Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Rwanda’s ambassador to Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Gambia and Cape Verde, on Thursday, December 16, presented his letters of credence to Colonel Assimi Goita, the interim President of Mali. In a ceremony held in Bamako, the Capital of Mali, Karabaranga was accompanied by his wife Viviane Uwicyeza, and Serge Nzabonimpa, the First Counselor at the Rwandan Embassy in Senegal. During his meeting with President Goita, Karabaranga conveyed to him greetings and good wishes from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, as he pledged to take to greater heights the already good relations between both countries during his tenure. Goita promised that his government will support the envoy in accomplishing the duties he was assigned to do by President Kagame. He said he appreciates the good leadership of President Kagame which has brought about positive change in Rwanda and Africa in general, noting that Rwanda is an exemplary nation on the continent as far as the struggle for self-reliance and value is concerned. He specifically lauded the country’s peace-keeping efforts in various parts of the world. Karabaranga also had discussions with Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, where they talked about the bilateral relations between the two countries. Diop told the envoy that his country esteems the way Rwanda has managed to find solutions for the serious problems that it faced in the past, adding that other African countries have key lessons to learn from it. Karabaranga showcased to Diop some partnership opportunities that the two countries can take advantage of going forward, for example in trade. The envoy also met with members of the Rwandan community living and working in Mali, and had a conversation with them about the achievements that have been registered after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, among other topics. On the same day, President Goita received letters of credence from ambassadors from Algeria, Sweden, Lebanon and Luxembourg.
