Federal ministers visit facilities in Rwanda and Burundi

Federal minister for foreign affairs Didier Reynders and minister for development co-operation Alexander De Croo set off yesterday on an official visit to Rwanda and Burundi. VRT news followed the pair as De Crew (Open VLD) told officials in Rwanda that theirs was the first country he was visiting since he took over the development aid portfolio.

The pair plan to visit both countries’ hospitals, schools and infrastructure projects that benefit from Belgian funding. Funds are mainly directed towards aid projects that improve health care services, connect households to the electricity grid and provide solar panels.

“We are the practically the only Europeans who have a strong presence in Rwanda,” Reynders told Knack. Both Rwanda and Burundi were colonised by Belgium after the First World War, a situation that ended in 1962.

Rwanda has made huge improvements in health care over the past decade, with life expectancy rising by an average of 12 years since 2002. But the country is still performing less well in areas like human rights and freedom of the press.

De Croo recently announced that he would withhold a €40 million development aid bonus because of Rwanda’s continuing failure to respect both issues. “The bonus was intended as an incentive, but it hasn’t worked,” he told VRT.

photo: Federal minister of co-operation development Alexander De Croo shakes hands with Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza. Foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders is pictured centre

©Eric Lalmand/BELGA