The visit was confirmed through a cabinet communiqué on Thursday.
According to local news outlets in Senegal, the President will continue his East African tour with a visit to Nairobi, scheduled from October 19 to 21, at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto.
The leaders of both countries have continued to strengthen the relationship between Rwanda and Senegal.
President Kagame became the first Head of State to visit his Senegalese counterpart in May 2024, just a month after assuming office in April that year.
President Kagame has made several visits to Senegal, with the most recent one taking place from August 31 to September 1, 2025, when he attended the Africa Food Systems Forum.
The three roads, covering a total of 151 kilometers, are located in different districts across the country.
The official launch took place along the 73-kilometer Nyagatare–Rukomo road, which has already been in use for some time.
The other two are the Huye–Kitabi road (53 km) and the Rubengera–Gisiza road (25 km).
According to officials, the funds initially allocated for these road projects were efficiently managed, leading to a surplus that allowed the government to extend construction to other road sections and install street lighting along the 23-kilometer Rubengera–Gisiza stretch.
The inauguration event was attended by government officials, residents, and representatives of development partners who financed the projects, including the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and other institutions such as The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
Nyagatare District Mayor Stephen Gasana said the Rukomo–Nyagatare road has been a game changer for trade and transportation, especially by reducing travel time.
Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, the Minister of State for Infrastructure, highlighted that the newly inaugurated roads are already contributing to economic growth by facilitating the movement of goods and people.
Uwihanganye also announced that plans are underway to install streetlights along the Nyagatare–Rukomo road, ensuring safer and more efficient transport.
He added that the total cost of constructing the three roads, together with other works financed from the remaining budget, exceeded Frw 200 billion.
Fahad Abdullah Aldossari, BADEA Board Chairman, said the bank remains committed to supporting Rwanda’s transport infrastructure, noting that out of the $300 million already provided to Rwanda, about $132 million has been directed toward road projects.
Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde emphasized that the newly opened roads will serve as key drivers of tourism and trade, pledging that the provincial leadership will continue investing in complementary infrastructure to maximize their economic potential.
His Royal Highness Oheneba Yaw Otchere, a prominent global entrepreneur and the Royal Ambassador to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene (King of the Ashanti Kingdom), leads the Ashanti Kingdom Trust, which oversees the kingdom’s investments, business development projects, and diplomatic initiatives on behalf of the King.
During the visit, Prince Otchere, together with Ghana’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ernest Yaw Amporful, and the Ashanti delegation, engaged with several key Rwandan institutions, including the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda Mining Board (RMB), Bank of Kigali, Kigali International Financial Center (KIFC), and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR).
Prince Oheneba and his delegation also visited the Campaign Against the Genocide Museum, where they were inspired by the bravery of the Rwanda Patriotic Army and the nation’s remarkable post-genocide transformation, driven by the vision and transformational leadership of President Paul Kagame.
The delegation committed to continuing to advocate for investment and collaboration with Rwanda, noting that the country’s 30-year journey of resilience, reconciliation, and restoration is unmatched in Africa. Prince Oheneba described Rwanda’s success as an inspiring story that makes Ghana proud and sets an example for the continent.
Prince Oheneba also invited Rwandans to visit, invest, and collaborate with the Ashanti Kingdom and Ghana at large, promoting intra-African trade and exchange.
The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ashanti Kingdom Trust and RDB, outlining areas of common interest to guide collaboration.
The agreement aims to unlock business opportunities and explore private sector partnerships in mining, gold trading, and the construction of Africa’s Gold City in the Ashanti Kingdom, in collaboration with Rwandan-based companies and investors.
The two-day visit focused on exploring business opportunities in mineral trading, mining investments, and socio-economic development initiatives between Rwanda and the Ashanti Kingdom.
Both parties agreed to pursue a strategic long-term partnership to harness untapped resources in both countries and promote intra-African trade through innovative solutions, including AFREXIM Bank’s Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) for exchanged goods and services.
Prince Oheneba also highlighted the existing collaboration with their host, EPC Africa Group, guided by its vision of “Building a Prosperous and Self-Sustained African Community.”
