Rwanda and Belgium have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, following a series of meetings and informal contacts between the two countries’ foreign ministers over recent months.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, September 22, in a joint declaration signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and International Cooperation, Maxime Prévot.
According to the joint declaration, the two countries agreed to restore their diplomatic relations in accordance with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Embassies to reopen
As part of the agreement, Rwanda and Belgium will reopen their respective embassies in the near future.Initially, each embassy will be headed by a chargé d’affaires ad interim, supported by a diplomat or consul and a small technical team.
The two governments will subsequently submit requests for agrément for ambassadors, paving the way for the appointment of new ambassadors. The declaration also states that Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium is expected to be accredited to the European Union.
Qatar facilitated first meeting
The two countries said the decision followed several meetings and informal contacts between Nduhungirehe and Prévot in recent months.The discussions addressed a number of differences and areas of misunderstanding between Rwanda and Belgium in what the two sides described as a constructive spirit.
Rwanda and Belgium also expressed their gratitude to the State of Qatar for facilitating the first meeting between the two foreign ministers, which took place in Doha in June 2025.
Commitment to dialogue
The two governments reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining an open, frank and transparent dialogue as a means of addressing bilateral differences as well as discussing divergent positions and disagreements on international issues.
They agreed that future relations would be guided by principles including non-interference, mutual respect and constructive engagement.
The restoration of diplomatic relations marks a new phase in official contacts between Kigali and Brussels, with the reopening of the two embassies expected to provide formal channels for continued diplomatic engagement.
