“Had a productive phone conversation with Prince Charles who we look forward to welcoming to CHOGM 2022. We discussed partnerships that include addressing climate change and the ongoing success of the Sustainable Markets Initiative,” President Kagame revealed in a tweet.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of members are small states, many of which are island nations.
CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.
The upcoming CHOGM due in Kigali will be the first to be held in Africa for over a decade.
It was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but was postponed twice due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During celebrations of the Commonwealth Day recently on 14th March 2022, the Prince of Wales, Charles confirmed that he will be among other dignitaries attending CHOGM 2022 in Kigali.
At the time, Prince Charles also revealed that he will be accompanied by his wife.
Kagame arrived in Congo Brazzaville on Monday 10th April 2022 where he was received by his counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso upon arrival.
During his visit, the Head of State addressed the country’s both chambers of parliament before he was hosted to a State Banquet on the first day.
Speaking at the event, Kagame thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the country and warm hospitality extended to him.
He said that both countries have built strong foundation over the years noting that the multiple bilateral agreements that had to be signed on the following day demonstrate productive ties between Rwanda and Congo.
The Head of State also highlighted that both countries have what it takes to address common challenges joining forces to ensure that they continue to move faster towards progress and success.
On the second day of the visit, Kagame and his counterpart proceeded to a tête-à-tête discussions and presided over the signing of bilateral agreements in sectors of economic partnership, mining, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) handcrafts, culture and arts.
The President was accompanied by the delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi among others.
[{{Related story: Peace and security in Africa remain high on the agenda – Kagame}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/peace-and-security-in-africa-remain-high-on-the-agenda-kagame]
The development was announced on Monday 11th April 2022 by French Ambassador to Rwanda, Antoine Anfré during commemoration talks bringing together the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) and members of the diplomatic corps in Rwanda.
The move follows long time of silence as the country declined to admit its responsibility in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which claimed lives of more than 1 million victims.
Amb. Anfré said that France has been denying its role in Genocide highlighting that it is time to put it to an end.
“We all know what happened here. There are findings of Duclert report commissioned by the President of the Republic. Researchers reviewed archives for two years to investigate French role during Genocide. The commission finally concluded that France had a huge responsibility in activities that led to Genocide,” he noted.
The envoy said that France is intensifying efforts to try Genocide suspects through trials held in Paris.
The recent cases include those of Claude Muhayimana who was sentenced to 14 years in December 2021 and Laurent Bucyibaruya, the former head of Gikongoro Prefecture being tried among others.
“We want to handle at least one case every six months. It might not be enough but efforts are put in place on collaboration between leaders, Police and the judiciary that French and Rwandan judiciary are working together on this,” Amb. Anfré noted.
France accommodates many Genocide fugitives who have not yet appeared before court yet other related trials are delayed.
One of fugitives arrested in France in the recent past is Felicien Kabuga who is being tried by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Other Genocide suspects living in France include Dr. Eugène Rwamucyo, Colonel Laurent Serubuga, Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana and Stanislas Mbonampeka among others.
Amb. Anfré highlighted that knowledge about Genocide will continue to be shared as a contribution to the fight against Genocide denial and trivialization.
He also noted that more efforts need to be put in place to strengthen bilateral relations given that both countries are envisaging joint projects.
Amb. Anfré explained that there are opportunities for future collaboration between both countries through the promotion of French language and other prospective areas of cooperation.
“France wants to be back in the right direction with Rwanda. The visit of President Macron and admitting the role of France had a great significance that we can focus on the future after getting on common ground for our past,” he revealed.
France’s role during the Genocide is mainly related to its support to the Government of former President Juvenal Habyarimana as Tutsis were being murdered on the basis of their identity.
French Ambassador to Rwanda, Antoine Anfré has said that the time has come for his country to end silence on its involvement.
He was speaking at the commemoration talk bringing together diplomats accredited to Rwanda and the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) held on Monday 11th April 2022.
Amb. Antoine Anfré served as the second secretary of the French Embassy in Uganda (1987-91) and later as the first secretary.
That is when he started following up issues of refugees in Uganda and the region.
