Kigali, 20 August 2022 (TDI): The delegation of three Senators and three Congress Representatives is in Rwanda for a 3-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations.
On Friday, the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, met with the US congressional delegation led by Senator Chris Coons at the village of Urugwiro.
Today at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame met with a US Congressional Delegation led by Senator @ChrisCoons. The delegation of three Senators and three Congress Representatives are in Rwanda for a 3-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations between Rwanda & the United States. pic.twitter.com/VdXAOuFtM5
— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) August 19, 2022
Chris Coons, a US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations member, is leading the US Congressional delegation. The delegation constitutes two other senators and three US House of Representatives members.
Agenda of US delegation visit
The US delegation’s visit to Rwanda’s agenda focuses on human rights and violent tensions with the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit comes a week after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit.
The delegation will discuss the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as tensions between both countries are rising. The arrest of Paul Rusesabagina, who was handed 25 years sentence last year over terrorism charges, is also under discussion.
The delegation also looks to deepen cooperation in other areas of interest. It includes trade and investment, counterterrorism, and climate action.
Rwanda commits to strengthening its relations with the United States. It focuses on peacekeeping, global health, and food and energy.
US-Rwanda Relations
The United States established diplomatic relations with Rwanda in 1962. The United States assists Rwanda in various healthcare, economic expansion, agricultural production, and food security programs.
Moreover, US assistance in the country supports regional economic integration and development, entrepreneurship, and increased employment opportunities.
According to the data from the US Department of State, over the last decade, Rwanda-US trade has been estimated to be about $74.4 million annually.
