President Paul Kagame on Monday, October 13, 2025, received senior officials from the African Union (AU) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for discussions centered on strengthening Africa’s health systems and deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation.
The AU delegation included Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, and Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
AMA is a specialized AU body headquartered in Kigali. The discussions focused on the operationalization of the AMA and broader efforts to build resilient health systems across the continent.
Kagame, who also serves as the AU Champion for Domestic Health Financing, reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to advancing Africa’s health agenda through sustainable financing, innovation, and collaboration.
The AMA, inaugurated in November 2024 and fully operational since June 2025, is the second specialized AU health agency after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Its mandate is to harmonize medical regulations, enhance quality control, and promote the local production of essential medical products.
During the same meeting, President Kagame welcomed Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU, who is on a three-day visit to Kigali. Founded in 1889, the IPU brings together national parliaments from around the world to promote dialogue, democracy, and legislative cooperation.
Rwanda, which hosted the 145th IPU Assembly in October 2022, has continued to play an active role in global parliamentary efforts promoting gender equality and youth inclusion.
The visit underscored the country’s growing role as a hub for continental and international engagement in governance, health, and sustainable development.
Through these high-level meetings, Rwanda reaffirmed its position as a driving force in shaping Africa’s vision for self-reliant, inclusive, and well-regulated health systems.
