The Brazzaville Handshake: A Protocol Courtesy or a Path to Peace?

Brazzaville, April 16, 2026 — On the sidelines of the grand inauguration of President Denis Sassou Nguesso at the Kintélé Unity Stadium, a brief but significant image captured the attention of the Great Lakes region: a handshake between President Paul Kagame and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye.

In the high-stakes world of African diplomacy, every gesture is a message. But for observers in Kigali and Bujumbura, this handshake—though rare—has been met with more skepticism than hope.

A Gesture in a Cold Climate

The encounter occurred as President Sassou Nguesso was sworn in for his fifth term. While the host nation celebrated stability, the sub-region remains on edge. Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated sharply over the past year, marked by the unilateral closure of borders by Burundi in early 2024 and escalating military tensions.

Just weeks before the inauguration, the Burundian government reiterated its hardline stance: borders would only reopen if Rwanda extradited individuals accused of the 2015 coup attempt. To many, the handshake was not a sign of reconciliation, but a strict adherence to diplomatic protocol in the presence of a mutual ally.

The Shadow of Regional Conflict

The skepticism is rooted in reality on the ground:

• Security Concerns: Reports just days prior suggested that the Burundian embassy in Brussels was allegedly coordinating with anti-Kigali elements, a move Rwanda views as a direct threat to its national security.
• Eastern DRC Conflict: The two nations remain at odds over the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Burundian troops have been reportedly operating alongside the FARDC and groups like the FDLR—which Rwanda considers a primary security threat—to fight the M23/AFC coalition.
• Failed Rhetoric: President Ndayishimiye has publicly criticized Rwandan leadership as “hypocritical”, while Rwanda has dismissed Burundi’s accusations of supporting rebels (RED-Tabara) as baseless and inflammatory.

What Happens Next?

While President Kagame used his time in Brazzaville to deepen strategic ties with the Republic of Congo in sectors like agriculture, trade, and security, the “Brazzaville handshake” remains a singular, isolated event.

Without a fundamental shift in Burundi’s preconditions for border reopening or a shared strategy for security in the Eastern DRC, the handshake serves as a reminder of what could be, rather than what is. For the citizens of both nations currently barred from crossing the border, the wait for a genuine, promising breakthrough continues.