As RPA launched attacks to the regime of Habyarimana, he explained that the country sought support from three countries including Belgium, France and the then Zaire led by Mobutu.
The ambassador revealed that Belgian soldiers did not spend long time in Rwanda while those from Zaire left a bad reputation where Habyarimana himself wanted to take them back home as they were accused of crimes including looting and rape.
“Only French soldiers stayed for long until 1993 under Opération Noroît. However many people draw much attention on Operation Turquoise which started from June 1994 as Genocide was being executed,” he said.
Through Opération Noroît, Antoine Anfré revealed, France helped Habyarimana’s soldiers to repulse the first attack of RPA soldiers during which their commander Maj Gen Fred Rwigema was killed.
At the time, Habyarimana’s soldiers mostly used helicopters that ‘one might be curious to know who piloted them’.
The ambassador stressed that the former regime had been mired in bad governance characterized by ethnic discrimination.
Amb. Anfré further stated that the French soldiers were trained enough to conduct operations and received orders from France.
“These soldiers were sent on the order of president Mitterand. He wanted to support Habyarimana who was an intimate friend. They were here from 1990 until 1993,” he noted.
As the soldiers supported Habyarimana to repel back RPA attacks, MRND was in advanced preparations of Genocide.
Amb. Anfré said that it was an addition to previous attempts to kill Tutsis on accusations of being the country’s enemies.
As the envoy said, France had enough information on the preparation of Genocide.
“I was a junior diplomat being the second advisor to the embassy in Kampala from 1987 until 1991. In May, I returned to France and wrote a report that we are going through the wrong path in Rwanda that we are heading to the worst direction, where one million people would be killed in 100 days,” he revealed.
Antoine Anfré stated that he knew ‘RPF was eager to win’ the war even though the beginning seemed complicated.
“I kept saying that RPF will once take power in Kigali. I also maintained that the more the war lasts long, the more many people would die. I observed that as a junior diplomat who had witnessed how NRA fought to take power.”
Amb. Antoine Anfré said that he got more suspicious as the then Rwandan leaders continued to sow ethnic discrimination.
He explained that there was a small group of people in France that did not consider the situation in the right context for the sake of getting promoted and allowed such activities to continue by making wrong analysis on the leadership of Habyarimana.
At the time, the envoy narrated, the group from France reported that the Government of Habyarimana democratic on grounds of the establishment of multiple political parties that included CDR and Hutu Power noting that there is freedom of expression with reference to RTLM and Kangura.
“They chose to ignore all these facts. Whoever rose an alarm from France would be silenced because they were convinced that the leadership of Habyarimana would have been defeated, had it not been the support of France,” said Amb. Antoine Anfré.
At the time, he explained, America had lost soldiers in Somalia where it seemed that the then US President Bill Clinton was not willing to get involved in what was happening in Rwanda.
As Genocide was topped by RPF, there were more mistakes as Genocide perpetrators were helped to cross to DRC with their weapons.
{{Genocide perpetrated by Rwandans}}
Amb. Anfré has said that RPF kept soldiering on until it stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi even though many victims had already lost lives.
He however stressed that Genocide was executed by Rwandans despite France’s involvement in the dark history.
“The Genocide was perpetrated and stopped by Rwandans. It is apparent that the international community, first of all France, overseen the Genocide that would have been prevented,” Amb. Anfré observed.
“It was not however prepared by French people but was prepared by Rwandans, some of whom were tried in Arusha, in France while others are roaming in France….”
Amb. Anfré said that France has been denying its role in Genocide insisting that it is time to put it to an end.
“We all know what happened here. There are findings of Duclert report commissioned by the President of the Republic. Researchers reviewed archives for two years to investigate French role during Genocide. The commission finally concluded that France had a huge responsibility in activities that led to Genocide,” he noted.
Amb. Anfré highlighted that knowledge about Genocide will continue to be shared as it contributes to the fight against Genocide denial and trivialization.
Else, he said that France is intensifying efforts to try Genocide suspects through trials held in Paris.
The recent cases include those of Claude Muhayimana who was sentenced to 14 years in December 2021 and Laurent Bucyibaruya being tried among others.
