Rwanda and the Kingdom of Lesotho signed a general cooperation agreement on October 4, establishing a Joint Bilateral Commission aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.
The agreement was signed by Emmanuel Hategeka, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Lesotho, and Lejone Mpotjoane, Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. The ceremony took place during the 58th independence anniversary celebrations in Maseru, attended by Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Matekane and Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.
This agreement sets a comprehensive framework for cooperation in areas including economic development, social development, and good governance. The Joint Bilateral Commission will oversee the implementation of agreements between the two nations and identify new areas for collaboration in fields of mutual interest.
Rwanda and Lesotho established bilateral relations in 1983, with both countries represented by non-resident missions in Pretoria and Addis Ababa. The two nations maintain strong ties, supported by high-level visits and technical cooperation.
During the signing ceremony, Mpotjoane reaffirmed Lesotho’s commitment to strengthening ties with Rwanda, noting that this agreement marks a historic moment in the kingdom’s history.
Hategeka expressed gratitude to the Lesotho government for its long-standing cooperation, emphasizing that the new framework aims to elevate bilateral relations to mutually beneficial outcomes.
Both countries are eager to commence the inaugural meeting of the Joint Bilateral Commission established under the new agreement.
