Nduhungirehe, Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Discuss Strengthening Cooperation

Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, held a productive phone conversation with Bogdanov Mikhail Leonidovich, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, responsible for relations with the Middle East and Africa. According to a post on X from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, February 5, their discussion focused on strengthening Rwanda-Russia cooperation and exchanging views on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwanda and the Russian Federation have cultivated a mult

Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, held a productive phone conversation with Bogdanov Mikhail Leonidovich, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, responsible for relations with the Middle East and Africa. According to a post on X from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, February 5, their discussion focused on strengthening Rwanda-Russia cooperation and exchanging views on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwanda and the Russian Federation have cultivated a multifaceted relationship since establishing diplomatic ties on October 17, 1963. Over the decades, this partnership has expanded across various sectors, including political collaboration, economic development, education, and scientific research. In November 2024, on the sidelines of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of service and diplomatic passports. In October 2019, during the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Rwanda and Russia signed an agreement to construct the first Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Kigali, with the involvement of ROSATOM. This center aims to serve as a modern platform for scientific research and practical applications of nuclear technologies, benefiting sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and industry. At the same summit, both nations signed an agreement to collaborate in the mining and hydrocarbon sectors. This includes conducting geological surveys, exploration activities, and providing equipment and services in the mining, oil, and gas industries. In the education sector, Russia offers university scholarships for Rwandans and provides training for police officers. About 800 Rwandan students have graduated from Russian universities in various disciplines, including law, medicine, international affairs, and political science, over the last 50 years. During the 60th anniversary celebration in October 2023, marking six decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the foreign ministers underscored the traditionally friendly nature of Russian-Rwandan interaction. They reaffirmed the mutual interest of Moscow and Kigali in further expanding and deepening multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of both nations. Additionally, they reiterated the importance of coordinating joint efforts in the international arena to promote peace, security, and stability on the African continent.