Rwanda and Central African Republic discuss strengthening economic cooperation and developing aviation services at Bangui airport.
Written by: Ayman Ragab
The CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Jean-Guy Africa, met today with a delegation from the Central African Republic headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Balalo Maxime.
The two sides discussed the progress of work at CAS – Core Aviation Services SARL-RCA, which was established under the Economic Cooperation Agreement between Rwanda and the Central African Republic, with the aim of providing ground handling services at Bangui M’Poko International Airport.
Expanding economic cooperation between the two countries
The meeting also discussed opportunities to expand economic cooperation between the two countries and strengthen partnerships between the private sectors in Rwanda and the Central African Republic, in order to support joint economic and investment relations.
Accelerated strategic growth
Bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and the Central African Republic is witnessing rapid strategic growth, making Kigali one of Bangui’s most prominent and influential partners. This cooperation is based on a close partnership in the military and security fields, along with a remarkable expansion in economic and investment relations.
On the security front, Rwanda is the largest troop contributor to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), with over 2,000 soldiers and police officers. In addition to its participation in the UN mission, Kigali has deployed additional forces under a direct bilateral security agreement. These forces are responsible for protecting state institutions, securing the capital, Bangui, from attacks by armed groups, and contributing to security sector reform. Cooperation also includes training the Central African Republic's armed forces and transferring Rwandan expertise in counterinsurgency and security institution reconstruction.
On the economic front, cooperation has gained significant momentum since the signing of the bilateral investment agreement in 2019. Central African authorities have granted Rwandan companies concessions in the mining sector for mineral exploration and extraction, and have allocated large tracts of land for agricultural projects. Cooperation has also extended to the transport sector, with RwandAir operating a direct route between Kigali and Bangui to facilitate the movement of people and goods. Furthermore, collaboration has been strengthened in economic planning and efforts to reduce customs duties as part of regional integration initiatives.
Despite the strength of this partnership, it operates within a complex regional and international environment. Rwandan forces operate in the Central African Republic alongside the Russian Wagner Group, another security partner of the Bangui authorities, necessitating coordination to avoid any clashes. Regional tensions have further complicated the situation, particularly after Rwanda's withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in 2015 due to its disputes with the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, this has not affected the strength of bilateral relations between Kigali and Bangui, which have continued to develop on both the security and economic fronts.
