Kigali, 11 April 2011
President Kagame on Sunday received President Sharif Sheikh of Somalia, who visited Rwanda to apprise his counterpart of the positive momentum in Somalia due mainly to improvement in the security situation and a re-energised new cabinet.
The two Heads of State agreed that support previously pledged by Rwanda to the Government of Somalia would be revived in order to contribute to the country’s efforts to overcome problems caused by war. Rwanda will assist in capacity building of Somalia’s public service and training of security forces, and has also accepted to support Somalia’s bid to join the East African Community.
President Sheikh Ahmed and his delegation visited the Kigali Memorial Centre and joined Rwandans in marking the 17th commemoration of the genocide against Tutsis. In a brief statement to the press after his tour of the museum, he commended the progress Rwanda has made over the last 17 years and expressed hope that genocide never happens again.
The Somali leader also met and held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo and the Minister of Defense, General James Kabarebe.
President Sheikh Ahmed and his delegation are in Rwanda after visiting Uganda and Burundi, the two countries that contribute peace keeping troops in Somalia under the auspices of the African Union.
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