President Paul Kagame arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday, May 3, for a one-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Upon arrival, the Head of State was received by his counterpart, President Samia Suluhu Hassan. They held bilateral talks. ALSO READ: Kagame, Tanzania foreign minister discuss bilateral ties Their discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Rwanda and Tanzania across key areas of mutual interest. After the tête-a-tête discussions, Kagame and Suluhu will hold a joint press conference. The two leaders are also expected to use the meeting to reinforce regional solidarity and advance economic integration within the East African Community (EAC), which continues to push for deeper trade and economic collaboration among member states. EAC has set an ambitious target to increase intra-regional trade from about 15 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030. Although trade within the bloc has grown steadily in recent years, from about $9.8 billion in 2021 to $14.3 billion in 2024, the regional share remains below desired levels. ALSO READ: Tanzania eyes boost in railway, air links with Rwanda Rwanda and Tanzania already cooperate in several sectors, including trade, air transport, defence and security, as well as energy and infrastructure development. The two countries previously reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations during the 16th Joint Permanent Commission held in Kigali in July 2025, where key areas under consideration included the expansion of air connectivity and development of a railway project.
