Rwanda Severes Ties With Belgium: Diplomats Given Ultimatum to Depart

On March 17, 2025, Addis Ababa reported—Rwanda has terminated diplomatic ties with Belgium and instructed all Belgian diplomats to depart from the nation within two days.

The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement accusing Belgium of meddling in their internal affairs.

"Belgium has continually worked against Rwanda’s interests, both prior to and throughout the current conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is particularly true considering Belgium's significant and troubling past involvement, notably opposing Rwanda," stated the document.

Recently, Belgium decided to freeze aid and suspend trade deals with Kigali due to the continuing conflict in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release that “today, the government of Rwanda informed the Belgian government about its choice to terminate diplomatic ties, taking effect right away.” It further explained, “This decision by Rwanda was made following thorough deliberation over various elements, each connected to Belgium’s lamentable efforts to uphold its neo-colonial fantasies.”

Belgium responded to Kigali’s action by labeling it as “disproportional” and stated that they would implement comparable steps.

"Belgium expresses regret over Rwanda’s choice to sever diplomatic ties and declares Belgian diplomats unwelcome within its territory," stated Maxime Prevot, who serves as both the deputy prime minister and the minister for foreign affairs, European affairs, and development cooperation of Belgium, via social media.

"It is unjustified and indicates that whenever we differ with Rwanda, they opt out of engaging in dialogue," he stated.

Prevot stated that Belgium would implement comparable actions: summoning Rwanda’s chargé d'affaires ad interim, deeming Rwanda's diplomatic representatives as personae non gratae, and terminating bilateral government cooperation accords.

Belgium has taken a strong stance against Rwanda’s purported role in the ongoing strife in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, notably its claimed backing of the M23 rebel group, which Kigali refutes.

Following their resurgence in late 2021, the M23 have seized control of areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the key city of Goma.

On Monday, the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on Rwandan military leaders.

During a press briefing in Kigali on Sunday, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame adopted a resolute stance, stating that his East African nation will safeguard its interests against any external meddling from foreign nations.

Kagame specifically called out Belgium, highlighting that it colonized Rwanda until 1962, and accused the country of perpetrating crimes against Rwandan people. He pledged to combat what he described as Belgian 'neocolonial intervention.'

Rwanda has encountered greater global attention due to its involvement in the strife in eastern Congo, where its allied rebel group dominates two mineral-abundant regions.