RWANDA has stopped its aid cooperation with Belgium, following Brussels’ criticism of Kigali’s involvement in the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Belgium accuses Rwanda of undermining the DRC’s territorial integrity by supporting the M23 rebels, who have seized two major cities in the east of the country in recent weeks.
Angered by this message, Rwanda announced on Tuesday that it was suspending its 2024-2029 bilateral aid programme with Belgium.
The Rwandan authorities released a statement on Tuesday claiming that Brussels was sabotaging its access to “development finance, including in multilateral institutions”.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation added that Belgium had the right to choose a side in the DRC conflict but should stop “politicising development”.
Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot said on X.com that the Belgian government had noted Rwanda’s decision.
“We are committed to a professional suspension process that preserves the gains of our longstanding cooperation for the benefit of the Rwandan people”, he wrote.
Eighteen-Eleven Media