Rwanda Senate Forms Powerful Interparliamentary Friendship Group with Ukraine
Kigali, October 1, 2026 — Rwanda’s Senate leadership met with a Ukrainian parliamentary delegation on Wednesday to deepen bilateral ties.
Both sides agreed to establish the Ukraine and Rwanda Interparliamentary Friendship Group.
Senate President Kalinda François Xavier, joined by Vice Presidents Nyirahabimana Soline and Mukabaramba Alvera, held talks on strengthening cooperation. Additionally, discussions covered the formal friendship group and other mutual-interest issues, per an official statement from the Parliament of Rwanda.
The meeting builds on earlier engagements.
In July 2025, Ukrainian Ambassador to Rwanda Viacheslav Yatsiuk paid a courtesy call on the Senate leadership.
Additionally, both sides discussed expanding cooperation between Ukraine and Rwanda in education, agriculture, trade, technology, energy, and training.
Kalinda expressed readiness to advance inter-parliamentary ties.
A deputy group for inter-parliamentary relations with Rwanda already exists in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, formed in 2022.
Additionally, the new Rwandan-side group is expected to formalize reciprocal parliamentary diplomacy.
Broader bilateral relations have also advanced recently.
Moreover, in late September 2026, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe.
They discussed peace efforts in the Great Lakes region.
They also talked about ending Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Sybiha thanked Rwanda for its consistent support of Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations.
Rwanda has maintained a stance of solidarity with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while pursuing practical partnerships. Additionally, officials on both sides have highlighted potential collaboration in agro-industry, information technology, and energy as areas of mutual benefit.
The establishment of the friendship group marks a concrete step in parliamentary diplomacy between the East African nation and Ukraine.
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