Rwanda ready to work with new UK govt - Minister Mushikiwabo

The recent change of government in the United Kingdom following Monday’s resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron will not affect the existing good relations between Rwanda and Britain, the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister has said.

Friday, July 15, 2016
Rwanda's Minisiter of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation addressing a news conference yesterday. Timothy Kisambira.

The recent change of government in the United Kingdom following Monday’s resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron will not affect the existing good relations between Rwanda and Britain, the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister has said.

Louise Mushikiwabo was yesterday speaking during a news conference convened to brief journalists about the ongoing 27th African Heads of State and Government Summit at the Kigali Convention Centre.

"We embrace anybody, especially in the area of foreign affairs. We have to work together, and we, therefore, have no reason to be worried about anything happening in the United Kingdom,” the minister said a day after Theresa May, formerly Interior minister under Cameron, became UK’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher.

The Rwandan foreign affairs minister added, "We have had very good relationship with the UK despite some small matters – as they would happen with any country – but, yes, we are happy to work with the new government”.

Cameron dramatically resigned from his positions as both UK prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party just weeks after the British people voted in a referendum to withdraw the UK from the 28-member European Union, and May will now lead the ‘Brexit’ process.

May, 59, moments after accepting an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government on Wednesday, appointed six new ministers – including Boris Johnson, the former London mayor and prominent figure in the victorious "Leave” campaign in Britain’s EU referendum, as foreign secretary. 

Speaking in Kigali yesterday, Mushikiwabo noted that "matters of governments, cabinets and leadership of countries are very sovereign matters and Rwanda is ready to work with anybody that the UK has put in place”.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw