President Paul Kagame, on an official visit to Qatar, met Friday with the country’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where he conveyed Rwanda’s solidarity with the Gulf nation in the wake of the deadly September 9 Israeli strike in Doha.
Kagame expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones and assured Sheikh Tamim that both he personally and the Rwandan people stand firmly with Qatar during this difficult moment.
He also hailed Qatar’s growing role in international mediation, both in the Middle East and in Africa’s Great Lakes region.
The visit came just a day after the Government of Rwanda issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s actions, describing the strike as a dangerous violation of international norms and a grave threat to global stability.
In a communique released by the Office of the Government Spokesperson on September 11, Rwanda extended condolences to Qatar for the death of its personnel, terming the attack a wanton disregard for foundational principles of interstate relations.
The government warned that such escalation risks plunging the world into a “no-rules-based order,” fueling global chaos and uncertainty.
Rwanda also criticized what it called the hypocrisy and complacency of the international community—particularly powerful states—for enabling unchecked violence in the region.
At the same time, Kigali praised Qatar’s consistent mediating role in some of the most complex conflicts across the Middle East and Africa, urging the world to support and recognize Doha’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, accusing Qatar of harboring and financing Hamas. “Countries that host terrorists must expel them or bring them to justice—or we will,” he warned.
Qatar’s Prime Minister fired back, denouncing the attack as state terror and accusing Israel of destroying any chance of releasing hostages.
He said the strike killed any hope for freeing the remaining captives in Gaza and severely damaged fragile ceasefire and mediation efforts.
President Kagame’s visit and message of solidarity placed Rwanda firmly alongside Qatar at a moment of heightened regional tension, while reinforcing Kigali’s call for diplomacy and pragmatic solutions over force.
