German Minister Serap Güler Advances Partnerships in Rwanda and Burundi on Great Lakes Tour
German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Serap Güler concluded high-level engagements in Rwanda and Burundi this week as part of a regional visit focused on bilateral cooperation, economic opportunities, and stability in the Great Lakes region, before continuing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In Kigali on October 20, Güler met President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village. The two discussed ways to deepen the longstanding partnership between Rwanda and Germany in areas of mutual interest.
Her programme also included meetings with other senior Rwandan officials, including discussions with the Ministry of Infrastructure on transport development, electric mobility, and sustainable infrastructure projects linked to initiatives such as the new Kigali International Airport.
She held talks with the Rwanda Development Board and representatives of German and European companies operating in the country, exploring opportunities in sectors ranging from agriculture and renewable energy to industry, digital technology, and critical raw materials.
Güler visited the Nyamirambo Women’s Cooperative, which supports economic empowerment and efforts against gender-based violence, and engaged with civil society and German cultural partners.
She also paid tribute at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the final resting place of some 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. There, she laid a wreath and toured exhibitions on the history, causes, and consequences of the genocide as well as Rwanda’s subsequent recovery.
In a statement associated with the visit, she said: “I stand in silence before those whose lives were cruelly cut short. May their souls rest in peace. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all who still carry that pain within them. I pay my deepest respects to all those who are committed to the arduous path of reconciliation.”
From Rwanda, Güler travelled to Burundi, arriving in Bujumbura on October 21.
The following day, she was received in audience by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who currently serves as Chairperson of the African Union, at Ntare Rushatsi Palace. Discussions covered the revitalisation of bilateral relations, the security situation in Africa, the influx of Congolese refugees into Burundi, and the country’s development priorities.
Ndayishimiye urged German support for projects including the economic empowerment of youth, modernisation of the National Museum of Gitega, improved access to potable water, and responsible mining.
Güler praised Burundi’s efforts toward reconciliation, its role in hosting large numbers of refugees from eastern Congo, and its commitment to peace in Africa.
She announced a German contribution toward the modernisation of the Gitega museum and an additional €500,000 for humanitarian assistance.
She also met Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Édouard Bizimana and visited the Cishemere site hosting Congolese refugees to assess conditions on the ground. Exchanges further touched on economic reforms, human rights progress, historical responsibility linked to the colonial past, and the importance of stability for attracting investment.
The visit forms part of Germany’s broader interest in peace, stability, and progress across the Great Lakes.
Ahead of the trip, Güler highlighted both persistent challenges—including the protracted conflict in eastern Congo, humanitarian needs, and the re-emergence of Ebola—and the region’s potential in agriculture, sustainable energy, critical minerals, industry, and digital technology.
She emphasised that lasting solutions require political rather than purely military approaches to the eastern Congo conflict, while noting opportunities for German and European business engagement. After Burundi, her itinerary continues to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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