Rwanda cut diplomatic ties with Belgium and said it was “consistently damaged” by European countries during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Brussels has called on European countries to sanction Rwanda for support for M23, a rebel group at the heart of Dr. Congo’s crisis.
Authorities in Rwandan’s capital, Kigali, gave Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.
Previous colonial power, Belgium, said it would respond to these measures, and is labelled as a Rwandan decision.
Despite allegations from the United Nations and the United States, Rwanda has rejected the M23’s support.
In a statement Monday, Kigali accused Brussels of “trying to maintain the delusions of the neocolonium.”
“Belgium clearly lies with regional conflicts, continues to mobilize Rwanda in different forums systematically, using lies and manipulations to ensure Rwanda’s unfair hostile opinions and destabilize both Rwanda and the region,” he said.
“This is disproportionate and shows that when they oppose Rwanda, they prefer not to engage in dialogue,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim responded to measures on social media.
Prevot said that Belgian Rwandan diplomats will be declared “persona non-grata.”
This declaration can lead to the elimination of diplomatic status, and in many cases lead to the removal of expulsion or revocation of the envoy’s recognition.
Congolese authorities said that since the beginning of the year, around 7,000 people have been killed in combat between the M23 and the army of Dr. Congolese.
More than 850,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the January conflict rose, according to UNICEF’s UN Children’s Agency.
Over the past two months, M23 has managed two major cities, Goma and Bukavu.
To pressure Rwanda to withdraw its support for the M23 UK, it cut some of its aid to the country.
Last month, the UN Security Council called for the M23 to end hostilities and Rwanda to separate its troops from Dr. Congo.
Before Kigali refused ties with Brussels, Rwandan President Paul Kagame vowed that his country “stopping up” in Belgium.
“We ask [Belgium]: “By the way, who are you? Who did you take charge of us?” The Rwandans believe in God, but did God really make these people take charge of Rwanda? ” asked Kagame in her speech on Sunday.
