Belgium Urges EU to Sanction Rwanda Over Congo Crisis

Belgium has called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Rwanda, accusing it of supporting the M23 rebels who have taken control of Goma, thereby violating the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During a parliamentary session, Belgian Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin stated that he urged his European counterparts to take “concrete measures” against Kigali, including suspending the EU-Rwanda partnership on critical raw materials or halting security dialogue between the two sides. He emphasized the need for a unified European stance to ensure meaningful impact on the crisis.

Additionally, Quintin suggested reviewing EU funding for Rwandan forces in Mozambique under the “Cabo Delgado” program, noting that Belgium had abstained from supporting an additional €20 million in aid last November. The minister also highlighted the controversy surrounding the EU-Rwanda raw materials agreement, which angered Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi. Tshisekedi accused the EU of “waging a proxy war” against the DRC, asserting that Rwanda does not possess any of the so-called critical minerals within its territory.

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