Rwanda Suspends Belgian Aid Programs Amidst Conflict in Eastern DRC
Kigali, Rwanda – Rwanda has announced the suspension of Belgian development aid programs in the country, accusing its former colonial ruler of siding with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the ongoing conflict in the eastern part of the country.
The decision, announced on February 18th, comes amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and Belgium over the conflict in eastern DRC. The Belgian government, which once ruled both DRC and Rwanda, has advocated for a tougher stance against Kigali and has reportedly taken steps towards imposing sanctions.
In January, as the rebel group M23 and Rwandan troops seized Goma, a major city and economic hub in North Kivu, Belgium urged the European Union (EU) to consider sanctions. On Sunday, the armed group and its allies captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
In a statement, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Belgium of waging an "aggressive campaign alongside the DRC to sabotage Rwanda’s access to development financing, including from multilateral institutions."
"Politicizing development is fundamentally unacceptable," the statement added, denouncing the measures as "actions that can only be seen as unwarranted external interference."
"As a result, Rwanda is suspending the remaining 2024-2029 bilateral aid program with Belgium," it concluded.
The budget for this bilateral program stands at 120 million euros, according to the website of the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel).
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot acknowledged the decision in a social media post, stating that Belgium had also initiated a review of its entire bilateral program. He suggested that the review would have eventually led to similar measures as the ones now anticipated by Rwanda.
Responding to questions about a potential breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two countries, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told the Agence France-Presse (AFP): "We have suspended development cooperation. Nothing else."
The international community has repeatedly called for de-escalation amid fears of a regional war. On Saturday, after the European Parliament called for suspending a partnership on raw materials with Rwanda, the EU announced that it was "urgently" reviewing all options. No concrete measures have been announced yet.
Kinshasa accuses Kigali of seeking to control the exploitation and trade of minerals in eastern DRC, which is rich in resources used in batteries and electronic devices. Rwanda denies the allegations, claiming that its security is threatened by armed groups operating in the region, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group established by former Hutu perpetrators of the Rwandan Tutsi genocide.
Rwanda receives approximately $1.3 billion in international aid, a substantial portion of its annual budget, which has hovered around $4 billion in recent years.
