Rwanda and Belgium have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, ending an 18-month diplomatic rupture between the two countries.
The decision was announced on 22 September 2026 in a joint statement signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot.
Under the agreement, the two countries will reopen their respective embassies in the near future. Initially, each mission will be headed by a chargé d’affaires ad interim, supported by a diplomat or consular officer and a small technical team. Ambassadorial appointments will follow through the formal agrément process.
The restoration follows months of meetings and informal contacts between the two foreign ministers. The two sides also thanked Qatar for facilitating their first meeting in Doha in June 2025.
Both governments have committed to open, candid and transparent dialogue, guided by principles including non-interference, mutual respect and constructive engagement.
The diplomatic rupture began in March 2025, when Rwanda announced it was severing diplomatic relations with Belgium. Belgium subsequently closed its embassy in Kigali, with some consular services for Rwanda being handled through its embassy in Nairobi.
The restoration marks a new phase in relations between the two countries, with the reopening of diplomatic missions expected to provide a formal channel for addressing outstanding bilateral and international disagreements.
