Rwanda expresses solidarity, support with Qatar after Iran missile attack

Rwanda has expressed its solidarity and support with the State of Qatar following a recent attack by Iran , which targeted at the US-run Al Udeid Air Base on Monday, June 23. The solidarity message revealed on Tuesday, March 24,  by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe held a phone conversation with Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. “During their conversation, Minister Nduhungirehe expressed Rwanda's solidarity and support to the State of Qat

Rwanda has expressed its solidarity and support with the State of Qatar following a recent attack by Iran, which targeted at the US-run Al Udeid Air Base on Monday, June 23. The solidarity message revealed on Tuesday, March 24,  by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe held a phone conversation with Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. “During their conversation, Minister Nduhungirehe expressed Rwanda's solidarity and support to the State of Qatar and condemned the recent missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base, in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the ministry wrote on X. Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani described Iran's attack on the US-run base as "an unacceptable act that violates Qatar's policy of good neighborliness." RwandAir announced on Monday the suspension of flights to and from Doha in Qatar and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates amid the crisis. Rwanda and Qatar have developed a strong bilateral relationship, characterized by cooperation across various sectors and the signing of multiple key agreements. In November 2018, both countries signed agreements on air services and the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic, commercial, and technical cooperation. These agreements aim to enhance economic collaboration and facilitate investment opportunities. To further strengthen economic ties, Rwanda and Qatar signed an agreement to prevent double taxation and financial evasion. This deal seeks to remove tax-related barriers, encourage trade, and attract investment. In December 2019, the Government of Rwanda and Qatar Airways entered into an investment partnership to develop Rwanda’s new airport in Bugesera District. Qatar Airways acquired a 60% stake in the project, valued at approximately $1.3 billion. The airport is expected to accommodate seven million passengers annually in its initial phase, with plans to expand its capacity to 14 million passengers per year by 2032. In November 2023, Rwanda and Qatar signed an MoU to collaborate on information and communications technology (ICT). The agreement covers public key infrastructure, ICT policy development, artificial intelligence research, digital transformation, e-commerce, smart cities, and cross-border data flow. In January 2025, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and the Qatar Aeronautical Academy signed a contract for training services to enhance the professional expertise of the Rwanda Defence Force.