The decision followed discussions between Tinubu and President Paul Kagame after the Nigerian leader arrived in Kigali to attend the Africa CEO Forum 2026.
Tinubu arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday. Following talks held later that evening, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said Nigeria would introduce visa-free entry for Rwandans, similar to Rwanda’s existing policy for Nigerian citizens.
In a statement, the Nigeria Immigration Service said the government had completed all the necessary procedures to implement the new arrangement.
Under the policy, Rwandan citizens can now enter Nigeria without a visa and stay legally for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business and other authorised activities.
The statement, however, noted that travellers wishing to stay beyond 30 days will still be required to apply for a visa through a Nigerian embassy or via the country’s e-Visa platform.
The immigration authority added that airports, seaports and other border entry points had been directed to begin implementing the presidential order immediately.
Rwanda and Nigeria cooperate in several areas, including diplomacy, security, air transport and technical partnerships. The two countries have also worked together in the health sector, where Nigerian doctors collaborate with Rwandan medical professionals.
During his visit, Tinubu also met members of the Nigerian community living in Rwanda, who shared a number of concerns and proposals. Among them was Masai Ujiri, founder of Zaria Court Rwanda.
The head of the Nigerian community in Rwanda said many Nigerians living in the country work in international organisations and sectors such as education, technology, business, sports and hospitality.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed visa requirements for Rwandans travelling to Nigeria.
The AFC/M23 coalition, which is in conflict with government forces, said that since the morning of May 15, 2026, the DRC government ordered the deployment of attack helicopters from Kalemie in Tanganyika Province to South Kivu to support ongoing operations.
AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the helicopters, which are equipped with heavy weaponry, add to other military assets already being used in operations around Minembwe, including drones, heavy artillery, and Sukhoi-25 fighter jets.
He alleged that the DRC government intends to “wipe Minembwe off the map” and target its civilian population, adding that some of its alleged international supporters were enabling the operation both militarily and politically.
The group further claimed that while international actors continue to remain silent on the escalation, it would continue what it described as defending civilians using all available means.
The deployment of helicopters follows drone and airstrikes involving Sukhoi-25 jets and ground forces carried out on May 14 in areas around Minembwe, including Kalingi, Gakenke, Bidegu, and Rugezi.
AFC/M23 deputy coordinator Bertrand Bisimwa in charge of politics and diplomacy warned that if mediators do not respond to what he described as continued provocations by the DRC government, the group may no longer feel bound to uphold unilateral commitments to a ceasefire.
“It is unacceptable that mediators and those facilitating talks remain silent while Kinshasa continues its provocations. AFC/M23 cannot uphold agreements alone while the other side violates them,” he said.
On May 7, AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as Washington’s open alignment with the DRC government, despite its stated commitment to peace in the region.
Nangaa also argued that a mineral resources agreement signed between the United States and the DRC in December 2025 was being used by Kinshasa as political cover while continuing military operations.
DRC army is reportedly preparing major offensive in Minembwe, according to AFC/M23. Minembwe came under a coordinated attack on May 14, 2026.
Iran proposed a two-stage negotiation process, the paper said.
The first stage aims to end the war on all fronts, and if Iran’s conditions are met, the second stage of negotiations, concerning the nuclear issue, would commence, the paper added.
Earlier this month, Iran submitted a 14-point counterproposal to the United States, calling for a permanent end to hostilities and a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.
The plan was delivered through Pakistani intermediaries in response to a nine-point U.S. proposal.
While Washington’s plan calls for a two-month ceasefire, Tehran requested a 30-day timeline to resolve key issues, insisting that talks focus on “ending the war” rather than a temporary truce.
The conflict, which began at the end of February after U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran, has dragged on for more than two months and caused serious disruption to international trade and energy markets.
One of the most sensitive flashpoints has been the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20 % of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to flow before the war began. Iran’s closure of the strait in retaliation for attacks has driven up global energy prices and drawn warnings from governments worldwide.
On May 14, Trump and Xi held talks that focused largely on how to stabilize the situation. According to U.S. officials, both leaders agreed on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Trump used the summit to urge China, one of Iran’s closest economic partners and a major buyer of Iranian oil to push Tehran toward ending the conflict and respecting global trade routes.
Despite these high‑level discussions, progress toward peace has been limited. Diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire or broader settlement have stalled, with Iran demanding sanctions relief, recognition of its sovereignty, and compensation for damage caused by the war.
