Rwanda has strengthened its diplomatic presence in West Africa after Ambassador Festus Bizimana formally presented his credentials to President Assimi Goïta of Mali in Bamako.
The ceremony took place on May 7, 2026, marking his official accreditation as Rwanda’s non-resident ambassador to Mali.
Ambassador Bizimana, who is based in Dakar, Senegal, is concurrently accredited to several countries in the region, including Mali, Cabo Verde, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau on behalf of Rwanda.
Following the presentation of credentials, he also participated in a briefing with members of the diplomatic corps in Mali, where officials were updated on the security situation following recent attacks reported on April 25, 2026.
Rwanda and Mali maintain growing bilateral relations centered on cooperation in governance, development and regional stability.
In May 2024, the two countries signed 19 cooperation agreements covering key sectors including security and justice, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, environment, higher education, tourism and air transport.
That same year, senior Malian officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Rwanda to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand areas of cooperation between the two countries.
