Uzbekistan has established diplomatic relations with Rwanda, making it the 167th country to formalize ties with Tashkent, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov announced.
The agreement was formalized through the signing of a joint communique with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya.
In addition to establishing diplomatic relations, the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding to create a mechanism for political consultations between their foreign ministries.
“The signing of these documents is undoubtedly another important step in expanding Uzbekistan’s relations with countries of the African continent,” Saidov noted.
The move reflects Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to strengthen diplomatic and economic engagement beyond its traditional partners, with a growing focus on Africa.
Rwanda, a landlocked country in East Africa, borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Kigali.
The development follows a series of recent diplomatic expansions by Uzbekistan. On March 27, the Lesotho became the 166th country to establish diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan.
Earlier, the Pacific island nation of Palau also formalized ties through the signing of a joint communique.