Combined with the Ashanti Kingdom’s enduring legacy of unity, resilience, continuous innovation, and empowerment, this partnership aims to champion a new model of African cooperation and shared prosperity, rooted in self-reliance, mutual respect, and a collective drive toward continental transformation.
Before departing Rwanda, His Royal Highness and his delegation experienced the country’s remarkable progress in eco-tourism, visiting Nyandungu Eco Park and various key sites in Kigali.
The visit marks a significant step toward strengthening economic and cultural ties between Ghana and Rwanda, reflecting a shared vision for African-led partnerships and sustainable development.
The deal on the “first phase” of a U.S.-backed peace plan, coming after intense negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States, outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal, while establishing mechanisms for prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid delivery.
While both Gazans and Israelis are experiencing moments of emotional release, political divisions within Israel’s coalition government and Hamas’s demand for international guarantees have somehow threatened to undermine the implementation process.
Besides, the enormous task of rebuilding Gaza and determining its political future looms large, testing whether the deal can evolve from temporary ceasefire to lasting peace.
{{The path to a deal
}}
Both Israeli and Hamas’s officials have indicated that the ceasefire deal is set for Israeli government ratification. The Israeli side said the ceasefire will take effect within 24 hours after its security cabinet votes Thursday afternoon on the agreement in a meeting, whereas Hamas said the ceasefire will take effect immediately upon Israeli government approval.
According to Israel’s state-owned Kan TV, political resistance within Netanyahu’s coalition, including from far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatens to complicate the voting process, but the deal will still secure majority support.
The deal establishes detailed reciprocal obligations. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Qatar’s Alaraby Television Network in an interview on Thursday that Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza City, northern Gaza, as well as southern Gaza’s Rafah and Khan Younis, while five border crossings will reopen for humanitarian aid.
“Drone operations in the Gaza Strip’s airspace will cease during the prisoner release process,” which will involve “250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 other prisoners,” he added.
Informed Palestinian sources told Xinhua that Hamas has provided mediators with prisoner lists “according to agreed criteria,” awaiting final approval, and has begun relocating Israeli detainees to safe locations ahead of handover to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that three Israeli army divisions have started pulling out of Gaza City since Wednesday night in preparation for redeployment around Khan Younis.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Thursday that it has “begun operational preparations” for the first of a three-phase withdrawal from Gaza, adding that “preparations and combat protocols are underway to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon.”
However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also ordered the military to respond with “great force” to any potential threat or attack by Hamas in Gaza against Israeli forces.
According to an Israeli government spokeswoman, hostages would probably begin being released on Saturday or Sunday.
Hospitals in the Tel Aviv area, where the hostages are expected to arrive for medical checks and recovery, also said they are making preparations.
{{Voices from the ground
}}
In central Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, family members of Israeli hostages embraced as reports spread of their loved ones’ imminent return. Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, and Anat and Haggai Angrest, parents of soldier Matan Angrest, burst into tears of excitement in a video shared online.
“Matan and Matan are on their way home,” Zangauker said. “From now on, this square will be called the Square of Hope!”
In Gaza, news of the ceasefire triggered spontaneous celebrations amid the ruins. “I want to cry and dance at the same time,” Hussein al-Hindi, a 45-year-old displaced carpenter and father of three from the town of al-Zawaida in central Gaza, told Xinhua.
“For two years, we lived without sleep, listening only to explosions and the screams of the wounded,” said al-Hindi, who now lives in a makeshift tent. “I still can’t believe the war has truly stopped … I wake up every morning expecting the airstrikes to begin again. All we want now is to rebuild our homes, send our children back to school, and live normal lives.”
Yet for the many more Gazans traumatized by the devastating conflict, the joy hearing the news is just a flash in the pan. Abdul Majeed Haniyeh, a 52-year-old man from Deir al-Balah, who lost his teenage son in an Israeli airstrike last year, wept as he told Xinhua: “Nothing can compensate for the loss of my child, but at least no other fathers will bury their sons tonight.”
