Rwanda considers Belgium’s refusal to approve the appointment of its ambassador as “unlucky”, a authorities spokesman stated Wednesday 26 July 2023, including that the transfer “doesn’t bode effectively” for bilateral relations.
Vincent Karega, Rwanda’s former ambassador to South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — from the place he was expelled final October amid tensions between the 2 international locations — had been chosen by the authorities in Kigali to be ambassador to Belgium.
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Rwanda says Belgian authorities was misled
“It’s unlucky that the Belgian authorities appears to have capitulated to stress from the DRC authorities and propaganda from negationist organisations and activists,” stated Rwandan authorities spokesman Yolande Makolo.
“This doesn’t bode effectively for our bilateral relations,” she added. A spokesman for Belgium’s international ministry stated the matter can be handled “by diplomatic channels”.
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Good relationship between international locations
“The sort of subject is settled by official channels”, he informed AFP, including, “We hope for calm and constructive relations with Rwanda”. DR Congo expelled Karega accusing Kigali of supporting the M23 insurgent group, which took up arms once more on the finish of 2021.
Its resurgence has led to renewed rigidity between the DRC and Rwanda, which Kinshasa has accused of arming and actively supporting the revolt, a cost corroborated by UN specialists.
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Kigali denies the accusation. Belgium was the colonial energy in each African international locations, which gained independence within the early Sixties.
str-dyg/sba/pvh/rox© Agence France-Presse
