Belgium

Belgium said Tuesday that it had summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Rwandan Embassy in Brussels, days after M23 rebels claimed to have captured the city of Goma in the restive eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. “Belgium reiterated its firm position, including calling for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to support for the M23,” the Foreign Ministry said on X. In response, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the chargé d’affaires “reiterated Rwanda’s firm position towards Belgium, namely its own responsibility in this crisis and its bias against our country.” Nduhungirehe said Belgium’s biases against Rwanda are manifested by “its deafening silence and inaction” in the face of the numerous bellicose speeches of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi against Rwanda and the continued collaboration between Congolese forces and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group operating in eastern Congo and sanctioned by the UN. Belgium described the M23’s advance as an “unacceptable violation of the ceasefire” with a disastrous humanitarian impact. Violent demonstrations erupted Tuesday in Congo’s capital Kinshasa in front of several embassies, including that of Belgian, where a gate was set on fire. Congo and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group. Rwanda, however, denies the allegations. The M23 says it is defending the interests of minority Congolese Tutsis, who say they are discriminated against for their ethnic links to Rwanda’s Tutsi community.