Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva arrived in Bangui, Central African Republic, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was re-elected to continue leading the country following elections held at the end of 2025.
A statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister indicated that Dr. Nsengiyumva “is representing President Kagame at the swearing-in ceremony of the elected President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra.”
Faustin-Archange Touadéra was re-elected to lead the country in elections held in December 2025, securing 76.15% of the vote.
His 2026–2032 program prioritizes building lasting peace in the country, implementing political reforms, and attracting investment to boost economic growth and improve the welfare of citizens.
Rwanda and the Central African Republic maintain strong bilateral relations in various sectors, particularly in security, mining, and others.
In terms of security, the relationship between the two countries is especially notable. Since 2014, Rwanda’s Defence Forces and Police have participated in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA.
In 2020, the two countries also signed a cooperation agreement under which Rwanda deployed around 1,200 troops to help repel rebels led by François Bozizé, who were advancing toward the capital, Bangui.
In addition to protecting the Head of State and securing the capital, Bangui, Rwandan forces are also tasked with building the capacity of the Central African Armed Forces to enable them to maintain security after the mission ends.
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has trained over 2,400 newly recruited soldiers as well as 300 non-commissioned officers from the Central African Republic.
The first group trained by RDF, consisting of 512 soldiers, was integrated into FACA in November 2023. The second group of 634 soldiers joined in August 2024, the third group of 438 in March 2025, and the fourth group of 545 in November 2025.
Rwandan soldiers and police in CAR carry out duties including protecting civilians and their property, safeguarding top government officials including President Touadéra, securing UN personnel and assets, and protecting key infrastructure such as M’Poko International Airport.
To date, around 1,200 Rwandan special forces troops are deployed in CAR under bilateral agreements separate from the UN mission.
Their responsibilities include restoring peace and security, fully securing the city of Bangui and its surroundings, and ensuring that civilian activities continue in a stable environment.
They are also tasked with protecting President Touadéra’s residence located in Damara, in the Ombella-M’Poko Prefecture.
