Jesca Mutamba
Rwanda and South Africa have agreed to deepen cooperation and rebuild relations, with the governments set to revive a joint mechanism to guide cooperation in various sectors.
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The agreement was reached in Pretoria on Wednesday where Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, held wide-ranging discussions with his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola.
Lamola said his government would resume visa issuance to Rwandan ordinary passport holders.
In a statement on Thursday by the Rwandan High Commission in South Africa said the visit marked “an important step in the continued normalization and strengthening of relations between Rwanda and South Africa.”
The two ministers reaffirming their commitment to deeper cooperation for the benefit of both countries and the continent.
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“A key outcome of the visit was the agreement to revive the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC), with Rwanda set to host the next session in the first quarter of 2027,” the statement read in part.
To facilitate travel, trade, investment, tourism, academic exchanges and people-to-people relations, the two ministers agreed to resume visa issuance to holders of ordinary Rwandan passports within the next 12 months.
The ministers also committed to strengthening economic cooperation and enhancing private sector engagement as both countries seek to broaden collaboration beyond political and diplomatic relations.
According to the High Commission, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building “a forward-looking partnership founded on mutual trust and cooperation for mutual benefit.”
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The ministers exchanged views on regional peace and security issues, including developments in eastern DR Congo, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and the Sahel. The reaffirmed the two countries’ support for “African-led solutions to African challenges.”
Relations between Rwanda and South Africa were strongest in the years following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with cooperation extending to education, health and economic development.
However, political and security concerns later strained ties, while differences over the conflict in eastern DR Congo added another source of tension.
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The High Commission said the government of Rwanda welcomed the outcomes of the visit and looked forward to working closely with South Africa to advance “a renewed partnership that promotes peace, prosperity, and regional integration.”
New Times