According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, "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."

Belgium has a long and violent history of undermining Rwanda, "both well before and during the ongoing conflict in DR Congo, in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda," the ministry's statement continued.

 Following President Paul Kagame's Sunday declaration that the European nation that colonized Rwanda had committed historical atrocities against Rwandans, the decision was made.

Thirty years after they killed Rwandans, they have returned to kill the survivors.  Thousands of people had gathered at BK Arena for a citizen outreach event when Kagame said, "We warned them before, and we are doing so again."

Rwanda halted its development collaboration with Belgium in February, accusing the European nation of spearheading a concerted effort alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo to obstruct its access to development funding, particularly through international organizations.

 The action came after the M23 rebels and the Congolese government forces alliance, which includes the FDLR, a UN-designated terror group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, resumed their armed confrontation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in February.

Several Congolese militias operating under the Wazalendo banner, European mercenaries, and Burundian government forces were also part of the coalition.
 Rwanda accused Belgium of picking a side in the dispute at a time when the African Union and the Joint EAC-SADC Summit were calling on the international community to assist the mediation process.

The same factors led to Rwanda's most recent decision to break diplomatic ties with Belgium.

 According to the foreign ministry's statement, "Belgium has obviously chosen a side in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilize against Rwanda in various forums, using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda, in an attempt to destabilize both Rwanda and the region."

 In addition to Belgium's damaging historical role in fostering the ethnic extremism that led to long-standing discrimination and persecution, and ultimately the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, it also permitted organizations that propagate genocide denial and uphold genocidal ideology to use Belgian territory, the statement continued.

Rwanda stated that it will guarantee the preservation of the Belgian diplomatic mission's property and archives in Rwanda, in accordance with the Vienna Convention.