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PhDR: State visit of Rwandan President, Paul Kagame to Benin from April 14 to 16, 2023.
At the invitation of the President of the Republic, Mr. Patrice TALON, his counterpart, Mr. Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda and his wife Jeannette NYIRAMONGI KAGAME, made a State visit to the Republic of Benin on April 14, 15 and 16, 2023. Already, on Friday April 14, Ms. Jeannette Kagame was welcomed at Cotonou International Airport by the First Lady, Ms. Claudine Talon, accompanied by the Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance and a government delegation. Ie Rwandan Head of State will be received on the morning of Saturday, April 15, at the Palais de la Marina, by Patrice TALON, for a one-on-one followed by a working session extended to members of the two delegations. This working session will be sanctioned by the signing of various agreements, guided tours and a press briefing for the synthesis of this fruitful State visit.
Dn the framework of strengthening relations between Benin and Rwanda, the two countries signed, during the first session of the Great Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries which was held on September 29 and 30, 2017 in Rubavu ( Rwanda), agreements in the fields of ICT, cadastral service, environment and sustainable development recalled the press release signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Mr. Aurelien A. Agbénonci and Dr. Vincent Biruta. “These different agreements have enabled experts from both countries to work together for the well-being of both peoples” pointed out the press release.
During a tete-a-tete which lasted 90 minutes, the two presidents addressed several subjects of public interest, including that relating to the security plan, in particular, the terrorist threat in the Sahel and its extension to the coastal countries of West Africa, including Benin; as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in this area. President Paul Kagame hailed the leadership of President Patrice Talon as well as the efforts of the government of Benin in implementing a multisectoral response adapted to this phenomenon.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame (C) gestures towards Beninese Foreign Minister Aurelien Agbenonci (R) upon his arrival at Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport on April 15, 2023. (Photo by Yanick Folly / AFP)
The two presidents congratulated on the quality of the relations of friendship and cooperation that exist between Benin and Rwanda. They have underlined the regular political consultations between the two countries as well as the richness of their strategic partnership, particularly in the fields of security and defence, the economy and research, and reaffirmed their firm will to work to strengthen it for the benefit of both Peoples. In this regard, they agreed to hold, in Cotonou, before the end of 2023, the second session of the Benin-Rwanda Mixed Cooperation Commission, with a view to monitoring issues of common interest. Just like the quality of military cooperation between the two countries or henceforth we will note the expression of a common will to strengthen it between the two peoples.
Moreover, iThey also welcomed the existence between the two countries of a mechanism for technical cooperation and exchanges of specialized staff which has already enabled experts from each country to be deployed in the other country, with a view to benefit from their expertise and know-how. Aduring their interview, the two heads of state have agreed to the signing between the two countries of legal instruments in the areas of: avoidance of double taxation, agriculture; Ie digital; local governance; Sustainable development ; military cooperation; commercial and industrial cooperation; tourism and investment promotion.
President Paul Kagame congratulated President Patrice Talon for the reforms undertaken to make Benin a place of choice for innovation and research as well as his determination to invest in the development of human capital and the knowledge economy to achieve growth and create skilled jobs.
At the regional level, President Talon commended President Kagame’s leadership in the context of the institutional reform of the African Union and his commitment to consolidating achievements and pursuing efforts to build a united Africa and prosperous, in accordance with Agenda 2063. The two Heads of State also exchanged views on the opportunities offered to African countries within the framework of the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf).
At the multilateral level, Presidents Talon and Kagame reaffirmed their unwavering attachment to international law and to the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The two Heads of State expressed their satisfaction with the adoption, by the General Assembly of the United Nations, on March 29, 2023, of Resolution A/77/L.58 seeking to request from the International Court of Justice the “obligations” of States with regard to climate change.
Din the afternoon of Saturday April 15, 2023, lhost of Benin surrenderedat the Sèmè City Development Agency, the International City of Innovation and Knowledge, where an exchange meeting with young entrepreneurs, students and start-ups is planned. Iopen, le president Kagame a demande to establish partnerships with similar Rwandan institutions. During this activity, President Kagame will talk to young entrepreneurs, students and start-up managers on African youth leadership and the future of the continent.
On the sidelines of this visit Mrs. Kagame surrounded of the first lady, Mrs. Claudine Talon, Ministers of Trade and Industry and Social Affairs, discussed with women entrepreneurs on female leadership in Benin and in Africa. President Kagame came towards the end of the exchanges to make his contribution. President Paul Kagame also visited the GDIZ industrial site at Glo-Djigbe. In addition, the two first ladies also visited the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Departmental University Hospital Center of Oueme, a realization of the first lady of Benin, commissioned in May 2022 and which receives children with cancer. to provide them with health care.
Ph:DR: The joint press briefing hosted by the two presidents
Infin, the two Heads of State ont anime a joint press briefing, after the reading of the joint press release. ADuring this face-to-face meeting with media men, questions related to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, in particular commercial exchanges, the promotion of investments and the exchange of expertise, tourism, the facilitation of free movement goods and people, air transport between Kigali and Cotonou, the textile industry and on the support of the Rwandan armed forces inthe fight against terrorism are mentioned. The two Heads of State provided answers to these various concerns.
The presidential couple Rwandan a boucle his stay in Benin by guided tours of the Monument to the Devoted erected in the Garden of Mathieu (in memory of the children of Benin devoted to the fatherland) and finally Amazon Square (en the honor of the women of Benin of yesterday and today).
A son tour, le president Paul Kagame a extended an invitation to son hhomologousle president Patrice Talon, to soon visit Rwanda on a date to be agreed through diplomatic channels.
