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The meeting marked the end of Ambassador Kneedler’s tenure in Kigali, during which he engaged with Rwandan leadership on bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the United States.

Earlier in the day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also bid farewell to Ambassador Kneedler.

Ambassador Kneedler formally assumed his role as U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda on October 18, 2023, after presenting his letters of credence to President Kagame at Urugwiro Village. He succeeded Peter H. Vrooman. His appointment followed his nomination by U.S. President Joe Biden on August 3, 2022, confirmation by the U.S. Senate on July 27, 2023, and swearing-in later in August 2023.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Kneedler previously served as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing extensive diplomatic experience to his role in Rwanda.

His departure comes amid a broader diplomatic reshuffle in which the United States has recalled nearly 30 ambassadors from dozens of countries. The changes have largely affected Africa, where envoys from 15 countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and others, have been recalled. Additional recalls have also affected countries in Asia, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere.

Rwanda and the United States continue to maintain diplomatic relations spanning health, development, security and economic cooperation, with both sides reaffirming engagement through ongoing bilateral frameworks.

In an interview with Jeune Afrique journalist François Soudan, Ambassador Nduhungirehe directly addressed the persistent difficulties in improving ties with Burundi.

“After the fall of Uvira, meetings between Burundian and Rwandan security officials were held at the border on December 14 and 28, 2025, to establish modalities for de-escalation,” he said. “Rwanda’s objective is, and has always been, to pursue improved relations with Burundi. Unfortunately, statements by President Ndayishimiye and his Minister of Foreign Affairs have not made this task any easier.”

Tensions between Rwanda and Burundi escalated in early December 2025 when AFC/M23 rebels captured parts of the Ruzizi Plain and the town of Uvira in eastern DRC, near the Burundian border.

Burundi quickly accused Rwanda of backing the rebels and of shelling its territory, claims Kigali firmly rejected as baseless.

Amid fears of a broader regional conflict involving Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, security officials from both countries met twice in December to prevent further escalation.

Relations have remained strained since late 2023, yet Rwanda has consistently signalled openness to dialogue. Bilateral delegations have met multiple times and agreed to avoid actions that could worsen the situation.

However, President Ndayishimiye has continued to make strongly worded public statements against Rwanda in addresses to citizens, official meetings, and media appearances.

In a March 2025 BBC interview, he warned that any Rwandan attempt to attack Burundi would be met with a counterstrike on Kigali, stating: “We tell them that if they want to attack Bujumbura through Congo, Kigali is not far either if we pass through Kirundo.”

In August 2025, President Ndayishimiye appointed Dr Édouard Bizimana as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Albert Shingiro. The new minister, a former ambassador to Russia, has drawn criticism for adopting a confrontational tone widely viewed as undiplomatic.

Since early December 2025, Minister Bizimana has repeatedly used the social media platform X to criticise Rwanda, even while bilateral talks were underway.

On January 3, 2026, he posted accusations that Rwanda was violating Washington agreements by continuing to seize territory in eastern DRC, claimed Kigali had tested U.S. resolve without repercussions, and questioned Qatar’s mediation role, alleging the Gulf state was using financial influence to block American action.

The post provoked widespread backlash, especially for targeting an international mediator. It was later deleted following intense criticism. President Ndayishimiye subsequently distanced himself from the remarks, publicly praising Qatar’s contributions to mediation and development.

The delay is linked to pending financing agreements that must be signed between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) and the World Bank.

Construction to expand and modernise Nyabugogo Bus Terminal was initially scheduled to start in mid-2025 and conclude by 2027. However, the project has yet to commence.

During a visit to the City of Kigali, Members of Parliament from the Budget and State Patrimony Committee questioned city officials about delays affecting several development projects, including the new Nyabugogo terminal.

According to Kigali City’s six-month report for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, more than three procurement processes linked to the Nyabugogo project faced setbacks.

These delays are tied to the unsigned agreements between MINECOFIN and the World Bank, which is expected to finance the project.

Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure, Fulgence Dusabimana, explained that the delay is primarily due to these pending agreements.

“The feasibility study is complete, which should have enabled us to access funds for the project. We have requested MINECOFIN’s support to resolve the remaining issues. From the discussions so far, it seems the delay is not a refusal to sign but matters that still need alignment at their level to proceed smoothly,” he said.

If all goes according to plan, the financing agreements are expected to be signed by January 2026. The procurement process to select contractors could take at least ten months, potentially identifying a winning bidder by October 2026. Construction is then expected to begin in 2027.

Kigali City further explained that detailed architectural and engineering designs, along with construction works by the selected contractor, would start in January 2027. The construction phase is expected to last two years, with completion anticipated by 2029.

Nyabugogo Bus Terminal is the busiest transport hub in Rwanda, connecting passengers from all provinces and linking Kigali to major regional cities including Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Bujumbura.

City authorities note that the current terminal is constrained by limited space, leading to frequent congestion of vehicles and passengers. The master plan envisions upgrading Nyabugogo to international standards, providing passengers with a modern and comfortable experience similar to Kigali International Airport.

Plans to modernise the terminal were first announced in November 2017, with construction initially expected in 2018, but delays have persisted. The project was initially set to be implemented by the public transport company RFTC at a cost of Rwf 45 billion, but the City later announced that the World Bank would fund it.

