Nduhungirehe, Iwaya Discuss Bilateral Cooperation and Great Lakes Peace
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, held talks with his Japanese counterpart, Minister Iwaya Takeshi, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and advancing peace and security in the Great Lakes Region.
The meeting took place in Tokyo on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where Minister Nduhungirehe is leading Rwanda’s delegation.
Minister Nduhungirehe commended the longstanding partnership between Rwanda and Japan, built around the broader TICAD framework, and stressed the need to deepen economic cooperation.
For his part, Minister Iwaya welcomed the progress made by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the June 27, 2025 peace agreement, brokered with support from the United States. He emphasized the importance of both parties honoring their commitments to ensure the accord delivers the expected stability.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry underscored that Tokyo places strong confidence in Rwanda’s leadership, noting that Minister Iwaya reaffirmed Japan’s humanitarian support to refugees and host communities in the Great Lakes Region through the World Food Programme (WFP). He also highlighted Japan’s continued backing for regional peace initiatives.
Diplomatic ties between Rwanda and Japan date back to Rwanda’s independence in 1962. Relations were further strengthened in 2005 with the establishment of embassies in Kigali and Tokyo. Today, the partnership spans diverse sectors, including trade, investment, technical assistance, infrastructure, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, education, ICT, and space science services.
