Rwanda National Police has called on members of the public to adhere to the new traffic guidelines issued by the City of Kigali to facilitate traffic flow ahead of next wek’s African Union Summit in Kigali.

In an interview with Saturday Times, Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety CP Rafiki Mujiji said police is "ready to enforce” the traffic management plan issued by City of Kigali and that the traffic officers will expect full cooperation from the public.

"We continue to engage the public, informing them of the alternative routes that will be available during the Extraordinary African Union Summit. Based on what the City of Kigali has communicated, we ask the public to be flexible as they have always been whenever we have hosted such high-profile meetings in Kigali,” Mujiji said.

In a statement signed by Mayor Pascal Nyamulinda on Thursday Kigali city authorities said the road stretching from Kigali International Airport to Kigali Convention Centre and then to Serena Hotel in the city centre will be reserved for visiting dignitaries from Monday to Thursday next week.

"Kigali International Airport Road (KN 5 Rd)-KN 3 Rd-KN 6 Ave-KN 30 St-KN 67 St and KN 3 Ave (the road from the Airport-Remera-Kigali Convention Centre-SOPETRADE-Hôtel des Mille Collines to Serena Hotel). These roads will be closed to other motorists when in use by the visiting dignitaries,” the statement said in part.

At least 26 Heads of State and Government are expected in Kigali next week for an extraordinary Africa Union summit that will take place from March 19 to March 22.

They are expected to approve and adopt the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement.

The agreement, which was approved by African Ministers of Trade last weekend, seeks to make Africa the largest free-trade area in the world with 54 member states and over 1 billion citizens.

The city statement on alternative roads to be used during the meeting also note the number of roads that motorists in Kigali will be using during the course of the meeting.

Motorists connecting from Kimironko direction to Nyabugogo and back are advised to access Nyabugogo through Yamaha-Kinamba-Utexrwa or Kacyiru-Nyarutarama-Kibagabaga-Kimironko road.

Those connecting from Kanombe to Nyabugogo are advised to take Nyabugogo or Yamaha-Kinamba-‘Poids Lourds’-Kanogo-Rwandex-Sonatubes-Niboye-Kabeza-Busanza-Kanombe.

Motorists from the Nyamirambo area going to Kanombe are advised to take Nyamirambo-Rugunga-Kanogo or Gikondo-Rwandex-Sonatubes-Niboye-Kabeza-Busanza-Kanombe alternative routes.

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