In an unprecedented move, Rwanda has suspended its development cooperation with Belgium, marking the first time a European country has been sanctioned by an African nation. The decision comes in response to Belgium's alleged aggressive campaign, in collaboration with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to sabotage Rwanda's access to development finance.
The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations announced the suspension on February 18, 2025. The Ministry accused Belgium of politicizing development and jeopardizing Rwanda's development finance as a tool of leverage. This move, according to the Ministry, constitutes unwarranted external interference that undermines the African-led mediation process to resolve the crisis in Eastern DRC.
President Paul Kagame emphasized that Rwanda will not be bullied or blackmailed into compromising national security. The Ministry stated that the country's only aim is a secure border and an irreversible end to the politics of violent ethnic extremism in the region. The suspension affects the remainder of the 2024-2029 bilateral aid program with Belgium, which was worth €95 million.
Rwanda's decision highlights the importance of mutual respect in development partnerships and the need for the international community to support the AU/EAC/SADC mediation process. The Ministry stressed that punitive, one-sided measures have repeatedly failed to provide a solution in the past, only adding to the problems and deferring them to the future.
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