Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, was received by Mali’s Head of State and Transitional President, Army General Assimi Goïta, for talks on strengthening relations between the two countries and advancing African integration.
The meeting took place in Bamako during Nduhungirehe’s working and friendship visit to Mali.
Mali’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop and senior officials from the Malian presidency also attended.
Nduhungirehe said the discussions reviewed his visit and the agreements already concluded between Rwanda and Mali.
They followed talks he had held with Diop a day earlier.
“It is now time to translate all these discussions into concrete results for the benefit of the Republic of Mali and the sister Republic of Rwanda,” Nduhungirehe said after meeting Goïta.
Rwanda and Mali signed 19 agreements during the inaugural session of their Joint Commission in Kigali in May 2024.
The agreements cover defence, security, justice, health, agriculture, mining, energy, digitalisation, investment, tourism and environmental protection.
During their latest meeting, Nduhungirehe and Diop reviewed the implementation of those agreements and discussed ways to increase economic exchanges between the two countries.
Nduhungirehe’s discussions with Goïta also covered security challenges in the Sahel. The Rwandan minister said African countries needed to exchange experience and support one another as part of efforts to advance continental integration.
Rwanda and Mali plan to hold the second session of their Joint Commission in Bamako in 2027.
A business forum is expected to accompany the meeting, bringing together investors and companies from both countries. Its date and other arrangements have not yet been announced.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10