Prime minister, Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, said Monday that Rwanda is ready to strengthen cooperation with Lesotho, particularly in governance, in a move aimed at benefiting citizens in both countries.
He made the remarks while addressing the opening of a governance conference hosted by Lesotho on June 22, 2026. The event, held virtually, was officially opened by Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Matekane.
Nsengiyumva said Rwanda values the continued exchange of knowledge and experience between the two countries, pointing to past engagements such as leadership retreats held in Lesotho.
“We greatly appreciate the exchanges of ideas and knowledge that have taken place between our two countries over the years,” he said. “We are ready to further strengthen this cooperation so that it benefits the citizens of both countries.”
He also reflected on Rwanda’s governance and development journey, noting that ties with Lesotho have steadily expanded.
Relations between the two countries date back to 1983 and are rooted in mutual respect and cooperation. Over the years, the partnership has been reinforced through high-level visits and collaboration in several sectors.
Security is among the key areas of cooperation. In January 2021, the head of Rwanda’s police visited Lesotho for a four-day working tour, where he inspected police operations and held talks with counterparts. The visit helped advance the implementation of cooperation agreements signed between the two police institutions in Kigali in August 2021.
More recently, in 2024, Rwanda and the Kingdom of Lesotho signed a General Cooperation Agreement aimed at expanding collaboration across multiple sectors for mutual benefit.
Both countries say they intend to build on existing ties by promoting knowledge exchange, strengthening governance and improving the well-being of their citizens.
