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| Rwanda severs ties with Belgium over DR Congo conflict | Rwanda severs ties with Belgium over DR Congo conflict |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Rwanda President Paul Kagame previously vowed to "stand up" to Belgium | Rwanda President Paul Kagame previously vowed to "stand up" to Belgium |
| Rwanda has cut diplomatic ties with Belgium, saying it has been "consistently undermined" by the European nation during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | Rwanda has cut diplomatic ties with Belgium, saying it has been "consistently undermined" by the European nation during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Brussels has been leading calls for European nations to sanction Rwanda over its support for the M23, a rebel group at the centre of DR Congo's crisis. | Brussels has been leading calls for European nations to sanction Rwanda over its support for the M23, a rebel group at the centre of DR Congo's crisis. |
| The authorities in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, have given Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. | The authorities in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, have given Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. |
| Belgium, which is the former colonial power, has said it will respond to these measures and labelled Rwanda's decision "disproportionate". | Belgium, which is the former colonial power, has said it will respond to these measures and labelled Rwanda's decision "disproportionate". |
| Despite assertions from the UN and US, Rwanda has denied backing the M23. | Despite assertions from the UN and US, Rwanda has denied backing the M23. |
| In its statement on Monday, Kigali accused Brussels of attempting to "sustain its neo-colonial delusions". | In its statement on Monday, Kigali accused Brussels of attempting to "sustain its neo-colonial delusions". |
| "Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilise both Rwanda and the region," the statement said. | "Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilise both Rwanda and the region," the statement said. |
| Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot responded to Rwanda's measures on social media, saying: "This is disproportionate and shows that when we disagree with Rwanda they prefer not to engage in dialogue." | Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot responded to Rwanda's measures on social media, saying: "This is disproportionate and shows that when we disagree with Rwanda they prefer not to engage in dialogue." |
| The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo | The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo |
| What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? | What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? |
| Prevot said Rwandan diplomats in Belgium will be declared "persona non grata". | Prevot said Rwandan diplomats in Belgium will be declared "persona non grata". |
| This declaration can lead to the removal of diplomatic status and often results in the expulsion or the withdrawal of recognition of envoys. | This declaration can lead to the removal of diplomatic status and often results in the expulsion or the withdrawal of recognition of envoys. |
| Before Kigali cut ties with Brussels, Rwandan President Paul Kagame vowed that his country would "stand up" to Belgium. | Before Kigali cut ties with Brussels, Rwandan President Paul Kagame vowed that his country would "stand up" to Belgium. |
| "We would ask [Belgium]: 'Who are you by the way? Who put you in charge of us?' Rwandans believe in God, but did God really put these people in charge of Rwanda?" Kagame asked in an address on Sunday. | "We would ask [Belgium]: 'Who are you by the way? Who put you in charge of us?' Rwandans believe in God, but did God really put these people in charge of Rwanda?" Kagame asked in an address on Sunday. |
| Since the beginning of the year, around 7,000 people have been killed in fighting between the M23 and DR Congo's armed forces in the east of the country, the Congolese authorities have said. | Since the beginning of the year, around 7,000 people have been killed in fighting between the M23 and DR Congo's armed forces in the east of the country, the Congolese authorities have said. |
| More than 850,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict increased in intensity in January, the UN children's agency, Unicef, said. | More than 850,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict increased in intensity in January, the UN children's agency, Unicef, said. |
| The M23 has taken control of two key cities - Goma and Bukavu - in the past two months. | The M23 has taken control of two key cities - Goma and Bukavu - in the past two months. |
| On Monday, the EU sanctioned three of Rwanda's military commanders, citing connections to the M23. | On Monday, the EU sanctioned three of Rwanda's military commanders, citing connections to the M23. |
| The sanctions, which include the freezing of assets, were also applied to the head of Rwanda's state mining agency. The EU has accused the agency of exploiting DR Congo's conflict in order to extract valuable resources from the mineral-rich east. | The sanctions, which include the freezing of assets, were also applied to the head of Rwanda's state mining agency. The EU has accused the agency of exploiting DR Congo's conflict in order to extract valuable resources from the mineral-rich east. |
| Britain and Germany have also taken measures against Rwanda - over the past month both countries cut some of their aid to Kigali. | Britain and Germany have also taken measures against Rwanda - over the past month both countries cut some of their aid to Kigali. |
| And in February, the UN Security Council demanded that the M23 end hostilities and that Rwanda should pull its troops out of DR Congo. | And in February, the UN Security Council demanded that the M23 end hostilities and that Rwanda should pull its troops out of DR Congo. |
| Rwanda's diplomatic spat with Belgium came a day before the Congolese government and M23 rebels were set to meet for peace talks. | |
| But the rebels announced on Monday afternoon that they would no longer participate accusing unspecified international institutions of undermining the peace efforts. | |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| US star John Legend defends playing Rwanda concert during war | US star John Legend defends playing Rwanda concert during war |
| Who's pulling the strings in the DR Congo crisis? | Who's pulling the strings in the DR Congo crisis? |
| Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo | |
| 'They killed all these young people' - BBC investigates alleged massacre in rebel-held Congolese city | |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |