Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, held a series of bilateral meetings with African counterparts on Tuesday as the African Union (AU) Executive Council convened in Addis Ababa, with discussions focused on strengthening diplomatic ties and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 49th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, which has brought together foreign ministers from across the continent to deliberate on key policy issues ahead of the AU Assembly.
Nduhungirehe met separately with Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nialé Kaba; Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Dr. Phenyo Butale; Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella; and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.
Across the engagements, discussions centered on strengthening existing bilateral relations and identifying new opportunities for cooperation in sectors including trade, investment, governance and economic development.
During his meeting with Kaba, the two ministers reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire and pledged to deepen collaboration in areas that support the development priorities of both countries.
Talks with Botswana focused on consolidating the strong relationship between Kigali and Gaborone while exploring additional avenues for partnership in sectors of shared interest.
In discussions with Cameroon’s foreign minister, both sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations and expressed commitment to expanding cooperation through closer government-to-government engagement.
Nduhungirehe’s meeting with Kenya’s Mudavadi reaffirmed the close ties between Kigali and Nairobi, with both ministers underscoring the importance of strengthening collaboration in trade, investment, regional integration and other strategic sectors.
The bilateral meetings reflect Rwanda’s continued diplomatic engagement across the continent as the government seeks to deepen political and economic partnerships with fellow African states.
The AU Executive Council, one of the African Union’s principal policy organs, is meeting from July 28 to 29 under the theme “Ensuring Sustainable Access to Water and Adequate Sanitation Towards the Achievement of Agenda 2063.” The Council is expected to consider policy recommendations that will be submitted to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Minister Nduhungirehe arrived in Addis Ababa on Sunday evening and was received at Bole International Airport by Ethiopia’s Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Melaku Bedada.