The United States, for its part, insists that Iran abandon its nuclear program and give up enriched uranium stockpiles. The deadlock has frustrated negotiators and extended uncertainty about how and when the war might end.
The Iran war’s ripple effects are already being felt beyond the Middle East. Rising energy costs have put pressure on consumers around the world, while shifting alliances in the Gulf have begun to reshape regional geopolitics.
The United States and China, despite their rivalry, find common cause in wanting to stabilize the situation even as deep disagreements remain about how best to achieve peace.
Analysts say Trump’s China visit highlights the limits of diplomacy in a conflict that has grown increasingly complex, involving not just regional parties but global economic and security concerns. For now, the world watches as talks remain stalled and the search for a lasting peace continues.
Trump’s China summit overshadowed as Iran war stalls peace efforts.
The Congolese leader had been in Uganda for the inauguration ceremony of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Many expected him, like other visiting heads of state, to return directly to Kinshasa after the event. Instead, he unexpectedly headed to Nairobi before the summit concluded.
Soon after his arrival, Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, said the Congolese president had not gone to Nairobi to “complain,” but to urge the international community to stop remaining silent over what she described as three decades of killings in the DRC allegedly caused by “Rwandan aggression.”
Two days after the summit, another spokesperson from the Congolese presidency, Farah Muamba Kayowa, claimed that the DRC had used the Africa-France summit to call on participants not to ignore the violence that Congo blames on Rwanda.
However, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, dismissed the claims, saying the DRC never actually took part in the summit discussions where such concerns could have been raised.
Amb. Nduhungirehe, who attended the summit in Nairobi, explained that the meeting featured three high-level sessions chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The discussions focused on green industrialisation and energy transition, reform of international financial institutions, and peace and security.
According to the minister, heads of state and official representatives actively participated in the exchanges — except the DRC.
“During all three sessions, the DRC’s seat remained conspicuously empty. As a result, Kinshasa was unable to ‘demand’ anything or accuse anyone in Nairobi, limiting itself to a merely symbolic presidential appearance at the close of the summit,” Amb. Nduhungirehe said.
The Rwandan government has consistently rejected accusations from Tshisekedi’s administration linking Kigali to the insecurity in eastern Congo.
Rwanda argues that the prolonged instability in the DRC is rooted in decades of poor governance and failed state policies that created conditions for armed groups to flourish across the region.
Kigali has also repeatedly pointed to the presence of the FDLR terrorist group in eastern Congo, a group formed by remnants of the former Rwandan army (Ex-FAR) and Interahamwe militias responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The group continues to operate freely in eastern DRC with the objective of destabilising Rwanda. The Congolese government is also accused of collaborating and supporting the group in its fight against the AFC/M23 coalition.
Before the inauguration ceremony in Uganda had ended, President Félix Tshisekedi traveled to Kenya as the Africa-France summit neared its conclusion.President Félix Tshisekedi arrived in Nairobi after the main discussions had concluded and only attended the summit’s closing ceremonyOn May 12, 2026, President Félix Tshisekedi attended the swearing-in ceremony of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto officially closed the Africa-France summit in Nairobi
The two leaders made the allegation during a joint press conference on Wednesday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, after signing a new declaration to enhance the AU-UN partnership.
“Most of the security crises on the continent are fueled from abroad. Financial resources, ammunition, sometimes even fighters come to fight another war from other continents,” Youssouf told the press conference.
He said the interference goes to the extent of disrupting mediation and resolution processes, causing a serious challenge for AU and UN to address the security crisis on the continent, including in the Sahel, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Youssouf said the interferences are requiring the AU, UN and other partners to deploy more efforts to contain the crises. “The AU must lead any peace negotiations on the continent, based on the principle of African solutions to African conflicts.”
Guterres, for his part, said it is absolutely intolerable that countries that are external to Africa interfere in African conflicts, providing weapons and political support with the objective of serving their strategic or economic interests.
“We need naturally to go on developing our common diplomacy, to make sure that we create the conditions for this kind of interference to cease and for other actors to be able to come to political agreements, able to end these conflicts,” he said.
According to Guterres, the world is witnessing a new kind of war where the military does not fight each other but launches drones against civilians.
“We also raise our voices, denouncing those countries that are providing drones that are not manufactured in Africa, as they are causing terrible sacrifice for the African people,” he added.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a joint press conference at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, May 13, 2026. African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have warned that external interferences are fueling the security crisis in Africa. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (2nd L) and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (2nd R) attend a joint press conference at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, May 13, 2026. African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have warned that external interferences are fueling the security crisis in Africa.
