Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, has explained why Kigali agreed to restore diplomatic relations with Belgium after an 18-month break.
Nduhungirehe said a reduction in Belgium’s activities within international organisations aimed at accusing Rwanda or pushing for sanctions against the country played an important role in creating an environment for the two countries to rebuild their relationship.
Rwanda and Belgium announced on September 22, 2026, that they had restored diplomatic relations after ties were severed in March 2025. The announcement followed a meeting between Nduhungirehe and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Speaking on the Agasaro Kaburaga YouTube channel, Nduhungirehe said the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was not the only reason relations between Kigali and Brussels deteriorated.
He noted that Rwanda has also had differences with other European countries and the United States over the situation in eastern DRC.
“Over the past year and a half, what Belgium was doing in international organisations had decreased compared with before. We were seeing reports showing that they were no longer as aggressive as they had been previously in targeting Rwanda,” Nduhungirehe said.
According to the minister, the change contributed to Kigali’s decision to consider rebuilding relations while maintaining dialogue over issues where the two countries continue to disagree.
The diplomatic relationship between Rwanda and Belgium deteriorated sharply in early 2025 amid disagreements over the conflict in eastern DRC. Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium in March 2025 and ordered Belgian diplomats to leave the country. Belgium had criticised Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 armed group, an allegation Kigali has denied.
The two governments have now agreed to maintain open dialogue on their remaining differences, particularly the security situation in eastern DRC. Belgium has made clear that restoring diplomatic relations does not mean abandoning its position on issues concerning the DRC.
The joint statement signed by Nduhungirehe and Prévot said the decision to restore relations followed a series of meetings and informal contacts between the two foreign ministers in recent months. The discussions addressed differences and misunderstandings between the two countries in what the statement described as a constructive spirit.
The two countries also expressed their appreciation to Qatar for facilitating the first meeting between Nduhungirehe and Prévot in Doha in June 2025. Qatar has since welcomed the restoration of relations, describing the development as an example of the role of diplomacy in addressing disagreements.
As part of the restoration of relations, Rwanda and Belgium agreed to reopen their respective embassies in the near future. Initially, the missions will be headed by chargé d’affaires ad interim, supported by diplomatic, consular and technical staff. The two countries will later proceed with the accreditation of ambassadors.
The joint statement also said Rwanda and Belgium had agreed to base their future relations on principles including non-interference, mutual respect and constructive engagement.
The resumption of diplomatic ties therefore restores formal channels between Kigali and Brussels while leaving some major policy differences unresolved, particularly those related to the conflict in eastern DRC. Both governments have committed to continuing dialogue on those issues.
