President Kagame congratulates Sassou Nguesso on re-election

In a message shared on X, Kagame said he looks forward to the continuation of strong bilateral relations and close cooperation with the Republic of the Congo.

“Rwanda welcomes the strong quality of our bilateral relations and looks forward to continuing close cooperation in support of our shared priorities and the prosperity of our peoples,” President Kagame said on Friday.

Sassou Nguesso, 82, secured a fifth term after winning 94.82 percent of the vote in Sunday’s presidential election, according to the Interior Ministry. Out of 3,167,909 registered voters, turnout reached 84.64 percent, reflecting strong participation in the electoral process.

Seven candidates contested the election. Uphrem Dave Mafoula finished a distant second with about 1.03 percent of the vote. Other contenders included Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou, Anguios Nganguia Engambe, and first-time candidates Vivien Romain Manangou, Destin Gavet, and Mabio Mavoungou Zinga.

Under the country’s electoral framework, the president is elected through direct voting, with a two-round system applied if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round.

Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo have maintained a longstanding partnership marked by cooperation across multiple sectors, including diplomacy, trade, and security. In August 2016, Rwanda opened its embassy in Brazzaville, further strengthening diplomatic engagement.

The two countries signed a series of agreements in 2011 covering trade, air transport, tourism promotion, energy, security, environmental protection, and fisheries. Air connectivity has also been reinforced, with RwandAir operating flights between Kigali and Brazzaville since that year.

Cooperation expanded further in November 2021, when both nations signed agreements on military collaboration, higher education, land management, sustainable development, and trade promotion. Additional deals focused on environmental protection and expanding air transport links.

In the same year, Rwanda’s Housing Authority and Congo-Brazzaville’s SOPRIM entered into a partnership to promote housing development and the construction of affordable, modern homes.

Relations between the two leaders have remained cordial over the years. During a visit to Rwanda in 2023, Sassou Nguesso was awarded the Agaciro Medal by President Kagame in recognition of his contribution to Africa’s development.