He made the remarks on February 14, 2026, during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where leaders reviewed the continent’s 2025 peace and security report.

In his address, the Prime Minister noted that sustainable peace in Africa requires tackling root causes of instability, including governance challenges, economic inequality, and social exclusion. He highlighted Rwanda’s continued contribution to peacekeeping missions in countries such as Mozambique and the Central African Republic.

Regarding regional peace initiatives on the DR Congo crisis, he stressed that all parties must respect previously agreed commitments from international negotiations, while expressing concern that the Congolese government has not fully complied with them.

He added that although the African Union plays a key role in supporting peace processes, any country actively engaged in the conflict should refrain from acting as mediator, as impartiality is vital for trust and effective negotiations.

Currently, Burundi is reported to have troops operating in eastern DR Congo alongside Congolese forces, the armed group FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and mercenaries fighting against M23 and MRDP Twirwaneho, amid ongoing reports of attacks affecting civilians.

Observers suggest the African Union could further strengthen mediation efforts through its established mechanisms, including a panel of facilitators led by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, to help Congolese stakeholders reach a lasting resolution to the conflict.