Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has called on African leaders to confront the structural drivers of instability across the continent, warning that sustainable peace will remain elusive unless conflicts are addressed at their root.
Speaking on February 14, 2026, during a session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), where the 2025 Peace and Security Report was presented, Nsengiyumva said insecurity continues to weigh heavily on several regions of Africa.
He reaffirmed Rwanda’s support for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan to allow humanitarian access and pave the way for an inclusive political process.
“Africa has demonstrated growing resolve to solve its own problems,” Nsengiyumva said, noting that despite ongoing conflicts, there is increasing commitment to dialogue, mediation and collective continental action.
However, he stressed that durable peace will only be achieved by confronting underlying challenges such as poor governance, economic inequality, marginalization and the exclusion of vulnerable communities.
The Prime Minister reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to peace support operations in Mozambique and the Central African Republic, underscoring Kigali’s continued contribution to regional stability.
On the security situation in the Great Lakes region, Nsengiyumva emphasized Rwanda’s dedication to peace at global, continental and regional levels. He welcomed the role played by Qatar and the United States in facilitating the Washington peace agreement and subsequent understandings reached in Doha.
He cautioned that successful implementation of those agreements requires genuine commitment from all parties involved, adding that the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to fall short in honoring certain provisions.
Nsengiyumva commended AU-led mediation efforts, highlighting the bloc’s central role in supporting the implementation of the Washington agreement and Doha outcomes. However, he insisted that countries directly involved in the conflict in eastern DRC should not participate in mediation processes.
“Neutrality is essential for credibility and for achieving lasting peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the African Union, succeeding Angola, at a time of heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict in eastern DRC.
