Belgian diplomats arrive in Rwanda Two weeks after Development aid withdrawn

{Belgium Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Didier Reynders and Alexander De Croo, fly on Monday for a four-day joint visit to Burundi and Rwanda.}

Didier Reynders and Alexander de Croo will visit Rwanda, before spending two days in Burundi, two countries that were under Belgian mandate and with whom relationships are not always simple.

Burundi and Rwanda both have the distinction of being former German protectorate administered by Belgium between 1922 and July 1962, the date of their accession to independence.

The visit comes two weeks after the Belgium Government has decided not to grant the last scheduled payment of 40 million euros in development aid to Rwanda.

Reason: this aid was paid to a number of conditions, including good governance, political dialogue with the opposition and respect for press freedom. Alexander De Croo considered that these conditions were not met.

Meetings are scheduled with the presidents of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, with members of both governments, leaders of civil society, as well as visits to projects and companies.