President Paul Kagame said Rwanda is ready to fully implement a peace agreement signed with the Democratic Republic of the Congo while warning that any threat to the security of Rwandans and their neighbors will not be tolerated.
In his end-of-year address to the nation late on December 31, Kagame reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to the Washington-brokered agreement aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. He thanked the United States and Qatar, working alongside African institutions, for facilitating the deal.
“Anything that threatens the security and peace of Rwandans will not be tolerated,” Kagame said, adding that the continued violence by extremist groups in eastern Congo, which he said are backed by a government there, remains a serious concern.
The agreement, signed Dec. 4, 2025, supports peace and economic cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC. Kagame and Congolese President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo signed the deal during a ceremony attended by regional leaders and watched by millions through various media platforms.
Kagame said Rwanda is prepared to honor its commitments under the agreement to help end decades of instability in eastern Congo, while stressing that peace will require sustained cooperation and resolve from all parties involved.
He praised U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration for what he described as a new and effective mediation approach, saying previous efforts over more than three decades had failed to deliver lasting results.
“President Trump introduced a new and productive approach that created real opportunities,” Kagame said. “It is impartial and focused on the future, not the past, and recognizes that peace brings prosperity and investment.”
He also commended U.S. Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio and Trump’s special adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, for their role in the negotiations, saying their efforts helped create a clear and realistic path toward lasting stability.
Kagame cautioned that responsibility for the agreement’s success rests primarily with the countries involved. “If this agreement fails, that responsibility will not lie with President Trump but with us,” he said.
Turning to domestic issues, Kagame said Rwanda closed 2025 having made “visible progress” despite economic and security challenges. He thanked citizens for their trust and cooperation and said the country’s economy continued to grow.
“Our task now is to safeguard that progress and make good use of the resources we have,” he said, emphasizing that Rwanda’s greatest asset is its youth.
“The most valuable investment we have as a nation is our capable young people,” Kagame said, urging them to protect what has been built and to continue driving development, even when it requires sacrifice.
He said challenges faced during the year had been turned into opportunities, strengthening the country, and urged Rwandans not to forget their history as they build the future.
Kagame highlighted Rwanda’s growing international profile in 2025, noting that the country hosted major global conferences, including an international security forum, and launched the African School of Governance.
“These milestones show that Rwandans and Africans have the ability to define who we are and where we are going,” he said.
He also cited sports as a unifying force, pointing to Rwanda’s hosting of an international cycling race in Kigali and expressing optimism about football development with support from FIFA. Rwanda is set to host the FIFA Series next year.
As he concluded his address, Kagame and his family extended New Year’s wishes to Rwandans, calling for vigilance, unity and confidence in 2026 as the country pursues peace at home and in the region.
