President Paul Kagame on Wednesday received letters of credence from two newly accredited ambassadors, officially welcoming them as envoys to Rwanda.
The ambassadors are Kazuya Nakajo of Japan and Mansour Ali Fahad Al-Shahwani Al-Hajri of Qatar. Their accreditation marks the formal start of their diplomatic missions in the country.
During the ceremony at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame exchanged remarks with the envoys, reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with both nations.
Japan and Rwanda share longstanding ties in development, infrastructure, health, and capacity building. Nakajo said he aims to expand cooperation in trade, investment, culture, and knowledge sharing. “I am committed to expanding the relationship between Japan and Rwanda across all sectors,” he said.
Qatar has deepened its engagement with Rwanda over the past two decades, focusing on investment, aviation, tourism, trade, and infrastructure. Ambassador Al-Hajri, who succeeds the late Misfer bin Faisal Al-Shahwani, said he will prioritize ongoing investment projects, including the construction of the new Kigali International Airport and air transport initiatives.
“Rwanda and Qatar’s relationship has grown from friendship into brotherhood,” Al-Hajri said. The ties continue to expand across sectors such as trade, tourism, security, and cultural exchanges.
Since 2023, Qatar has also played a role in mediating between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitating talks that led to a meeting between Presidents Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi in March 2025 and a peace agreement signed in Washington in December 2025.
