Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prévot announced the decision on Tuesday after meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
For both countries, the move marks a return to formal diplomatic engagement after relations deteriorated sharply over disagreements about the security situation in eastern Congo.
Prévot said restoring diplomatic ties was a starting point for a new period of cooperation and dialogue.
“I am pleased to announce today that Belgium and Rwanda have restored diplomatic relations,” he said. He described the decision as a sign of the importance of dialogue and cooperation at a time when conflicts are increasing around the world.
But Belgium made clear that restoring ties did not mean it had changed its position on the conflict in eastern Congo.
“Restoring diplomatic relations does not mean changing our position, but having structured channels for dialogue,” Prévot said, adding that Belgium would continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Congo.
Belgium has been critical of Rwanda’s alleged role in the conflict involving the AFC/M23 armed group in eastern Congo. Kigali has rejected accusations that it supports M23 and has repeatedly said its security concerns in the region must also be addressed.
Nduhungirehe said Rwanda welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations and hoped it would create space for more constructive discussions.
“We are also pleased to restore our diplomatic relations, which should open a new chapter of constructive dialogue based on mutual respect,” he said.
For Rwanda, he said, lasting peace in the region would require addressing what it considers the underlying causes of the conflict.
He pointed to respect for the sovereignty of countries in the region, the dismantling of the FDLR, a Hutu armed group that Rwanda says includes perpetrators of the 1994 genocide, and efforts to resolve the conflict between the Congolese government and AFC/M23.
The breakdown in relations began in March 2025, when Rwanda expelled Belgian diplomats and ended diplomatic ties with Belgium. Brussels responded with its own measures.
The two countries have since held a series of contacts aimed at easing tensions. Their foreign ministers said the decision to restore relations followed discussions in which they addressed their differences and misunderstandings.
They also acknowledged Qatar’s role in facilitating their first meeting in Doha in June 2025.
The two governments said their embassies would initially operate with chargé d’affaires, supported by diplomats or consular officials and a small technical team. Ambassadorial appointments are expected at a later stage.
The restoration of diplomatic ties comes as regional and international efforts continue to seek a political solution to the conflict in eastern Congo, where fighting has continued to strain relations between Rwanda, Congo and their international partners.
