African diaspora organisations and business leaders in St. Louis have played a central role in efforts to establish a sister-city relationship between the US city and Kigali, with a delegation expected in Rwanda this month to formalise the proposed partnership.
The initiative has brought together the African Chamber of Commerce St. Louis, World Trade Center St. Louis, businesses and other community organisations, giving African residents a role in shaping the proposed relationship.
An agreement expected during the delegation’s visit would make Kigali the 17th sister city of St. Louis, which already has 16 international partnerships, including one with Saint-Louis in Senegal.
Annie Mbale, a board member of the African Chamber of Commerce and programme director at the St. Louis Mosaic Project, said the involvement of African diaspora members helped ensure that the initiative was shaped by people with direct connections to the continent.
“If you look at the African history, most of the time decisions are being made by people who think that they know what Africans want,” she said. “The exciting part of this was that the African diaspora here in St. Louis were sitting at the table and being involved in the decision-making.”
The community’s involvement also extended to planning the itinerary for the visiting delegation, according to Mbale.
The proposed partnership has been several years in the making. Discussions initially considered other African destinations, including Kenya, before shifting towards Kigali following contacts made after a 2021 World Trade Center St. Louis gala.
The initiative gained further momentum in 2023, when local organisations formed a Kigali–St. Louis exploratory committee. A St. Louis delegation also visited Rwanda in January 2025 to explore possible links in business, healthcare, education and culture.
Zellipah Githui, president of the committee advocating for the sister-city designation, said the effort to organise the partnership had demonstrated a commitment to international engagement and to the African community in St. Louis.
Linda Ogbah Faas, president of the African Chamber of Commerce, described the planned agreement as a major milestone for the organisation and the wider African community.
A 36-member delegation led by World Trade Center St. Louis is scheduled to visit Kigali from November 8 to 11 as part of a wider trade mission to Rwanda and Kenya running from November 6 to 15.
The group includes business representatives, public officials and organisations working in areas such as agriculture, transport, healthcare and communications.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, County Executive Sam Page and Rodney Crim, head of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, are among those expected to take part.
The visit will also include cultural activities. Restaurateur Michael Johnson, whose businesses include Sugarfire and Hi-Pointe, is expected to introduce St. Louis cuisine at events hosted by the embassies in Kigali and Nairobi.
Beyond the proposed agreement, organisers say the partnership is intended to create lasting links through business, cultural exchanges and cooperation between institutions and communities in the two cities.
