Rwanda and Tanzania are renewing their earlier good bilateral cooperation relations, top officials from both countries affirm.

This was reaffirmed by Rwanda’s and Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs ministers yesterday shortly after visiting Tanzanian Foreign Affairs minister, Dr Augustine Mahiga, met President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro in Kigali.

Mahiga told journalists that: "Our intention and resolve now is to start a new path of cooperation bilaterally but equally, within the context of the East African Community (EAC) knowing very well as we discuss about these issues that there are some old challenges that we have been facing in the region.”

"Like the issues of peace and security in the eastern part of DR Congo but also new challenges like the situation in Burundi which we hope will be one of the agenda items at the fourth coming summit of the east African Heads of State.”

His Rwandan counterpart, Louise Mushikiwabo, who also visited Tanzania recently and met new Tanzanian leader John Magufuli as well echoed her counterpart’s remarks.

She stressed that the two neighbors’ relations had in the recent past experienced challenges but both nations are better off when united.

Mushikiwabo said: "Today, Rwanda and Tanzania are conversing frankly and agree on what they want to do together as we look at the better future of our people.”

Minister Mahiga also met with Mushikiwabo together with other Rwandan officials in a bilateral meeting, where both ministers expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of maximizing the existing relationship for the benefit of both the people of Rwanda and the people of Tanzania.

They said they were eager to continue working together in every way possible for the well-being, development and the cohesion of the people of the region.

Both sides discussed matters concerning peace and security in the region. Minister Mahiga earlier had a working lunch with members of the business community and leaders to discuss on opportunities to increase trade and business between both countries.

The Tanzanian Minister was in Rwanda for a two-day official visit from Wednesday aimed at further deepening bilateral partnership between Rwanda and Tanzania.

Tribute to Genocide victims

During the first day of his visit, Mahiga and his delegation paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi as part of their official visit.

They laid a wreath and observed a minute of silence to pay respects to the more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi buried at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Mahiga commended the efforts made by the Rwandan people and the government of Rwanda to bring justice, reconciliation and preparing the young generation to come to terms with what happened, despite the catastrophic experience the country went through, according to a statement from the ministry of Foreign affairs.

He called upon the rest of the world to find systems that will bring culture of coexistence and understanding among people.

He said: "But for the rest of Africa and the rest of the world this should be a living memory, a living teacher that we have to respect human rights, we have to express solidarity with the Rwandan people and use this experience to create systems that will bring understanding, coexistence, and prosperity.”

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