Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has signed a four-year cooperation agreement with the Djibouti Athletics Federation (DAF), aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of athletes and coaches through technical exchanges, specialised training, and increased international exposure. The partnership, which will run from 2026 to 2030, seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two federations by facilitating athlete participation in international competitions, improving coaching standards, and promoting the exchange of technical expertise. ALSO READ: How peace marathon highlights Rwanda’s sports tourism Under the deal, Djibouti will invite two Rwandan athletes and one Rwandan official to its annual international athletics meeting, covering international airfare, accommodation, and meals, while visa application fees will remain the responsibility of the receiving federation. DAF will also sponsor the participation of one Rwandan athlete in the Djibouti Telecom International Half Marathon, covering air transport, accommodation, and full board, while another Rwandan athlete will compete in the Air Djibouti 10K Race with all travel and hospitality expenses covered. The agreement further provides opportunities for technical training in Djibouti, enabling Rwandan coaches to benefit from sessions led by internationally recognised experts based in the country. In addition, both federations committed to institutionalising the exchange of professional information, technical knowledge, and coaching expertise. Djibouti will also dispatch a World Athletics Level III-certified coach to Kigali to oversee professional training programmes. ALSO READ: Kigali Peace Marathon: Ibishatse leads Rwanda’s dominance with half marathon gold RAF president Lt Col (Rtd) Lemuel Kayumba said the partnership is intended to expose Rwandan athletes to more competitive environments while allowing them to benefit from Djibouti's favourable high-altitude training conditions. We want to expose our athletes by increasing the number of competitions they participate in throughout the year. Djibouti also offers high-altitude conditions that our athletes need to experience during training so they can adapt and perform better in similar environments, Kayumba said. In return, RAF pledged to facilitate the annual participation of two Djiboutian athletes and two officials in the Kigali International Peace Marathon. The federation also committed to jointly develop standardised coaching materials with Djibouti, make Rwanda's sports infrastructure available for Djiboutian training camps when required, and establish permanent collaboration between the technical departments of both federations. DAF president Said Ismael Hassan welcomed the partnership, describing it as an important step toward creating more opportunities for athletes from both countries. We appreciate the collaboration with Rwanda because it strengthens our shared commitment to developing athletics. Djibouti has experienced athletes who have competed in Rwanda, and by building this partnership, we hope to facilitate the exchange of skills, knowledge, and other mutual benefits, Hassan said.
