Kigali, 25 January 2014
President Kagame today received a delegation of US Senators and Congressmen led by Senator James Inhofe who have been on a three-day visit to the country. During their visit, the delegation met with the Ministers of Defense and Trade as well as Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs. The Minister of Defense briefed the delegation on Peace and Security in the Great Lakes in general and in the Central African Republic, in particular. The delegation also discussed the prospects to increase trade between Rwanda and the US with the Minister of Trade.
Speaking to the Press after the meeting, Senator James Inhofe said:
“We have been to the countryside and the transformation of this country is incredible. You can’t see it in other countries. We commend Rwanda’s role in peace building and peace creation in the region; in South Sudan, and especially in the Central African Republic. I speak on behalf many fellow Senators; the USA doesn’t have a better friend than Kagame.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mary Baine said President Kagame and the US delegation had fruitful discussions which dwelt mainly on Rwanda’s role in contributing to peace in the region, especially the Central African Republic. She said that the President and the delegation also discussed current programs between the US and Rwanda ranging from trade and development of SMEs.