samia suluhu
It is charm offensive policy. President Suluhu’s first trip was to Uganda in April, followed by Kenya in May. Earlier in July, she visited Burundi, and with her visit to Rwanda, she will have visited all members of the East African Community – except South Sudan – within the first four months of her presidency.
This also means that she has visited more countries than her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, did in his first full year as president. Suluhu and Kagame, earlier today, signed pacts that give them new impetus to key infrastructure and investment projects of mutual benefits, particularly the Standard Gauge Railway line, milk production and improved port logistics. President Samia is expected to pay a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial site.Thereafter, President Kagame will hold a State Banquet at the Kigali Convention Center for President Samia and her delegation.
SULUHU IN KIGALI…
Suluhu’s visit now provides Rwanda with an opportunity to woo one of SADC’s core members – Tanzania – on her side on matters related to the instability in Mozambique. What is Kagame’s geopolitical strategy in line with Suluhu’s maiden visit? One of the most crucial topics of interest between the two countries now is the instability in Mozambique, where Rwanda has deployed 1000 soldiers and policemen to fight Islamist insurgents.
Tanzania also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Mozambique – signed in Nov 2020 – to jointly battle against Islamists in Cabo Delgado Province.
High on the agenda for talks between Suluhu and Kagame will also be the Isaka-Kigali standard gauge railway line, which has experienced delayed construction due to lack of funds. Since 2015, the two nations have enjoyed cordial ties. Before that they had a tumultuous past, at the height of which Rwanda accused Tanzanian officials of supporting rebels, while Tanzania also expelled thousands of Rwandan settlers in 2013.
