Egypt & Rwanda Sign MoU, Announce New Logistics Zone

On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Aty and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe met in Kigali to strengthen the ties between their two nations.

The discussions resulted in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and announcing a new logistics zone dedicated to Egypt.

As reported by Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration, the meeting emphasized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's commitment to enhancing Egypt’s relations with African nations, especially those in the Nile Basin.

Abdel Aty stressed the importance of African-led solutions to address the continent’s challenges, recognizing the shared destiny between Egypt and its African neighbors.

Dr. Abdel Aty highlighted Egypt’s active role in Africa, citing its current membership in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council and its influential leadership during Egypt’s presidency of COMESA. He also noted President el-Sisi’s leadership in post-conflict reconstruction and development across the continent.

Abdel Aty expressed Egypt’s readiness to elevate political dialogue with Rwanda, reinvigorate the work of the Joint Committee, and explore new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the economic and investment sectors.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was Rwanda’s decision to allocate a logistics zone for Egypt, facilitating Egyptian companies and investments in accessing the Rwandan market. Abdel Aty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Rwanda in crucial areas such as water resource management and healthcare.

He also emphasized the importance of completing the construction of the Egypt-Rwanda Magdi Yacoub Heart Center, which is expected to establish Rwanda as a regional hub for medical services in Central and East Africa.

 Furthermore, Abdel Aty discussed the potential for Egypt to contribute its expertise to the African Medicines Agency, highlighting the benefits of integrating Egyptian knowledge into the agency’s operations. He also extended an invitation to Minister Nduhungirehe to visit Egypt.

The discussions also covered several regional issues, including the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Abdel Aty highlighted Egypt’s efforts to mediate a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to prevent a broader regional conflict.

The ministers also discussed developments in Sudan and Libya, with Abdel Aty outlining Egypt’s efforts to resolve these crises. Additionally, they explored cooperation among Nile Basin countries, Egypt’s strategic interest in the Horn of Africa, and the collaboration between Egypt and Rwanda within the African Union.

On his part, Minister Nduhungirehe congratulated Dr. Abdel Aty on his new role and praised the deep ties between Egypt and Rwanda. He emphasized the importance of enhancing investment and trade between the two countries, which he identified as key drivers of their relationship. Nduhungirehe also mentioned that several memorandums of understanding are in the works, covering a range of sectors and expected to be signed soon.

He underscored the need to elevate relations both bilaterally and within the broader African context and expressed gratitude for Egypt’s significant support in establishing the Magdi Yacoub Heart Center in Rwanda.

The meeting concluded with the signing of an MoU between Egypt and Rwanda in the transportation sector, witnessed by the Rwandan Minister of Infrastructure and the Secretary-General of the Rwandan Intelligence Service. Additionally, it was announced that Rwanda would allocate a plot of land near its border with Tanzania for the establishment of an Egyptian logistics zone.