Rwanda and Qatar have taken a major step in strengthening their expanding partnership as President Paul Kagame welcomed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to Kigali for a two-day working visit focused on boosting cooperation across key strategic sectors.
Sheikh Tamim arrived at Kigali International Airport on Thursday, November 20, where President Kagame received him before the two leaders proceeded to Kibugabuga in Bugesera District, the President’s private farm, for bilateral talks.
Officials say the visit reflects the rising diplomatic and economic profiles of both nations as they work to position themselves as influential players in Africa and the Gulf.
Over the past decade, Rwanda and Qatar have steadily reinforced ties, particularly in aviation, investment, tourism, technology, and security.
Qatar holds a 60 percent stake in RwandAir and is a major investor in the $2 billion Bugesera International Airport currently under construction.
Once completed, the airport is expected to handle more than 14 million passengers annually, making it one of the most modern aviation hubs in East Africa. Both Rwandan and Qatari officials describe the relationship as long-term, mutually beneficial, and anchored in development.
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According to Business Insider Africa, Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, Qatar’s chargé d’affaires in Rwanda, said the Emir’s visit comes at a moment when “Rwanda is a key partner for Qatar in the region.”
He noted that the countries anticipate expanding cooperation in transport, technology, education, and security.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura, pointed to ongoing joint projects such as the Bugesera airport and Kigali Innovation City, an initiative aimed at establishing Rwanda as a continental technology and knowledge hub.
Security remains a central component of the partnership. Qatar has supported Rwanda in military training and cybersecurity and has participated in broader regional peacebuilding efforts, including initiatives involving eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the visit, President Kagame also hosted the Emir at his rural farm and presented him with Inyambo cows, a culturally significant symbol of Rwandan heritage.
The gesture, deeply rooted in Rwandan tradition, represents friendship, respect, and lasting ties between leaders. The President’s Office emphasized that cow exchange is one of the highest expressions of goodwill in Rwandan culture, a practice with centuries-old roots.
The gift adds a cultural dimension to the political and economic significance of Sheikh Tamim’s second visit to Rwanda since 2019. His earlier visit resulted in agreements covering culture, sports, tourism, business events, and aviation.
In early 2024, Qatar approved a draft mutual visa waiver allowing ordinary Rwandan passport holders to enter the Gulf nation without restrictions, a move expected to enhance tourism, business mobility, and people-to-people relations.
The two-day visit is expected to produce additional cooperation agreements, further reinforcing the strategic partnership between Rwanda and Qatar as both countries pursue shared economic and geopolitical goals.
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Image Credit: CediRates
