Rwanda, Oman sign key agreements

Rwanda and Oman have taken steps to deepen bilateral relations after signing a series of cooperation agreements in key sectors, including trade, aviation, logistics and digital transformation. The agreements were signed during a two-day official visit to Oman by a Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, which concluded in Muscat on Sunday, January 11. Four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were concluded, covering logistics services, transportation, development cooperation, and information and communication technology (IC

Rwanda and Oman have taken steps to deepen bilateral relations after signing a series of cooperation agreements in key sectors, including trade, aviation, logistics and digital transformation. The agreements were signed during a two-day official visit to Oman by a Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, which concluded in Muscat on Sunday, January 11. Four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were concluded, covering logistics services, transportation, development cooperation, and information and communication technology (ICT) and innovation. The delegation included the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa; the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire; the Minister of State for Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye; the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Juliana Muganza; and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Oman, Dan Munyuza. Speaking to Omani media, Nduhungirehe said the visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and unlock new areas of partnership between the two countries. “We are pleased to be in Muscat with a strong delegation, including five Cabinet ministers from different sectors, to deepen our relations and promote cooperation,” he said. During the visit, the Rwandan delegation held meetings with senior Omani officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Transport, Communications and ICT, as well as Heritage and Tourism. Discussions also involved representatives of the Oman Investment Authority. Talks focused on current and future cooperation frameworks in trade and investment promotion, political consultations, double taxation, workforce development and labour mobility. “We have had productive discussions here in Muscat, and we will now work closely with our Omani counterparts to implement what we have agreed,” Nduhungirehe said. One of the key outcomes of the visit was an agreement to introduce direct air connectivity between Kigali and Muscat. Nduhungirehe said an MoU was signed to operationalise direct flights between the two cities, with Oman Air expected to begin operations in June 2026. The aviation agreement, signed on the Rwandan side by Minister Uwihanganye, is expected to boost tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. In another major deal, RDB Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza signed an MoU with Oman Airports Management Company to explore cooperation in airport and cargo hub development. The partnership will focus on hospitality, logistics, cold storage facilities and commercial activities around the new Bugesera International Airport district, as well as other airports in Rwanda. Rwanda and Oman also signed a strategic ICT cooperation agreement between their respective ministries. The MoU, signed by Minister Paula Ingabire, covers collaboration in data hosting, cloud services and the development of data centres, in line with Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional digital hub. The two countries further agreed to cooperate in logistics services, including the development and operation of inland ports and broader supply chain management initiatives. According to Nduhungirehe, the expanding partnership reflects Rwanda’s strategy to diversify its international partnerships beyond traditional markets. “This is an important moment for both Rwanda and Oman. We are also connected geographically — through the East African Community, Rwanda is linked to Oman via the Indian Ocean. This makes our cooperation both natural and strategic,” he said. The minister added that both sides have committed to fast-tracking the implementation of the signed agreements to ensure tangible benefits for citizens and businesses in both countries. “We have agreed to move quickly in implementing the MoUs we have signed, so that they deliver real value to our people,” he said.