On Tuesday, April 22, Maj Gen Joseph Nzabamwita officially presented his credentials to Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirming his appointment as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Moscow.
Maj Gen Nzabamwita was appointed to the role in December 2024. Prior to this, he served as Presidential Advisor on Security Matters and was formerly the Secretary General of Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
He succeeds Lt Gen Mushyo Kamanzi, who had served as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Russia since 2019.
According to the Rwandan Embassy in Russia, diplomatic ties between Rwanda and Russia date back to 1963. Today, the two countries enjoy a strong relationship through their respective embassies.
Their cooperation spans politics, defense, education, workforce development, cultural exchange, and notably in the field of nuclear energy. Russia offers scholarships to Rwandan students for university studies and provides specialized police training.
Over the past five decades, approximately 800 Rwandan students have graduated from Russian universities in fields including law, medicine, international relations, and political science.
Additionally, under a November 2024 agreement, Rwandan holders of service and diplomatic passports can now travel to Russia visa-free.
