Rwanda-South Africa, friends again?

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Paul Kagame shaking hands in Kigali (Photo:Internet)

During the Mandela and Mbeki years the South African government played key roles in Rwanda’s reconstruction efforts, particularly in health and higher education.

In addition, both countries have significant commercial interests on each other’s territory – South Africa in telecommunications, engineering and transport, Rwanda mainly in aviation. Rwanda’s national carrier, Rwanda Air has also benefitted from the vast technical resources at the disposal of South African Airways to service and maintain their aircraft.

Rwanda and South Africa have, since 2010, been embroiled in a diplomatic row sparked by Rwandan fugitives using South Africa as their base for subversive operations. The ‘bilateral frost’ escalated in 2014, leading to the expulsion of diplomats from both Rwanda and South Africa.

The following year, both countries agreed to turn the page of relations. South Africa sent a new diplomat to its mission in Kigali and Rwanda named its ambassador in Pretoria. Only Government officials carrying diplomatic and service passports are allowed to get visas to South Africa leaving an obstacle to ordinary citizens including business people to visit Africa’s biggest economy.

At the South Africa Freedom Day celebrations last year, High Commissioner in Rwanda, George Nkosinati Twala, presented a sealed gift to the government containing images of the African Big five animals; the African lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and rhinoceros. The gift, Twala said, symbolizes that Rwanda will be given another boost in the wild game to improve tourism sector.

In 2015, Rwanda received seven lions from South Africa to re-introduce into Akagera National park. Later In 2017, Rwanda has also received 10 Eastern Black Rhinoceros from South Africa, officially sealing Akagera National Park’s ‘big five’ status.

Rwanda and South Africa mended their bridges

The tone of relations between the two brother nations has thus warmed significantly last week. Later on during the last panel of Africa Continental Free Trade Area held in Kigali,  President Ramaphosa responded to a question raised by one of the participants about South Africa’s still denying visas to Rwandans. He declared that the political issues that have characterized Rwanda and his country in the past is already in the ‘basket of ‘solved’.

“Consider Rwanda-South Africa visa issue, as a matter that is solved. We are working with President Kagame to put relations between Rwanda and South Africa on a much better footing,” President Ramaphosa said.

“Amongst the issues we discussed, was that we must resolve the challenge of issuing of visa to people of Rwanda wanting to visit South Africa,” he added.

There could be a number of motivations for  this rapprochement. Firstly, in economic terms, better relations could be beneficial in terms of air transport between the two nations. Amongst other things, closer ties will likely help facilitate the plans to export 'Made in Rwanda" products on South African market.

Another motivation behind Rwanda desire to mend bridges with South Africa could be for political but also and justice calculations. Whatever it is, Rwanda didn't forget that South Africa houses Rwandan defectors who masterminded grenade attacks in Kigali in 2010. After visa issue is solved,  Rwanda shall extend its justice reach by signing extradition treaties between two countries in order to bring in Rwanda those who were found guilty of terrorism acts.

To mend Rwanda and South Africa relations can be also a way of South Africa  to grow its trade influence on the continent. South Africa is an economic geant on the continent, through improvement of diplomatic relations, South Africa shall use Rwanda as a strategic location for its industries trade in great lakes region in line of Africa free trade area.

Ramaphosa's meaningful display brings hope of closer relations between the two nations. The revival of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and South Africa results could be significant economically, diplomatically and politically for both the two countries.

About the author 

KARANGWA Janvier is a media specialist. He has a bachelor of arts in journalism and communications from University of Rwanda,2017.

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