Belgium seeks Museveni’s help to re-establish relations with Rwanda

By The Inspirer.

Last month, Rwanda decided to sever diplomatic ties with Belgium and ordered Belgian diplomats to leave its territory.

This decision was accompanied by additional measures, including the suspension of development projects funded by Belgium in Rwanda, valued at more than 95 million euros. Non-governmental organizations, both local and international—whether faith-based or public interest-driven—operating in Rwanda were also prohibited from collaborating in any form with the Belgian government or its affiliated institutions.

The move followed Belgium’s long-standing efforts to pressure the international community to sanction Rwanda, accusing it of supporting the M23 rebel group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rwanda denied the allegations, condemning Belgium’s actions and recalling the European country’s dark historical role in the Great Lakes region, dating back to its colonial rule over Rwanda, the DRC, and Burundi.

In response to Rwanda’s diplomatic break, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced retaliatory measures, including the expulsion of Rwandan diplomats from Brussels.

It later emerged that Prévot had been traveling internationally on Belgium’s behalf, lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda—often in coordination with DRC officials who provided him with talking points.

However, in a notable shift, Prévot recently emphasized that Belgium still sees Rwanda as a capable and important partner in the region, with potential to help resolve the conflict in Eastern Congo.

Minister Prévot made these remarks during a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as part of a regional tour.

He asked President Museveni to assist in addressing the situation in Eastern DRC and to mediate between Belgium and Rwanda, according to *The East African*.

Prévot described Museveni as “a key mediator in diplomatic talks between the two sides.”

He emphasized that tapping into Museveni’s regional experience could help resolve the Congo crisis while opening a pathway to restoring Belgium’s relationship with Rwanda.

Prévot, who visited Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC, explained that he did not visit Rwanda due to the ongoing diplomatic rupture.

“Following Rwanda’s decision to sever diplomatic ties, it was not possible to travel to Kigali in this context,” he said.

He further explained, “I informed President Museveni that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding this issue. Severing diplomatic relations is not the answer to differing perspectives.”

Both leaders agreed that urgent action was needed to address insecurity in Eastern Congo.

“I also emphasized that the root causes of this crisis must be addressed in a way that halts ongoing violence,” Prévot added.

He argued that respecting national sovereignty, promoting regional economic cooperation, resolving refugee crises, combating the genocidal FDLR militia, fighting hate speech, and fostering good governance could help resolve the conflict in Eastern DRC and ease tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.

Prévot stated that Belgium is prepared to engage in dialogue with Rwanda and that each side must be willing to listen to the other’s views.

He pointed out that even though Russia faces sanctions over its war in Ukraine, Belgium has maintained diplomatic relations with Moscow, suggesting that dialogue should remain possible even amid serious disagreements.

He welcomed the recent agreement between the AFC/M23 and the DRC aimed at ending hostilities and pursuing lasting peace in Eastern Congo, and commended mediation efforts by Qatar, the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Despite his conciliatory tone, Prévot’s statements continued to show underlying tensions and some bias.

For instance, during a press conference in Kampala, he said that Belgium could never ignore Rwanda’s alleged incursions into the DRC, even as Belgium seeks to prevent the situation from escalating.

There are also signs that Belgium has broader military interests in the DRC and the region.

In March 2025, a Belgian military aircraft departed Brussels for Kinshasa, continued to Kindu the next day, and returned to Kinshasa before flying back to Brussels via Bujumbura, Burundi.

Later, Minister Prévot confirmed that Belgium has six soldiers deployed in Eastern DRC as part of the European Union’s mission to support the Congolese armed forces (FARDC).

Although it has been suggested that Belgium sent troops to assist the DRC army in fighting the M23 rebels, Prévot clarified that Belgian soldiers are not engaged in combat operations.