DRC tells Belgium to close a consulate and cut flights between the countries
Relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate with Belgium citing human rights and security issues in the DRC
Brussels — The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has ordered Belgium to close a consulate and cut flights by Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday, in a further deterioration of relations between Belgium and its former colony. Belgium closed its consulate in the south-eastern city of Lubumbashi after being told to do so by Kinshasa, a Belgian foreign ministry spokesperson said. The DRC had also decided to close its consulate in the northern Belgian city of Antwerp. Brussels Airlines, owned by Germany’s Lufthansa, has had its flights to and from Kinshasa cut to four a week from seven, the foreign ministry and the airline said. The airline said it had been told by DRC authorities that the reduction was because of an absence of reciprocity in international air services between the two countries. The DRC’s foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. Relations have worsened since the start of the year, when Belgium decided to end co-operation on a...
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