The government has raised concern over the violent gang-like attacks targeting Rwandans in the diaspora.

The attacks have been reported in Belgium, South Africa, eastern Congo and France.

So serious were the attacks in Belgium that Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo petitioned the Belgium government to ensure the safety of her citizens.

“To be very honest, there is not enough attention given to these issues. But the recent incidents have made countries concerned to realise this could be extremely serious. We have sent protest note after protest note, held discussions and at the same time summoned ambassadors of the respective countries to discuss the matter. We have used all the mechanisms at our disposal in the diplomatic arena, we have engaged with everybody to make sure Rwandans are guaranteed they safety anytime, anywhere,” said Ms Mushikiwabo.

Gangs believed to be of Congolese descent have been targeting Rwandans in the diaspora, accusing the Kagame administration of interfering in the affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN has accused Rwanda of aiding the M23 rebels fighting President Laurent Kabila’s government, an accusation Rwanda has since denied.

Ms Mushikiwabo, said the government will continue working closely with host countries to ensure its citizens are safe.

Since the last presidential election, Congolese gangs have repeatedly attacked Rwandans living in Belgium and Congo, while sporadic attacks have been reported in South Africa and France.

In the past two months, for example, at least 10 violent attacks on Rwandans living in Belgium and Congo have been reported.

The tension between DRC and Rwanda increased when Roger Ntawukuriryayo, the son of Rwanda’s President of the Senate, Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, was stabbed in the abdomen by a Congolese gang in Belgium, where he was in transit to the United States for studies.

Most of these attacks have been taking place in the neighbourhood of “Matoonge” a renowned quarter inhabited by Congolese and other African immigrants and sometimes in subways. Rwandan shopkeepers in Belgium have also complained that Congolese gangs have been vandalising their business.

Lambert Kalisa, the owner of Evasion 29 Restaurant in Brussels was one of the victims whose business was vandalised by Congolese gangs.

“I’m very sad because always when Congolese are facing political challenges, they attack us (Rwandans), we are wondering why the police do not secure us and assure the safety of our property when such demonstrations happen,” said Mr Kalisa.

Ms Mushikiwabo announced that the Rwanda government was closely working with the Belgian government to put an end to the violence.

“We have conducted discussions with countries and authorities where such incidents occurred, in Belgium, for example, there has been arrests and some group of the Congolese found guilty were forcibly repatriated. There are two law suits going on specifically on the same issue of violence,” said the minister.

She further noted that host countries nevertheless need to take a decision because Rwandans living inside and outside the country have expressed their dissatisfaction vis-a-vis the reported cases, and would not, in any case, opt for confrontations or reprisals.

Speaking in Kigali during his recent visit, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, said that Brussels was aware of the attacks targeting Rwandans, and promised justice for the victims.

“We have organised all possible activities for proper prosecution. It is unacceptable — we have the police, the logistics and we will do whatever it takes and hold these people accountable,” said the Belgian minister.

Currently, different reports state that the Belgian police have finalised its investigations into recent attacks on Rwandans in the European country and handed its findings to the King’s Prosecution.

The association of the Rwandan Diaspora in Belgium petitioned the authorities over the attacks, which are supposedly linked to allegations of Rwanda’s involvement with the eastern DRC conflict. On August 18, the group staged a peaceful protest against the attacks in Brussels.

DRB-Rugari, an organisation of Rwandans living in Belgium, in the wake of the violence, has appealed to the government of Belgium to address the seriousness of such acts constituting a flagrant violation of human rights, compounded by racism and xenophobic verbal aggression.

According to a recent statement for the organisation, the committee observed that the ongoing attacks were creating a climate of fear and mistrust at the same time undermining social cohesion which the Belgian government and multiple social welfare associations would not tolerate.

“We hope it will be possible before one more victim suffers as a result of these tensions,” the statement said.

On the other hand the group has also invited the Congolese community in Belgium for a constructive dialogue in order to improve the relations between the two communities in the country.