Against such a backdrop, the world is looking to the summit to send a clear signal that China and the United States are capable of managing differences, expanding cooperation and maintaining global stability.
From global trade and financial markets to climate governance and artificial intelligence, few major international issues can be effectively addressed without coordination between Beijing and Washington.
This is precisely why stable China-U.S. relations are of paramount importance — not only to the two countries, but to the world at large.
Since Trump returned to the White House, despite frictions in trade and technology, China and the United States have managed to maintain communication and prevent disputes from spiraling out of control. Head-of-state diplomacy has provided crucial strategic guidance in stabilizing relations at critical junctures.
Experience has repeatedly shown that when China and the United States strengthen dialogue and cooperation, the global economy gains confidence and international tensions ease. When communication breaks down, uncertainty abounds and spreads far beyond the bilateral sphere.
China has approached relations with the United States with consistency and a strong sense of responsibility as a major country. Beijing has emphasized that the two sides should uphold the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit — principles that reflect both the hard-earned lessons of decades of interaction and the practical realities of today’s world.
China understands clearly that competition between major countries is inevitable. But competition does not necessarily lead to confrontation, much less conflict. Managing differences through dialogue is not a sign of weakness; it is the rational choice expected of responsible major countries.
At the same time, China has continued to demonstrate openness to cooperation. Economic ties between the two countries remain deeply intertwined. Cooperation in areas such as counternarcotics, people-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation is also ongoing. These interactions underscore a simple reality: China-U.S. cooperation serves the interests of both peoples and the needs of the international community.
Of course, differences remain. Issues related to trade, technology and security continue to test the relationship. History has shown that unilateral pressure, attempts at “decoupling,” or zero-sum thinking cannot provide lasting solutions. The nature of China-U.S. economic relations is fundamentally one of mutual benefit. Trade and technology wars produce no real winners.
For bilateral ties to move forward steadily, both sides must manage disagreements on the basis of equality and mutual respect. China welcomes a confident, open and prosperous United States.
Likewise, Washington should view China’s development in a rational and objective manner, respect China’s core interests, and work with China to expand areas of cooperation while properly managing differences.
The world today faces mounting challenges: sluggish economic recovery, geopolitical conflicts, climate risks and rapid technological disruption. The international community increasingly looks to major countries for stability, coordination and leadership.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States have a special responsibility to provide greater certainty and more public goods to the world.
A single summit will not resolve every issue between Beijing and Washington. But it can help strengthen communication, rebuild confidence and reaffirm a basic truth: stable China-U.S. relations are essential not only to the interests of both countries, but also to global peace and prosperity.
Transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent, said Xi.
“Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These are the questions vital to history, to the world and to the people,” said Xi.
They are the questions of the times that the leaders of major countries need to answer together, he added.
“I look forward to working together with you to set the course and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations, so as to make 2026 a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-U.S. relations,” he said.
“I have agreed with President Trump on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability,” Xi said.
The new vision will provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations over the next three years and beyond, and should be welcomed by the people of both countries as well as the international community, he said.
The “constructive strategic stability” should be a positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace, Xi said.
The building of a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability should not be a mere slogan, but concrete action taken by both sides toward the same goal, he added.
China-U.S. economic ties are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, said Xi. “Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right choice,” he said.
Xi revealed that the economic and trade teams of the two countries produced “generally balanced and positive outcomes” in the latest round of bilateral trade talks on Wednesday.
“This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world,” he said, calling on the two sides to sustain the good momentum that they have worked hard to create.
Noting that China will only open its door wider, Xi said American companies are deeply involved in China’s reform and opening up, and the U.S. side is welcome to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.
“The two sides should implement the important consensus we have reached, and make better use of communication channels in the political, diplomatic and military-to-military fields,” Xi said.
The two countries should also expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties and law enforcement, he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
The head of state made the remarks on Thursday during the opening of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali.
Speaking in conversation with CNN journalist Eleni Giokos, Kagame addressed the current geopolitical tensions facing Rwanda and other African nations, framing sanctions as part of a broader pattern of external control over the continent’s resources.
Kagame argued that sanctions are frequently applied based on self-interest rather than principle.
“Sometimes sanctions are just applied in a case of one who provides less than the other,” he said. “So it was in the favor of the highest bidder. When somebody knows they will extract more from a certain place, they will be more favorable to that place, even if they are the ones in the wrong.”
He pointed to the open nature of this power dynamic, stating that major powers no longer hide their intentions.
