The Government of Rwanda has announced that it is severing diplomatic relations with the United States with immediate effect, following sanctions imposed by Washington.
In an official statement, Kigali described the sanctions as unjustified and discriminatory, accusing the United States of applying double standards by failing to impose comparable measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Rwanda maintained that the conflict in eastern DRC is an internal Congolese matter that should be resolved through an inclusive political process without external interference. It also rejected responsibility for or involvement in the conflict.
As part of the decision, all US diplomatic personnel in Rwanda have been ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.
The Rwandan government said it would continue to protect the premises, property and archives of the US diplomatic mission in Kigali in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
