The Rwandan president has no intention of changing ambassadors in Belgium despite the refusal to accredit Vincent Karega. He believes that the explanations provided by Brussels are not clear enough to justify the rejection of his diplomat.

"When it came to changing the ambassador in Brussels, we decided to send Vincent Karega. Especially since he is very aware of the situation, having already been the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he knows Europe and Brussels well," explained Paul Kagame to the French weekly, Jeune Afrique.

He continued, "After a while, Brussels told us that they did not wish to accredit him, and that we should send another ambassador. When we asked for explanations, they told us stories about what had happened when Vincent Karega was an ambassador in South Africa. To which we replied that since it had not affected him during his mission in DRC, it should not have any impact on his appointment in Belgium."

Paul Kagame did not find Brussels' response "satisfactory" and does not intend to change the ambassador either. For Kigali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is behind this refusal of accreditation manifested by Brussels. Asked if the origin of the problem was "Kinshasa," Paul Kagame did not mince words in replying: "yes, of course."

Rwandan diplomat Vincent Karega had been expelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in November 2022. This decision was a consequence of the capture of several localities and cities by M23 rebels, who were militarily supported by Rwanda, according to Kinshasa and several United Nations reports.

But even before that, the former head of Congolese military intelligence, General Delphin Kahimbi (who later died) had advised the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, not to accept the accreditation of Vincent Karega due to his past in South Africa where he was also expelled along with other Rwandan diplomats.

South Africa had accused three expelled Rwandan diplomats of being linked to the murder and attempted murder of two Rwandan opponents living on South African soil. These diplomats were expelled following an attack on the home of Rwandan dissident Kayumba Nyamwasa, who was exiled in Johannesburg. However, Rwanda has always denied being involved in these "illegal activities" against its exiled opposition nationals.

Dido Nsapu