President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania received a special message from Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Thursday, presented by Dr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, on how the two nations can improve bilateral ties.
Dr Biruta presented the message to President Suluhu, who assumed office in March after the death of late President John Pombe Magufuli, as a Special Envoy, marking the first direct meeting between the two leaders since she began office.
According to a statement from Tanzania’s President’s Office, the message included more sympathies for the East African country, a word of congratulations to President Suluhu, and a message about expanding connections.
“Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, received a message from His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, which was given by a Special Envoy, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta,” said the statement.
“In his statement, President Kagame expressed his condolences to the country in the aftermath of the death of President John Pombe Magufuli, and congratulated Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her election as President, and assured her that Rwanda is eager to expand relations and collaboration with Tanzania,”
The statement reads, “His Excellency President Kagame said that Rwanda is ready to work with Tanzania to implement development projects, including power generation projects at Rusumo and the construction of a modern standard gauge railway linking Kigali and Isaka-Tanzania, which will facilitate the transportation of goods from the port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Rwanda.”
According to the release, President Suluhu expressed appreciation to President Kagame for his sorrow and gratitude message, and that Tanzania is ready to expand relations and collaboration with Rwanda.
Regarding collaborative initiatives between the two nations, President Suluhu urged both nations’ ambassadors to work more to discover new avenues of collaboration based on mutual interests.
The two nations’ High Commissioners were also urged to expedite a fish transport project in which RwandAir, the national carrier, will transport fish from Mwanza to the Isaka inland port.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Maj. Gen Charles Karamba, joined Minister Biruta, while President Suluhu was joined by Amb. Liberata Mulamula.
Rwanda and Tanzania enjoy friendly bilateral relations as well as significant trading connections.
