President Paul Kagame of Rwanda on Wednesday held talks with President William Ruto of Kenya in Beijing , China where both leaders are attending a major 3-day China-Africa Forum.
The Rwandan leader also met with President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles also attending the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
“Both meetings discussed ways to further strengthen the already existing productive bilateral relations,” The Rwandan Presidency said shortly after.
President Ruto noted, “Rwanda is a strong ally and strategic partner of Kenya. We share diplomatic, historical and cultural ties. Our two nations are also committed members of the East African Community, especially on regional integration, trade and people to people relations.”
The Kenyan President said that they “deliberated on deepening our relations and also the candidature of the Rt Hon. Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson.”
Odinga will contest for the AUC post against Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssou, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan and Richard James Randriamandrato, a former Madagascar Foreign Minister.
On August 27, the East Africa Community (EAC) leaders converged in Nairobi, Kenya for the official unveiling of Raila Odinga as the candidate for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
EAC chairman and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Tanzanian’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni graced the event, signaling strong support for Odinga in the EAC.
Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe and Burundian Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca are also present.
