Rwanda and Azerbaijan signed five cooperation agreements during President Paul Kagame's visit to Baku.

The agreements cover air services, education, agriculture, public service provision, and trade.

The new pacts aim to deepen and expand bilateral relations despite historically low trade volumes.

Rwanda and Azerbaijan signed five cooperation agreements on September 20, 2025. This occurred during a three-day official visit by President Paul Kagame to Baku. These agreements focus on air services, education, agriculture, public service provision, and trade. Both nations intend to deepen and broaden their bilateral relations through these pacts.

" We want to undertake continued efforts and gain momentum in making sure that these cooperation efforts are productive for all of us  (...) We want to use this opportunity of cooperation and friendship between you and me and our two countries to move forward quickly in our achievements of prosperity," stated Kagame.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that diplomatic relations between Kigali and Baku were established in 2004.

In September 2023, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations and a visa exemption agreement for service and diplomatic passports. They held their first political consultations in 2025, thereby strengthening their bilateral relations in trade, investment, science, education, and humanitarian aid.

Commercially, trade volumes remain relatively low and show a slowdown. According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Rwandan exports to Azerbaijan decreased by 39.6% between 2017 and 2023. Concurrently, Azerbaijani exports to Rwanda fell by 0.9% between 2017 and 2022.

Exchanged products include trunks and suitcases, rubber products, and oilseeds.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum