President Paul Kagame has called for patience and sustained dialogue in addressing ongoing security challenges in the region, stressing that such complex issues cannot be resolved in a short time.
He made the remarks during a leaders’ roundtable discussion at the World Policy Conference 2026, where he responded to questions on the role of international actors, including the United States and Qatar, in efforts to address regional tensions.
Kagame noted that while progress has been made in some areas, lasting solutions require deeper engagement focused on the root causes of conflict rather than short-term political fixes.
“Problems are not solved overnight, and tragedies do not disappear in a short time. What is important is to look at the root causes of all issues, and then give dialogue the space it needs so that people can arrive at solutions that benefit everyone,” he said.
He warned that in some cases, discussions on conflict resolution fail to address the real issues affecting populations, instead reflecting the interests of powerful states, which he said limits the chances of achieving sustainable peace.
The President added that ongoing efforts are still in progress but emphasized that many of the current crises were predictable, given long-standing unresolved tensions.
“What we see today are things many had already foreseen could happen as time went on,” he said.
On global governance, Kagame said the international system still faces imbalances that need correction to ensure fairness and stability.
He pointed to disparities between developed countries in the Global North and developing nations in the Global South, noting that global decisions are often shaped by the interests of more powerful states.
“There are times when powerful countries make decisions based on their own interests, and when those interests are threatened, they act without much consideration. But when smaller or developing countries try to protect their own interests, they are often blamed or punished,” he said.
He also questioned the basis on which global judgments are made, asking who defines what is right or wrong in international relations.
Kagame stressed that Africa has often been affected by these global imbalances, calling for solutions to regional and continental challenges that reflect local realities and prioritize the welfare of citizens.
He reiterated that conflicts such as those between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as other global disputes, require time, political will, and sustained dialogue to achieve durable peace.
