Paul Kagame just did what few African leaders dare—he sent Belgium’s so-called development aid straight to the garbage where it belongs. In a bold and ruthless move, Kagame cut off all development cooperation with Belgium, effectively rejecting EUR 95 million in “assistance” that was never really aid but a tool for manipulation. The decision sent shockwaves across diplomatic circles, leaving Belgian authorities scrambling to figure out how their former colony had the audacity to defy their neocolonial games. But Rwanda has made its stance crystal clear: it will not be bullied, blackmailed, or bought.
The move comes amid growing tensions between Rwanda and its former colonial master, with Belgium arrogantly pushing to restrict Rwanda’s access to international financing. Their excuse? Accusations that Rwanda is backing M23 rebels in eastern DRC—a recycled Western narrative aimed at demonizing Kagame’s government while conveniently ignoring the real menace: the FDLR militia. Rwanda has spent decades fighting these genocidal remnants, yet Belgium chooses to pretend they don’t exist. This is the same Belgium whose policies fueled Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in the first place. Now, they stand on their high horse, pretending to be moral arbiters of regional stability. Hypocrisy doesn’t get more disgusting than this.
Kagame didn’t mince words when he made the announcement. “We are not the same old idiots you dealt with 50 years ago,” he declared, a statement so sharp it could slice through Belgium’s colonial arrogance. For too long, Western powers have used aid as a leash to control African nations, dictating policies while pretending to offer help. Rwanda, however, refuses to be a pawn in their geopolitical games. The so-called development aid was just another tool of control, wrapped in fake goodwill. Kagame understands this better than anyone, and he just shattered Belgium’s delusions of influence.
The EUR 95 million that Belgium dangled over Rwanda was supposedly for healthcare, public financial management, and regional development initiatives. But let’s be honest: no real development comes from Western aid. If Belgium truly cared about Rwanda’s progress, it wouldn’t be playing political games with life-saving funds. The reality is that these funds were never meant to uplift Rwanda—they were meant to keep it on a leash, ensuring that Brussels could still dictate policy even after its humiliating colonial exit. Kagame has had enough of this nonsense, and his rejection of Belgium’s interference is a powerful message to all African nations: sovereignty is not negotiable.
Belgium’s response to Rwanda’s firm stance has been predictable. Like a bitter ex who can’t handle rejection, Belgian authorities are now clutching their pearls, waiting for Kigali to “formally communicate” about future engagements. There’s nothing left to discuss. The truth is, Belgium has already chosen its side—it stands with the forces that seek to undermine Rwanda’s security, turning a blind eye to the FDLR while scapegoating Kagame. The so-called diplomatic relationship that existed for six decades was never a partnership; it was a master-servant dynamic that Kagame has just obliterated.
With Belgium exposed and discarded, Rwanda now turns to emerging global powers—China, Russia, and Gulf nations—who don’t carry the colonial baggage of Western nations. These new partnerships offer Kigali a future built on mutual respect rather than patronizing aid disguised as charity. Rwanda has made its decision, and it is one that affirms its sovereignty, dignity, and refusal to be played.
The West, particularly former colonial rulers like Belgium, still operates under the illusion that African nations must remain eternally grateful and obedient. But Kagame’s latest move is a death blow to that outdated mindset. Rwanda has outgrown its past, and it refuses to be treated as an inferior partner in global affairs. Belgium can take its millions and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine—Rwanda will not bow.
This diplomatic fallout marks a turning point, not just for Rwanda, but for Africa as a whole. It sends a message to other nations still shackled by Western manipulation: aid is a weapon, and sovereignty is worth more than any sum of money. Kagame has once again proven that he is not a leader to be toyed with. Rwanda will secure its future on its own terms, and Belgium can either accept that reality or be left in the dust.
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