Kagame meets five Commonwealth prime ministers at CHOGM

President Paul Kagame held bilateral talks with five prime ministers from Commonwealth member countries on November 3, on the sidelines of the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.

The leaders included Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Philip Davis of the Bahamas, Harini Amarasuriya of Sri Lanka, Godwin Friday of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini.

The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways of strengthening cooperation between Rwanda and the respective countries.

Earlier that day, Kagame joined other Commonwealth leaders in the first CHOGM Heads of Government Executive Session, alongside host Prime Minister Browne.

The closed-door session brought together heads of government to discuss common challenges and establish guiding principles for cooperation among member states.

On November 2, Kagame also met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in health, defence and tourism.

The President also attended a reception hosted by King Charles III on the same day, bringing together heads of government and senior business leaders following the Commonwealth Leaders and CEO Investment Summit.

The four-day CHOGM, running from November 1 to 4, is being held under the theme, “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”.

The meeting has brought together leaders from the Commonwealth's 56 member countries to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation, mobilising investment and addressing shared challenges, including climate change, trade barriers, economic inequality and sustainable development.

The summit is expected to conclude with a communiqué outlining leaders' agreed priorities and commitments to advancing cooperation across the Commonwealth.

By Prince Ruzigana