Rwanda and Antigua and Barbuda, an independent twin-island state in the Lesser Antilles of the eastern Caribbean Sea, have signed a series of agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest. The agreements were signed on Thursday, July 17, in New York by Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and his counterpart from Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Walton Webson. The signed agreements include a visa waiver agreement and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health and tourism cooperation

Rwanda and Antigua and Barbuda, an independent twin-island state in the Lesser Antilles of the eastern Caribbean Sea, have signed a series of agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest. The agreements were signed on Thursday, July 17, in New York by Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and his counterpart from Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Walton Webson. The signed agreements include a visa waiver agreement and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health and tourism cooperation. The visa waiver agreement eliminates the requirement for entry, transit, and visitor visas for nationals of both countries on a reciprocal basis. It is expected to facilitate travel, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and support citizen-centered diplomacy by removing barriers, enhancing mobility, and fostering stronger transatlantic engagement. Under the health MoU, both parties will collaborate in areas such as disease prevention and control, HIV/AIDS and malaria programs, health insurance systems, pharmaceutical cooperation, epidemiological surveillance, and maternal and child health. These areas offer significant opportunities for technical exchange, joint programming, and capacity building. The tourism MoU establishes a framework for joint tourism promotion and encourages innovation in eco-tourism, green energy solutions, and climate-resilient tourism policies. Ambassador Martin Ngoga stated that Rwanda is ready to deepen cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda, both within the United Nations framework and through direct bilateral collaboration. "This milestone reflects our mutual interest in expanding meaningful ties between our nations. It demonstrates a shared ambition to move beyond geographic distance and build durable partnerships rooted in common values and development priorities,” Ngoga said. Ambassador Webson of Antigua and Barbuda described the signing as "A profound step in forging transatlantic alliances between two dynamic nations sharing common goals in innovation, resilience, and global engagement." Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation located in the eastern Caribbean, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. Nestled in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, the country covers a total area of approximately 440 square kilometers. Antigua is the larger of the two islands, while Barbuda lies to the north. The nation has an estimated population of around 100,000 people, with the majority residing on Antigua. The capital city, St. John's, serves as the country’s economic and administrative center. The economy is primarily driven by tourism, which accounts for the majority of employment and national income. This is followed by services, construction, and light manufacturing. Antigua and Barbuda is renowned for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and tropical climate, making it a popular destination for international visitors. The country is a member of the Commonwealth and gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. It maintains a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch serving as head of state.

The agreements were signed on Thursday, July 17, in New York by Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and his counterpart from Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Walton Webson.

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