President Paul Kagame has stated that Belgium has tormented Rwanda for many years, killing Rwandans, but the path to rebuilding and the efforts made in the country’s development show that people do not need to be Belgians or assimilate to them.
Belgium colonized Rwanda after Germany lost World War I, introducing policies of division and hatred that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
While addressing residents of Kigali City on March 16, 2025, President Kagame stated that Rwanda’s misfortune was being colonized by a very small country that went on to divide it.
“One of the misfortunes we had was being colonized by a small country like Rwanda. That small country then partitioned Rwanda into pieces so that it would be as small as itself. I am talking about Belgium, and I will issue a warning to them,” he said.
He continued, “Belgium destroyed Rwanda and killed Rwandans. For over 30 years, they have continued to interfere, killing more Rwandans. We have warned them before, and we will continue to warn them now.”
On May 14, 1910, a meeting was held in Belgium to address the long-standing issue of Belgian expansion into territories they were given. The meeting included Belgians colonizing Congo, Germans colonizing Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanganyika, as well as British colonizers of Uganda and Kenya.
Following that meeting, between 1910 and 1912, new borders were drawn, separating Rwanda from its neighboring countries. The colonial powers used so-called natural boundaries such as the Virunga Mountains, Akanyaru River, Akagera River, and Lake Kivu to justify the partitioning of Rwanda, drastically reducing its original size.
President Kagame emphasized that the displacement of Rwandans into these neighboring countries was not Rwanda’s doing but was caused by colonial rulers.
“To tell those who found themselves in these countries to leave and return to Rwanda, you must also return their land. But if you seek truth and peace, you must grant people their rights. If you deny people their rights, they will fight for them,” he stated.
Belgium Should Be Ashamed of Its Actions
President Kagame criticized Belgium for taking sides in regional conflicts despite being responsible for many of the issues affecting the region. He accused Belgium of falsely portraying Rwanda as a problem.
“Belgium colonized three countries [DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi], yet they go to Kinshasa, point fingers at Rwanda, and talk about imposing sanctions on us while urging the whole world to do the same. But don’t they feel ashamed? Calling on the whole world to gang up on Rwanda, as small as it is?” he questioned.
He added, “We, as we sit here, should be the ones the whole world gangs up on? Shouldn’t that be something that makes certain people feel ashamed? They should leave us alone so we can take care of ourselves and live as we wish. We are being targeted because we are equal to them, but they have louder voices.”
We Will Remind Them That They Do Not Rule Over Us
President Kagame emphasized that no country has the right to suppress Rwanda, as Belgium has done for years, including expelling Rwandan Ambassador Vincent Karega without justification.
“They have targeted us for a long time, even before this war or at its beginning. We warned them, ignored them, and looked elsewhere. They first expelled our Ambassador, claiming they didn’t want him, saying he might not have handled Congo properly. But we asked them: Who do you think you are? Who put you in charge of Rwanda? Rwandans believe in God, but did God assign Rwanda to these people? We will remind them that this is not the case.”
He stated that despite Rwanda’s limited resources, its will and determination are boundless, and the country is ready to confront its adversaries.
“With our limited means, we will stand up to them. I am referring to those who keep chasing after us and trying to destabilize us. But will we fail against them? Will we really fail against these people? There are some things they will have to forgo and leave us in peace. I am saying this as a warning to them, but also as a reminder to Rwandans: All these years we have been on this journey of building our nation, we want to be Rwandans. We do not want to be Belgians. Rwandans who have not internalized this should understand that they must be Rwandans and not those who once colonized us. We must wash away their influence.”
He stressed that Rwandans are always ready to coexist peacefully with others while focusing on their development.
“That is the path we are on—to be ourselves. We cannot become others. We will live with others, in peace, and work on what advances us. Rwandans must unite and understand that our journey is about building ourselves up. Different ideas must come together so we can work for our country and stand up against those who seek to destroy us.”
In February 2025, Rwanda terminated development cooperation agreements with Belgium after it aligned itself with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s campaign to impose sanctions on Rwanda, cutting financial aid meant for Rwanda’s development.
Rwandans Must Be Ready to Defend Their Rights
President Kagame recalled the tough liberation struggle that cost many lives and urged the current generation to be prepared to fight for their rights.
“Rwandans must be ready to fight for their rights. It is necessary to fight for our rights. We have a reason to fight, and I don’t think we lack the will. It must not be absent among us. They are making noise, talking about sanctions as if we will die tomorrow because of them. And those who initiated these sanctions—when asked why, they say, ‘I don’t know, but the Belgians told us something is happening.’ You are making decisions without even knowing why, simply because someone else with their own interests told you to?”
President Kagame reaffirmed that Rwanda does not provoke or interfere with anyone but is focused on its own development.
