Rwanda has diplomatic relations with most members of the United Nations and with the Holy See.
Rwanda has accepted tens of thousands of refugees from neighboring African countries like Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Somalia and South Sudan. [1] It has also accepted hundreds of African refugees from Israel and Afghan schoolgirls. [1]
As of 2015, Rwanda hosted 75,000 Burundian refugees according to UNHCR. When credible reports surfaced that Rwanda recruited and trained Burundi refugees including children to remove Burundian President Nkurunziza, Rwanda announced to relocate Burundian refugees to third countries. [2]
Since September 2019, Rwanda has also taken in Libyan refugees and asylum-seekers, operating a refugee center at Gashora, Rwanda, which houses up to 700 refugees from eight African countries (Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon) and is financed by UNHCR until 31 December 2023. [3]
In 2021 Denmark signed a deal to establish an asylum center in Kigali, and since April 2022, the UK has sought to shift its asylum responsibilities, considering Rwanda a safe third country by offering 120 million pounds in economic development programs in return for accepting refugees. [1]
List of countries which Rwanda maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date [4] |
---|---|---|
1 | France | 1 July 1962 [5] |
2 | Israel | 1 July 1962 [6] |
3 | Japan | 1 July 1962 [7] |
4 | United Kingdom | 1 July 1962 [8] |
5 | United States | 1 July 1962 [9] |
6 | Belgium | 18 July 1962 [10] |
7 | Pakistan | July 1962 [11] |
8 | Uganda | 18 December 1962 [12] |
9 | Germany | 13 February 1963 [13] |
10 | South Korea | 21 March 1963 [14] |
11 | Denmark | 2 April 1963 [15] |
12 | Russia | 17 October 1963 [16] |
13 | Switzerland | 12 November 1963 [17] |
— | Holy See | 6 June 1964 [18] |
14 | Canada | 11 June 1964 [19] |
15 | Netherlands | 1 October 1964 [20] |
16 | Luxembourg | 27 October 1964 [21] |
17 | Tanzania | 7 January 1965 [22] |
18 | Colombia | 22 February 1965 [23] |
19 | Italy | 5 May 1965 [24] |
20 | Kenya | 11 June 1965 [25] |
21 | Poland | 10 July 1965 [26] |
22 | Romania | 15 July 1965 [27] |
23 | Czech Republic | 24 July 1965 [28] |
24 | Austria | 14 September 1965 [29] [30] |
25 | Ethiopia | 26 October 1966 [31] |
26 | Spain | 16 June 1967 [32] |
27 | Guinea | 28 June 1967 [33] |
28 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | February 1969 [34] |
29 | Burundi | April 1969 [35] |
30 | Ghana | 1969 [36] |
31 | Norway | 30 January 1971 [37] |
32 | Senegal | 9 February 1971 [38] |
33 | Egypt | 10 February 1971 [39] |
34 | Syria | 10 February 1971 [39] |
35 | Serbia | 15 June 1971 [40] |
36 | China | 12 November 1971 [41] |
37 | Tunisia | 1971 [42] |
38 | North Korea | 22 April 1972 [43] |
39 | Nigeria | 10 June 1972 [44] [45] |
40 | Hungary | 31 July 1972 [46] |
41 | Chad | 9 December 1972 [47] |
42 | Zambia | January 1973 [48] |
43 | Greece | 1 February 1973 [49] |
44 | Cameroon | 11 March 1974 [50] |
45 | Ivory Coast | 15 March 1974 [51] |
46 | Libya | 10 May 1974 [52] |
47 | Sweden | 1974 [53] |
48 | Argentina | 8 January 1975 [54] |
49 | Burkina Faso | 26 November 1975 [55] |
50 | Vietnam | 30 September 1975 [56] |
51 | Algeria | 25 November 1975 [57] |
52 | Niger | 1975 [58] |
53 | Mexico | 21 January 1976 [59] |
54 | Portugal | 12 February 1976 [60] |
55 | Mozambique | 17 April 1976 [61] |
56 | Cuba | 6 September 1979 [62] |
57 | Bulgaria | 20 December 1979 [63] |
58 | Turkey | 18 February 1980 [64] |
59 | Djibouti | 3 April 1980 [65] |
60 | Brazil | 20 January 1981 [66] |
61 | Venezuela | 18 August 1981 [67] |
62 | Republic of the Congo | 17 August 1982 [68] |
63 | Philippines | 15 December 1982 [69] |
64 | Finland | 1 June 1983 [70] |
65 | Lesotho | 1983 [71] |
66 | Bangladesh | 13 January 1984 [72] |
67 | Indonesia | 16 January 1984 [73] |
68 | Benin | 8 March 1985 [74] |
69 | Mauritania | 27 April 1985 [75] |
70 | Mali | 6 January 1987 [76] |
71 | Thailand | 30 October 1987 [77] |
72 | Angola | December 1988 [78] |
73 | Cyprus | 31 March 1990 [79] |
74 | Namibia | 21 December 1990 [80] |
75 | Chile | 20 September 1991 [81] |
76 | Slovakia | 1 January 1993 [82] |
77 | Ukraine | 8 September 1993 [83] |
78 | South Africa | May 1995 |
79 | United Arab Emirates | 1995 [84] |
80 | North Macedonia | 18 April 1996 [85] |
81 | Bahrain | 2 March 1998 [86] |
82 | Oman | March 1998 [87] |
83 | Jamaica | 6 November 1998 |
84 | Zimbabwe | 7 October 1999 [88] |
85 | India | 1999 [89] |
86 | Costa Rica | 8 March 2001 |
87 | Mauritius | 16 March 2001 |
88 | Malawi | 26 June 2001 [90] |
89 | Belarus | 25 February 2002 |
