Rwanda’s defence minister emphasises the necessity of dialogue at beijing xiangshan forum

At the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum today, Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda, participated in a panel discussion in which he emphasized the urgency of building peace in Africa through dialogue, regional cooperation, and African-led solutions. Speaking in a plenary session titled: “Building regional peace through dialogue and consultation”, Marizamunda shared Rwanda’s perspective on addressing the continent’s persistent conflicts.
He stressed that many of Africa’s challenges are rooted in colonial legacies, particularly the arbitrary borders drawn during the 1885 Berlin Conference, which continue to fuel disputes.

Hon Marizamunda also pointed to weak governance and lack of trust between states and citizens as key drivers of instability, often exploited by terrorists and armed groups.
“Africa has become the epicentre of international terrorism,” he warned, adding that military responses alone are insufficient. Lasting peace depends on inclusive governance, justice, equitable opportunities, and youth empowerment”.

Highlighting Rwanda’s own contributions, Marizamunda noted the country's significant peacekeeping efforts. Since its first deployment to Darfur in 2004, Rwanda has contributed over 80,000 peacekeepers, currently ranking as Africa’s top and the world’s second-largest troop and police contributor to UN missions.
Rwanda also maintains bilateral security support, notably in the Central African Republic and Mozambique, where it has deployed around 6,000 troops to combat insurgencies and protect civilians.

The minister reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to regional peace through justice, dialogue, and African ownership of solutions. “Peace is not the absence of conflict,” Marizamunda said, “but the presence of justice, dignity and dialogue.”

A few days ago, Rwanda signed a defence agreement with China on strengthening the bilateral military cooperation between the two countries