President Paul Kagame, yesterday, received Mali’s Prime Minister, Modibo Keita, when the latter paid a courtesy visit at Village Urugwiro.

The visit which lasted for about an hour was to extend Mali’s appreciation to Rwanda for being part of a successful peace process in Mali, according to Prime Minister Keita.

"This visit was an opportunity to deliver a written message from his Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, the President of Mali, to his Rwandan counterpart; the message is about friendship between the two countries,” he told journalists shortly after meeting President Kagame.

Rwanda has been part of peace keeping operations in Mali, with a total of 140 Rwanda National Police peacekeepers, 30 per cent of whom are female, serving under the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma).

"We remember how people saluted President Paul Kagame during the signing of peace and reconciliation accord this year; we congratulate his commitment in transforming Africa in terms of technology which is good for the development of our country and creation of more jobs for the youth,” said Modibo.

Mali’s Prime Minister is expected to be part of today’s high level Transform African summit dialogue alongside other regional leaders.

Keita noted that the summit offers immense opportunity into Africa’s search for homegrown solutions with the potential to eradicate youth unemployment.

Mali’s premier added that this summit is an essential step towards recognising the importance of ICT in solving Africa’s challenges and delivering prosperity to its people.