PHOTOS: Kagame gifts Inyambo cows to Emir of Qatar

President Paul Kagame on Thursday, November 20, gifted the visiting Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with Inyambo cows during his two-day official visit to Rwanda. The Emir arrived in Kigali earlier in the day and was received by Kagame at Kigali International Airport. The two leaders later travelled to the President’s upcountry farm for a tour. ALSO READ: ‘Inyambo diplomacy’: Foreign leaders Kagame gifted cows According to the President’s Office, the Inyambo gift is a Rwandan tradition symbolising friendship, mutual respect, and strong ties between the leaders and their nations. From ancient times, cows were of great value in the Rwandan culture. Even today, people still greet each other with amashyo (meaning: 'may you own thousands of cows.') Receiving cows as a gift is still seen as one of the highest gestures of friendship and appreciation. It is also a traditional way of strengthening bonds and expressing honour, gratitude and goodwill. This is the Emir’s second visit to Rwanda, following a 2019 state visit during which the two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements in culture, sports, tourism, business events, and aviation. ALSO READ: How Inyambo cows are bred, preserved through generations Bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Qatar continues to expand, especially in aviation, security, investment, and hospitality. Earlier this year, Qatar approved a draft mutual visa waiver allowing holders of ordinary Rwandan passports to enter the country freely. Qatar’s Chargé d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, said the Emir’s visit comes at a significant moment, given rapid regional and global developments. In aviation, a key area of cooperation, Qatar Airways has made investment in the $2 billion proposed airport in Bugesera, which is under construction. The airport’s 130,000-square-meter terminal will initially accommodate eight million passengers annually, with capacity expected to grow to more than 14 million in the coming decades, according to developers.

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PHOTOS: Kagame gifts Inyambo cows to Emir of Qatar