On Wednesday, January 28, Rwanda and Mexico celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations, highlighting growing cooperation in diplomacy, finance, tourism, and multilateral engagement.

The event was held in Nairobi and hosted by the Ambassador of Mexico to Rwanda, with residence in Kenya, Amb. Gisele Fernández Ludlow.

In her remarks, Amb. Ludlow noted that despite the geographical distance between Mexico and Rwanda, the two countries have developed strong relations in areas of mutual interest.

“Mexico and Rwanda have cultivated a relationship in tax transparency, financial integrity, and broader diplomatic engagement through Africa-focused initiatives, reflecting a shared commitment to global governance and cooperation,” she said.

The celebration, she added, invites both countries not only to honour the past and acknowledge the present, but also to renew the shared commitment to the future.

“Rwanda’s growth in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, combined with Mexico’s experience in this field, opens new avenues for exchange, investment, and cooperation in tourism,” she noted.

Speaking at the event, Amb. Ernest Rwamucyo, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Kenya, underscored that Rwanda highly values the cordial and principled cooperation it enjoys with Mexico, both bilaterally and on the international stage.

“Over the past five decades, Rwanda and Mexico have maintained sustained and meaningful interactions, particularly within multilateral forums, where our countries have consistently upheld shared principles of multilateralism, dialogue, international solidarity, and respect for international law,” he said.

These engagements, he added, have strengthened mutual understanding and contributed positively to global peace and sustainable development.

Amb. Rwamucyo also underlined that Rwanda remains keen to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Mexico across a broad range of areas, including political consultations, trade and investment, education, innovation, tourism, agriculture, climate action, and South–South cooperation.

Currently, Mexico is accredited to Rwanda through its Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and maintains an Honorary Consulate in Kigali. Conversely, Rwanda is accredited to Mexico through its Embassy in Washington, D.C.

According to Aimable Rumongi, Honorary Consul of Mexico in Rwanda, who was at the celebration event in Nairobi, there have been growing people-to-people relations between the two countries following the inauguration of Mexico’s Honorary Consulate to Kigali in 2019.

Representing the Government of Kenya at the celebration, Amb. Stella Munyi, Deputy Director-General for the Americas and Caribbean Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, congratulated Rwanda and Mexico on the milestone, noting that Kenya enjoys warm and cordial bilateral and multilateral relations with both countries, grounded in matters of common interest.

The celebration featured an exhibition of photographs and historical documents that trace fifty years of friendship between Rwanda and Mexico. Among the displayed items was the original telegram announcing the establishment of diplomatic relations and the official press communiqué issued on 21 January 1976.