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EGYPT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRONGER TIES...

Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations with Rwanda and supporting African development and regional integration, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Karim Sherif said during celebrations marking the 32nd anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation. By Ahmed Mahmoud

Politics

By MANZI

On Sunday 5 July 2026

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The celebration, hosted by the Embassy of Rwanda in Cairo, brought together Egyptian government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community, academia, the Rwandan community, and friends of Rwanda to commemorate the country’s Liberation Day, which marks the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the beginning of Rwanda’s journey of national unity, reconstruction, and transformation.

Addressing the gathering, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Egypt, CG Dan Munyuza, described Liberation Day as a defining moment in Rwanda’s history and paid tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country. He said Rwanda has transformed into a stable, secure, and forward-looking nation through accountable leadership, national unity, and the resilience of its people.

Ambassador Munyuza also highlighted the growing partnership between Rwanda and Egypt, describing bilateral relations as stronger than ever. He noted that cooperation between the two countries continues to expand across investment promotion, water resources management, housing and urban development, trade and other strategic sectors, building on the momentum created by President Paul Kagame’s official visit to Cairo in September 2025 and the continued exchange of high-level visits.

Addressing the event, Sherif conveyed Egypt’s congratulations to the government and people of Rwanda, praising the country’s achievements in national reconciliation, economic development, and state-building over the past three decades.

He described Liberation Day as a symbol of the Rwandan people’s resilience, unity, and determination to build a more prosperous future.

Sherif highlighted the steady expansion of Egypt-Rwanda relations under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Paul Kagame, noting growing cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, education, agriculture, water resources management, infrastructure, and coordination on regional and continental issues.

He said President Kagame’s visit to Cairo in September 2025 had injected fresh momentum into bilateral ties, leading to agreements to expand cooperation in investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, water management, and capacity building, as well as the signing of several memoranda of understanding.

Similarly, Ambassador Munyuza noted that the partnership between Rwanda and Egypt continues to deepen across a wide range of sectors, reflecting the shared vision of both countries for Africa’s unity, security, and prosperity. He also encouraged Egyptian investors and tourists to explore the many opportunities Rwanda offers in business, investment, tourism, and innovation.

The assistant foreign minister noted that bilateral trade reached approximately $25.3 million during the first half of 2025, with Egyptian exports accounting for nearly $25 million, reflecting the increasing presence of Egyptian products in the Rwandan market.

Trade exchanges increased to $216 million in 2024 from $68 million a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

Sherif also underscored Egypt’s continued support for Rwanda’s human capacity development through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), which has delivered training programmes in diplomacy, healthcare, agriculture, irrigation, energy, and other strategic sectors, alongside medical assistance and technical cooperation.

He highlighted the Rwanda–Egypt Magdi Yacoub Heart Centre in Kigali as a flagship example of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. The centre is expected to serve as a regional hub for advanced cardiac care, medical training, and scientific research, while providing free life-saving treatment for patients in need and helping develop a new generation of African healthcare professionals.

Reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to further advancing the bilateral partnership, Sherif said Cairo would continue working closely with Kigali to promote intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and contribute to peace, stability, sustainable development, and prosperity across the continent.

He stressed that Egypt and Rwanda share a common belief in African solutions to African challenges and in the importance of strengthening regional integration.

He concluded by extending Egypt’s sincere congratulations to the government and people of Rwanda on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of Liberation Day, expressing Cairo’s aspiration to deepen the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.