Benin President Wadagni Concludes First Official Visit to Rwanda After Talks, Memorial Tribute and Agricultural Tour
KIGALI — Beninese President Romuald Wadagni wrapped up a two-day official visit to Rwanda on Thursday, September 17, after holding high-level talks with President Paul Kagame, paying respects at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and touring a flagship agricultural institute.
The trip marked Wadagni’s first visit to Rwanda since taking office in May following his election in April. It focused on deepening cooperation already established in recent years between the two countries in security, trade, investment, transport, tourism, ICT and agriculture.
Wadagni arrived Wednesday morning and was received with full honours at Urugwiro Village, the presidential office in Kigali. He inspected a military guard of honour before sitting down for private talks with Kagame. The two leaders later directed their delegations to speed up work on existing agreements and explore new collaboration in trade and investment, digital transformation, security, governance, agriculture and air transport. Kagame hosted Wadagni for an official lunch.
Later that day the Beninese president visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, where he paid homage to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In the evening the two presidents joined residents for an informal walk along the Nyarutarama Green Carpet, a popular lakeside pedestrian corridor used for walking, running and outdoor recreation. The outing offered a more relaxed contrast to the formal programme and was widely shared on social media.
On Thursday Wadagni travelled to the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) in Bugesera District. Officials showed him the institute’s conservation farming methods, dairy operations, milk production systems and efforts to add value to livestock products. The visit highlighted practical areas of potential agricultural partnership.
Kagame personally bid farewell to Wadagni as the visit ended, underscoring the personal and institutional ties between the two leaders and their countries. Rwanda’s prime minister had represented Kagame at Wadagni’s inauguration in Cotonou in May, signalling continuity in the relationship.
The two nations signed a package of cooperation instruments during Kagame’s 2023 state visit to Benin, including a security and military agreement. Wadagni himself travelled to Rwanda that year as Benin’s finance minister and special envoy. This week’s meetings built on that foundation with an emphasis on turning commitments into concrete results.
No new formal agreements were publicly announced during the two days, but both sides stressed the need to implement existing pacts and expand cooperation in line with shared priorities of African self-reliance and South-South partnership. The visit concluded on a note of warmth and practical intent as Wadagni prepared to return home.
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