Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) on March 27, has urged International and national organizations registered and operating in Rwanda to cut ties with the Kingdom of Belgium and its affiliated entities, it also warned the penalties to be imparted to the institutions in failure to comply with the orders given.
In a statement posted on X, RGB prohibited the International and national non-government organization (NGOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), and Common-Benefit Foundations to have any collaboration, partnership, and engagements with the Government of Belgium, and its affiliated institutions, non-governmental cooperation actors, agencies, and programs.
With an immediate effect, these restrictions also include terminating ongoing projects or agreements that were between local institutions and the latter country.
After terminating the agreement, the local institutions are ordered to report to RGB.
RGB also prohibited any financial transaction between the two countries that can come in terms of funds, grants, donations, or financial contribution that can be received or given to the Kingdom of Belgium’s Government, its institutions, affiliated agencies, or program.
According to the statement, budget support, project funding, technical assistance grants and payments made through the third-party intermediaries from or to the Kingdom of Belgium are prohibited.
The Governance board also warned of strict penalties to the institutions who will try to outsmart or avoid these financial restrictions by, for example, getting indirect transactions from these affiliated entities.
“Non-compliance may result in suspension of registration and revocation of legal personality, in accordance with the applicable laws governing NGOs, Faith- Based Organizations, and foundations.” The statement reads.
Non-compliance penalties also include pursuing additional legal and administrative measures on the entities which failed to comply.
These restrictions follow the decision of the Government of Rwanda of March 17 to sever diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Belgium, ordering all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
In February, Rwanda suspended its development cooperation with Belgium, calling out the European country for leading an aggressive campaign, together with DR Congo, to sabotage its access to “development finance, including in multilateral institutions.”
Levy Gasana/ The Kaminuza Star