Rwanda’s Ambassador to Israel, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Emmanuel Bayingana, has presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, formally beginning his diplomatic duties in the country.
The ceremony took place on October 26, 2026, at the Israeli President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
Rwanda and Israel have continued to strengthen bilateral relations, expanding cooperation between their governments and promoting closer ties between their citizens.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have developed significantly since 1994, with both sides pursuing cooperation across several sectors.
In 2016, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Rwanda, followed by President Paul Kagame’s visit to Israel in 2017.
Israel opened its embassy in Kigali in April 2019, marking a significant step in strengthening diplomatic ties. That same year, RwandAir launched direct flights between Kigali and Tel Aviv to facilitate travel for business and tourism.
In April 2024, President Herzog visited Rwanda and joined Rwandans in commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, further highlighting relations between the two countries.
Rwanda and Israel cooperate in several areas, including agriculture, technology and innovation, education, healthcare, energy, security and defence.
In agriculture, Israel established the Rwanda-Israel Horticulture Centre of Excellence to promote agricultural knowledge and technology and help farmers improve productivity.
