On Monday, Rwanda interrupted diplomatic ties with her former colonial ruler, Belgium, who pushed the punishment of Rwanda for his invasion of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rwanda gave Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.
The diplomatic escalation came on Monday that the European Union, at the urging of Belgium, had imposed sanctions on Monday against military and government officials Rwanda for their involvement in the Congo.
“Belgium has obviously taken over the sides in regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilize against Rwanda in different forums,” Rwande UA’s Foreign Ministry said at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. statement.
The European Union accused Ruan’s officers to encourage conflict through The presence of a ruver trunk in the Eastern Congo and robbing the Mineral Resources of the Congo. The sanctions were the first steps in Europe to increase the pressure on Rwanda, although it has so far held a narrow cooperation on security and strategic minerals.
“Belgium has taken a leading role in Europe in commitment to sanctions against Rwanda,” said Kristof Titec, a professor of international development at the University of Antwerp. At the same time, he added, “the European Union has made a minimum on individuals with these sanctions – it still remains quite harmless.”
The Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, said in a statement that Rwande’s answer was “disproportionate and shows that when we disagree with Rwanda, they prefer not to deal with dialogue.” He said Belgium would respond to the expulsion of his diplomats.
The United States, the European Union and the United Nations say that Rwanda funded, supported the commander of the armed rebel group, M23, who fought against the government forces in Eastern Congo for over a decade and launched a new offensive in January.
The M23 now controls the two largest cities in the region, the border crossings with Rwand and access to key natural resources, including one of the world’s largest Coltan mine. Coltan is a mineral that is vital to make smartphones and other electronic devices. The M23 is in charge of the area in the eastern Congo, which is the sizes of Greece or Louisiane.
After the EU imposed sanctions, the M23 said on Monday that he would not participate in peace negotiations with the Government officials who were scheduled for Tuesday – which would be the first official meeting of the two warring parties in the years.
The last wave of violence killed thousands and displaced more than 500,000 people since the beginning of the year, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Despite the wide evidence shared by the UN experts, independent researchers that thousands of troops in Rwandam have been arranged in Congo and that Rwanda supplies weapons for M23, Rwanda has denied the support of M23.
Rwanda, a country of 14 million whose economic growth is often viewed as a story of success in Africa, remains largely dependent on external assistance. More than a quarter of his state budget of $ 4 billion comes from side aid, according to World Bank – About $ 1.25 billion on average in the last few years.
Britain and Germany maintained the help of Rwanda and Canada suspended some export activities.
On Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions Zlata refinery in Rwanda and five Ruandans, including Francis Kamanzi, Mines Executive Director, Committee on oil and Gas Rwanda. The block accused Rwanda of mixing the robbery minerals from Kong with his own production.
The rules of Karusisi, the commander of the Rwanda Special Forces, are also sanctioned, for which the UN experts say they supervise the M23 units on the ground; and two senior military officials, Désiré of handball and eugene nkubito.
Still, Rwanda’s government was mostly defiant, and on Monday he accused Belgium of “neocolonial misconceptions.” Over the past decade, the East African state has grown economic and military relations with a wide range of countries – including Singapore, Turkey and Qatar – outside its traditional Western partners.
It was shown as a safe and stable haven in the unstable region, attracting tourism and investment. Last month, finance managers from all over Africa met in the Rwanda capital, Kigali, at a conference on financial technology and Cyclists from all over the world ran through the lush hills of land as part of a tour of Rwanda.
“Rwanda bent muscle on every criticism and signaled:” We are not afraid of sanctions; They have no effect, “said Mr. Titec, a professor at the University of Antwerp.” But that strong reaction actually shows that it could have some effect. “
