The engagements took place at the State House in Gaborone, where President Kagame is on a State Visit, his first since 2019, when Rwanda and Botswana agreed to establish the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) as a framework for structured bilateral engagement.
The visit began with a tête-à-tête between the two Heads of State, followed by expanded bilateral talks between their respective delegations. The leaders later oversaw the signing of agreements covering avoidance of double taxation, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official, and national passports, air services, health cooperation, and broader economic, trade, and investment partnerships.
Also signed was a cooperation framework between the Rwanda Development Board and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, aimed at promoting private sector collaboration and facilitating increased investment flows between the two countries.
In their remarks, both Presidents underscored the importance of moving beyond diplomatic engagement to practical implementation and measurable outcomes.
President Kagame thanked Botswana for the warm reception and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to a results-driven partnership.
“What defines the relationship between Rwanda and Botswana is not only a friendship but also a shared sense of purpose,” Kagame said.
He emphasised the need to remove barriers to trade and investment, highlighting ongoing efforts in areas such as air connectivity, visa facilitation, and taxation frameworks.
He also commended Botswana’s leadership in natural resource management, particularly diamonds, and its efforts to strengthen health security through investment in pharmaceutical capacity, describing them as examples of forward-looking governance that resonate with Rwanda’s own priorities.
President Kagame further noted that cooperation in justice and security had continued to deepen, while new opportunities were emerging in trade and private sector engagement. He stressed that the success of the partnership would ultimately be measured by its impact on citizens’ livelihoods.
“Ultimately, what we agree here must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of our citizens. That is the true measure of success,” he said.
President Duma Boko welcomed President Kagame and his delegation, describing the visit as a moment of strategic realignment between the two countries.
“We did not meet to merely exchange diplomatic pleasantries. We met for strategic realignment, for a reaffirmation of our shared vision,” President Boko said.
He emphasised the importance of swift and disciplined implementation of agreements, noting that both countries were “in a race against time” to deliver results. He called for precision, strict timelines, and continuous innovation in executing agreed initiatives.
President Boko also highlighted the removal of visa barriers by Rwanda, which he said extended visa-free access for Botswana nationals to six months, describing it as an exemplary gesture. He said Botswana would respond with reciprocal measures effective immediately to further ease movement between the two countries.
“Rwanda has done something that had not been done before. And we are most grateful,” the president remarked.
He further noted that the partnership should expand across multiple sectors, including education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity, adding that technology and science should be leveraged to bridge distance and enhance cooperation.
“We must be prepared to pioneer, to lead, to originate innovative approaches that may never have been tried before,” he said.
President Kagame’s visit marks a renewed high-level engagement between the two countries, building on progress made since the inaugural JPCC meeting held in Kigali in April 2022. His last visit to Botswana in 2019 laid the foundation for the institutional framework that is now guiding expanded bilateral cooperation.
The latest agreements are expected to further accelerate economic ties and strengthen collaboration in key sectors, as both countries move to translate diplomatic commitments into practical development outcomes.
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