Many Gazans have expressed cautious optimism, aware that previous truces have collapsed and that rebuilding their shattered lives will take years.
“The Gaza we knew no longer exists,” Abed Dahman, a displaced father of five from Khan Younis, told Xinhua outside his tent. “We have to start from zero … What we need now is not just promises but real reconstruction and a future for our children.”
Despite the deal, 11 people were killed and 49 others injured by Israeli assaults across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including 13 wounded while seeking aid, Gaza-based health authorities said Thursday.
The conflict, erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 when a large-scale Hamas attack on southern Israel killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, has destroyed about 80 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced nearly 2 million residents, apart from creating human casualties, according to UN estimates.
{{Guarded optimism from Middle East
}}
The ceasefire deal has drawn widespread support from regional countries and organizations, which see it as a potential opening for broader political progress.
Hamdan described the deal as “the fruit of the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Palestinian people over two years of ongoing Israeli aggression,” while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the deal to become “a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution.”
In a press statement, Abbas emphasized the need to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, stressing that “sovereignty over Gaza belongs to the State of Palestine.” He also outlined key requirements for the deal’s success: immediate implementation, release of all hostages and prisoners, unrestricted humanitarian access, and a clear reconstruction process.
Jordan and Iraq emphasized the importance of full commitment to the deal and the urgency of addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to “closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement,” and continue contributing to the process as well as advocating for Palestinian statehood.
Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Oman also endorsed the deal. Egypt called it “a pivotal moment in the war of Gaza,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hoped the agreement “will serve as a first step towards a permanent ceasefire,” whereas the latter two highlighted the deal’s potential to facilitate aid delivery and regional stability.
The Arab League also welcomed the breakthrough, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit calling it “good news for the people in Gaza after two years of bloodshed.”
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini on Thursday called the deal “a respite” for Gaza’s traumatized population.
The UNRWA has three months of supplies ready for immediate distribution, Lazzarini said in a press statement, urging the international community to support the agency in carrying out its work and assisting those in need during this critical period ahead.
However, analysts have cautioned that the deal represents only a first step. Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst Hussam al-Dajani told Xinhua that the deal, although marking an important step toward ending the war, “does not mean the conflict is over.”
“Implementing the deal on the ground requires concrete international guarantees to ensure both sides’ commitment,” al-Dajani said. “Past experiences show that without monitoring, truces collapse quickly.”
Gaza now faces two simultaneous challenges: rebuilding its devastated infrastructure and reorganizing its internal political situation, he said. “Ending the war does not end the suffering … Gaza needs more than words; it needs a sustained international effort to ensure this tragedy is not repeated.”
Yemeni political analyst Yasin Al-Tamimi said while the deal marks a diplomatic breakthrough, “the possibility of continued confrontation remains … as the political and security dynamics that fueled this conflict are far from resolved.”
“A genuine peace process requires a just solution to the Palestinian issue … Without this, any U.S. initiative is bound to fail,” Al-Tamimi told Xinhua.
Nabil al-Bukiri, director of the Arab Forum for Studies and Development, offered a more skeptical view, describing the U.S. role in the deal as more of political posturing and lacking sincerity and substance.
“Without addressing the root of the conflict — the occupation and denial of Palestinian rights,” he said, “talk of comprehensive peace remains an illusion.”
The Forum, running from October 9 through 10, builds on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, and focuses on advancing global connectivity amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges.
It brings together high-level representatives from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to explore innovative strategies for scaling up Global Gateway investments in partner countries.
As he delivered his speech, Tshisekedi took the stage and reiterated the familiar narrative, accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim Rwanda denied repeatedly.
He called on Rwanda to give the order for the M23 troops, which he claimed were backed by Rwanda, to halt the escalation.
Tshisekedi also stated that his country has never been belligerent towards its neighbors, despite his repeated threats to invade Rwanda, bombard Kigali, and overthrow Rwanda’s leadership, threats that can be validated through multiple reports.
Following a post on X by Patrick Muyaya, which included excerpts from Tshisekedi’s speech, Minister Nduhungirehe reminded them of the truth, refuting the narrative and exposing the lies and distortions of fact.
