There has been an outcry in Belgium over the Defence Minister’s decision to invite Congolese soldiers to take part in a national day parade.

By Vanessa Mock in Brussels

Pieter De Crem said he took the unilateral decision to invite the army on July 21 as part of efforts to “normalise” relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the year that it celebrates 50 years of independence from Belgium.
 
But the gaff-prone minister is now under huge pressure to withdraw his invitation amid fresh reports of crimes perpetrated by some branches of the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The Congolese army is responsible for rapes, gang rapes, murders, violence towards civilians and this kind of invitation is a bridge too far for us. It’s unacceptable,” says Wouter de Vriendt, a member of the Flemish Green Party. “It would be a scandal for them to come to Brussels.”

Political storm
During a heated session in the parliament in Brussels, MPs grilled Mr de Crem for hours on what they called his “irresponsible” decision. They also referred to a United Nations investigation, made public today, outlining widespread instances of rapes and murders and other violations, endorsing recent reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Mr de Crem retorted that the invitation had not been official, only verbal, adding:  “The reactions have been completely out of proportion. The real issue here is our military support for Congo and our cooperation with them. And all these rumours and half truths will do nothing to improve our relationship."

Belgium has several training programmes for Congolese soldiers and the new government of Yves Leterme has tried to improve relations with the former colony. Last year, the former Foreign Minister, Karel de Gucht, caused a storm with an outspoken attack on the Congolese leader Laurent Kabila.

An obligation

“Personal attacks are not the way forward and what Minister de Crem is trying to do is engage more with Congo,” says MP Gerald Kindermans, a Flemish Christian Democrat.

Mr Kindermans says many Belgians feel an obligation towards Congo because of the abuses perpetrated during Belgian rule during King Leopold II, who plundered the country’s resources. “Last year, the government tried to normalise relations and we have a responsibility, given what happened in the past, not to walk away and keep up the pressure to help them improve their human rights record.”

Although most politicians are in favour of closer links with DRC, the public outcry over the invitation is not likely to calm down. Most probably the defence minister will have to withdraw his invitation. But the row has highlighted once again the very problematic and fraught relationship between Belgium and its former colony, half a century after the end of colonial rule.