President Paul Kagame with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
President Paul Kagame is expected to hold talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, the President’s office announced.
Kagame arrived in Doha, Qatar yesterday for a two-day official visit.
The President’s visit comes after Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Valentine Rugwabiza, and the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Alya Ahmed S. Al-Thani, signed a Joint Communiqué on the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.
Part of the Communiqué signed in May last year was to formalize the desire of the two countries to upgrade their relationship and widen the areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the People of both countries.
In February this year, President Kagame met Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Qatar is accredited to Rwanda through its mission in Dar es Salaam, while Rwanda is accredited to the Gulf state through its mission in the United Arab Emirates.
In September this year, on the margin of the UN General Assembly, President Kagame met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to review bilateral relations between the two nations, and devise ways to boost and enhance them.
On the first day of the President’s visit, the two leaders and their delegations will hold bilateral talks followed by an official luncheon hosted by the Emir of Qatar in honour of President Kagame’s visit.
Kagame is accompanied by Infrastructure Minister Claver Gatete, among other officials.
Qatar and Rwanda share economic ties in Civil Aviation. Qatar Airways started its direct flights to Rwanda in March 2012, creating a direct linkage between Rwanda and the Middle East.