In response, Nduhungirehe stated, “No, you are wrong on all counts. The only person who can stop this escalation is President Tshisekedi, and HE ALONE.”
Amb. Nduhungirehe went on to address Tshisekedi’s claims, alluding to specifically his public threats of war.
“He can do so by ceasing to display his belligerent attitude, particularly his public threats of invading Rwanda or bombing Kigali, not to mention his disgraceful insults against President Kagame,” Amb. Nduhungirehe asserted, highlighting Tshisekedi’s repeated threats.
The Minister continued, accusing the DRC president of supporting the FDLR genocidaires, a militia responsible for Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
“He can do so by stopping his support for the FDLR genocidaires, expelling them from his army, and neutralizing them, as required by the Washington Peace Agreement,” Amb. Nduhungirehe declared.
He also criticized the DRC government for its involvement with armed militias, specifically the Wazalendo militia, and the daily bombings by Tshisekedi’s fighter jets and attack drones in eastern DRC, including on Banyamulenge villages and densely populated areas.
The Minister further accused Tshisekedi of deploying foreign mercenaries and violating international agreements.
“He can do so by stopping the use of Burundian soldiers and mercenaries, formerly Romanians and now Colombians,” Amb. Nduhungirehe added, pointing out violations of a 1977 OAU resolution and a 1989 UN Convention.
Amb. Nduhungirehe also condemned Tshisekedi’s use of international platforms for political maneuvering.
“Finally, he can do so by stopping this ridiculous political farce of exploiting a platform at an important economic partnership summit to launch accusations and lies,” the Minister concluded.
Rwanda-DRC diplomatic relations have faced setbacks since the resurgence of the M23 rebel group in 2021, which highlighted the rights of marginalized Congolese Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities.
Since then, the DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, an accusation Kigali vehemently denies, urging the DRC to address its own issues rather than blame its neighbor.
Various mediation efforts have been underway, including a peace deal signed in Washington and an M23-DRC dialogue facilitated by Qatar.
However, the DRC has been criticized for shifting its stance and lacking the willingness to implement resolutions, hindering lasting peace in eastern DRC.
This includes the recent last-minute blockage of the Regional Economic Integration Framework, which was not signed at Tshisekedi’s request in Washington.
Addressing a high-level audience in Brussels, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Angolan President João Lourenço, Chairperson of the African Union, Kagame warned that partnerships based on directives and compliance are a dead end for Africa’s transformation.
The Global Gateway Forum, now in its second edition since its 2023 launch, gathers leaders from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to tackle geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges while scaling up investments in global connectivity.
The 2025 Forum provides a critical platform to strengthen collaboration, identify investment opportunities, and promote sustainable development through infrastructure, technology, and green initiatives.
“This forum has, in a short time, proven its worth by connecting ideas and resources and turning them into real investment,” Kagame said, praising the Global Gateway’s focus on innovative strategies. Yet, he underscored a fundamental flaw in how partnerships are often conceived.
“For some, partnership is about giving instructions and setting conditions. For others, it means complying. Africa’s experience shows that this approach does not deliver the transformation we need,” he stated.
Kagame emphasised that genuine partnerships must be built on equality, with shared risks and rewards. “A good partnership does not create dependency. It creates value,” he asserted, outlining Africa’s priorities: robust infrastructure, advanced technology, and competitive industries.
He highlighted Africa’s value to Europe, noting its growing market, talent pool, and critical resources for the green and digital transitions. Pointing to tangible progress, Kagame cited BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, supported by the EU’s Team Europe initiative, as a landmark achievement.
“This project is a milestone for regional vaccine production. It will reduce Africa’s import dependency and strengthen our ability to respond to future pandemics,” he said, framing it as a model for partnerships with broader regional impact.
To sustain such initiatives, Kagame stressed the need for private sector engagement and stronger local ecosystems, aligning with the Forum’s goal of fostering sustainable development.
“The work has begun, and we are making good progress. Rwanda will continue to do its part to ensure measurable impact,” he pledged.
