Rwanda’s diplomatic engagements in 2026 have targeted on rebuilding strategic partnerships, strengthening regional financial integration and advancing what the federal government describes as an interest-driven overseas coverage, based on overseas minister Olivier Nduhungirehe.
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Talking on The New Occasions’ The Context podcast, Nduhungirehe stated Rwanda’s current engagements with international locations together with South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana had been geared toward creating sensible advantages for Rwandans by way of commerce, funding, mobility and regional stability.
“The primary half of this yr, 2026, was certainly very busy with intensive diplomatic engagement in any respect ranges,” Nduhungirehe stated.
“Rwanda has continued its pragmatic overseas coverage, which is interest-driven and advancing our nationwide improvement priorities, however whereas additionally on the identical time contributing to peace, integration, and financial progress.”
He stated Rwanda’s overseas coverage below President Paul Kagame is concentrated on delivering tangible outcomes fairly than diplomacy for its personal sake.
“It's not simply diplomacy for its personal sake. It's diplomacy that creates alternatives, that creates financial progress for Rwandan folks,” he stated.
Rebuilding belief with South Africa
Nduhungirehe stated Rwanda and South Africa have moved in the direction of rebuilding relations after a tough interval. He stated the 2 international locations remained engaged regardless of tensions, resulting in renewed discussions on the highest ranges and the restoration of cooperation mechanisms.
“There have been tensions between the 2 international locations early final yr within the context of the battle in japanese DRC. However we remained engaged on the highest stage,” he stated.
The minister stated his June go to to Pretoria, the place he met his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, helped restore confidence and opened a path in the direction of deeper cooperation.
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One of many main outcomes was an settlement to renew visa issuance for abnormal Rwandan passport holders after a suspension that had lasted greater than a decade.
Nduhungirehe defined that the delay in restoring visas was primarily linked to South Africa’s ongoing transition to a digital visa system.
“The time that was set was inside 12 months, however it's for technical points as a result of South Africa is overhauling its visa system, shifting to digital visa,” he stated.
“However the 12 months is the utmost.”
He stated Rwanda and South Africa had been working to make sure the method is accomplished sooner.
Past the visa challenge, Nduhungirehe stated the discussions had been geared toward rebuilding a broader partnership between the 2 international locations, which have traditionally maintained shut ties.
He recalled that South Africa was among the many international locations that supported Rwanda’s restoration after the 1994 Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi, together with by way of funding and cooperation in several sectors.
“South Africa and Rwanda have a standard historical past and good bilateral relation since 1994,” he stated.
The minister stated each international locations share pursuits in selling African integration and regional stability.
“We now have one thing in widespread with South Africa, is that we consider, initially, in African integration and the regional stability,” he stated.
In line with Nduhungirehe, the 2 international locations agreed to strengthen business-to-business engagement to reap the benefits of alternatives created by the African Continental Free Commerce Space.
“We’re each main international locations on the continent in several sectors, like tourism, like MICE, assembly incentives, conferences and occasions, and in addition commerce and funding,” he stated.
Securing provide chains with Tanzania
Nduhungirehe described Tanzania as a strategic accomplice for Rwanda, notably due to its position in connecting Rwanda to worldwide markets.
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He stated President Paul Kagame’s engagements with Tanzanian leaders targeted on strengthening financial cooperation and securing regional provide chains.
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“Tanzania is a strategic accomplice for Rwanda, and round 80 p.c of our maritime cargo goes by way of the port of Dar es Salaam,” he stated.
The minister stated discussions with Tanzania got here at a time when world geopolitical tensions have affected commerce routes and vitality markets, making dependable regional connections more and more essential.
“The target of the go to was to debate on the way to safe the regional provide chain, particularly within the Central Hall, at a time, as you already know, the place geopolitical tensions disrupt commerce and vitality markets,” he stated.
Nduhungirehe stated Rwanda and Tanzania additionally share a dedication to advancing East African integration.
He stated talks targeted on decreasing obstacles to commerce and enhancing infrastructure hyperlinks between EAC member states.
“We additionally mentioned with Tanzania about our shared aim of selling regional integration inside the East African Neighborhood,” he stated.
The minister stated Rwanda’s wider regional agenda consists of enhancing the motion of individuals and companies, noting that visa preparations with international locations resembling Botswana and Nigeria show the significance of simpler mobility.
“The Rwandan passport can entry 70 international locations with visa-free and visa-on-arrival preparations, which is one thing that’s good for people-to-people change, but additionally for our enterprise,” he stated.
Burundi a problem
On Burundi, Nduhungirehe stated Kigali stays involved about Bujumbura’s involvement in japanese DR Congo, arguing that its actions have difficult efforts to resolve the battle.
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“Clearly, Burundi is just not a part of the answer. It's a part of the issue,” he stated.
He accused Burundi of deploying forces to japanese DR Congo and dealing alongside the Congolese military and armed teams, together with the Kinshasa-backed FDLR genocidal militia.
The minister stated Rwanda has raised considerations about Burundi’s position with regional mediators.
He stated earlier makes an attempt to interact Burundi by way of safety and intelligence channels had not produced lasting progress. Nduhungirehe stated Rwanda and Burundi held discussions in March geared toward decreasing tensions, however these engagements had been affected by subsequent public statements from Burundian officers.
He rejected current claims that Rwanda had made new commitments relating to folks accused of involvement in Burundi’s 2015 tried coup.
“We had been shocked by that, as a result of there was no engagement this yr with Burundi,” he stated.
He stated the matter was final mentioned in 2023 however didn’t lead to an settlement.
“That was three years in the past, 2023. And we didn’t conclude. We didn’t have a constructive conclusion,” he stated.
