On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Amb. Rosemary Mbabazi officially began her tour of duty as Rwanda’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire by presenting her Letters of Credence to His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara. 

The ceremony, held in Abidjan, further deepens diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries, which continue to grow across multiple sectors. 

Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire share a longstanding friendship, with strong fraternal ties at all levels, including trade, business, and cultural exchange.

In their meeting, Ambassador Mbabazi and President Ouattara discussed numerous areas for further collaboration, focusing on opportunities in business and trade, particularly within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

Both leaders also explored avenues for partnership in key sectors such as tourism, youth empowerment, technological transfer, agro-processing, and leveraging air transport through RwandAir to improve regional connectivity.

Before presenting her Letters of Credence to President Ouattara, Ambassador Mbabazi took part in a significant diplomatic engagement with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Ivorians Abroad, H.E. Léon Kacou ADOM. 

During their exchange, Ambassador Mbabazi and Minister ADOM explored mutual interests and discussed strategies to deepen Rwanda-Côte d'Ivoire relations, particularly in trade, investment, and regional integration.

During her visit to Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Mbabazi also met Mrs. Nenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development, and Mr. Jonathan Nzayikorera, Executive Director for Eastern Africa at African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. 

She also called on Mme Hélène N'Garnim-Ganga, Coordinator of the United Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and they exchanged a wide range of mutual interest.

Following this formal start of her tour of duty, Ambassador Mbabazi also met and engaged with the Rwandan community who were gathered at the Honorary Consulate of Rwanda in Côte d'Ivoire. The meeting was an opportunity for the Ambassador to celebrate the strengthening of ties between the two countries and engage with the Rwandan diaspora.

Ambassador Mbabazi and the community members exchanged ideas on how to leverage the existing positive relationship between Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire to expand business and trade opportunities, while also focusing on youth empowerment and cultural preservation.

The Rwandan community in Côte d'Ivoire expressed their gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for its consistent support, pledging to continue contributing to Rwanda's development efforts. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining strong cultural ties with their homeland and participating in various initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.

Ambassador Mbabazi’s visit and diplomatic engagement underscore the enduring friendship and collaboration between Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire. Both countries are committed to expanding these ties and working together for the benefit of their citizens and the broader African continent.

As Rwanda’s Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Mbabazi is expected to play a pivotal role in further strengthening bilateral relations and advancing the shared goals of peace, prosperity, and regional integration.