On January 19, 2026, Rwanda’s State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Usta Kayitesi, met with Egyptian Ambassador to Rwanda, Hanan AbdelAziz Elsaid Shahin, in Kigali to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The meeting underscores the long-standing partnership between the two countries, which have formalized agreements across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, health, transport, and education.
In September 2025, the two governments signed a visa facilitation agreement to ease travel for citizens of both countries.
This followed President Paul Kagame’s official visit to Egypt, where he met President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to sign agreements promoting investment, water management, land exchanges, and urban development.
Under the land exchange framework, Rwanda allocated 10 hectares of land in Kirehe District to Egypt for commercial and development use, while Egypt provides land in return for Rwandan initiatives.
Bilateral cooperation also extends to technical training, industrial development, agriculture, youth programs, health, and military collaboration, highlighting the breadth of the partnership.
Both nations are members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), facilitating tariff-free trade and economic integration within the region.
Egypt has maintained an embassy in Kigali since 1976, and Rwanda reopened its embassy in Cairo in 2015, reflecting a multi-decade diplomatic relationship built on mutual growth, strategic cooperation, and regional integration.
Analysts say this latest meeting signals continued momentum in strengthening Rwanda-Egypt ties, with potential to expand trade, investment, and development cooperation in the coming years.
