Rwanda and DR Congo have resumed airline cooperation that will pave way for RwandAir to operate direct flights between Kigali and Kinshasa, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Vincent Karega, has said.

The civil aviation links between the two neighbouring states will also allow Congo Airlines to operate routes between DR. Congo and Rwanda.

"In the MoU, we have also resumed  cooperation on Civil Aviation Authorities so that we exchange expertise,” Karega said.

The Minister told Business Times that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties was signed Friday last week.

He said aviation cooperation between Rwanda and DR. Congo had been halted by the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

As members of an Economic Community for Great Lakes Region Countries (CPGL) framework, Rwanda and DR. Congo share a lot of projects which include trans-boundary trade and other projects which can lead to exchange of investments, Karega said. 

He expects the agreement to yield substantial economic and political benefit for the two nations.

"Inter-trade between the two countries is going to be easier. It’s important for the economies of our countries in terms of creating stability and for the peace we are trying to build together in the region plus socioeconomic transformation,” Karega explained.  

The Minister said RwandAir will soon open up an office in Kinshasa. And that administrative preparations and marketing of the national carrier in DR. Congo have been planned. 

Karega said authorities are trying to speed up the process.
"Here we are taking of a few weeks. The national carrier will be flying into DRC very soon”. 

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