Rwanda’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Saturday received his Central African Republic (CAR) counterpart Félix Moloua for a three-day visit, during which discussions focused on strengthening the existing cooperation between the two African countries.
Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s minister of Foreign Affairs, said both countries have strong bilateral relations based on various sectors, adding that the visit benefits both countries.
“We have sent our army to CAR in line with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission and through cooperation between our two countries,” he said. “This helps them regain security. We also cooperate in sectors, such as infrastructure, health, security, and mining.”
Maxime Balalou, CAR’s minister of Communication and Media and Government spokesperson, explained that during the visit leaders are “working on important projects for the development of our people.”
“We are assured, and I think that this cooperation is a model for CAR,” Balalou continued. “We will benefit from Rwanda’s experience in resilience and overcoming difficult situations. Both Rwanda and CAR have faced challenging situations, and we are learning from Rwanda’s experience.”
Prime Minister Moloua’s visit to Rwanda was just over two weeks after the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Central African Republic Armed Forces, Maj Gen Zépherin Mamadou, visited the Rwanda Defence Force headquarters in Kigali, on June 10. In April, 283 law enforcement officers from Rwanda and Central African Republic completed the ‘Police Basic Special Forces’ course at the Counter Terrorism Training Centre (CTTC) Mayange in Bugesera District.
Last year, Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra said that the bilateral cooperation arrangement with Rwanda is fruitful, having helped to restore peace and security in his country.
In December 2020, Rwanda’s special forces were critical in blocking the advance – on Bangui – of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) rebel alliance led by former president François Bozize.
At the time, Rwanda quickly deployed special forces under a bilateral arrangement on defense to bolster the Central African Republic’s armed forces.