President Paul Kagame’s working visit to Egypt has opened a new chapter in the relationship between Kigali and Cairo, marked by the signing of wide-ranging agreements that touch on investment, land exchange, health, water management, and urban development.
Kagame arrived in Cairo on September 23, 2025, where he was warmly received by his counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace. The two leaders first held private discussions before joining their delegations for extended talks, which paved the way for the signing ceremony.
After the agreements were sealed, Kagame described Egypt as a valuable and consistent partner whose cooperation with Rwanda has grown stronger over the years. He pointed out joint initiatives already underway, including the construction of a state-of-the-art heart treatment center in Kigali.
“The agreements signed today build on a strong foundation we laid long ago. Together we are building a state-of-the-art heart treatment center in Kigali, which will advance cardiovascular care in Rwanda and beyond,” he said.
The accords signed during this visit include promoting investment between the two countries, enhancing water management, supporting urban housing projects, and an unprecedented land exchange arrangement.
Under the deal, Rwanda provided Egypt with 10 hectares in Kirehe District near the Tanzania border, while Rwanda was allocated land in Egypt for commercial use. Kagame described the move as a significant step that will help both countries reach wider markets in the region.
He thanked Egypt for consistently training Rwandan doctors and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to expanding healthcare services. Rwanda has expanded access to quality healthcare services, and has started local vaccine production in partnership with collaborators.
Both countries work closely in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, aligning on quality standards to ensure efficiency and safety. Rwanda sees the health sector as a vital field for collaboration and wants to deepen ties with Egypt even further.
There are shared opportunities in food processing, hospitality, advanced technology, and infrastructure where Rwandan and Egyptian business leaders had already convened in Cairo on September 22, 2025, for the first joint investment forum focusing on construction, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and medical equipment.
“We believe there are many opportunities our two countries can harness to strengthen our economic ties. That is why our private sectors and investors met during this visit,” Kagame noted.
The Head of State spoke about Africa’s natural wealth, stressing that the continent must transition from exporting raw materials to processing them into higher-value products.
During his stay in Egypt, Kagame also met Ahmed El Sewedy, CEO of Elsewedy Electric, to explore possible investments in Rwanda’s energy, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Egypt stretch back decades, with Egypt maintaining its embassy in Kigali since 1976 and Rwanda reopening its embassy in Cairo in 2015.
Over the years, cooperation has extended to sectors such as defense, education, agriculture, and trade. The two countries are also members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a regional bloc that allows member states to trade goods duty-free.
The latest developments build on these ties, following earlier agreements signed in August 2024 that focused on health, transport, and commerce. President El-Sisi’s own visit to Rwanda in 2017 also helped lay the groundwork for the deepened cooperation now taking shape.
