Report of the official mission to Rwanda

In the margins of the ministerial meeting between the African Union and the European Union on 26 October 2021 in Kigali (EU-African Union ministerial meeting in Kigali | Sophie Wilmès (belgium.be)), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, took advantage of her visit to Rwanda to participate in various meetings and activities.

On the morning of the ministerial meeting, she visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial with all her European counterparts. This was an unprecedented act. During this brief ceremony, she laid a wreath of flowers and paid her respects to the victims (between 800,000 and one million) and their families.

During the ministerial meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister took advantage of the presence of many of her counterparts to hold several bilateral meetings. With Mr Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, and Mr Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, in addition to the question of direct relations between these countries and Belgium, she discussed the situation in Western Sahara, as the UN has recently appointed a new mediator. During her meeting with Mr Téte António, Minister of External Relations of Angola, the two ministers discussed bilateral and economic relations between our two countries and the situations in the Central African Republic and the Great Lakes region.

On 27 October, the Deputy Prime Minister also wished to visit Camp Kigali, where ten Belgian peacekeepers were murdered by Rwandan Armed Forces soldiers on 7 April 1994. Guided by Colonel Calmant, she visited the scene of the tragedy - which has remained untouched - and followed the story of the events. This was an emotional moment.

Lastly, Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès had a two-hour meeting with her Rwandan counterpart, Minister Vincent Biruta. This meeting allowed the different points of view to be put forward and ensured that dialogue would remain open on a range of issues, including that of Mr Paul Rusesabagina.