Rwanda Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Belgium

Rwanda has officially announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Belgium, giving all Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.

In response, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot declared that Belgium would expel Rwandan diplomats from Brussels and designate them as persona non grata. Prévot also confirmed that Belgium will suspend all bilateral agreements with Rwanda.

In a statement on X, Prévot expressed regret over Rwanda's decision, calling it a "disproportionate move" and accusing Kigali of avoiding dialogue when disagreements arise.

The diplomatic crisis comes after Belgium supported accusations by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which claims that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo.

In response, Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused Belgium of unfairly holding Rwanda responsible for the ongoing instability in the DRC.

The escalating tensions mark a significant setback in Rwanda-Belgium relations, which have been historically complex due to Belgium's colonial past in the region.