Echoing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kagame expressed optimism, noting a “positive energy about business, investment, peace, and prosperity” at the Forum.
Vision 2020 set ambitious targets to reduce poverty, boost economic growth, and build infrastructure, leading to significant progress in healthcare, education, governance, and economic stability.
Now, Rwanda is looking to the future with Vision 2050, which aims to transform the nation into a high-income economy by mid-century, ensuring prosperity and opportunity for all. Let’s explore 10 key aspects of Rwanda’s Vision 2050.
{{1. A vision for prosperity and high living standards}}
At the heart of Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s goal to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050.
Between 1998 and 1999, the country set a target to increase GDP per capita from USD 250 per year to USD 900 by 2020.
The current roadmap targets an ambitious GDP per capita of USD 4,036 by 2035 and USD 12,476 by 2050.
To reach these targets, the needed GDP growth rates (annual average) are at least 12% during 2018-2035 and 10% from 2036 to 2050.
This economic growth is expected to provide Rwandans with better living standards, including universal access to quality education, healthcare, and modern infrastructure.
{{2. Human development as a key pillar }}
Human development is a central pillar of Vision 2050, aiming to harness the economic potential of Rwanda’s growing workforce. By 2050, the working-age population is expected to increase to 65.7%, up from 61% in 2017.
To realize the benefits of this demographic dividend, the Vision focuses on key priorities: ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare and education, transforming the workforce for greater productivity, and promoting skills development.
These investments are crucial for fostering a healthy, educated, and skilled labor force, which will be essential for driving Rwanda’s economic transformation and achieving long-term prosperity.
{{3. Economic growth through competitiveness and innovation}}
Rwanda is committed to enhancing its global competitiveness by developing a diversified economy.
By 2035, Rwanda plans to be among the top 10 countries for ease of doing business, rank among the top 20 economies in competitiveness by 2035 and top 10 in 2050.
This vision includes specific priorities which focus on creating a diversified economy built upon future industries.
It emphasizes developing competitive manufacturing, supported by a regional logistics hub, and driving transformative growth through modern and innovative services sectors.
The vision also prioritizes export-oriented knowledge services and high-end sustainable tourism, while ensuring universal access to financial services for all, among others.
{{4. Agriculture for wealth creation}}
In 2024, agriculture contributed 24 percent to GDP and employed over 43 percent of the population as at March 2025. As agriculture remains a key sector, Vision 2050 focuses on transforming the sector to generate wealth and reduce poverty.
By increasing the use of modern farming technologies, ensuring market-oriented agriculture, and enhancing climate resilience, Rwanda will integrate its agricultural products into global value chains.
This shift will lead to higher productivity and greater economic opportunities for both men and women in agriculture.
{{5. Urbanization and smart cities for growth}}
Urbanization is a central aspect of Rwanda’s future development. By 2050, 70% of the population is projected to live in urban areas, with Kigali and six secondary cities serving as hubs of socioeconomic activity.
Rural settlements will grow in a clustered and densified way with the necessary basic infrastructure, services and facilities.
Rural households settled in integrated planned settlements will increase from 67.2% (EICV5 2016/17) to 80% by 2024 and 100% by 2035. This will be maintained throughout 2050.
Overall, the country will embrace smart and green cities that are energy-efficient and designed to thrive in a sustainable urban ecosystem.
{{6. A modern and accountable governance system}}
Vision 2050 emphasizes the importance of accountable institutions and effective governance.
The vision outlines the continued development of citizen-centered reforms, where local innovations and home-grown solutions will remain central to the country’s development.
Institutions will be modernized, ensuring efficiency and transparency in public service delivery, reinforcing Rwanda’s progress towards socioeconomic transformation.
{{7. A green growth and climate resilience path}}
Sustainability is key in Vision 2050. The plan includes a Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS) aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient economy.
Rwanda will focus on efficient use of natural resources while ensuring the country’s climate adaptation strategies are strong enough to cope with challenges posed by global warming.
