Namibia seeks to strengthen relations with Rwanda

Namibian President Sam Nujoma on Tuesday sent a message to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda aimed at improving relations between the two countries, news agencies reported on Wednesday. “There is need to work together in the restoration of peace especially in the Great Lakes region and the Namibian government is committed towards achieving that goal so as to facilitate the development of socio-economic activities,” the message was reported in part to have read, according to the Rwanda News Agency. The message was presented to Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Makuza by Namibian special envoy and Minister for Mines and Energy Jesaya Nyamu, Radio Rwanda reported on Tuesday. “Our discussions touched on the relations between Namibia and Rwanda and how they could be strengthened. We also discussed African issues, next month’s OAU [Organisation of African Unity] summit and the situation prevailing in the Great Lakes region, including the DRC,” Makuza said. Kagame was out of the country, attending the UN conference on AIDS in New York. Namibia, together with Angola and Zimbabwe, sent troops into the DRC in August 1998 to support the government of late president Laurent-Desire Kabila against rebel factions backed by Rwanda and Uganda.