In a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, President Kagame remarked that Belgium has been a key player in fueling insecurity in the region but continues to ignore its own involvement.
'There is a serious issue of dishonesty among those who should have helped solve this crisis. There are countries like Belgium which have a historical responsibility and are part of this problem,' he said.
Belgium, a former colonial power in Rwanda, played a significant role in defining the country's borders with its neighbors.
Throughout the years of the conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army coalition, Belgium has sided with the DRC instead of supporting peace negotiations. It has also openly criticized Rwanda, accusing it of backing M23.
"They keep repeating the same thing, everything is Rwanda's fault. How can you solve such a complex issue by blaming the victims? Kagame questioned.
President Kagame also slammed other European nations refuse to acknowledge their involvement, despite the presence of mercenaries from their countries fighting in eastern DRC.
" You all know that there are mercenaries from Europe. These mercenaries are not from elsewhere, yet no European country has ever admitted their nationals are involved in this conflict. They talk about everything else but never address that fact," he added.
In late January, over 280 mercenaries surrendered and were repatriated through Rwanda. Reports indicate that since 2022, more than 1,000 foreign mercenaries have been fighting alongside the Congolese army against M23 in eastern DRC.
Due to Belgium's stance on the issue, Rwanda announced on February 18, 2025, that it was terminating a cooperation agreement with Belgium that was set to last until 2029.
How did Rwandan land end up becoming part of the DRC?
During the Berlin Conference held between November 15, 1884 to February 26, 1885 that divided Africa among European powers, Germany, Britain, and Belgium were the main colonial players in East Africa.
Germany created 'German East Africa,' which included Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanganyika. Belgium, on the other hand, controlled territories west of Rwanda, while Britain colonized Uganda and Kenya to the north.
On May 14, 1910, a meeting was held in Belgium to resolve a territorial dispute among the colonial powers. It included Belgian administrators in Congo, German colonial rulers of Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanganyika, as well as British officials overseeing Uganda and Kenya.
As a result of this conference, between 1910 and 1912, new borders were drawn, using natural features such as the Virunga Mountains, Akanyaru River, Akagera River, and Lake Kivu as demarcations. This significantly reduced Rwanda's territory.
A total of 124,553 square kilometers of Rwandan land was annexed to Congo, including parts of South Kivu and North Kivu. Another 17,715 square kilometers were incorporated into Uganda. This left Rwanda with a much smaller landmass of 26,338 square kilometers.
Unlike the Belgians, who sought to expand their colonies, the Germans were less concerned about territorial reductions, as their primary interest was economic development in the regions they controlled.
This historical partition explains why many Rwandans live in neighboring countries today. Their ancestral lands were taken by colonial powers, and they continue to face marginalization, despite having deep-rooted ties to those territories.
IGIHE
