1 week ago
Belgium and Rwanda Resume Ties After Congo Conflict Dispute
Belgium and Rwanda stopped talking officially after disagreeing about a war in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
They had expelled each other’s diplomats in March 2025.
The two countries have now decided to restore diplomatic relations.
Their foreign ministers held meetings and informal talks in recent months.
Qatar helped arrange their first meeting in June 2025.
Rebels called AFC/M23 control parts of eastern Congo.
Some governments say Rwanda supports the rebels, but Rwanda denies this.
Belgium says restoring relations will allow dialogue while it continues supporting the Congo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Belgium and Rwanda resumed diplomatic relations 18 months after expelling each other’s diplomats in March 2025.
The dispute centered on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
AFC/M23 rebels control large areas of North and South Kivu after capturing Goma and Bukavu.
The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda backs the rebels, while Kigali denies the accusation.
The countries thanked Qatar for facilitating a June meeting and said they plan to reopen their embassies soon.
- Who
- Belgium and Rwanda, represented by Foreign Ministers Maxime Prevot and Olivier Nduhungirehe.
- What
- The two countries resumed diplomatic relations and plan to reopen their embassies.
- Where
- The foreign ministers met and announced the development in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.
- When
- The announcement was made on September 22, after diplomatic ties were broken in March 2025.
- Why
- They sought to address disagreements linked to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through renewed dialogue.
Belgium and international governments
Rwanda
Alleged support for AFC/M23
Belgium and international governments
The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda backs AFC/M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda
Rwanda denies backing AFC/M23.
Security rationale
Belgium and international governments
Belgium says it will continue defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda
Rwanda says it is defending itself against the threat from a Hutu militia that it says fights alongside the Congolese military.
Restoring relations
Belgium and international governments
Belgium views renewed diplomatic ties as a way to maintain structured dialogue without abandoning its position on the Congo conflict.
Rwanda
Rwanda agreed to restore relations after meetings and contacts addressed differences and misunderstandings in a constructive spirit.
Key facts
- Diplomatic break
- Belgium and Rwanda expelled each other’s diplomats in March 2025.
- Relations restored
- The countries resumed diplomatic relations after 18 months.
- Central dispute
- The disagreement involved the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Rebel advance
- AFC/M23 captured Goma and Bukavu and controls large parts of North and South Kivu.
- Rwanda’s position
- Rwanda denies allegations that it backs AFC/M23 and says it is defending itself against a Hutu militia.
- Mediation
- Qatar facilitated the countries’ first meeting in June 2025.
- Next step
- Belgium and Rwanda said they intend to reopen their respective embassies soon.
Quotes
Maxime Prevot
Belgian foreign minister
“Restoring diplomatic relations between states does not mean abandoning our position, but having structured channels for dialogue, and I will continue to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC”
theprint.in
Sources
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