This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On September 16, 2019, Rwanda and Uganda took a significant step towards easing tensions between them, with government officials from both countries meeting in Kigali to discuss the implementation of an agreement signed in August in Luanda, Angola.
The agreement, a memorandum of understanding (MoU), was signed by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, witnessed by Presidents Joao Lourenco (Angola) and Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo).
Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa emphasized the importance of fully implementing the agreement, stating, "The MoU underlines the scale of Pan Africanism and is vital to our social economic development. Our two countries have long historic socio-economic and cultural ties and the closure of borders has disrupted communities, separated families and disrupted trade and movement of goods and people."
Rwanda's Minister of State for the East African Community, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also expressed his country's commitment to the agreement, saying, "Much as the MoU signing was important it is good faith implementation that is the decisive factor. That is what our citizens expect from us."
The two ministers were scheduled to hold a joint press conference after the private meeting, which aimed to find ways to cease hostilities that have led to trade and travel restrictions.
