Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused Belgium of leading efforts to impose international sanctions on Rwanda over the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking at a rally in Kigali on Sunday, Kagame claimed Belgium has a history of undermining Rwanda and is now mobilizing global pressure against his country. His remarks come as Western nations, including the US, UK, and Germany, have announced sanctions over Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 rebels.
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Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused Belgium of advocating for international sanctions against his country over the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking at a rally in Kigali on Sunday, Kagame claimed Belgium has a history of undermining Rwanda and is now mobilizing the world against it.
“Belgians go to Kinshasa and point a finger at Rwanda, saying they will impose sanctions on us,” Kagame said, dismissing the allegations as baseless. He also accused Belgium of altering Rwanda’s borders during colonial rule to diminish its territory.
In 2023, Belgium declined to accept Rwanda’s ambassador-designate, a move Kigali criticized. Recently, Germany joined the US and UK in sanctioning Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 rebels, an accusation Rwanda denies.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have intensified their offensive, capturing several towns in North Kivu province. The Congolese government says at least 7,000 people have been killed in the fighting since January.
Peace talks, brokered by Angolan President Joao Lourenço, are set for Tuesday in Angola.
