Minister Reynders receiving a gift from Minister Louise Mushikiwabo on Thursday in Kigali. Reynders was in the country since Wednesday.
Belgian government has asked Pierre Nkurunziza’s government that is running the conflict ravaged Burundi to stop accusing its neighbours especially Rwanda for having a hand in the conflict.
The message delivered by Didier Reynders, Belgian’s foreign Affairs Minister and deputy Premier in his visit to Rwanda curves new approach towards ending conflict that has already displaced thousands of Burundians and killed many.
“Instead of accusations, there should be negotiations to end violence and help refugees to go back home,†he said on Thursday during a press briefing shortly after a closed meeting with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo.
Minister Reynders who arrived in Kigali on Wednesday from Tanzania says there is need for enhancement of negotiations while also allowing all parties including neighbours mentioned in the conflict to be involved.
This comes at the time relations between the troubled Burundi government and Rwanda continued to sour with the former accusing Rwanda of training and arming refugees to topple Bujumbura government.
The Minister is expected to hold talks with President Nkurunziza on Friday after holding talks with Tanzania’s president John Pombe Magufuli and former president Benjamin Mkapa, who is chairing Burundi talks.
On the Rwanda and Belgian relations, Minister Reynders says echoed his government’s commitment to encourage more Belgian investors to invest in Rwanda.
“Despite global challenges mainly in the economy, Belgium is committed to support Rwanda  towards its development agenda,†he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said Rwanda committed towards contributing peace in the region.
“We are ready to make our contribution in peace building in the region whenever we will be asked to do so,†she said.
The visit in the region will also look at the recent political unrest in the Democratic republic of Congo, which has recently witnessed opposition crack down as President Joseph Kabila prepares referendum to allow him run for third term.