On Sunday, March 16, 2025, during a mass rally at Kigali’s BK Arena, where more than 8,000 Rwandans had been mobilized from early morning, President Paul Kagame delivered a defiant speech, lashing out at Belgium and Western powers for their role in imposing sanctions on Rwanda. The event, initially planned for Gahanga, was relocated due to rain, and Kagame, arriving around 11:00 AM with his wife, used the platform to denounce what he called a coordinated international campaign to weaken his country.
Kagame singled out Belgium, Rwanda’s former colonial power, labeling it a “small country” that continues to meddle in Rwanda’s affairs. “We were colonized by a small country that divided and destroyed Rwanda, and even after 30 years, they still haunt us. But we are no longer under their control,” he declared, receiving loud applause from the crowd. He accused Belgium of orchestrating pressure within the European Union to impose sanctions against Rwandan officials.
The Rwandan president fiercely criticized the recent wave of international sanctions, arguing that they are designed to keep Rwanda in a state of dependence. “They don’t want us to be poor, but they don’t want us to be rich either. They want us to remain under their control,” he said. Since the beginning of 2025, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and Canada have imposed various economic and diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda, citing its involvement in the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The European Union, at Belgium’s initiative, is set to individually sanction nine Rwandan and M23 officials on Monday, March 17, for their alleged role in fueling the war in eastern Congo. These measures will include travel bans and asset freezes, reflecting Brussels’ growing concern over Kigali’s military activities. The United States is the only country to have imposed direct sanctions on a Rwandan official, targeting James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, a key figure accused of overseeing operations in eastern DR Congo.
Kagame responded with defiance, announcing that Rwanda would take retaliatory measures, albeit with limited resources. “We will defend ourselves with what we have, no matter how small our means. We will respond to these sanctions,” he warned. Without specifying what countermeasures Rwanda would take, he signaled a readiness to confront Western powers diplomatically and economically.
The president also issued a stark warning to Rwandans, preparing them for difficult times ahead due to the sanctions and economic pressures. “We have faced hardships before and overcome them. This time, we will endure again. But be prepared, because the coming days will not be easy,” he cautioned, urging the population to tighten their belts.
Addressing Belgium directly, Kagame accused Brussels of seeking to impose its will on Rwanda, stating, “We want to be Rwandans, not Belgians!” He blamed Belgium for having played a historical role in dividing Rwanda and perpetuating ethnic tensions that led to past tragedies. “They cut Rwanda into pieces to make it as small as they were,” he said.
In response to Kagame’s accusations, Belgian political analyst Filip Reyntjens remarked that Kagame should revisit history, pointing out that Belgium was never particularly interested in Rwanda and was only “stuck with it” after World War I.
Yolande Makolo, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, defended Kagame’s remarks by quoting him on social media: “We want to be Rwandans [not those small ones without shame]. The journey we are on is to be ourselves, to live well with others, and to do what we must to move forward.”
Meanwhile, former Kagame advisor David Himbara argued that the Rwandan president is increasingly isolated, stating, “The US, the UK, the EU, Sweden, Germany, and Canada have quarantined him—yet he is hauling insults at Belgium. But Belgium never quarantined him; Kagame quarantined Belgium.”
An anonymous Rwandan analyst echoed concerns over the economic fallout, noting that Kagame’s warnings about hard times ahead signal the real impact of sanctions. “Hunger, economic struggles, and the brutal reality of sanctions are about to hit Rwanda hard. Kagame telling citizens to ‘tighten their belts’ means he knows what’s coming,” the analyst observed.
Therwandan
