Nduhungirehe holds major engagements at UN General Assembly sidelines

Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has held a series of bilateral meetings and high-level engagements on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, including talks with officials from Togo, the United States and Denmark. ALSO READ: PM Nsengiyumva to represent Kagame at UN General Assembly Nduhungirehe is part of the Rwandan delegation led by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, who is representing President Paul Kagame at UNGA81. The General Debate opened on Tuesday, September 22, and will run through September 26 before resuming on September 28. Among his major engagements was a bilateral meeting with Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Prof. Robert Dussey. The two ministers signed three agreements aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between Rwanda and Togo. They included a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations, a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a joint commission for cooperation, and a framework agreement for cooperation. Nduhungirehe also held talks with US Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, with discussions including Rwanda’s implementation of the Washington Accords and efforts to expand cooperation on small modular reactors (SMRs). ALSO READ: What to know ahead of UN General Assembly The Washington Peace Agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo was signed in Washington on June 27, 2025. The agreement provides for the neutralisation of the Kinshasa-backed FDLR genocidal militia and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures against the threat posed by the militia. The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity were later signed on December 4, 2025, incorporating the June peace agreement and a regional economic integration framework. Following the meeting, Wilson said he was grateful to meet Nduhungirehe to “appreciate Rwanda’s full implementation of the Washington Accords and their efforts to expand SMR collaboration.” Nduhungirehe thanked Wilson for what he observed as a productive discussion and his support. “Rwanda is committed to achieving sustainable peace in the region and to strengthening our partnership with the United States,” he said. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also previously recognised Rwanda’s implementation of its commitments during a US House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on June 4, saying there had been compliance on the Rwandan side, although not at the pace or speed Washington wanted. Beyond the meeting with Wilson, Nduhungirehe held bilateral talks with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Melissa Parke, the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The engagements come as Rwanda participates in UNGA81 under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” Prime Minister Nsengiyumva is expected to deliver Rwanda’s national statement on Wednesday, September 23, outlining the country’s perspectives and priorities on key global and regional issues. Nduhungirehe also took part in a high-level session on advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda in peace efforts for the Great Lakes region. During the session, he talked about the essential role of women and the importance of their meaningful participation in peacebuilding and decision-making processes.

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Nduhungirehe holds major engagements at UN General Assembly sidelines