90 | Sudan | 15 October 2003 [91] |
91 | Azerbaijan | 28 March 2004 |
92 | Armenia | 29 March 2004 |
93 | Iceland | 12 May 2004 |
94 | Botswana | September 2004 [92] |
95 | Singapore | 18 March 2005 [93] |
96 | Malaysia | 1 August 2005 [94] [95] |
97 | Cambodia | 29 September 2005 [96] |
98 | Estonia | 14 March 2006 [97] |
99 | Slovenia | 8 December 2006 |
100 | Seychelles | 2006 [98] |
101 | Latvia | 10 April 2007 [99] |
102 | Australia | 9 May 2007 [100] |
103 | Morocco | 21 June 2007 [101] |
104 | Uruguay | 16 June 2009 |
105 | Laos | 31 August 2009 [102] |
106 | Equatorial Guinea | 29 July 2010 [103] |
107 | Gabon | 8 October 2010 [104] |
108 | Georgia | 23 March 2011 |
109 | Sri Lanka | 20 April 2011 [105] |
110 | Iran | 19 May 2011 [106] |
111 | New Zealand | 17 April 2012 [107] |
112 | Kazakhstan | 10 May 2012 [108] |
113 | Somalia | 18 October 2012 [109] |
114 | Lithuania | 27 March 2013 |
115 | Montenegro | 12 April 2013 |
116 | Kuwait | 19 September 2013 [110] |
117 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 17 October 2013 |
118 | South Sudan | 21 October 2013 [111] |
119 | Mongolia | 25 November 2013 |
120 | Ireland | 28 November 2013 [112] |
121 | Sierra Leone | 29 November 2013 [113] |
122 | Monaco | 10 April 2014 [114] |
123 | Gambia | 15 July 2014 [115] |
124 | Eswatini | 30 August 2014 [116] |
125 | Barbados | 28 July 2015 [117] |
126 | Central African Republic | 8 July 2016 [118] |
127 | Liechtenstein | 11 November 2016 [119] |
128 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 11 January 2017 [120] |
129 | Togo | 17 January 2017 [121] |
130 | Lebanon | April 2017 [122] |
131 | Eritrea | 18 April 2017 [123] |
132 | Cape Verde | 4 May 2017 [124] |
133 | Qatar | 4 May 2017 |
134 | Liberia | 16 May 2017 [125] |
135 | Jordan | 4 June 2017 [126] |
136 | Peru | 7 December 2017 [127] |
137 | Madagascar | 17 January 2018 [128] |
138 | Croatia | 15 February 2018 |
139 | Saudi Arabia | 29 March 2018 |
140 | Malta | 12 July 2018 |
141 | Nepal | 20 July 2018 |
142 | Tajikistan | 30 July 2018 |
143 | Haiti | 15 August 2018 |
144 | Vanuatu | 3 October 2018 [129] |
145 | Andorra | 14 November 2018 |
146 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 15 February 2019 [130] |
147 | Saint Lucia | 28 August 2019 |
148 | Maldives | 6 September 2019 |
149 | Suriname | 14 October 2019 |
150 | Ecuador | 17 October 2019 |
151 | Nicaragua | 8 November 2019 [131] |
152 | Antigua and Barbuda | 10 December 2019 |
153 | Belize | 22 January 2020 |
154 | Brunei | 9 December 2020 |
155 | Grenada | 3 March 2021 |
156 | Dominica | 15 April 2021 |
157 | Guinea-Bissau | 27 April 2021 [132] |
158 | Bolivia | 22 September 2021 [133] |
159 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 9 November 2021 |
160 | Trinidad and Tobago | 26 May 2022 |
161 | Bahamas | 16 June 2022 |
162 | Guyana | 24 August 2022 |
163 | Dominican Republic | 23 September 2022 |
164 | Kyrgyzstan | 13 December 2022 |
165 | Comoros | 16 January 2023 [134] |
166 | Tonga | 21 March 2023 |
167 | Paraguay | 18 April 2023 |
168 | El Salvador | 18 September 2023 |
169 | Panama | 18 September 2023 |
170 | Moldova | 25 January 2024 |
171 | Guatemala | 24 September 2024 [135] |
172 | Solomon Islands | 24 September 2024 [136] |
173 | Marshall Islands | 25 September 2024 |
174 | Samoa | 22 October 2024 [137] |
— | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Unknown |
Several west European and African nations, Canada, People's Republic of China, Egypt, Libya, Russia, the Holy See, and the European Union maintain diplomatic missions in Kigali.[ citation needed ]
Country | Notes |
---|---|
Australia | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2007 [138] |
Bangladesh | See Bangladesh-Rwanda relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 January 1984 [140] In 1994 Bangladesh provided roughly 900 peace-keeping troops, including soldiers and medical personnel, to Rwanda to aid in keeping the peace during the Rwandan genocide, one of more than 40 countries to do so. [141] |
Belgium | See Belgium-Rwanda relations Belgium was the colonial power, administering the League of Nations mandate in Ruanda Urundi from 1922 until their independence in 1962. See Ruanda-Urundi. During the 1994 Genocide, 10 Belgian Peacekeepers were murdered while trying to protect then-Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. [142] |
Belize | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 January 2020 [145] |
