Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, joined African and European counterparts in Brussels for the 3rd AU–EU Ministerial Meeting—an occasion intended to celebrate 25 years of intercontinental partnership.
Yet, beneath the formalities, the visit unfolded amid a tense diplomatic backdrop between Kigali and parts of Europe, including long-standing friction with Belgium.
The symbolism of Brussels—capital of Rwanda’s former colonial ruler and one of its most vocal critics in recent months—was not lost.
Rather than retreat, Rwanda opted for strategic engagement, signaling that it will defend its sovereignty even in the face of diplomatic headwinds.
At the core of the summit were talks about recalibrating the AU–EU relationship. On the sidelines, Minister Nduhungirehe held a series of bilateral meetings focused on practical cooperation.
A notable session with EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela centered on economic development in the Great Lakes region.
“I had a very productive meeting with Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda,” said Commissioner Síkela.
“We talked about the assistance the EU could provide to support economic integration in the Great Lakes region. It would serve regional security and prosperity by supporting sustainable jobs and investment.”
He added: “Regional cooperation is the DNA and the expertise of the EU, and we are eager to share this experience with all willing partners.”
Minister Nduhungirehe also met with Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, where the two exchanged views on cooperation and the peace and security situation in the Great Lakes.
Separate discussions with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg focused on expanding Rwanda–Malta relations, while talks with Egypt’s Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Slovakia’s Juraj Blanár reaffirmed Rwanda’s broader bilateral agenda across health, trade, and diplomacy.
The meetings came at a time when Rwanda continues to face sharp criticism from some European actors regarding its regional role—criticism Kigali views as one-sided and rooted in outdated political postures.
“The significance of meetings like this doesn’t lie in the communiqués or handshakes,” said one regional observer.
“It comes down to how each country conducts itself at the table—whether they engage as equals or fall back into the paternalism of the past. That’s what Africa, and Rwanda especially, is pushing back against.”
As African states like Rwanda assert a greater role on the global stage, the AU–EU partnership is being tested.
The tone is shifting—from donor-driven diplomacy to interest-based negotiation. Whether the 25th anniversary signals a true evolution in the relationship will depend on what happens after Brussels: not what’s promised, but what’s practiced.