“We want to handle at least one case every six months. It might not be enough but efforts are put in place on collaboration between leaders, Police and the judiciary that French and Rwandan judiciary are working together on this,” Amb. Anfré noted.
{{The future of Rwanda and France}}
Amb. Anfré has said that more efforts need to be put in place to strengthen bilateral relations given that both countries are envisaging joint projects.
He explained that there are opportunities for future collaboration between both countries through the promotion of French language and other prospective areas of cooperation.
“France wants to be back in the right direction with Rwanda. The visit of President Macron and admitting the role of France had a great significance that we can focus on the future after getting on common ground regarding our past,” Amb. Anfré revealed.
He explained that his country has many projects like fostering collaboration in different projects in the areas of transport, hosting conferences and sports events among others.
Amb. Anfré further stated that the World Cycling event to be held in Rwanda in 2025 will be the first of its kind hosted in Africa where both countries will work together to ensure it is a success.
France recently announced US$500 million grant to Rwanda until 2023.
Among others, French Development Agency (Groupe AFD) has provided Euro 218 million funding to Rwanda from 2019 up to date
He was hosted on the first day of his visit to the country on Monday 11th April 2022 after addressing both chambers of the country’s parliament.
President Kagame thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the country and warm hospitality extended to him.
The visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations will be characterized by the signing of agreements on the second day in the sectors of economic partnership for the promotion and protection of investments, mining, SMEs and handcrafts, culture and arts, as well as youth, sport, and civic education.
Kagame said that both countries have built strong foundation over the years noting that the multiple bilateral agreements to be signed demonstrate productive ties between Rwanda and Congo.
The Head of State also said that both countries have what it takes to address common challenges joining forces to ensure that they continue to move faster towards progress and success.
“Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and other global crises, African countries cannot afford to do things alone. And it is in this background President that we value so much the friendship between the Congolese people and Rwandese and I value our relationship with you Mr President,” he noted.
President Kagame was accompanied by the delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi among others.
The Head of State made the revelation as he addressed both chambers of Congo Brazzaville parliament. He highlighted that both Congolese and Rwandan people are united by one goal of building universal sustainable development.
“The people of Rwanda and the Republic of Congo are united by a common vision of a stable and prosperous region. We also share the aspiration to bring African countries and people together, working for a strong, thriving continent,” Kagame noted.
The President also urged the Parliamentarians to take action towards achieving continental prosperity.
“We know the problems that Africa faces. And we also know the solutions. What is missing is for us to move together, from words to action, with a sense of urgency. We cannot take pride in saying the right things, for decades, and then find ourselves many years from now, having said the right things, but not actually achieved much. We need to move to deliver what we have promised ourselves, but above all promised our citizens,” Kagame said.
“It is high time to do better,” he added.
The President said that Africa’s integration should be expedited. ” Africa has been talking about integration and unity for as long as Africa has existed. We need to continue making fast steps. With the vast knowledge and resources our continent has, there is no reason to still be where we are today,” he underscored.
Kagame pointed out an example of the East African Community (EAC) which recently admitted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the 7th member noting that it is a significant development, because strong Regional Economic Communities, are essential building blocks for successful continental integration, including the immense opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
As he talked about security, the Head of State thanked his counterpart of Congo Brazzaville, Denis Sassou N’Guesso for his contribution to resolve difficult situations in Libya where he was the Chairperson of the African Union High Level Committee on the issue.
“Peace and security in Africa remain high on the agenda, and both Rwanda and Congo are committed to efforts to resolve ongoing difficult situations, including in the Sahel region, Ethiopia and Somalia,” he stated.
Kagame also reminisced on Rwanda’s contribution to restore peace in the Central African Republic and Mozambique.
“We continue to work with Mozambique to mobilise additional support, needed to sustain the positive gains, and achieve the long-term peace and stability, required for socio-economic development,” he said.
On the second day of the State Visit, the two Heads of State are expected to hold a tête-à-tête followed by a bilateral meeting alongside their respective delegations.
