Rwanda's Diplomatic Break with Belgium Signals a Quest for Sovereignty and Justice

The Rwandan government notified the Belgian government of its decision to sever diplomatic relations. Rwanda’s decision was taken after careful consideration of several factors, all linked with Belgium’s trifling attempts to sustain its neocolonial roots. All Belgian diplomats in Rwanda were required to leave the country within 48 hours.

In retaliation, the Government of Belgium declared the Rwandan diplomats persona non grata, a Latin phrase meaning "a person is not welcome." In diplomacy, this means that if a person is not recalled by its mother nation, the host state may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the diplomatic mission, which includes removing his or her diplomatic immunity. This is a symbolic displeasure with each nation.

On January 27, 2025, the infamous March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel group of ethnic Tutsi who broke away from the Congolese army more than a decade ago, captured the city of Goma. The paramilitary group’s main stronghold is located at the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. The capture of the city of Goma has seen a death toll of over 3,000 people and a displacement of over 100,000 Congolese citizens, according to the United Nations.

According to Rwanda, Belgium consistently “undermined Rwanda”. Rwanda blamed Belgium of neocolonial interference, regional destabilisation, and tolerating genocide denial.

In response, Belgium regretted Rwanda’s decision to cut off diplomatic ties citing their unwillingness to hold dialogue to solve their issues. Belgium reckoned with Rwanda by taking similar actions.

The locality where the M23 operates is one of the most resource-rich regions in the world. The provinces of North and South Kivu are rich in Coltan, a mineral used in the production of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, and high-tech equipment.

Cobalt is an essential resource used for rechargeable batteries, particularly in electric vehicles and renewable energy. With such a rich variety of invaluable resources in the modern world, it leaves me with more questions.

Does Rwanda have the capacity to build these electronic devices? Does Rwanda have a thriving automotive industry? This is where illegal smuggling of these resources is rampant and ironically finds its way to Europe. The illegal mining and smuggling of these minerals have left both countries partly responsible for the current instability in eastern DRC.

The uneasy diplomatic ties can also be blamed on the two countries' shared history. Belgium, in the colonial era, had a mandate to administer the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. At this time, Belgium used a divide-and-rule policy, rigidifying the distinctions between the Hutu and Tutsi.

The Belgians favored at first the Tutsi minority, whom they perceived as more “European” in appearance and more suited to rule. The Tutsi, hence, were given positions of power within the colonial administration. This exacerbated existing tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi. The Ethnic polarization by the Belgian colonial rule laid the unfortunate groundwork for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Over 800,000 people were killed in 100 days while the international community, including Belgium, largely failed to intervene. In 2000, Belgium acknowledged its historical responsibility in Rwanda, led by the then Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who made a formal apology for its role in the genocide.

While Rwanda has made significant progress in overcoming this dark legacy, the scars of history still remain. Rwanda and Belgium’s deteriorating relationship is underscored by its history of exploitation and polarization of ethnic tribes against each other.

Rwanda's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Belgium reflects its commitment to safeguarding its national interest and dignity and upholding the nation’s sovereignty. Both nations should, in turn, take responsibility for the crisis in the DRC and instead trade mutually for minerals without shortchanging one nation or the other.