Dominica and the African nation of Rwanda have taken a significant step towards enhancing their bilateral relations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing visa-free travel between the two countries. This agreement, signed on Tuesday, 24 September, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, is expected to facilitate easier travel, boost tourism, and create new opportunities for business and cultural exchanges.
The MOU was signed by Dr Vince Henderson, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Dominica, and Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, representing Rwanda. With this agreement, Rwandan citizens can now travel to Dominica without the need for a visa, and the same applies to Dominican citizens visiting Rwanda.
This visa waiver agreement not only strengthens the relationship between Dominica and Rwanda but also aligns Rwanda with other Commonwealth nations with which it has established similar agreements, including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Guyana.
Rwanda, often referred to as “le pays des mille collines” (the land of a thousand hills), is a landlocked country located in east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With an estimated population of over 13 million in 2024, Rwanda boasts a diverse linguistic landscape, where Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Swahili are official languages.
Rwanda’s economy primarily relies on subsistence agriculture, with coffee and tea as its major export crops. In recent years, the tourism sector has experienced rapid growth, becoming the leading foreign exchange earner for the country. Rwanda is an active member of various international organisations, including the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, COMESA, OIF, and the East African Community.
The signing of the visa waiver agreement marks a new chapter in the relationship between Dominica and Rwanda, paving the way for increased cooperation and engagement between the two nations. This initiative reflects the growing commitment of both countries to build stronger connections that foster mutual benefits in tourism, business, and cultural exchanges.