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Autor: The New Times

The New Times, established in 1995, is Rwanda’s largest private media organization with a 60 full-time staff who speak over a dozen languages representing Rwanda, Eastern African, and the wider sub-Saharan Africa.

Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with Belgium

“Rwanda's decision has been taken after careful consideration of several factors, all linked with Belgium's pitiful attempts to sustain its neo-colonial delusions,” read a statement shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The ministry’s statement went on to call out Belgium for consistently undermining Rwanda, “both well before and during the ongoing conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo, “in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda.” nnThe decision comes after President Paul Kagame said on Sunday that the European country, which colonised Rwanda, was guilty of historical atrocities against Rwandans. “They killed Rwandans 30 years ago and have continued to return to finish off the survivors. We warned them before, and we are doing so again,” Kagame told thousands of people who had gathered at BK Arena for a citizen outreach event. In February, Rwanda suspended its development cooperation with Belgium, calling out the European country for leading an aggressive campaign, together with DR Congo, to sabotage its access to development finance, including in multilateral institutions. The move followed the renewed military escalation in eastern DR Congo in February between M23 rebels and the Congolese government forces’ coalition that includes the FDLR, a United Nations-designated terror group founded by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The coalition also comprised European mercenaries, Burundian government forces, and several Congolese militias under the Wazalendo umbrella. Rwanda blamed Belgium for deciding to choose a political side in the conflict at a time when the international community was being called upon to support the mediation process mandated by the African Union and the Joint East African Community (EAC)-Southern Africa Development Community (ADC) Summit. Rwanda’s latest decision to sever diplomatic ties with Belgium was also due to the same reasons. “Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilize both Rwanda and the region,” the foreign ministry’s statement read. “Beyond Belgium's destructive historical role in fuelling the ethnic extremism that resulted in entrenched discrimination and persecution, and ultimately the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, it has also allowed Belgian territory to be used by groups that propagate genocide denial and sustain genocidal ideology,” it went on. In compliance with the Vienna Convention, Rwanda said it will ensure the protection of the Belgian diplomatic mission premises in Rwanda as well as its property and archives.

Kigali (The New Times): Rwanda, on Monday, March 17, announced that it has severed diplomatic ties with Belgium with immediate effect, ordering all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.

Kagame: Support for FDLR, collabo with mercenaries can’t be business as usual

Kigali (New Times): President Paul Kagame has said that the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) —an armed militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi— works alongside the DR Congo army (FARDC) and other armed groups, including European mercenaries, cannot be treated as «business as usual.»

Rwanda: Exact origin of Marburg virus identified

Kigali (The New Times): The Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana, has said the Marburg virus that led to an outbreak on September 27 came from a cave where mining activities had been ongoing.

Deforestation driving up Africa’s temperatures, study shows

Kigali (The New Times): Deforestation in Africa’s montane forests is driving a sharper rise in temperatures and cloud levels than climate change alone, endangering water resources in these critical ecosystems that supply millions across the continent, new research has shown.

Mpox: ‘a crisis that demands our collective action’

Kigali (The New Times) Mpox, a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, is not just another challenge but a crisis that demands collective action, according to Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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