Brussels 19.03.2025 Rwanda’s reaction to the EU sanctions is swift and arrogant. The leadership severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, its former colonial ruler, and gave Belgian diplomats just 48 hours to leave. This week the EU Council imposed restrictive measures on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations…
Tag: Belgium
La BRAFA: from Apollo to Terpsichore!
05.02.2024 Brussels BRAFA 2024 confirmed once again its power of charm, attracting 67,000 art lovers of all ages perambulating among more than a hundred of galleries proudly exposing the masterpieces. As the first fair opening the year, BRAFA was unanimously acclaimed by the art pilgrims for both the quality of the objects on display and the magic of…
BRAFA 2022: Tribal art and “fetishes”
Brussels 17.06.2022 Anna Van Densky: As the centrepiece of its stand, Montagut Gallery will be presenting an exceptional Soninke statue, from the Dogon culture, Mali, thirteenth century. A selection of “fetishes” from the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be on display, at Didier Claes. The exhibition “Nkisi” focuses on the beauty of these “force-objects”…
Belgium: Commandos versus Africa Museum
Brussels 29.09.2020 The lawyers of seven Belgium associations representing former para commandos and officers who have served in Africa have given notice to the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA, or AfricaMuseum) in Tervuren. They ask that “any damage to the honour and reputation of the Belgian para commandos” be obliterated in a text next…
Burundi demands $43bn reparations for colonialism
Burundi wishes Belgium and Germany to pay $43 billion in reparations for harm done during decades of colonial rule. The move follows similar calls for compensation by the Democratic Republic of Congo after Belgian King Philippe in June offered his “deepest regrets” over his nation’s colonial past in the Congo. Le roi Philippe exprime au…
Ghent removes Leopold II bust
Belgium city of Ghent removed a bust of King Leopold II from one of the city parks, in a symbolic gesture aligned with the celebration of 60 years of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the former colony. Na 90 jaar werd vandaag de buste van Leopold II eindelijk weggehaald uit het Zuidpark….
Belgium King appologies for Colonial past
Here is the letter that Belgium King Philippe sent to the Congolese president, Félix Tshisekedi, as part of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The sovereign expresses “deep regrets” there. (Translation from original in French): https://twitter.com/afpafrica/status/1277855838212947968?s=21 “On this sixtieth anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of…
Belgium colonial taboo
By the end of last year Africa Museum in outskirts of Brussels, Belgium, has terminated cooperation with a guide accused of “racist comments” during a tour with students, because of mentioning some positive sides of the colonial past. “He is no longer a guide at our museum,” the director of the Museum Guido Gryseels said…
Belgium hosts Laurent Gbagbo
Belgium has agreed to host Cote d’Ivoire ex-President Laurent Gbagbo following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Belgium had agreed to welcome the former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, who is released on conditions, as announced by the International Criminal Court,…
Egmont Royal Institute internship
Egmont Royal Institute for International relations offers paid internship opportunity: Education & Training Programme (Fr-Eng): Le Programme Education & Formation de l’Institut Egmont cherche à recruter un(e) stagiaire à Bruxelles pour une durée de 6 mois, débutant le 1er mars 2019. Le stage consistera en un soutien logistique et organisationnel du Programme Education & Formation, ainsi qu’en une participation…
AFRICA DIPLOMATIC 