Rwanda, Egypt Strengthen Cooperation During GEM Opening

CAIRO, EGYPT - Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries across multiple sectors. The meeting took place during the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1, 2025, which Minister Nduhungirehe attended as part of Rwanda’s diplomatic delegation.

Minister Nduhungirehe thanked Egypt for hosting the opening ceremony and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations.

Grand Egyptian Museum: A Global Cultural Landmark

The GEM, the world’s largest museum, houses over 100,000 artifacts tracing Egypt’s 7,000-year history. Construction began in 2005 on a 50-hectare site near the Giza pyramids at a cost exceeding $1 billion. Visitors are greeted by an 11-meter-tall, eight-ton statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II, with staircases leading to statues of ancient kings and queens.

The museum is divided into three sections - social, royal, and religious life - showcasing historical changes over millennia. Among its highlights are King Khufu’s ship, temples known as ‘naos,’ statues of Egyptian gods like Osiris and Ptah, and a children’s education section with a library of historical documents. The museum also features a comprehensive display of Tutankhamun Nebkheperure’s artifacts, including 5,398 objects arranged in 7,500 square meters, presented together for the first time.

Rwanda and Egypt have steadily developed diplomatic and economic ties. On September 28, 2025, both countries signed a visa exchange agreement during the UN General Assembly in New York. Earlier in October, President Paul Kagame visited Egypt, meeting President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and signing agreements on investment promotion, water management, land exchanges, and urban development.

Bilateral agreements signed in August 2024 cover health, transport, trade, and other sectors, complemented by ongoing collaboration in technology, industrial and commercial development, agriculture, education, youth, health, and military cooperation.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries date back decades. Egypt has maintained an embassy in Kigali since 1976, and Rwanda reopened its embassy in Cairo in March 2015. The 2017 visit of President Al-Sisi to Rwanda further strengthened the long-standing partnership.