Sheikh Tamim arrived in Rwanda on Thursday for a two-day official visit, which concluded on November 21, 2025. During the visit, President Kagame hosted him for a private discussion at his farm in Kibugabuga, Bugesera District, and gifted him long-horned cattle, known as Inyambo.
In a statement posted on the X social media platform, the Emir shared details of their expanded discussions, emphasizing their mutual commitment to enhancing opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
He expressed his gratitude toward President Kagame, stating, "Qatar and Rwanda are united by strong and growing relations, and they are advancing with rapid strides toward promising horizons of partnership and mutual interests. I commend His Excellency's efforts in supporting peace initiatives in the regional surroundings of his country."
Since March 2025, when Sheikh Tamim brought President Kagame together with Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for a meeting in Doha, the Government of Qatar has played a central role in mediating regional conflicts in the Great Lakes region.
Qatar has facilitated talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 coalition, aiming to address the root causes of tensions between Congolese communities. Qatar has also supported the Washington peace talks between Rwanda and the DRC.
The Rwandan government has consistently pledged its support for all initiatives aimed at resolving the region's issues. In addition to participating in the Washington talks, Rwanda supports the Doha-based negotiations between the AFC/M23 and the DRC government, alongside other partners such as the United States, Togo, and the African Union (AU).
Qatar and Rwanda are working closely together in key sectors such as technology, innovation, education, energy, and agriculture. One of the major collaborative projects is the construction of Bugesera International Airport, set to be completed in 2027 with an investment of USD 1.3 billion. This partnership builds on agreements signed in 2019.
Qatar is also supporting the Zero-Out-Of-School initiative, a joint project between Rwanda's Ministry of Education and the EAA Foundation from Qatar, launched in September 2023. The initiative aims to return all out-of-school children to education, with plans to reintegrate up to 177,000 Rwandan children over five years.
Additionally, Rwandan students are currently studying in Qatar, and Rwanda hopes to send more students in the future to acquire the knowledge they can use to contribute to the country's economic development.
IGIHE