Burundi | Burundi and Rwanda have always had diplomatic relations as the two were very closed linked kingdoms and their political relations can date back to the year 1091, when the Kingdom of Rwanda was founded, the two kingdoms always had close relationships and even political alliances between the two monarchies. In the modern era, the two states dispute sections of border on the Akanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited; cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces persist in the Great Lakes region.
|
China | See China–Rwanda relations China and Rwanda established diplomatic relations on 12 November 1971. [146]
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo | In 1998, Rwanda, along with Uganda, invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo to back Congolese rebels trying to overthrow then-President Laurent Kabila. Rwandan troops remain in the Congo, backing rebels that aim to overthrow Laurent Kabila's son, Joseph Kabila, who is now the President of the Congo. Rwandan troops have pulled back, however, behind disengagement lines set forth in the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. Rwandan President Paul Kagame met with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Joseph Kabila in Goma on 6 August 2009. [147] It was the first presidential meeting between the two countries for 13 years, [148] with the two countries having come to a disagreement in 1996 following an invasion by Rwanda into eastern Congo, a disagreement which was renewed in 1998 after a further invasion. [147] The pair of presidents spent more than two hours in the company of each other and "reviewed all issues of common interest". [147] Kabila referred to it as "the first giant step forward" in what was referred to as an "all new era". [148] One month previous to the meeting both countries had appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals. [147] [148] |
France | As a result of French complicity before, during and after the genocide, with the genocidaires (that is, those who committed the genocide), [149] Rwanda cut off relations with France at the end of the war, and replaced French with English as an official language. Relations were resumed in November 2009. Nicolas Sarkozy visited Kigali in February 2010. [150] in 2016, A French court ordered the re-opening of the case investigating the fatal plane crash that killed Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana in 1994. [151] The move angered administration in Ghana. The National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) issued the names of French military 22 officers [152] requested for depositions. The officers were station in France during the 1994 Turquoise safe zone operation. |
Germany | See Germany–Rwanda relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 February 1963 [153] |
India | See India–Rwanda relations |
Israel | See Israel-Rwanda relations In 1962, Israel was the second country to recognize Rwanda's independence. In 1973 the relations were severed and restored in October 1994 after the Rwandan genocide.
|
Japan |
|
Kenya | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 June 1965 [159] |
Mexico | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1976 [162] |
Netherlands | The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda was established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in The Hague on the 1st of November 2006 [165] |
North Korea | See North Korea–Rwanda relations |
Romania |
|
Singapore | The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Singapore was officially opened in 2008 [166]
|
Slovenia | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 December 2006 [167] |
South Korea | 22 August 1972 opened Embassy Republic of Korea in Rwanda, but closed 31 May 1975, reopened 11 September 1987, the embassy was closed again 30 November 1990 and reopened 30 December 2011. Rwanda opened its embassy in Seoul 30 March 2009 [168]
|
Spain | See Rwanda–Spain relations
|
Tanzania | See Rwanda-Tanzania relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1965 when accredited first Ambassador of Rwanda to Tanzania (resident in Kampala) Mr. Musabyimana Malachie [170] |
Turkey | See Rwanda–Turkey relations |
United Arab Emirates | UAE Embassy in Kigali opened its temporary premises in March 2018 and was relocated to its current premises in April 2019 [172]
|
United Kingdom | See Rwanda–United Kingdom relations Rwanda established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 1 July 1962. [8]
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization. |
United States | See Rwanda–United States relations |
Botswana has put a premium on economic and political integration in southern Africa. It has sought to make the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance.
