Staff Writer
The reluctance to confirm Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium was termed as “regrettable” on Wednesday, and a government spokeswoman was assured that “this does not augur well” for the two countries’ relations.
The Kigali authorities had nominated Vincent Karega, a former Rwandan ambassador to South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he was expelled last October following months of hostilities between the two nations, to serve as ambassador to Belgium.
According to Yolande Makolo, a spokesman for the Rwandan government, “It is regrettable that the Belgian government appears to have caved in to pressure from the DRC government and to the propaganda of Holocaust denial organizations and activists.” “This is not promising for our bilateral ties.”
A representative for the Belgian foreign ministry in Brussels, who was also contacted by AFP, stated that Belgium will communicate on this topic “through diplomatic channels.”
He stated that “this kind of issue is resolved through official channels.” The official continued, “We hope for calm and positive relations with Rwanda.”
Accusing Kigali of aiding the M23 (“March 23 Movement”), a past Tutsi uprising that resumed at the end of 2021, the DRC resolved to deport Vincent Karega in October.
As a result of its resurrection, tensions between the DRC and Rwanda have increased once more. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of actively backing this revolt since the year’s commencement.
Kinshasa has claimed from the beginning that Rwanda armed the uprising and fought alongside it; this accusation has been supported by UN experts, but Kigali disputes it.
Up until the former’s independence in 1960 and the independence of Rwanda and Burundi in 1962, Belgium was the colonial power in Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, previously Zaire), Ruanda-Urundi, and Rwanda.
