Azerbaijan and Rwanda Sign Cooperation Agreements, Presidents Aliyev and Kagame Highlight Strengthening Ties
Baku, The Gulf Observer: A ceremony was held in Baku on Saturday for the exchange of documents signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Rwanda, attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Rwanda Paul Kagame.
Key Agreements Exchanged
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation James Kabarebe exchanged several bilateral agreements, including:
- Air Services Agreement between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Rwanda.
- Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education between the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education of Rwanda.
- Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda.
Additionally, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Rwanda Ruslan Nasibov and Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board Juliana Kangeli Muganza exchanged:
- Cooperation Programme to implement the MoU between Azerbaijan’s State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (ASAN) and the Rwanda Development Board on advanced public service delivery.
- MoU on Export and Investment Promotion between the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan and the Rwanda Development Board.
President Aliyev’s Statement
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed President Kagame’s official visit, noting it would give “additional impetus” to bilateral relations. He emphasized the growing results-oriented nature of Azerbaijan–Rwanda ties, particularly in education, energy, mining, public service delivery, and investment.
Aliyev praised Rwanda’s support for Azerbaijan during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and underlined opportunities to expand cooperation through business exchanges and joint projects. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s readiness to provide technical and financial assistance for the establishment of Rwanda’s own ASAN-style public service agency.
“We have an excellent political relationship, so we need to have the same level of cooperation in economic and trade areas,” Aliyev said.
President Kagame’s Statement
President Kagame expressed gratitude for the invitation and hospitality, stressing the “similarities between Rwanda and Azerbaijan” as a foundation for stronger cooperation. He noted that exchanges of delegations had already deepened mutual understanding and created momentum for practical partnerships.
Kagame underlined Rwanda’s interest in learning from Azerbaijan’s ASAN service delivery model, describing it as “very impressive, not just by its appearance but by what it has achieved for the people.” He also pointed to opportunities for collaboration in petroleum and mining.
Congratulating Azerbaijan on its progress and peace initiatives, Kagame noted parallels with Rwanda’s own pursuit of peace with the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Just know that you have friends in Africa, in Rwanda, and we want to use this cooperation and friendship to move forward quickly in our achievements of prosperity,” he said.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The exchange of agreements and the presidential statements underscored a shared commitment to deepening political, economic, and cultural relations. Both leaders affirmed that Azerbaijan and Rwanda are entering a new stage of partnership built on mutual support, development cooperation, and international solidarity.
