Rwanda and Mali took significant steps to strengthen their bilateral ties during a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting held in Kigali on Monday, May 27. Led by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, and his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diop, the meeting aimed at enhancing trade and cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting resulted in the signing of nineteen agreements spanning various sectors, including defense, security, justice, health, mineral resources, oil and gas, agriculture, fisheries, environment, and climate change. Furthermore, agreements were reached on citizenship, culture, tourism, higher education, transport, national reconciliation, and the free movement of people and goods.
This development follows an agreement made during a sideline meeting of the UN General Assembly in September 2023 in New York, regarding the establishment of the Grand Mixed Commission of Cooperation. Notably, it marks the first substantial commission or agreement between the two nations since the opening of Mali’s embassy in Rwanda in 2017.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, emphasized the shared goals of economic progress, increased cooperation, and continental solidarity between Rwanda and Mali. He highlighted the importance of mutual respect and trade in fostering inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative development.
Biruta further mentioned other draft agreements under consideration, including those on non-taxation, preventing tax evasion, accelerating the implementation of the African continental free trade area agreement, and cooperation in sports.
In his statement, Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop stressed the significance of solidarity between African nations. He underscored the importance of prioritizing intracontinental partnerships over external alliances, emphasizing the unity and common goals that bind African countries together.
The agreements signed during the JPC meeting reflect a mutual commitment by Rwanda and Mali to deepen their cooperation across various sectors and promote shared development objectives.
