President Kagame Meets Former Nigerian President Obasanjo for High-Level Talks Amid Health Speculation
This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Paul Kagame received former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for an in-depth discussion covering regional affairs and broader issues of continental and global importance. The meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect and strategic focus, underlined the two leaders’ shared commitment to peace, cooperation, and Africa’s sustainable progress.
Their conversation addressed ongoing security and development challenges in Africa, with particular attention to regional dynamics, stability, and international partnerships. Both leaders exchanged insights on how African countries can forge collaborative paths toward lasting peace and socio-economic growth.
This meeting comes at a time when speculation about President Kagame’s health has been circulating on social media, prompting official clarification from the Rwandan government.
Government Dismisses Rumors About President Kagame’s Health
In recent days, an unverified statement—falsely attributed to the Rwanda Defence Force—claimed that President Kagame was seriously ill. The military quickly denounced the statement as fake news.
Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed that President Kagame is simply on a routine break, dismissing all rumors as baseless and politically motivated.
“People should not be misled by rumors spread by detractors,” Makolo told Taarifa. “There is absolutely no cause for concern. The President is in good health and is just taking a standard period of rest.”
She added that it is normal for a head of state to occasionally step back for rest after extended periods of demanding national and international engagements.
A close family member echoed her remarks, saying, “President Kagame is like any other person—he takes time off to rest. There is nothing unusual or alarming.”
Despite his brief time out of the public eye, today’s engagement with President Obasanjo clearly reaffirms Kagame’s active involvement in state matters.
Flashback to 2012: A Longstanding Diplomatic Relationship
The relationship between the two leaders is not new. On October 31, 2012, President Kagame also hosted President Obasanjo in Kigali, where the Nigerian leader was attending the 7th African Economic Conference.
After their meeting in 2012, Obasanjo, who had served as the UN Special Envoy to Eastern Congo, commented on efforts to resolve the DRC crisis:
“For about 15 months, we did our best to bring under control the monumental crisis. Quite honestly, from what I know and have seen, I believe that if the recommendations and contents of our report had been faithfully implemented, we would not be witnessing a resurgence of the situation we had before,” he told the press.
Today’s meeting builds on their historical partnership and ongoing dialogue around African-led solutions to the continent’s challenges.
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