The announcement was made in a joint statement issued on September 22, 2026, by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and International Cooperation, Maxime Prévot.
The two countries said the decision was made in accordance with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“In the near future, the Embassy of Rwanda in Belgium and the Embassy of Belgium in Rwanda will be reopened. Initially, each embassy will be headed by a Chargé d’Affaires, assisted by a diplomat or consul and a small team of technical staff,” the statement reads.
Requests for the approval of new ambassadors will subsequently be submitted as part of efforts to fully restore diplomatic operations.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium will also be accredited to the European Union.
The statement said that during discussions held at different times, the two sides engaged constructively on various issues that had caused disagreements and differences in their relations.
On March 17, 2025, Rwanda announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Belgium and ordered Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
Rwanda said the decision followed a careful assessment at all levels, citing what it described as Belgium’s colonial-style conduct.
Rwanda and Belgium expressed appreciation to the Government of Qatar for helping facilitate the first meeting between the two ministers, which took place in Doha in June 2025.
The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing frank and constructive dialogue, “while acknowledging that certain international issues remain areas of disagreement.”
They agreed that future relations should be based on renewed principles, including non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, mutual respect and constructive cooperation.
