Third Ethiopia-Rwanda Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting Commences in Addis Ababa

The Third Ethiopia-Rwanda Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting, scheduled to last until Tuesday, commenced today in Addis Ababa with the participation of high-ranking officials from both nations. The opening session, led by Fiseha Showel, African Affairs Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Ethiopia, and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Charles Karamba, brought together representatives from both countries.

Director-General Fiseha Showel highlighted the longstanding and relations between Ethiopia and Rwanda. He noted that the collaboration between the two nations had expanded across various sectors following the signing of numerous Memoranda of Understanding during the second Joint Ministerial Commission meeting held in Kigali in 2017.
Addressing the challenges faced in the implementation of agreements, Showel acknowledged the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “The implementation and follow-up of such agreements have been hindered, partly due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that took us about two to three years. We are now working to compensate for the lost time and strengthen our cooperation.”
He emphasized the need to consolidate regional cooperation, especially in areas of peace, security, counterterrorism, transboundary crimes, and the joint management of shared natural resources. Showel also highlighted the significance of addressing the impacts of climate change and other emerging global issues.
“This joint ministerial commission is one of the mechanisms to keep our stronger relations moving to further heights. We have to establish a follow-up mechanism so that we can make things in order timely,” he added.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Charles Karamba, echoed the sentiments of strong bilateral relations and emphasized their excellent collaboration at both bilateral and multilateral levels, including within the African Union and the United Nations. He expressed confidence that the outcomes of this meeting would significantly contribute to strengthening their existing bilateral cooperation.
“The outcome of this third joint ministerial commission will go a long way in strengthening our bilateral cooperation,” Ambassador Karamba stated.
The Joint Ministerial Commission, established in 2012, continues to serve as a vital mechanism for fostering and enhancing diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Rwanda.