Alain Destexhe critiques the Belgian government for its negative campaign against Rwanda, linking it to historical grievances from the colonial era. He argues that Belgium’s recent actions reflect a lack of understanding of regional complexities and warns against the destabilizing effects of its aggressive diplomacy. Highlights include a reminder of Belgium’s colonial past and its failures during the Rwandan genocide.
Former Belgian senator Alain Destexhe has criticized the Belgian government for its stance on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and its negative campaign against Rwanda. He argues that this approach has reignited historical grievances stemming from Belgium’s colonial past, which had somewhat healed following Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt’s 2000 apology. Destexhe’s comments surfaced after Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot described Rwanda’s recent decision to sever diplomatic ties as disproportionate.
The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that their decision was based on Belgium’s misguided attempts to maintain outdated neo-colonial attitudes. Destexhe accused the Belgian government, under Prévot’s guidance, of actively working to sway European Union and international perspectives against Rwanda, which he believes breaches the principle of neutrality that Belgium should adhere to in regional conflicts. The senator emphasized that Belgium had not previously taken such a confrontational approach since the 1994 genocide events.
Destexhe stated that Belgium’s aggressive stance could destabilize Rwanda and the surrounding region, as the government is systematically deploying falsehoods to nurture a hostile image of Rwanda. He reminded observers of Belgium’s colonial history, which included implementing ethnic classifications that exacerbated divisions among Rwandans, leading to decades of discord. Moreover, he pointed out that Belgium’s sudden policy changes in 1959 were instrumental in initiating the first ethnic cleansing of Tutsis, resulting in significant loss of life and mass displacement.
In 1994, Belgium was aware of impending threats leading to the genocide but failed to take action to alert the international community or prevent the tragedy. Destexhe criticized the Belgian government for advocating the withdrawal of UNAMIR, which ultimately led to a lack of protection for those in danger. He noted that some Belgian political entities continued to support the genocidal regime even after the atrocities.
Destexhe characterized the current government’s ignorance of historical realities as “profoundly irresponsible”. He highlighted a recent resolution passed by the Belgian Parliament, which expressed hostility toward Rwanda and called for aid suspensions. He stated that this resolution exhibited a lack of understanding of the complex realities in eastern DR Congo and raised concerns about the implications of such aggressive diplomatic rhetoric.
The commentary by Alain Destexhe underscores the ongoing complexities and sensitivities surrounding Belgium’s relationship with Rwanda and its historical context. His criticism indicates a belief that the current Belgian government’s positioning against Rwanda is not only misguided but may also threaten regional stability. Furthermore, it calls attention to the necessity for Belgium to approach its foreign relations with historical awareness and a commitment to neutrality to prevent exacerbating past grievances.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
