Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame hosted a diplomatic dinner at the Kigali Convention Centre to welcome 20 newly accredited ambassadors and high commissioners, following their presentation of credentials earlier in the day. The diplomats represent countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, including Spain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Tunisia, Switzerland, Colombia, and more, reflecting Rwanda’s growing international engagement. In his address, Kagame highlighted the central role of national security, framing it as a non-negotiable duty for any nation. “On

Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame hosted a diplomatic dinner at the Kigali Convention Centre to welcome 20 newly accredited ambassadors and high commissioners, following their presentation of credentials earlier in the day.

The diplomats represent countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, including Spain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Tunisia, Switzerland, Colombia, and more, reflecting Rwanda’s growing international engagement.

In his address, Kagame highlighted the central role of national security, framing it as a non-negotiable duty for any nation.

“One thing that has not changed, however, is the right and duty of every nation, to ensure the safety of its borders and its people,” he said.
“Rwanda is no exception. And yet, for reasons that continue to elude us, Rwanda is consistently asked to ignore threats to its security and compromise its national defence.”

Kagame cited the continued presence of the FDLR (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda) and its extremist ideology as the main threat, noting that the group has backers “in the region and beyond, under all kinds of guises.”

“Rwanda, because of its history and its geography, requires defensive borders. Our defensive measures are aimed at this objective, and nothing else,” he said.
“Any condemnation that comes is a badge of honor for our security forces. That honor is not something that can easily be washed away by rain or shine or whatever. It is part of us. It will remain so in good and bad times.”

While stressing security, Kagame also made clear Rwanda’s aspiration for lasting peace.

“But make no mistake,” he said, “Rwanda wants peace, but we want a genuine and lasting peace on which we can build our future prosperity.”

The dinner offered an opportunity for the diplomats to engage informally with Rwanda’s leadership and strengthened ties with countries represented in Kigali. Observers say Kagame’s remarks underline the delicate balance Rwanda maintains between diplomacy and defending its national security amid ongoing regional instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

A little more informed. A little more connected.