Belgian Diplomats have been asked to leave Kigali, Rwanda’s capital in two days (48 hours).
This is according to information from the BBC News Africa official X handle, @BBCAfrica on Monday.
TheFact Daily gathered that the development was announced after Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing it of taking sides in the escalating conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The country’s action has prompted Brussels to expell Rwandan envoys in a retaliatory move.
A conflict began between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in 2022 after Rwandan forces entered the country to provide military support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, including fighting alongside them against the Congolese military (FARDC) and pro-government militias.
Rwanda denies backing M23 but does not deny having its own troops in Congo. The United Nations estimates that Kigali has around 4,000 troops in Congo.
Belgium, the former colonial power in Congo and Rwanda, led calls for the EU to suspend the 2024 raw materials agreement with Rwanda.
“Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilize against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilize both Rwanda and the region,” Kigali said in a statement on Monday.
The Congolese government and M23 rebels said they would send delegations to peace talks in Angola on Tuesday.
