Addis Ababa: Ethiopia and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and collaborating on regional peace and development initiatives. This announcement was made following a high-level bilateral meeting between Binalf Andualem, Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace, and Vincent Biruta, Rwandan Minister of Interior, on the sidelines of the Continental Peace Conference held in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Binalf emphasized that Ethiopia and Rwanda share a strong historical diplomatic relationship, characterized by various bilateral agreements and cooperations. He highlighted Rwanda’s understanding of the strategic importance of Ethiopia’s quest to secure access to the sea. The two countries will further strengthen their efforts to consolidate peace, security, and development, with today’s discussions strengthening their commitment to further deepen this cooperation.
Minister Vincent Biruta, on his behalf, expressed admiration for Addis Ababa’s rapid development. B
oth ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and security. Biruta commended Ethiopia’s significant role in peacekeeping operations across Africa, highlighting the country’s contributions to various peacekeeping missions.
He also stressed the potential for deeper collaboration between Ethiopia and Rwanda in peacebuilding efforts, particularly in conflict prevention, mediation, and post-conflict reconstruction. They acknowledged the substantial contributions their peacekeepers have made to peacebuilding efforts across the continent.
The discussions concluded with a mutual commitment to expanding cooperation, strengthening existing partnerships, and collectively contributing to the peace and development of the African continent. Binalf emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic objective of securing access to the sea, a goal shared by Rwanda, and discussed the importance of working together in partnership across various areas,
including trade, investment, and infrastructure development.
In the post-1994 genocide period in Rwanda, Ethiopia was among the countries that deployed peacekeeping forces to Rwanda. Notably, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was a member of Ethiopia’s peacekeeping mission, further highlighting the enduring diplomatic relationship between the two countries.