“The powers that be are holding a whip in their hands, using a stick to beat up whoever they want to beat up. They’re no longer even hiding it. It’s just in the open.”
The President highlighted what he sees as hypocrisy in how some Western powers engage with Africa. He noted that the same actors who lecture African countries on democracy and human rights are simultaneously engaged in resource extraction.
“These powers you see that come here lecturing people on democracy, human rights, and they are doing it with one arm and with the other, they are just taking away everything that people own,” he stated.
“…We can’t just be people who are waiting to be ripped off by somebody who is shrewd enough and has the power to come. No, we must be able to say no,” Kagame added.
Addressing Rwanda’s own situation — facing U.S. sanctions since March this year linked to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo — Kagame made it clear that capitulation was not an option. “I never capitulated in a worse situation,” he stated.
“This is not a bad situation as such. Well, it hurts, absolutely. And that’s what it is meant to do… But I think we would be hurt more by not doing what we are doing.”
He emphasized that saying “no” to unfair deals carries a short-term cost but serves long-term interests.
“It is not so difficult to say no. In fact, it costs more to say yes to the wrong thing.”
Kagame cited recent examples from the continent where leaders pushed back against unbalanced mineral deals tied to infrastructure or social programs, mentioning countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Ghana.
He called for greater African unity and collective action, suggesting African leaders need a stronger coordinated mechanism to protect their interests.
“These pressures… are not entirely bad. I think they force Africa to look within.”
The President concluded his remarks on the subject by expressing long-term confidence, stating that exploitative arrangements ultimately do not last.
“Even those who have been given the gift of messing us up, one day they will not live long enough to see the gains from exploiting people or doing unjust things.”
Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said Africa must accelerate execution and strengthen collaboration between governments and the private sector to turn the continent’s potential into real economic scale.
He highlighted Kagame’s emphasis on shared ownership, noting that Africa’s ambitions cannot be achieved through isolated efforts but through coordinated action and cross-border cooperation.
Afrika also pointed to the need for reducing barriers to investment, improving predictability, and building stronger regional markets to support growth.
“The Africa CEO Forum has become a platform where Africa’s public and private sector leaders come together to shape a common agenda for growth, investment, partnership and execution,” he said.
The 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 runs from May 14–15 at Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together some of the continent’s most influential business and political leaders.
Held under the theme “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” the forum is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants from over 75 countries, including CEOs, investors, heads of state, ministers and development finance institutions.
The 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 kicked off on May 14 at Kigali Convention Centre.President Kagame has urged African unity and self-reliance, saying the continent must resist unfair external deals and protect its interests.
His discussions with Chapo focused on areas of cooperation, including security partnership, trade, and investment.
Rwanda and Mozambique cooperate in various sectors aimed at strengthening economic development and regional stability, including trade, agriculture, industry, investment, and security.
Relations between the two countries date back to the 1990s, but gained renewed momentum in 2018 with the establishment of a Joint Commission for Cooperation.
Since July 2021, Rwanda’s security forces have been working alongside Mozambican forces to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado Province, which had been heavily destabilized by the extremist group Ansar al-Sunnah.
The joint operations succeeded in driving militants out of strongholds they had established across different districts. Many fighters fled into forests where they continued to be pursued and neutralized by the security forces.
Following the restoration of security, thousands of displaced residents returned to their homes, while key infrastructure, including electricity services, resumed operations.
In August 2025, the governments of Rwanda and Mozambique renewed cooperation agreements on investment and counterterrorism.
In February 2026, the Government of Rwanda also sent Mozambique 20 tonnes of food and medical supplies to support communities affected by floods.
According to a statement released by Rwanda’s Office of the Presidency, discussions between Presidents Kagame and Tinubu also focused on strengthening the fruitful partnership between Rwanda and Nigeria across key sectors including trade, energy and defense cooperation. President Kagame also hosted President Tinubu and his delegation for a working lunch.
Meanwhile, discussions with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani revolved around key areas of bilateral cooperation, the security situation across the continent, and global issues of mutual interest.
The 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 is taking place in Kigali from May 14 to 15 at Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together some of the continent’s most influential business and political leaders.
Held under the theme “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” the forum is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants from over 75 countries, including CEOs, investors, heads of state, ministers and development finance institutions.
President Paul Kagame welcomed President Daniel Chapo to Kigali ahead of the Africa CEO Forum 2026President Paul Kagame also hosted President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani for discussions on regional security and bilateral tiesPresident Paul Kagame and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and defense
