President Paul Kagame is in Algiers, Algeria, where he began a working visit this Tuesday, June 3rd.
News of President Kagame’s visit to Algiers was confirmed by various sources, including the Algerian Embassy in Paris, France.
The Embassy announced on its official X account that President Kagame visited the North African country following an invitation from Algeria’s President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
It stated: “At the invitation of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, has begun a two-day visit to Algeria.”
President Kagame’s visit follows a previous meeting and discussion with President Tebboune in December of last year.
The two heads of state met in Nouakchott, Mauritania, during a summit on youth education and skills development for employment, organized by the African Union.
As reported by Rwanda’s Presidency at the time, their discussions focused on strengthening “the good bilateral cooperation marked by mutual interests in key sectors such as education, defense, and security.”
They also discussed new potential areas of collaboration between the two countries, including agriculture and infrastructure.
President Kagame last visited Algeria in June 2015.
At the time, he met with top officials and emphasized that the cooperation between the two countries should benefit their citizens and Africa as a whole.
During that visit, the Head of State also laid a wreath at the memorial honoring those who died in Algeria’s war for independence.
Algeria and Rwanda have enjoyed a longstanding relationship dating back to 1978, and in 2014, Algeria opened its embassy in Rwanda.
In August 2023, among the credentials President Kagame received from 12 new diplomats accredited to Rwanda was that of the Algerian Ambassador, Mohamed Mellah, who is based in Kigali.
Other factors that reinforce bilateral ties include both countries’ membership in organizations such as the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the United Nations (UN), and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
Algeria was among the first countries to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, signed in Kigali in March 2018.
In 2016, during the 5th Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) held in Algiers, First Lady Jeannette Kagame received an award recognizing her exceptional work in fighting gender-based violence and promoting women and girls, through the Imbuto Foundation.
Since 1982, Rwanda and Algeria have signed various agreements in economic development, social welfare, cultural exchange, and cooperation.
Both countries have also agreed to intensify efforts in health, trade, investment, security, and education.