Burkina Faso has good relations with the European Union, African and certain Asian countries.
Burundi's relations with its neighbours have often been affected by security concerns. During the Burundian Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some Burundian rebel groups have used neighboring countries as bases for insurgent activities. The 1993 embargo placed on Burundi by regional states hurt diplomatic relations with its neighbors; relations have improved since the 1999 suspension of these sanctions.
Cape Verde follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks cooperative relations with all friendly states. Angola, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, France, Germany, Portugal, Senegal, Russia, South Korea and the United States maintain embassies in Praia.
President François Bozizé has said that one of his priorities is to get the support of the international community. This has indeed been visible in his relations to donor countries and international organisations. At the same time it is difficult to have an open policy towards neighbouring countries when they are used as safe haven by rebels regularly attacking Central African Republic (C.A.R.), or when one allied country is in war with another.
Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and former Zaire. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Central African Republic (MINURCA).
The foreign relations of Guinea, including those with its West African neighbors, have improved steadily since 1985.
Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.
Eswatini is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Southern African Development Community. Currently, the Kingdom of Eswatini maintains 11 embassies and High Commissions along with 15 consulates and other representations around the world, while there are five embassies and High Commissions in Eswatini as well as 14 consulates and other representations.
Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere also was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international organisations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the front-line states, the G-77, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). One of Africa's best-known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these organisations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984–85) and chairman of six front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. Nyerere was also involved with peace negotiations in Burundi until his death. Nyerere's death, on 14 October 1999, is still commemorated annually.
Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Habib Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe, Pakistan, and the United States.
Uganda has formal diplomatic relations with many countries, some accredited. Since the colonial era and after independence Uganda has grown to be one of the most important African countries. Uganda has diplomatic relations with many countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962.
After seizing power in the 1972 coup d'état, Major Mathieu Kérékou declared the People's Republic of Benin a Marxist-Leninist state and sought financial support from communist governments in Eastern Europe and Asia. To distance the modern state from its colonial past, the country became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. However, Benin dropped the socialist ideology in 1989 following pressure from creditors and domestic unrest related to economic hardship.
The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former President Dawda Jawara's tenure. It maintained close relations with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and other African countries. The July 1994 coup strained The Gambia's relationship with Western powers, particularly the United States. Starting in 1995, President Yahya Jammeh established diplomatic relations with several additional countries, including Libya, the Republic of China, and Cuba. As scholars on Gambia's foreign policy have argued, throughout Jammeh's period, the country's foreign policy was a shifting sand, with little of direction.
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau follows a nonaligned foreign policy and seeks friendly and cooperative relations with a wide variety of states and organizations. France, Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Cuba, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Ghana, and Russia have diplomatic offices in Bissau.
Until independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe had few ties abroad except those that passed through Portugal. Following independence, the new government sought to expand its diplomatic relationships. A common language, tradition, and colonial legacy have led to close collaboration between São Tomé and other ex-Portuguese colonies in Africa, particularly Angola. São Toméan relations with other African countries in the region, such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, are also good. In December 2000, São Tomé signed the African Union treaty; it was later ratified by the National Assembly.
Sierra Leone maintains formal relations with many Western nations. It also maintains diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Bloc countries as well as with the People's Republic of China.
Haiti was one of the original members of the League of Nations, and was one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies. It is also a founding member of the Organization of American States. Haiti also has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, instead of the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is one of Haiti's major trading partners and the two countries maintain very friendly relations. Haiti has also re-established very warm relations with Cuba in which a major act of bilateral cooperation has resulted in Cuba's large contribution of doctors to the country. The Haitian government has publicly shown admiration to Fidel Castro and his administration.
Rwanda–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Rwanda does not have an embassy in Spain, however its embassy in Paris, France, is accredited to Spain and maintains an honorary consulate in Madrid. Spain does not have an embassy in Rwanda, however, its embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is accredited to Rwanda and maintains an honorary consulate in Kigali.
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State. [175]
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(help)14.9.65: ... 2) Zl. 140-276-4 pol/65, betr. der Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen zwischen Österreich und Rwanda
M. Mohamed DIOP , ambassadeur du Sénégal en République démocratique du Congo et au Burundi , a présenté ses lettres de créance au Rwanda le 9 février 1971 ...
1 février. — Etablissement de relations diplomatiques entre le Rwanda et la Gréce au niveau de l'ambassade