboration with development partners.

Additionally, Rwanda halted its five-year development partnership pact with Belgium last month.

Ismael Buchanan, a senior lecturer in political science at the University of Rwanda, commented on the recent decision to sever diplomatic ties, saying it indicates that the Rwandan government “is telling Belgium that enough is enough.”

“For several weeks, Belgium’s minister of foreign affairs was trying to play around with waging an aggressive campaign on behalf of the Belgian government, trying to influence the European Union and other international organizations in an openly hostile way, asking EU countries to take sanctions against Rwanda,” he stated.

“It is easy to see that Belgium has obviously taken sides in what is happening in the region,” he said.

“This (the severing of ties) is a clear message that Rwanda is committed to safeguarding its national interests as well as upholding the principle of mutual respect,” he said.

He emphasized that Belgium has consistently shown disrespect for Rwanda by allowing some of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to remain on its soil and even obtain citizenship.

Human rights activist, playwright, author, and senator from Nigeria Shehu Sani responded to the news of the diplomatic ties being severed by calling it “a strong message to the former colonial masters that not all African states will surrender their sovereignty and dignity for crumbs of economic aid.”

Tom Mulisa, a specialist in international human rights law from Rwanda, adopted a more upbeat approach, stating that the two countries will eventually meet down and resolve their differences.

“There are no enduring adversaries in international relations. He predicted that communication between the two countries will eventually triumph.

Rwanda’s foreign affairs ministry stated in a statement released on Monday, March 17, that the breaking of diplomatic ties “has been taken after careful consideration of several factors, all linked with Belgium’s pitiful attempts to sustain its neo-colonial delusions.”

Belgium has a long and violent history of undermining Rwanda, “both well before and during the ongoing conflict in DR Congo, in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda,” the ministry’s statement continued.

Rwanda halted its development collaboration with Belgium in February, accusing the European nation of spearheading a concerted effort alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo to obstruct its access to development funding, particularly through international organizations.

The action came after the M23 rebels and the Congolese government forces alliance, which includes the FDLR, a UN-designated terror group formed by former members of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi perpetrators, resumed their armed confrontation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in February.

Several Congolese militias operating under the Wazalendo banner, European mercenaries, and Burundian government forces were also part of the coalition.