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After stops in Uganda and Burundi, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot wrapped up his regional tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he met with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa and President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa on Monday, April 28.
Talks centered on the escalating tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, and the broader security crisis in eastern DRC. Prévot welcomed recent mediation efforts led by Qatar and the United States, which have yielded preliminary agreements involving both the M23 rebel group and the Rwandan government.
However, the Belgian minister urged caution.
“We must be cautious about the steps taken by Doha and Washington. While we view these initiatives with optimism, it’s vital to assess the concrete outcomes that may emerge in the coming days or weeks,” Prévot said. “An open path must be followed through to its end—with persistence and without major setbacks—if lasting peace is to be achieved.”
In a pointed contrast to other foreign actors, Prévot emphasized that Belgium’s engagement is not driven by resource interests, distinguishing Brussels’ approach from what he called “more transactional diplomacy.”
He also encouraged President Tshisekedi to prioritize domestic solutions to the conflict, underlining the importance of local ownership in resolving the crisis.
