The European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region Johan Borgstam began a four-day working visit to Rwanda on Thursday, as regional and international efforts to end instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue.
Borgstam was received in Kigali by Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and Defense Minister Juvenal Marizamunda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement. The visit is expected to focus on strengthening peace and security cooperation between Rwanda and the EU, and reviewing progress in regional peace initiatives.
Talks centered on efforts to restore stability in the Great Lakes Region, including ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis in eastern DRC. Rwanda has long raised concerns about security threats from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group operating in the DRC that Kigali accuses of launching cross-border attacks and promoting genocidal ideology.
Borgstam’s visit comes eight months after his last trip to Kigali in February, when he met with Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe, State Minister for Regional Cooperation. During that meeting, Rwanda warned that biased international narratives and misinformation from Kinshasa were undermining genuine peace efforts.
Rwanda has consistently urged the EU to adopt a balanced stance and support comprehensive solutions addressing the root causes of insecurity in the region. The government maintains that the principle of national sovereignty must apply equally to all nations, including Rwanda.
The EU, along with the United States, the African Union, and Qatar, is backing ongoing peace initiatives between Rwanda, the DRC, and the M23 rebel group. These efforts are part of a broader push to stabilize the Great Lakes Region, where decades of conflict have displaced millions and strained regional relations.
Officials said Borgstam’s current visit reflects a renewed commitment to dialogue and diplomacy. Rwanda hopes that enhanced engagement with the EU will lead to sustained international cooperation and tangible progress toward lasting peace.