Following the bilateral talks, representatives from both delegations will sign bilateral agreements in the sectors of economic partnership for the promotion and protection of investments, mining, SMEs and handcrafts, culture and arts, as well as youth, sport, and civic education.
President Kagame accompanied by his host Sassou Nguesso will also visit a milk factory in Oyo town.
Wetlands are also increasingly seen as important for adaptation to climate change.
The continued loss of wetlands has direct, measurable impacts on the people that depend on them, causing declines in biodiversity, food security, water quality and quantity, and carbon capture and storage to mitigate climate change.
Despite the dependence of a large proportion of Africa’s population on wetland ecosystem services, these habitats are rarely monitored sufficiently. This is due to a lack of awareness of their importance, the importance of monitoring, lack of resources (both financial and knowledge-based), as well as a lack of developed monitoring methods for the assessment of wetlands.
When it comes to Rwanda, approximately 10.6 percent of its surface area is covered with wetlands. The biggest wetlands are floodplain wetlands of low altitude associated with major lakes such as Lake Cyohoha, Rweru, Mugesera, Nasho, and rivers such as Nyabarongo, Akanyaru, Mukungwa, Base, Nyabugogo, among others.
In Rwanda, wetlands continue to play an essential role in supporting all development for sustainable development. They provide water storage, flood buffering, nutrient removal, and water purification as well as erosion control.
Despite their importance, wetlands in Rwanda face significant pressures, especially due to poor agricultural practices such as uncontrolled fertilizers and pesticides, soil erosion, peat extraction, illegal mining, illegal infrastructure, pollutants from industrial wastewater discharge among others.
So far, Rwanda has taken a bigger step in protecting environment. Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park can be a tangible proof of this effort.
This ecotourism jewel is nestled in the valley between Kimironko and Masoro-Bumbogo hill in Ndera sector, separating the districts of Gasabo and Kicukiro and soon will be accessible to the public.
According to Harerimana Jacques who is among the local community living around before this initiative Nyandungu Wetland was being destroyed.
“Before this decision of the government, this wetland was totally a mess. It was used for exploiting clay. Dredging and filling activities have caused flooding of mangrove habitat. Now you can see that it is getting back to its nature status,” he said.
Over the years, the highly degraded wetland was being used for different activities including agriculture and sand mining among other human activities, which were greatly affecting the ecosystem and thereby posing serious danger for surrounding livelihoods. Six years ago, Rwandan Government decided to change way of doing things in this Wetland.
Nyandungu Park covers an area of 121.7 hectares. Different species of butterflies have established themselves in this urban wetland where cranes and 70 other bird species fly freely.
Elements to be part of Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park include ornamental ponds, eastern gallery forests, medicinal plant gardens, paved walk ways, restaurants, information center and other recreational services.
The park is laden with different tree species which according to environmentalists, play a key role in minimizing floods which have been prevalent in the area.
The diversity in species in the park, conservationists say, will also be vital for the academia who may go there to study different species available in the park.
Stepping into the park, you are first welcomed by well-built gates and pavements made up of natural stones at all entrances. Close by is the information Centre where the visitor is taken through the different sections of the park.
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya encourages everyone to take the work done at Nyandungu Wetland as lesson and start contributing to the effort of protecting wetlands.
“Wetlands are source of wealth for all Rwandans. Whether we rely on wetlands for water, recreation or agriculture, we each have a role to play in their protection. Let’s all be water wise users by reporting illegal activities, applying environment friendly fertilisers and pesticides in wetlands and ensuring all commercial users have a valid water permit for the water they extract. Together, we can ensure our wetlands are healthy and full of life,” she said.
According to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), this milestone work which started in 2016 costs about Rwf5 billion (US$4.5 million ), a little more than half of which was provided by the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA).
This investment could generate up to Rwf1 billion in revenue for the government during the first decade of operation of the site, provided that it is popular with tourists.
Nzakamwita,79, who served as the Bishop of Byumba Diocese was sent to retirement recently after Pope Francis appointed Papias Musengamana to replace him in February 2022.
The appointment was announced three years after Bishop Nzakamwita wrote to the Pope to grant him retirement which is reached at the age of 75.
