Rwandans holding service and diplomatic passports will now travel to Russia without needing a visa, following a recent agreement between the two countries, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced on November 9. The visa waiver agreement was signed by Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, and Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov, during the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in Sochi, Russia.
The forum, which is scheduled to run from November 9 to 10 in Sochi, underscores the growing cooperation between Russia and African nations, with visa waivers being a key component of this new era of diplomacy. According to Rwanda’s Embassy in Russia, the diplomatic relationship between Rwanda and Russia dates back to October 17, 1963.
The current relations between the two nations are marked by active diplomatic missions and ambassadorial exchanges. Their cooperation spans a range of sectors, including political, military, educational, and cultural ties, as well as human resource development and specialized training. Notably, Russia offers university scholarships to Rwandan students and provides training opportunities for Rwandan police officers, enhancing Rwanda’s professional workforce and strengthening bilateral relations.
Over the past five decades, approximately 800 Rwandan students have graduated from Russian universities in fields such as law, medicine, international affairs, and political science, contributing to Rwanda’s development across multiple sectors.
