Belgium and Rwanda have re-established diplomatic relations, more than a year after Kigali severed ties with Brussels over the long-running armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement was made on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.

Under a joint declaration, both countries agreed to reopen their respective embassies "within a reasonable timeframe." In an initial phase, the missions will be led by a chargé d'affaires — a senior diplomat who acts in an ambassador's absence — pending the appointment of full ambassadors. Informal contacts between the two governments had already been taking place over recent months, laying the groundwork for the formal restoration.

Rwanda, a landlocked country in Central Africa that shares a border with the DRC, broke off diplomatic relations with Belgium in March of last year. Kigali accused Brussels of taking sides against President Paul Kagame's government in what it described as "the ongoing conflict" in eastern Congo — a region that has been destabilised for decades by armed groups, cross-border tensions, and competing regional interests. Belgium, a former colonial power in both Rwanda and the DRC, has been a vocal supporter of Congolese sovereignty.

Prévot described the rapprochement as "the result of a series of frank conversations" with his Rwandan counterpart, Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, and "a joint, respectful effort" by both sides. He emphasised that Belgium would continue to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC, while also stressing the importance of maintaining structured dialogue even on points of disagreement. "We have agreed on the importance of systematic dialogue, including on existing differences such as the conflict in eastern Congo," he said.

The diplomatic thaw matters beyond bilateral ties. Two peace initiatives are already under way to resolve the armed conflict in eastern DRC, and Belgium has signalled its intention to deploy its regional expertise to support mediation efforts and press all parties to honour their commitments. Restoring a direct channel between Brussels and Kigali could give European diplomatic engagement in the region a firmer footing at a moment when a durable ceasefire remains elusive.