President Paul Kagame on Friday, March 6, received letters of credence from 20 new ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Rwanda, marking the start of their diplomatic missions in the country. The diplomats represent a wide range of countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They come from Mali, Swiss Confederation, Republic of the Congo, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, The Gambia, Georgia, Greece, and Namibia. ALSO READ: Kagame receives credentials from new Qatar, Japan envoys There are also envoys of Malta, Slovakia, Tunisia, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, Dominican Republic, and Colombia. The ceremony is a key diplomatic tradition that formally allows ambassadors and high commissioners to assume their duties and represent their countries in the host nation. Envoys outline priorities Speaking to the media after presenting his credentials, Gilles Cerutti, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, said the moment marked a significant milestone in relations between Rwanda and Switzerland. “I am the first resident Swiss ambassador to Rwanda since Switzerland opened its embassy in Kigali at the end of last year,” Cerutti said, describing the development as the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the two countries. He noted that Switzerland has maintained development cooperation with Rwanda for more than six decades and intends to continue supporting the country’s development journey. He explained that Switzerland recently launched a new four-year cooperation strategy focusing on local governance and employment, anchored in principles of mutual respect, trust, and equal partnership. Beyond development cooperation, Cerutti said Switzerland also aims to expand collaboration in areas such as science, innovation, and business partnerships, with the goal of strengthening economic engagement between the two nations. He added that Switzerland remains ready to support regional peace and stability efforts if requested, noting the country has a longstanding experience in mediation and peacebuilding initiatives. Strengthening Rwanda–Gambia cooperation Salimata Touray, High Commissioner of The Gambia, emphasised her country’s intention to deepen cooperation with Rwanda across several strategic sectors. Touray described Rwanda as a trusted partner and a model for governance and service delivery in Africa. She said the relationship between the two countries already spans key sectors, including security and defence, public service reform, and the justice sector. “Going forward, The Gambia is keen to strengthen ties further by expanding collaboration in areas aligned with its national development priorities,” she said. One of the areas of interest, she said, is digitalisation, where The Gambia hopes to learn from Rwanda’s experience in modernising public service delivery systems. Touray also highlighted ongoing cooperation in the security sector, noting that the Gambian Chief of Defence Staff recently visited Rwanda as part of efforts to enhance military collaboration. She said the partnership includes training for Gambian military and police officers, particularly in addressing transnational organised crime and terrorism. In the education sector, Touray pointed to plans for academic exchange programmes between the two countries, particularly in technical and vocational education and training, as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She also highlighted opportunities for collaboration between law schools and training institutions in both countries. On economic cooperation, Touray emphasised the importance of leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to boost trade and investment between Rwanda and The Gambia. She further noted that The Gambia is interested in learning from Rwanda’s experience in migration management and diaspora engagement, given that many Gambians live abroad. Touray said strengthening cooperation in these areas would help both countries benefit mutually while contributing to broader African development goals. Malta envoy pledges continued collaboration For Malta, High Commissioner Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said his appointment builds on years of engagement with Rwanda. Orlando noted that he had been working in Rwanda for the past five years through the kENUP Foundation, an organisation that collaborates with Rwandan institutions in areas such as education, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. As Malta’s High Commissioner, he intends to continue strengthening these partnerships while expanding cooperation in other areas. Education will remain a key focus, he noted, particularly through student exchange programmes and training initiatives that align with labour market needs. He also expressed interest in supporting practical and industry-relevant education programmes that can contribute to economic growth. In addition, Orlando highlighted tourism as another promising sector for collaboration, praising Rwanda’s natural attractions and growing appeal as a travel destination. Orlando said he hopes to contribute to efforts that promote tourism links and encourage more visitors from Malta and beyond to explore Rwanda.