Speaking to Radio Rwanda, Bishop Nzakamwita has revealed that he wants to spend his retirement time at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
“I chose the seminary when asked the preferred place where I was to be given an apartment for my retirement. The seminary is a home where we upbring future priests. All students educated there might not become priests but they become good leaders and well educated people. It has been observed that seminaries produce good leaders and parents who properly assume their parenting duties,” he said.
“So, I am set to join the seminary as their grandfather. I am going to educate children and grandchildren in collaboration with the seminary’s management so that we can nurture them and train them to be generous and strive for personal development to become useful children and aspiring future leaders of this country. It will also be a good pathway for dedicated priests to continue helping Christians along the journey of Christianity,” added Bishop Nzakamwita.
He joins other retiring Bishops including the former Bishop of Kibungo Diocese, Frederick Rubwejanga, Thadée Ntihinyurwa of Kigali, Alexis Habiyambere of Nyundo, Anastase Mutabazi of Kabgayi and Kizito Bahujimihigo of Kibungo.
The Archbishop of Kigali Diocese, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda recently told IGIHE that the Catholic Church has a great memory on activities of Bishop Nzakamwita.
He explained that Nzakamwita contributed a lot to reconciling Rwandans as he particularly led Christians with fresh wounds of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Cardinal Kambanda also revealed that Nzakamwita served the church as much as he could in his capacities in spreading the Gospel and contributed to family development through the resolution of disputes and promoting their wellbeing among others.
Bishop Nzakamwita was born on 20th April 1943 in former Commune Kiyombe of Byumba Prefecture in the current Nyagatare District.
From 1952 to 1957, he studied Primary School in Kabare, Rushaki and Rwaza, from where he continued studies at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
He joined the Nyakibanda Major Seminary in 1965 and ordained priest on 11th July 1971 in Rushaki Parish. He began apostolic duties at Ruhengeri Cathedral where he spent five years before moving to Janja Parish as Chief Priest.
In 1989, he went to I Lumen Vitae in Belgium for further studies and returned in 1991 to teach at Rutongo Major Seminary until 25th March 1996 when he was appointed Bishop of Byumba Diocese. He was installed Bishop on 2nd July 1996.
He is among protectors of friendship pact due to his contribution to unity and reconciliation among Rwandans after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
It is unique considering the extreme cruelty with which it was executed in comparison to other atrocities like the Holocaust Genocide.
We have below outlined some of unique aspects of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that saw people killing neighbours and relatives pitilessly:
{{Killing a large number in short timespan}}
The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) indicates that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is among those committed in shortest time span taking lives of a large number of victims.
A total of 1,070,014 victims were killed during 100 days from April until July 1994 as per research conducted by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) in 2002.
The figures show that nearly 10,000 Tutsis were killed every day, a number that might be equivalent to sector’s population.
As for the Holocaust Genocide, nearly 6 million Jews were killed in three years.
Figures released from MINALOC might even go up considering other remains of Genocide victims excavated from different parts of the country after the research.
{{Killing relatives }}
Killing someone is forbidden whether you have issues with them or not. However, perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi turned savage that mothers would kill children or children would kill fathers on the basis of their identity.
This was among other unique aspects of Genocide against the Tutsi as some parents killed children they had sired together with Tutsi mothers of fathers.
Albert Nsengimana brought to light these circumstances through his book dubbed ‘Ma mère m’a tué’ translated as ‘My Mother Killed Me’ featuring his own testimonies of how his mother killed his siblings in collaboration with Interahamwe militiamen because they were born to a Tutsi father.
The tragedy also happened in other parts of the country where people killed intimate friends with whom their lived in the same village or had in-laws relationships.
{{Shared culture and language}}
Unlike the Holocaust Genocide where Nazi perpetrators had no relations with victims, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi saw Rwandans killing other Rwandans with whom they lived together, spoke one language, grew together, studied at same schools and share the same culture and lifestyle.
The perpetrators and victims had no reasons for segregation apart from hatred and genocide ideology instilled among people after dividing Rwandans through Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.
