The decision, yet to be officially confirmed, by the Belgian government to reject the appointment of Vincent Karega as Ambassador designate to the Kingdom, is unfortunate and doesn’t bode well for bilateral relations between both countries, Yolande Makolo, the government’s spokesperson has said.
Makolo who said that the government is yet to issue a “more comprehensive ” response, attributed the decision to various factors including mounting pressure from the Congolese government.
“It is unfortunate that the Belgian government seems to have capitulated to pressure from the DRC government as well as propaganda from negationist organisations and activists, through who they decided to leak the decision,” she told The New Times on Wednesday, July 26.
The decision was leaked by Jambo news, an outlet that belongs to a group of extremist Rwandan exiles under the umbrella Jambo ASBL.
“This does not bode well for bilateral relations between Rwanda and Belgium,” she added.
The decision has since attracted backlash on different social media platforms, with the majority citing that it marks a pivotal moment in the diplomatic relations between Belgium and Rwanda, prompting questions about the future of their cooperation and engagement on regional issues.
Reports indicate that Belgium’s assertive support for the DR Congo played a significant role in rejecting Amb. Karega’s accreditation.
In light of persistent tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, Belgium has been keen on strengthening its ties with the DR Congo.
For instance, its government recently allocated European funds to bolster the capabilities of the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade in DR Congo through the European Peace Fund, in a move that further solidified Belgium’s position in the conflict and demonstrated its commitment to supporting the DR Congo’s territorial integrity
Karega was appointed as Ambassador-designate in March 2023, and was expected to replace Dieudonné Sebashongore.
Karega previously served as ambassador to South Africa and DR Congo.
