Rwanda and Senegal have signed 11 agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The agreements were signed in Kigali on October 7, 2026, during the first meeting of the Permanent Commission for Cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal. The meeting was co-chaired by Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Senegalese counterpart, H.E. Cheikh Niang, Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad.
The agreements include three conventions and eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at promoting cooperation in various sectors. These sectors include political consultation, technology and innovation, tourism, youth, culture, and sports. The agreements also cover cooperation in higher education and scientific research, quality control, judicial cooperation, extradition of fugitives, and the execution of prison sentences in the two countries.
The ministers of foreign affairs of both countries expressed their satisfaction with the agreements, stating that they lay the foundation for further strengthening relations and cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal. Rwandan Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that the agreements demonstrate the commitment of both countries to promoting cooperation for the benefit of their citizens. He added that the agreements will have a positive impact on the two countries and their people in various sectors.
Minister Nduhungirehe also highlighted that the strong cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal reflects the commitment of both countries to playing a role in African development, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was launched in Kigali in 2018. Senegalese Minister Cheikh Niang noted that the three-day visit of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Rwanda in October 2025 was an important opportunity to further strengthen relations between the two countries.
The agreements also include provisions for facilitating travel for diplomats, civil servants, and ordinary citizens, as well as cooperation in agriculture, animal husbandry, health, and the implementation of priority projects in both countries. The two countries also signed an MoU on cooperation in the management of prisons. Minister Niang emphasized that the key task after signing the agreements is to monitor their implementation and ensure that they are implemented effectively.
The minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda announced that the new agreements bring the total number of agreements between the two countries to 17, aimed at promoting cooperation in various sectors. The relations between Rwanda and Senegal have a long history, dating back to 2011 when Rwanda opened an embassy in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, which has contributed to strengthening cooperation between the two countries. The relations have been further strengthened by visits of leaders of both countries to Kigali and Dakar.
The two countries have been actively engaged in promoting cooperation in various sectors, with President Paul Kagame visiting Senegal in June 2025 and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye undertaking a three-day visit to Rwanda in October 2025. The agreements signed are expected to further enhance cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal and promote mutual benefit for the two countries and their people.
Key points
- The agreements cover cooperation in various sectors, including politics, economy, education, technology, culture, and justice.
- The agreements were signed during the first meeting of the Permanent Commission for Cooperation between Rwanda and Senegal.
- The two countries have a long history of cooperation, dating back to 2011 when Rwanda opened an embassy in Dakar.
