European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Ambassador Johan Borgstam, arrived in Rwanda on Thursday, October 23, for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic engagement and supporting ongoing regional peace efforts.
Ambassador Borgstam, who assumed his role in July 2024, met with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, shortly after his arrival.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, their discussions “focused on recent developments in the region, including progress in the ongoing peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”
This visit underscores the EU’s continued commitment to regional stability, particularly as the Great Lakes region faces renewed tensions linked to the conflict in eastern DRC.
Borgstam’s trip marks his second official visit to Rwanda since his appointment. His first visit, in October 2024, included an audience with President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro following meetings with Congolese officials in Kinshasa. Discussions at the time centered on regional security and efforts to foster peace and cooperation among neighboring states.
The European Union has maintained a longstanding partnership with Rwanda, with recent cooperation focusing on economic resilience, governance, and development initiatives. Earlier this year, Rwanda received a €95 million boost from the EU to support vaccine production and promote economic inclusion.
Borgstam’s current mission is expected to include high-level consultations with Rwandan authorities and regional stakeholders to assess progress in peacebuilding and to explore how the EU can further contribute to stability and development in the Great Lakes region.
His visit comes at a critical moment, as diplomatic efforts intensify to restore trust and foster dialogue between countries in the region, amid calls for renewed cooperation and collective security mechanisms.
