Write / Hatem Mohamed
Ambassador Karim Sherif, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs, reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Republic of Rwanda and supporting African development and regional integration in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, during his speech marking the 32nd Anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Sherif conveyed Egypt’s heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of Rwanda, praising the country’s remarkable achievements in national reconciliation, economic development, and state-building over the past three decades. He noted that Liberation Day stands as a symbol of the resilience, unity, and determination of the Rwandan people to build a more prosperous future.
He highlighted the significant progress in Egypt-Rwanda relations under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Paul Kagame, noting the expansion of cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, healthcare, education, agriculture, water resources management, infrastructure, and coordination on regional and continental issues.
Ambassador Sherif also pointed out that President Paul Kagame’s visit to Cairo in September 2025 gave fresh momentum to bilateral relations, resulting in agreements to enhance cooperation in investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, water management, and capacity building, as well as the signing of several memoranda of understanding.
He revealed that bilateral trade reached approximately USD 25.3 million during the first half of 2025, with Egyptian exports accounting for nearly USD 25 million, reflecting the growing presence of Egyptian products in the Rwandan market.
The Assistant Foreign Minister stressed that Egypt remains committed to supporting Rwanda’s human capacity development through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), which has implemented training programs in diplomacy, healthcare, agriculture, irrigation, energy, and other key sectors, alongside providing medical assistance and technical cooperation.
He also highlighted the Rwanda–Egypt Magdi Yacoub Heart Centre in Kigali as one of the flagship examples of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. The center is expected to become a regional hub for advanced cardiac care, medical training, and scientific research, while providing free life-saving treatment for patients in need and developing a new generation of African healthcare professionals.
Ambassador Sherif reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to working closely with Rwanda to maximize the potential of the bilateral partnership, promote intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and contribute to peace, stability, sustainable development, and prosperity across the continent. He emphasized that Egypt and Rwanda share a common belief in African solutions to African challenges and the importance of strengthening regional integration for future generations.
He concluded by extending Egypt’s sincere congratulations to the Government and people of Rwanda on the occasion of the 32nd Liberation Day Anniversary, expressing Cairo’s aspiration to further deepen the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.
