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Rwanda will receive an additional €13 million (US $15 million) to support the country's health and education sectors, two visiting Belgian ministers said on Thursday following a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the capital, Kigali.
Belgian Development Cooperation Minister Marc Verwilghen said that the funds would not be part of the annual Belgian aid to Rwanda, but rather "an extra pledge to support these crucial sectors".
He told reporters, "We are going to sign an agreement with the Rwandan government and will be making the money available as soon as possible."
The Belgian government contributes about €20 million ($23.6 million) annually to Rwanda to support mainly the sectors of justice and rural development.
Some of the additional funds would be used to provide clean water to rural areas, Verwilghen said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Louis Michel led the Belgian delegation that is visiting the Great Lakes region. He praised Rwanda's recent presidential and parliamentary elections, which he described as a "significant step in the democratisation process".
He added, "I'm satisfied that these elections reflected the will of Rwanda and that the outcomes go unchallenged."
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
