The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler, is due in Rwanda next month on a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The State Minister for Cooperation Rosemary Museminari confirmed this week that Köhler will be in the country from February 6-8. “Countries that enjoy bilateral relations usually make exchange visits and it is in that spirit that he is coming,” Museminari said. Last year, a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza, visited Mainz City in Germany, to cement relations between the two countries. Makuza’s entourage included Local Government minister Protais Musoni, his Cabinet colleague Christophe Bazivamo (Lands, Environment, Forestry and Mines) and Northern Province Governor, Boniface Rucagu. The head of Germany’s Rhineland Palatinate State, Kurt Beck, visited Kigali last year.During Beck’s visit, the government inaugurated a solar energy plant in Gasabo District, whose construction was financed by his state. Kigali City Council (KCC) officials say the plant, which cost around one million euros (approx. Frw700m), is the biggest solar project in Africa. Germany’s relationship with Rwanda goes way back as early as 1907 when a German, Dr Richard Kandt, became the first European resident to set up an administrative residence in Kigali. Germany was originally Rwanda’s colonial master before it lost all its colonies following the World War I. Ends
