Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused Belgium of promoting international sanctions against his nation regarding the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
During a rally in Kigali on Sunday, Kagame said that Belgium, as Rwanda’s former colonial ruler, has a history of undermining the country, claiming that Belgium had taken a significant portion of Rwanda’s territory and given it to Congo during colonial times, making Rwanda appear smaller than Belgium.
“Belgians go to Kinshasa and point a finger towards Rwanda and say they will impose sanctions on us and also mobilise the world against Rwanda. They are shameless. Mobilising the world against Rwanda, with our small size? They should leave us alone.”
In 2023, Belgium refused to accept Vincent Karega as Rwanda’s ambassador-designate, which Kigali deemed unfortunate.
Earlier this month, German authorities, alongside the US and UK, implemented sanctions against Rwanda concerning the situation in eastern Congo.
Congo and Western nations have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that Rwanda has denied. The rebel group has escalated its campaign in eastern Congo since December, seizing the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
Peace negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group, facilitated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, the African Union’s peace mediator for the conflict in Congo, are set to take place on Tuesday in Angola.
The Congolese government has reported that at least 7,000 individuals have lost their lives in the fighting since January.
