Rwanda suspends all Belgian aid and cooperation following diplomatic rift
The Rwandan government has announced an immediate ban on all aid and cooperation from Belgian entities, following a recent deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries. The decision was reported by De Standaard and comes a week after president Paul Kagame declared the end of diplomatic ties with Belgium.
The Rwandan authorities stated that all Rwandan and international NGOs, religious institutions and charitable organisations based in Rwanda are now prohibited from engaging in any form of collaboration with Belgian institutions or affiliated entities.
The ban also extends to financial transactions involving the Belgian government, its agencies, and related programmes. The official wording prohibits the receipt of any funds, grants, donations, or financial contributions from Belgian sources.
The scope of the measure appears broad and is likely to affect a large number of Belgian-funded initiatives.
These include projects supported by the Belgian development agency Enabel, partnerships with Belgian universities and the activities of organisations such as the Red Cross, 11.11.11 Plan International and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières. The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, which is working with a Rwandan partner on antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis, is also affected.
This latest development follows Rwanda's suspension of official Belgian development aid a month ago. Belgium had pledged 112 million euros over four years, making it one of Rwanda's largest bilateral donors.
M23 support
The suspension came after Kagame criticised Belgium's position during EU deliberations on sanctions against Rwanda. Belgium had backed the proposed measures, citing Rwanda's alleged support for M23 rebels operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tensions reached another boiling point last week when Kagame announced the end of diplomatic relations with Belgium, hours before European foreign ministers imposed a series of sanctions on senior Rwandan officials. Belgian diplomats in Kigali were given 48 hours to leave the country.
© PHOTO JOHN THYS, DON EMMERT / AFP