{{Use of traditional weapons }}
During the Holocaust Genocide, some people were shot dead while others were killed by the use of chemicals gradually.
In Rwanda, the majority of victims were killed with traditional arms to inflict extreme suffering on victims.
Perpetrators used traditional weapons like big sticks, small hoes and machetes among others used to torture and kill Tutsis.
{{Extreme cruelty }}
Everyone is subjected to death under normal circumstances. It is however heart-wrenching to see a human being dying with extreme suffering particularly inflicted by another. The heartless perpetrators did inflict much pain on victims where they killed them physically and morally as they forced them to dig holes in which they had to be dumped.
In churches like Ntarama in Bugesera District, children were killed of torture as perpetrators repeatedly hit them on walls until they die. In Southern Province, there are Tutsis whose hearts were devoured by perpetrators who would also suck their blood.
In other instances, Tutsis were raped and infected with HIV/AIDS among other inhumane acts beyond one’s understanding.
{{Conspiracy at all levels }}
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was executed on collaboration between authorities at all levels, churches and different organizations.
Only a few churches were not used as killing grounds for Tutsis as belongings of victims are still found in some places of worship that have been turned into Genocide memorials.
During Genocide against Tutsi, there was neither church nor organization which dared releasing a statement denouncing the crime against humanity but some religious leaders worked with authorities to execute the Genocide.
{{International community kept a deaf ear }}
The United Nations and other international organizations were represented in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi but kept a deaf ear to denounce and stop the atrocities until RPA Inkotanyi intervened to save the country from the devil’s hands.
The level of irresponsibility escalated further as Genocide began when UN troops abandoned Tutsis leaving them in the hands of perpetrators who wanted to exterminate all.
Nyanza-Kicukiro is distinctly known as one of the places where thousands of people were massacred a few days after the beginning of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
When the genocide began on April 7, over 3000 Tutsi from Kicukiro sought refuge at a former technical school, Ecole Technique Officielle de Kicukiro (ETO), in the belief that they would be protected by the United Nations peacekeeping forces for Rwanda (MINUAR) that was based there.
MINUAR would however desert them a few days later, despite the tension that had built up as the Interahamwe militia and government soldiers had surrounded the school.
Following the departure of the UN troops, government soldiers and Interahamwe took control of ETO Kicukiro.
In the school, Tutsi were taken by government soldiers and Interahamwe to Sonatube to be murdered there but the then mayor of the city, Lt. Col. Tharcisse Renzaho, ordered that they instead be taken to Nyanza and killed from there because Sonatube was too visible along the road to the airport.
The Tutsi were then forced to march back, all the way to Nyanza, amid a heavy downpour. Many had not eaten for a couple of days. Those too weak to walk were killed on the way. When they arrived at Nyanza, the militia asked them to present their IDs to ensure that no Hutu were among the group.
Mass killings then began and many of them were killed using machetes. The next morning, as the killers attempted to finish off those who were still alive, the Rwandan Patriotic Army soldiers arrived and rescued the few who had survived the massacre.
These abandoned Tutsi were killed on 11th April 1994.
Rwanda’s Presidency has via Twitter handle revealed that President Kagame will also visit Oyo, a town in the Republic of Congo located in the Cuvette Region, more than 400 km from Brazzaville.
In 2010, the town had more than 5 000 inhabitants. It is connected by paved road to Brazzaville, the capital of the country.
President Kagame is accompanied by officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi among others.
A statement released recently on 9th April 2022 by Florent Ntsiba, the Director of Congo Brazzaville Presidential Cabinet indicates that Kagame’s visit is a response to the invitation of his counterpart and seeks to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation.
Both Heads of State are also expected to proceed to a tête-à-tête discussions. The statement also reads that Kagame will address both chambers of parliament before witnessing the signing of cooperation agreements in different areas.
Rwanda and Brazzaville relations date back in August 1982. Since then, both countries have enjoyed cooperation in the areas of diplomacy, politics and trade among others.
In November 2021, Rwanda and Brazzaville signed agreements in the areas of military cooperation, sustainable development, environmental preservation and trade promotion among others.
