In a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 23, 2026, the country said it “welcomes the joint decision of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of Rwanda to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies.”
It added that Qatar “views this decision as a positive step demonstrating the willingness of both countries to overcome past challenges through dialogue and understanding.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the restoration of relations followed a series of discussions that helped bring the two sides closer together.
In June 2025, Qatar hosted the first meeting between the foreign ministers of Rwanda and Belgium as part of its efforts to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.
The statement continued: “That meeting opened the door to direct dialogue and paved the way for subsequent meetings, ultimately leading to the restoration of diplomatic relations.”
Qatar also thanked Rwanda and Belgium for accepting its role in helping the talks achieve positive results.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry commended both sides for demonstrating a willingness to resolve their outstanding issues.
On September 22, 2026, Rwanda and Belgium announced their decision to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies in the near future.
In their joint statement, the two countries said the embassies would initially be headed by Chargés d’Affaires, supported by a diplomat or consul and a small team of technical staff.
Requests for the approval of new ambassadors will subsequently be submitted to allow diplomatic operations to resume fully.
Rwanda severed diplomatic relations with Belgium on March 17, 2025, citing conduct by Belgium that it deemed unacceptable.
Following discussions held at different times, the two countries said they had addressed the issues that had caused disagreements and committed to building renewed relations based on mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and constructive cooperation.
