Rwanda and Botswana on Wednesday signed six bilateral agreements during President Paul Kagame’s two-day state visit to Botswana, with both governments targeting easier travel, increased trade, investment cooperation, and stronger regional connectivity.
The agreements were signed after closed-door talks between Kagame and Botswana President Duma Boko in Gaborone, where both leaders described the partnership as practical and focused on removing barriers affecting business and movement between the two countries.
Among the agreements signed was a visa abolition deal for holders of diplomatic, official, and national passports, a move expected to ease travel between Rwanda and Botswana. The two countries also signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement aimed at protecting businesses and investors from being taxed twice on the same income across both countries.
The two governments further signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to strengthen air connectivity and improve transport links between Kigali and Gaborone, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding in the health sector.
Another agreement focused on economic, trade, and investment cooperation, while the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) also signed a separate cooperation framework to promote investment and business collaboration.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Boko said the agreements represented “structured, results-driven engagement” aimed at strengthening cooperation and delivering economic benefits for citizens of both countries.
Kagame said the relationship between Rwanda and Botswana was built on “a shared sense of purpose,” adding that the agreements were designed to remove obstacles affecting investment and cross-border cooperation.
He also praised Botswana’s management of its diamond resources, saying the country had demonstrated how natural resources could be transformed into direct public benefit through long-term planning and leadership.
The visit also included discussions on tourism, agriculture, digital trade, and the diamond value chain, with Kagame expected to tour the Diamond Trading Company in Botswana during his stay.
