INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Belgium Strengthens Ties in Africa as France Loses Influence
Belgium boosts ties with Congo and Africa, backing sanctions on Rwanda, mining deals, and peace efforts, as France’s influence continues to fade.
August 21, 2025 at 3:43:44 PM
May 15, 2026 at 7:03:26 PM
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Kinshasa, August 2025 – Belgium has launched a political, economic, and humanitarian tour of Central and Eastern Africa, aiming to reinforce its role as a trusted ally on the continent. Unlike France, whose influence has collapsed in the Sahel and the Great Lakes due to duplicity and political ambiguity, Belgium has gained recognition as a reliable partner, especially for its firm stance supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during Rwanda’s aggression in Kivu.
Key Stops on the Belgian Tour
Congo-Brazzaville: Meeting Sassou Nguesso
Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prévot, began his tour in Oyo, Republic of Congo. He was received by President Denis Sassou Nguesso to discuss:
The African Union’s role in resolving Great Lakes conflicts
The Libyan reconciliation file (where Sassou chairs the AU High-Level Commission)
Belgian investment in the Pointe-Noire Corridor project
Financing the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin, vital for global carbon capture
Kinshasa: Strong Support for the DRC
On August 18, 2025, Prévot held a two-hour meeting with President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. He reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to:
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