President Paul Kagame and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, have agreed to cement bilateral cooperation and discussed how similar relations can be pushed across to attain socioeconomic development and security.
President Kagame meets with Mohamed Larbu Oukd Khelifa (L), Speaker of the People’s National Assembly – Algiers, 20 April 2015
President Kagame has been on a three-day visit to the West African nation since Sunday. Kagame had earlier met with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, and speaker of Algerian parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah.
President Kagame is hosted to dinner by the Speaker of the People’s National Assembly, Mohamed Larbu Oukd Khelifa, 20 April 2015
Kagame’s visit to Algeria is strategic- and was meant to review and re-energize the four decades bilateral relations between the two countries. “Algeria and Rwanda are linked by good relations since the 1970s, especially in diplomacy,” Kagame told journalists after a meeting with President Bouteflika.
President Kagame, Defense Minister Gen. James (tall on the right) and Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo (in African Fabric), Tour the Tipasa Archaeological Park, 21 April 2015
For Bouteflika, Kagame’s visit was “an opportunity for the two countries, which share longstanding friendship ties and cooperation, to exchange at the highest level views on issues of common interest, particularly regarding Africa.”
Rwanda and Algeria share a long history of liberation struggles. When Rwanda got independence from Belgium in 1962, Algeria was ending an eight year-long war against French colony, which saw then French President Charles De Gaulle pronounce Algeria an independent country on July 3, 1962.
President Kagame lays a wreath and pays tribute at the Martyr’s Sanctuary – Algiers, 19 April 2015
Kagame said that “The long history of liberation of Algeria informed many other countries, including ours.”
Kagame, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo and Defence Minister Gen. James Kabarebe, ended his tour of Alegeria yesterday, with a visit to the Tipaza Archaeological Park. He also visited the Martyr’s Sanctuary and Mujahid Museum which preserves Algerian historical facts.
Kagame is given a tour of the Mujahid Museum (liberation museum) by Djamila Zefouni, 19 April 2015
In a book he signed, Kagame wrote: “Very happy to learn about this important history of this great country.” His visit began from Ethiopia on another state visit where he also later attended the 4th Tana High Level Forum on security in Africa with Heads of States.
He is expected to travel to Morocco for a high-profile conference organized by the Clinton Foundation, on May 5-7, to discuss connecting governments and nonprofits and address problems affecting host areas.
