The Rwandan President Paul Kagame has decided to ban all aid projects and NGOs from his country that have links to Belgium. 2 weeks ago Rwanda severed diplomatic relations with Belgium as it believes that Belgium has taken the side of the Congolese government in the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The news that projects and NGO’s with links to Belgium are to be banned from Rwanda appears in Friday’s edition of the daily ‘De Standaard’.
The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist) told journalists that “Talks are ongoing with the NGOs and other entities concerned to help them deal with the new situation.”
On its website the Rwanda Governance Board writes that “Rwanda Governance Board would like to inform the general public that pursuant to the Government of Rwanda’s decision of 17th March 2025 to sever diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Belgium, it has prohibited all international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and Common-Benefit Foundations registered and operating in Rwanda to have any kind of cooperation with the Government of Belgium and its affiliated entities”.
It goes on to say that “Effective immediately, all collaboration, partnerships, and engagements with the Government of Belgium and its affiliated institutions, non-governmental cooperation actors, agencies, and programs are prohibited. Any ongoing projects or agreements involving these entities and other similarly affiliated entities must be terminated immediately and reported accordingly”.
Furthermore, organisations are now also banned from accepting any form of financial help or donations from Belgium.
A step further
Rwanda has now gone a step further than breaking off diplomatic relations and ending development aid from Belgium.
Mr Prévot told journalist that “For Belgium the severance of diplomatic relations didn’t mean that personal relations, work in field by NOG’s and humanitarian assistance that benefits the people of Rwanda should be affected.”
Guido Couck of the Belgian Development Agency Enabel says that his agency will examine what the decision will mean on the ground. “It is has made it impossible for Rwandan organisations to cooperate with Belgium. This is bad news for all organisations with whom we cooperate. It will mainly be our Rwandan partners who will suffer”, Mr Couck said.
Rwanda accuses Belgium of taking sides in the conflict in eastern Congo. The Rwanda backs the rebel group M23.