Kagame Meets German Minister Serap Güler in Kigali to Strengthen Rwanda-Germany Ties
KIGALI, October 20, 2026 — Rwandan President Paul Kagame met German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Serap Güler at Urugwiro Village on Tuesday for talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Germany.
The meeting took place on the first day of Güler’s October 20–21 visit to Rwanda, part of a wider regional tour that also includes Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan Presidency said the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties; no detailed account of specific outcomes had been released at the time of publication.
Germany highlights peace and economic opportunities in the Great Lakes
Before the visit, Güler highlighted Germany’s interest in peace, stability and progress across the Great Lakes region. She pointed to continuing challenges, including the return of Ebola, the prolonged conflict in eastern DRC and humanitarian needs, while also noting opportunities in agriculture, sustainable energy, critical raw materials, industry and digital technology.
Güler’s programme in Rwanda includes political discussions with government officials, meetings with representatives of German and European companies operating in the country, and engagements with civil society and German cultural organisations. She was also scheduled to visit a women’s cooperative working on economic empowerment and efforts to combat gender-based violence, as well as the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Rwanda-Germany cooperation spans skills, climate and health
Rwanda and Germany maintain cooperation in sustainable economic development, vocational training and employment, peace and social cohesion, climate and energy, and digitalisation. Rwanda is also part of Germany’s Compact with Africa initiative, launched under the G20.
Trade between the two countries remains relatively modest. Rwanda’s exports to Germany include coffee, while German exports to Rwanda include medical equipment; annual trade flows are measured in the tens of millions of euros. Health cooperation has also featured in the relationship, including work involving the Robert Koch Institute and the BioNTech vaccine production facility in Rwanda.
Who is Serap Güler?
Güler is a member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and has served in the Bundestag since 2021. She became Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office in May 2025. Born in 1980 in Marl, Germany, to Turkish guest-worker parents, she previously held posts in North Rhine-Westphalia’s state government, including State Secretary for Integration.
The meeting signals continued interest in practical Rwanda-Germany cooperation amid complex political and humanitarian dynamics in the Great Lakes region. Further details on any agreements or decisions arising from the talks had not been made public by the time this article was published.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
