The Government of Rwanda has extended its condolences to the family and friends of Lindsey Olin Graham, a United States Senator and friend of Rwanda, who has passed away.
The message was delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, on behalf of the Government of Rwanda.
Minister Nduhungirehe said: “I wish to send, on behalf of the government of Rwanda, our condolences to the family and colleagues of Senator Lindsey Graham. We will remember him as a frank and steadfast champion of more equitable U.S – Africa ties, of wildlife conservation, and of peace in the Great Lakes region. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Lindsey Olin Graham passed away at the age of 71. His office announced that he died following a sudden illness.
The prominent American politician was one of the key figures in President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, and was widely known for advocating that the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo be resolved through dialogue.
In highlighting the needs of that region in Congo, Lindsey Olin Graham often said that Congolese people who speak Kinyarwanda deserve peace, and that their government should stop activities that harm them.
The politician, who opposed sanctions against Rwanda by the United States, argued that sanctions cannot solve the problems, and that what is needed is support for political dialogue.
In December 2025, when President Kagame was in the United States attending the signing of the Washington Peace Agreement between Rwanda and the DRC, he met with Senator Lindsey Olin Graham, who had represented the state of South Carolina in Congress for 23 years.
During their discussions, President Kagame and Lindsey Olin Graham focused on strengthening the relationship between Rwanda and the United States, particularly in the areas of security, investment and the environment.
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