Rwanda has announced the suspension of the remainder of its 2024-2029 bilateral aid program with Belgium, accusing the European country of undermining its access to development finance.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Rwandan government accused Belgium of leading an aggressive campaign, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to block Rwanda’s access to development funding, including from multilateral institutions.
Rwanda argues that these actions threaten regional stability and disrupt ongoing African-led efforts to mediate the crisis in eastern DRC.
“Belgium has made a political decision to take sides in this conflict, which is its right, but politicizing development is wrong,” the statement read.
“No country in the region should have its development finance jeopardized as a tool of leverage. Punitive, one-sided measures can only be seen as unwarranted external interference, undermining the African-led mediation process and risking a delay in the peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
The Rwandan government also stated that Belgium’s actions reveal a lack of justification for continued development cooperation.
As a result, Rwanda has decided to suspend all remaining aid programs under the current bilateral framework.
Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to national security, emphasizing that it would not be bullied or blackmailed into compromising its sovereignty.
“Rwanda’s primary objective is to secure its borders and find a lasting solution to violent ethnic extremism in the region,” the statement added.
The Rwandan government stressed that peace and a durable solution are vital, pointing to the ongoing cycles of conflict fueled by the DRC government’s failure, and the international community’s inability, to dismantle the UN-sanctioned genocidal FDLR militia and protect minority rights.
Rwanda reiterated that development partnerships must be based on mutual respect and accountability, principles it has consistently upheld.
The government also called for full support of the African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediation efforts, considering them the only viable route to lasting peace in the region.
