New York, 24 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium and Rwanda have restored diplomatic relations after an 18-month rupture linked to disagreements over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The restoration of Belgium Rwanda relations was agreed on 22 September following months of contacts between the countries’ foreign ministers.
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe announced the agreement while in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.
Belgium and Rwanda agree to restore diplomatic ties
A joint statement from the two governments said Belgium and Rwanda had decided to restore relations under Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Their bilateral embassies will reopen in the near future. Each will initially be led by a chargé d’affaires ad interim, supported by another diplomat or consul and a small technical team. Requests for the approval of ambassadors will follow. Rwanda’s ambassador in Belgium is also expected to handle relations with the European Union.
The agreement followed a series of meetings and informal contacts between Prévot and Nduhungirehe. Both governments thanked Qatar for facilitating their first meeting in Doha in June 2025.
Prévot says differences over eastern DRC remain
The restoration of Belgium Rwanda relations does not end disagreements between Brussels and Kigali over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prévot said on 22 September:
“Restoring diplomatic relations between states does not mean abandoning our positions. It means having structured channels for dialogue.”
The Belgian foreign minister said he would continue defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC. Belgium would also continue calling on parties to respect commitments made through the Doha and Washington diplomatic processes.
The two governments separately committed to maintaining an “open, candid and transparent dialogue” and agreed that non-interference, mutual respect and constructive engagement would guide future relations.
Diplomatic relations were severed in March 2025
The two countries broke diplomatic ties in March 2025 as tensions escalated over the war in eastern DRC. The dispute included allegations over Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel movement. Rwanda has rejected allegations concerning its role, while Belgium has consistently backed the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The 22 September agreement therefore restores formal diplomatic channels without resolving the countries’ underlying differences over the regional conflict.
African Union welcomes the agreement
The African Union welcomed the decision on 23 September, one day after the agreement was announced.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said:
“The resumption of diplomatic ties underscores the importance of sustained dialogue, constructive engagement and open diplomatic channels in addressing differences and advancing shared interests.”
Youssouf also credited Qatar with playing a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between the governments. He said the development demonstrated the value of diplomacy in overcoming disagreements and strengthening cooperation.
Restored ties reopen formal channels
The resumption of Belgium Rwanda relations restores direct diplomatic representation and creates a formal channel through which Brussels and Kigali can manage bilateral issues and their continuing disagreements over Central Africa.
The reopening of embassies will also rebuild diplomatic and consular capacity disrupted by the 2025 rupture.
What happens next?
Belgium and Rwanda will now proceed with reopening their embassies using small diplomatic teams headed initially by chargés d’affaires.
The governments then plan to seek approval for ambassadors as part of the normalisation process. Their joint statement makes clear that diplomatic engagement will continue even where significant disagreements remain, particularly over the conflict in eastern DRC.
