Rwanda Cuts Diplomatic Ties with United States after Sanctions

GOOBJOOG NEWS | KIGALI: Rwanda has said it has terminated diplomatic relations with the United States with immediate effect, following sanctions imposed by Washington on senior officials of the Rwanda Defence Force.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, Kigali said the move came after the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on March 2 against senior Rwandan military officials.

Rwanda described the sanctions as unjustified and inconsistent with the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect and constructive bilateral engagement.

The government said the continuation of formal diplomatic relations under the current circumstances was “no longer sustainable” after reviewing the political, security and economic implications of the measures.

Kigali said its embassy in Washington, D.C. would begin orderly closure procedures and requested the United States to initiate the closure of its embassy in Kigali within a coordinated timeframe.

Rwanda added that it would continue to honour its obligations under international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The government said national institutions remain fully operational and that the country’s security and regional commitments would not be affected, adding it remained open to future engagement based on mutual respect and non-interference.