By protecting the environment, Rwanda will achieve long-term ecological sustainability alongside its economic growth.
{{8. Energy sustainability for the future}}
Energy access will play a crucial role in Rwanda’s economic expansion. Access to electricity stood at 72% in 2024 from 34% in 2017. By 2050, 100% of the population is expected to have access to electricity, with renewable energy making up at least 60% of the power generation mix.
Increased energy consumption is expected as Rwanda’s economy grows, but this will be managed sustainably to ensure energy supply meets demand without compromising environmental goals.
{{9. Life expectancy }}
Rwanda’s Vision 2050 sets ambitious targets for improving the health and well-being of its citizens, with life expectancy being a central indicator of success.
As of 2020, life expectancy in Rwanda stood at 67.8 years. However, Vision 2050 aims for significant improvement, projecting 71.7 years by 2035 and 73 years by 2050.
This is a reflection of the country’s focus on enhancing healthcare, access to medical services, and overall living standards.
Compared to regional averages, Rwanda’s current life expectancy is strong, particularly when compared to neighbors like Uganda (63 years).
{{10. Population growth and reduced unemployment }}
The country’s population, projected to grow at a slower rate, is expected to reach 1.4% by 2050, down from 2.5% in 2019, with a growing proportion of the workforce entering the productive age group.
Rwanda’s last national census in 2022 reported a population of 13.2 million, up from 10.5 million recorded in 2012. As of July 2025, Rwanda’s population had reached 14.1 million. In 2050, the population is expected to reach 22 million in 2022.
Besides, by 2050, Rwanda aims to significantly reduce unemployment, targeting an unemployment rate of 5%, down from 15.2% in 2019.
This will be driven by investments in education, skills development, and private sector growth.
Achieving Vision 2050 will not happen overnight, and a rigorous implementation framework is in place to ensure that progress is monitored and adjusted regularly.
The vision includes five-year reviews, starting with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which serves to bridge the Vision 2020 and Vision 2050, to assess how the goals are being met and identify necessary adjustments.
The elaboration of Vision 2050 has taken into consideration the global and regional development agendas, to ensure harmonization of targets and indicators.
Those include: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, East African Community (EAC) Vision 2050, and the Paris Agreement on climate change among other instruments.
The Forum, which builds on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, focuses on advancing global connectivity amid growing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. It brings together high-level representatives from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to explore innovative strategies for scaling up Global Gateway investments in partner countries.
Later today, President Kagame is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss Rwanda’s partnership with the European Union.
The 2025 Forum provides a platform for participating countries and institutions to strengthen collaboration, identify investment opportunities, and promote sustainable development through enhanced global connectivity.
According to a post on X by the Presidency on Thursday, the discussions highlighted “ongoing efforts to advance peace in the Great Lakes region, and Rwanda’s continuous commitment to lasting peace and security.”
The meeting comes at a critical moment in the U.S.-mediated peace process between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two countries signed the Washington Accord on June 27, 2025. The agreement was designed to dismantle the FDLR militia, composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and to lift Rwanda’s defensive posture along the border.
However, implementation of the peace deal has faced challenges. Tensions deepened last week when the DRC declined, at the last minute, to sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF). The framework was expected to bolster economic cooperation between Kigali and Kinshasa and strengthen regional integration efforts.
“The Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. this week was ready to sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), which benefits both our countries and the region,” Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo wrote on X on October 4.
“We are puzzled by the DRC’s last-minute decision not to sign the agreement, given the positive atmosphere of the negotiations … and the diligent mediation work of Senior Advisor Massad Boulos and the State Department.”
Despite the setback, Rwanda has reiterated its commitment to both the peace agreement and the broader U.S.-facilitated mediation efforts.
“Rwanda believes in the peace agreement and in the approach of the U.S. mediation, and hopes that the REIF will eventually be signed,” Makolo added. “The peace process must succeed. It is the best chance for stability and economic development for our region.”
President Kagame’s meeting with Boulos on Thursday signals continued U.S. engagement in the Great Lakes, even as the region navigates setbacks in both security and economic cooperation tracks.
