Upon his arrival in Kigali, President Gnassingbé was received at Kigali International Airport in Kanombe by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, with whom he held initial discussions.

President Gnassingbé last visited Rwanda in April 2025, when he met with President Paul Kagame as part of his mediation mandate entrusted to him by the African Union (AU). The role involves facilitating dialogue between Rwanda and the DRC to help resolve ongoing tensions between the two countries.

On April 12, 2025, the AU General Assembly officially appointed President Gnassingbé as mediator, following the withdrawal of Angolan President João Lourenço from the role. President Lourenço stepped aside to focus on broader continental responsibilities rather than regional mediation efforts.

Prior to his appointment, President Lourenço had submitted President Gnassingbé’s name to AU leadership as a suitable candidate to take over the mediation process.

President Gnassingbé’s return to Rwanda also follows another visit he made in January 2025, during which he spent two days in Kigali holding talks with President Kagame. During that visit, the two leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Togo.

This latest visit is part of continued diplomatic engagements aimed at promoting dialogue, regional stability, and cooperation within the Great Lakes Region.