Nyabugogo Bus Terminal, opened in 1998, has since served as Kigali’s main hub for domestic and international bus routes. The upgrade is estimated to cost between USD 100 million and USD 150 million and will include parking areas, passenger waiting lounges, offices, commercial spaces, ticketing areas, information desks, security offices, rest areas, and other modern amenities.

The decision was announced by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, during an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique.

The deadline for submitting candidacies closes at the end of April. Mushikiwabo’s current term is due to expire later this year.

If re-elected, Mushikiwabo, who has steered the international Francophone network advancing language, culture, and cooperation since 2019, would join former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to have served three terms.

According to Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s decision to put forward Mushikiwabo for a third term follows consultations with her and reflects what Kigali sees as a strong and widely recognised record of leadership.

“At the last OIF ministerial conference, held in November in Kigali, several member states expressed their wish to see Louise Mushikiwabo run for a third term,” Nduhungirehe said. “This recognition represents a strong political signal, which Rwanda has taken into account.”

“Since 2019, under her leadership, the OIF has embarked on a deep, structured, and coherent transformation that has strengthened its political credibility, institutional clarity, and operational effectiveness. We are therefore fully confident in the success of this proposal,” he added.

Rwanda hosted the 46th Conference of Ministers of La Francophonie (CMF) for the first time in November 2025, bringing together more than 400 delegates from 65 member states and governments.

Held under the theme “Thirty Years After Beijing: The Role of Women in the Francophone World,” the meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women and underscored the OIF’s renewed focus on gender equality and women’s leadership.

Since taking office, Mushikiwabo has overseen a deep institutional transformation of the OIF, aimed at strengthening its political credibility, institutional clarity and operational effectiveness.

Reviewing progress since the 2024 CMF in Paris during the summit, Mushikiwabo highlighted the organisation’s electoral assistance missions and high-impact campaigns against disinformation in countries including Lebanon, Moldova and the Central African Republic.

Under her leadership, the OIF has also stepped up efforts to support Francophone candidates seeking leadership roles in major international institutions such as the African Union, the African Development Bank and UNESCO.

Programmatic initiatives have included a mobility scheme for French-language teachers, which recently brought a third cohort of 50 educators from 15 countries to Kigali to exchange expertise with Rwandan counterparts. Similar deployments have taken place in Ghana and Seychelles, with Cambodia next on the list.

Mushikiwabo also emphasised the growing role of the Francophonie économique, citing successful economic missions, including one to Benin that resulted in several commercial contracts, one valued at €30 million.

On gender issues, she called for increased support to the “Francophonie With Women” fund and invited member states to join a new initiative aimed at training and integrating girls and women into emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Rwanda’s announcement comes against a backdrop of regional tensions in the Great Lakes area, a subject also addressed by Nduhungirehe in his Jeune Afrique interview.

He defended the Washington and Doha agreements aimed at resolving the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arguing that they provide an adequate framework for lasting peace if implemented in good faith. He also rejected the need for additional mediation efforts, following recent diplomatic initiatives led by Angola.

Asked whether strained relations between Rwanda, the DRC and Burundi could affect Mushikiwabo’s candidacy, Nduhungirehe pointed to the right of every OIF member state to support or nominate a candidate of its choice.

“The principles of the OIF are clear: every member state has the right to present a candidate for the post of Secretary General, and Rwanda is not opposed to an open, healthy and respectful competition,” he said.

He added that Rwanda’s position rests on Mushikiwabo’s “documented and measurable” record, which he noted had been unanimously praised at the OIF summits in Djerba and Villers-Cotterêts.

In recent days, the DRC government has expressed interest in launching new peace talks in Kinshasa, bringing together Congolese from different groups, with Angola serving as mediator.

To facilitate this, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has visited Angola three times since December 14, 2025, meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss how the process will proceed.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya explained that the planned Kinshasa talks will differ from previous meetings held in Washington, D.C., in the United States, and in Doha, Qatar.

“In Washington, the talks involved us and Rwanda, the father. In Doha, the talks involved us and M23, the son,” he claimed in an allegation that Rwanda has repeatedly refuted.

Sources indicate that representatives of AFC/M23 are expected to participate in the new Kinshasa talks, raising questions about whether the Doha talks will lose relevance.

The DRC government has called for the new talks while continuing to ignore the Doha process. In December 2025, Qatar invited the DRC to two meetings aimed at monitoring compliance with the ceasefire, but the government declined to attend.

On January 11, 2026, Minister Nduhungirehe responded to Muyaya’s comments, saying the DRC government itself is the “father,” while the FDLR terrorist group is the “son.” He described the new talks as a tactic to gain additional leverage, a strategy known as “forum shopping.”

Nduhungirehe emphasised that lasting peace in the DRC depends on genuine political will and that political talks complementing those held in Doha and Washington would be welcomed.

“When the father (Congolese government), the son (FDLR genocidaires), and the evil spirit (genocide ideology) attempt yet another ‘forum shopping’ in three years, as a delaying manoeuvre, we simply recall that salvation will first come from Kinshasa’s political will to apply the current peace processes in good faith,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated, adding “Any national political dialogue, which would be complementary to these processes, would then be welcome.”

The AFC/M23 coalition has asked the Angolan president for clarification regarding the new talks, seeking to know whether Qatar will participate, what role it will play, and whether the decisions made during the Doha talks will be honoured.