The discord reached a new low point on July 30, 2024, marking the end of Bert Versmessen's three-year term as Belgium's ambassador to Rwanda.
Jeune Afrique recently reported that Rwanda rejected Belgium's latest ambassadorial nominee, a move that followed Belgium's refusal to accept Vincent Karega, Rwanda's designated envoy to Brussels.This Belgian diplomat had been proposed on December 11, 2023.
Rwanda's refusal to approve this candidate led Belgium to withdraw the nomination on June 18, 2024. Consequently, Belgium is left without an ambassador in Kigali, and Rwanda has been without a representative in Brussels since Dieudonné Sebashongore's departure over a year ago.
Despite the embassies' continued operation, the atmosphere remains palpably tense. Rwanda's government has accused Belgium of yielding to pressure from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country with which Rwanda has had a contentious relationship.
President Paul Kagame, in an interview with Jeune Afrique in March 2024, insisted that Rwanda would not nominate another ambassador unless Belgium clarified on why it had rejected Karega.
The president denounced Belgium's actions as unacceptable and claimed they were influenced by the DRC's demands.
Diplomatic experts suggest that the onus to mend the fractured relationship now lies with Belgium, which first rejected Karega without clear justification.
The strained ties are not entirely new; Belgium's historical actions during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have long strained relations with Rwanda. This historical context, coupled with Belgium's perceived attempts to exert colonial influence, has contributed to the ongoing tension.
For reconciliation, analysts assert that both political will and mutual respect are crucial. This diplomatic challenge echoes a similar situation from 2015 when Rwanda and France experienced strained relations. During that period, Rwanda refused to accept a new French ambassador until the relationship improved under President Emmanuel Macron.
As the diplomatic impasse continues, the path to restoring harmonious relations between Rwanda and Belgium remains uncertain, underscoring the complexities of international diplomacy shaped by both historical grievances and contemporary political dynamics.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/rwanda-belgium-relations-experience-diplomatic-hiccup
