Rwanda has cut all diplomatic ties with Belgium, in a context of tense relations between the two countries due to the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

All Belgian diplomats must leave Rwanda within 48 hours, according to a statement from the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Cited by Portuguese EuronewsThe Ministry added that the decision "safeguards" its own national interests.

"Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to mobilize systematically against Rwanda in different forums," he said.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called Rwanda's action "disproportionate" and said his country would respond in the same way.

All government cooperation agreements between the two countries will be canceled and Rwandan diplomats will not be welcome in Belgium, he said.

Kigali has been criticized by countries such as Belgium for supporting the M23 rebels, who in recent months have taken Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in eastern DRC.

Their offensive caused dozens of deaths and thousands of displaced people.

M23 is one of around 100 armed groups fighting for a foothold in eastern DRC, a mineral-rich area close to the border with Rwanda. The group's fighters claim they are protecting the rights of the region's Tutsi ethnic group.

However, the DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels in an attempt to control land in the region.

Belgium has also accused Kigali of undermining the territorial integrity of the DRC.

Following this controversy, Rwanda announced last month the suspension of its 2024-2029 bilateral aid program with Belgium, claiming that Brussels was sabotaging the country's access to "development finance".

At the time, Prévot said that Belgium would continue to raise public awareness of a "peaceful solution to the conflict in the east of the DRC".

The severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries came on the same day that the European Union announced sanctions against nine people - including five Rwandans - in connection with the violence in the DRC.

(Photo DR)