South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has announced that Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola will host Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, for talks aimed at restoring and strengthening relations between the two countries.
South Africa’s foreign ministry said the discussions form part of ongoing efforts to rebuild and enhance ties between Pretoria and Kigali.
In a statement, the ministry said:
“This meeting is one of several initiatives aimed at rebuilding and strengthening relations between South Africa and Rwanda. Discussions will focus on enhancing diplomatic engagement and promoting cooperation in areas including trade, tourism, health, education, and security.”
Following the talks, Minister Lamola is expected to brief the media on the outcomes of the meeting and outline the measures agreed upon to further improve bilateral relations.
The meeting comes at a time when relations between Rwanda and South Africa have remained strained for several years. Rwanda has repeatedly accused South Africa of harboring individuals involved in activities aimed at destabilizing Rwanda’s security.
In recent years, tensions have also been fueled by the role played by South African troops in the long-running conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). South African forces were part of the regional coalition supporting Congolese government forces against the AFC/M23 rebel movement.
Rwanda has consistently warned South Africa against involvement in what it described as a conflict linked to plans threatening Rwanda’s security. Kigali argued that these concerns became more evident when AFC/M23 captured the city of Goma, where large quantities of weapons allegedly intended for such operations were discovered.
In January 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that:
“The fighting was initiated by the M23 armed group and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) rebels, who were battling the Congolese army, FARDC. They also launched attacks against SADC peacekeeping forces deployed in the DRC under the SAMIDRC mission.”
President Paul Kagame later rejected those remarks, responding that:
“The RDF is a national army, not a rebel group. SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, nor does it have any mandate to be involved in these matters.”
After suffering setbacks during the fighting in Goma, South African troops and other forces deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission requested safe passage through Rwanda, which was subsequently granted to facilitate their withdrawal home.
These developments have contributed to the continued deterioration of relations between Rwanda and South Africa, with Rwandan citizens currently facing difficulties obtaining visas to travel to South Africa.
In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly acknowledged that relations between the two countries had encountered challenges. Speaking during the Africa CEO Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, where he met President Kagame, Ramaphosa noted that despite existing differences, they did not prevent him from greeting the Rwandan leader.
He said:
“People may think that President Kagame and I are in conflict, and some of you may even imagine that sparks could fly if we were seated next to each other.”
The upcoming meeting between the two foreign ministers is therefore being viewed as an important step toward easing tensions and opening a new chapter in Rwanda–South Africa relations.
Courtesy of IGIHE
