President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, who is on a two-day official visit to Rwanda, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16, 2026, where he paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During his visit to the memorial, President Wadagni paid his respects to more than 250,000 victims buried there, laid a wreath at the mass graves, and took a moment to honor the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is one of the important places for commemorating the victims of the Genocide, and it is also an institution that provides education on the history of the Genocide, testimonies of survivors, and ways of preserving the history of those who lost their lives.
President Wadagni’s visit to Rwanda is his first visit to the country since he became President of Benin in May 2026.
He began his visit on Wednesday, September 16, where he was received by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro in a ceremonial reception organized to welcome him.
After the reception, the two leaders held talks focused on relations and cooperation between Rwanda and Benin.
Their discussions are part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and explore ways to further expand it in various sectors.
Relations between Rwanda and Benin have been growing over the years, particularly in areas including trade and investment, agriculture, technology and the use of digital services, urban planning, transport, and security.
In 2023, President Paul Kagame visited Benin, where he held talks with President Patrice Talon on ways to further strengthen relations between the two countries.
During that visit, the two countries signed 10 agreements and other cooperation documents, including those relating to taxation and air transport.
The two countries also expressed their willingness to increase cooperation in trade and investment, promote tourism, and facilitate the movement of people and goods between Kigali and Cotonou.
President Wadagni’s visit comes at a time when the two countries are reviewing the progress made in their relations and exploring other areas that could be further strengthened.
For President Wadagni, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial was another part of the activities of his first visit to Rwanda since he assumed the responsibility of leading Benin.
The memorial is an important place for understanding the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi and remembering the more than one million people who were killed in 1994.
After paying tribute to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, President Wadagni continued with his visit programme in Rwanda, aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation between Benin and Rwanda.
The two-day visit began on September 16, 2026, and includes political discussions and cooperation between institutions of the two countries, as well as various activities that the President of Benin is scheduled to undertake in Rwanda.
BARAKA Esther
Rwandatribune.rw
