Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Olivier Nduhungirehe, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, for discussions aimed at strengthening the growing partnership between the two countries across various sectors.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the official opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which Minister Nduhungirehe attended as part of Rwanda’s delegation.
During the talks, Minister Nduhungirehe expressed Rwanda’s appreciation to Egypt for the milestone achievement of inaugurating the GEM and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations between Kigali and Cairo.
A New Global Landmark in Heritage Preservation
The Grand Egyptian Museum, officially inaugurated on November 1, 2025, is now the world’s largest archaeological museum, housing over 100,000 artefacts that tell the story of Egypt’s 7,000-year history.
The concept for GEM dates back to 1992, with construction beginning in 2005. Built on a 50-hectare site just two kilometers from the Giza Pyramids, the museum cost over $1 billion to complete.
Upon entry, visitors are greeted by an 11-meter-tall, 8-ton statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II, considered one of Egypt’s most powerful rulers. The museum is organized into three major thematic sections: social life, royal history, and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt.
Among its highlights are the royal solar boat of King Khufu, dating back 2,500 years before Christ, and detailed displays of ancient Egyptian deities such as Osiris and Ptah. There is also a children’s learning center, a modern library, and a special gallery dedicated to Tutankhamun, featuring all 5,398 artefacts from his tomb displayed together for the first time in history.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Rwanda and Egypt continue to consolidate their diplomatic and economic ties. On September 28, 2025, during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, the two countries signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for their citizens traveling between both nations.
Just a week earlier, President Paul Kagame had paid an official visit to Egypt, where he met President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The visit concluded with several key agreements focused on investment promotion, water management, land exchange, and urban development.
In August 2024, the two nations also signed additional cooperation agreements covering health, transport, and trade, building on earlier frameworks in industrial development, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and defense cooperation.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Egypt date back several decades. Egypt has maintained an embassy in Kigali since 1976, while Rwanda reopened its embassy in Cairo in March 2015.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi last visited Rwanda in 2017, marking a significant step in deepening ties between the two African nations.
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
