Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday welcomed Rwandan President Paul Kagame for a state visit aimed at strengthening the fast-growing partnership between the two nations.
The visit is part of ongoing efforts to expand cooperation in trade, infrastructure, health and water management. Egypt was among the first countries to recognize Rwanda’s independence in 1962, and the two sides have since built a relationship anchored in a Joint Committee created in 1989 to organize bilateral programs.
A centerpiece of current cooperation is the establishment of an Egyptian logistics zone in Rwanda on land allocated near the Tanzanian border. The facility is expected to reduce transport costs, boost Egyptian exports to East Africa and serve as a hub for warehousing, customs and freight services.
The two governments also coordinate closely as Nile Basin states, where water security has become an increasingly sensitive issue. Both leaders reaffirmed the need for equitable use of the Nile’s resources within the framework of the Nile Basin Initiative. Egypt has been providing Rwanda with technical expertise in irrigation, water management and farmer training to support its agricultural development.
Health cooperation is another pillar of the partnership. The Magdi Yacoub Rwanda-Egypt Heart Centre in Kigali is emerging as a regional hub for cardiac care, reflecting Cairo’s support for Rwanda’s health infrastructure. Egypt has also supplied medical equipment for cardiovascular treatment and expressed readiness to collaborate further in the pharmaceutical sector, including joint regulation and production.
Officials from both sides said the visit underlines a shared commitment to deepen political and economic ties, while promoting sustainable development and regional stability.
