Rwandan President, Paul Kagame has cautioned Belgium against meddling in Rwanda’s affairs, accusing it of shifting blame for DR Congo’s crisis onto Rwanda while conspiring to impose sanctions.
The President speaking on March 16 at a Presidential Citizen Outreach event at BK Arena, attended by thousands of Kigali residents, Kagame criticized Belgium’s historical role in the region’s instability.
He asserted that Belgium, despite its colonial legacy, continues to fuel tensions by supporting the Congolese government’s narrative, which frames Rwanda as the source of DR Congo’s governance failures. Kagame pointed out that Belgium’s interference contradicts ongoing calls for African-led peace efforts to stabilize the region.
Kagame highlighted how colonial powers, particularly Belgium, partitioned Rwanda, displacing people and causing deep-rooted regional conflicts.“One of our misfortunes was being colonized by a small country similar in size to Rwanda, which divided Rwanda to fit its own scale,” he said.
He stressed that Rwandans who ended up in areas such as Kisoro (Uganda), Masisi, and Rutshuru (DR Congo) were not displaced by Rwanda but by colonial rulers. “If you want to remove them, take their land along with them,” Kagame added, emphasizing that people must be given their rights or they will fight for them.
The President also condemned Western-led sanctions, which he attributed to Belgian influence, calling them “baseless.” “It is ironic that those responsible for the problem are the same ones leading calls for sanctions against Rwanda,” Kagame remarked. He criticized the lack of justification behind these sanctions, saying, “Even when asked for reasons, they simply say, ‘We don’t know, but the Belgians told us to do so.’”
Kagame reaffirmed that Rwanda is not responsible for the war it is being blamed for but will not tolerate external agendas aimed at destabilizing the country.
“If Rwanda is blamed for problems created by countries that fail to care for their people, we have no choice but to defend ourselves,” he said, adding that Rwanda relies on determination and courage to protect its sovereignty.
He urged Rwandans to uphold their identity, dignity, and independence. “You must have the mindset that we are Rwandans, not subjects of colonizers,” Kagame stated.
While advocating for peaceful relations with other nations, he emphasized that Rwanda will continue to defend its territorial integrity whenever necessary.
“There is nothing worse than the tragedy we have survived. That is why we must not be afraid to speak out, to fight for ourselves, and to resist those who seek to destroy us,” Kagame concluded.
