He made these remarks in a brief interview with IGIHE on February 18, 2025, following the Rwanda government's announcement that it had suspended its development cooperation with Belgium.
The decision came after Belgium aligned itself with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a campaign aimed at pressuring international organizations to cut development aid to Rwanda.
When asked whether the suspension of cooperation with Belgium could negatively impact Rwanda, Nduhungirehe was resolute.
'There is no cause for concern. Activities will continue, and Rwanda's development will progress without Belgium. Belgium joined the Congolese government in an attempt to halt the aid Rwanda was receiving, even lobbying international organizations to cut support to our country.'
Belgium has often played a double game, one moment appearing to support Rwanda in various development projects, only to turn around and collaborate with the DRC in efforts to isolate Rwanda on the international stage.
In an interview with the national broadcaster, RBA, Rwanda's Deputy Government Spokesperson, Alain Mukuralinda, stated that Rwanda had been aware of Belgium's actions and had exercised patience, but the situation had persisted.
'You cannot claim to have a cooperation agreement with a country and then secretly lobby others to suspend their support due to political disagreements. Development issues should not be entangled with politics or used as a bargaining tool.'
When asked whether Rwanda had engaged in discussions with Belgium before making this decision, Mukuralinda confirmed that such measures are never taken without prior dialogue.
He expressed disappointment that Belgium had ignored Rwanda's security concerns, particularly regarding Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese who are being persecuted in the DRC. Instead, Belgium continued to back the Congolese government, which insists on resolving the conflict through military force.
'Belgium has the right to choose its path, but using cooperation agreements as leverage while disregarding Rwanda's security concerns is unacceptable.'
Recently, both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed that direct dialogue between the DRC and M23 was the only viable solution to lasting peace.
This position was also endorsed by the African Union. However, Mukuralinda noted that Belgium's actions were undermining this peace process.
'Everyone agrees that the issue should be resolved through negotiations and diplomacy. Rwanda has raised concerns about the FDLR, and agreements have been made to dismantle this group, yet Belgium does not support these efforts.'
'All international organizations have urged the DRC to negotiate with M23, yet the Congolese government refuses and insists on solving the issue through war. Any country that supports this stance is undermining the broader peace process.'
Regarding the potential impact of Rwanda's decision to cut ties with Belgium, Mukuralinda stated that Rwanda will not trade its national security or sovereignty for foreign aid.
In a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, President Paul Kagame was asked about Belgium and other countries threatening to cut aid or impose sanctions on Rwanda. He dismissed these threats, asserting that the same countries are responsible for fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.
'Some of these countries, like Belgium and Germany, which were former colonial rulers, are trying to intimidate us with sanctions simply because I am defending my country's rights. Do they think they can scare me? Let me be clear: if I must choose between compromising our security and facing sanctions, I would rather take up arms to defend my nation than bow to their threats,' he said.
President Kagame further highlighted Belgium's inconsistency and failure to acknowledge historical injustices. He reminded the world that Rwanda had endured difficult times in 1994, and thus, no amount of threats would deter its path forward.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-s-development-stands-firm-without-belgium-nduhungirehe
