Rwanda and Mozambique on Thursday reached mutual visa-free agreement for holders of ordinary passports, a diplomatic source confirmed in Kigali.
The deal was concluded during the visit to Rwanda by Mozambican Minister of Interior Arsénia Massingue.
The agreement endorsed by the senior Mozambican government official and Rwandan minister of foreign affairs and Internationa cooperation will encourage free movement& enhance collaboration between the two countries, a statement issued in Kigali said.
Since July 2021, a total of 2,000 Rwandan troops have been deployed in Cabo Delgado working alongside the Mozambican army and a Southern African Development Community (SADC) task force.
With the support of Rwandan and SADC forces, the counter-insurgency campaign has reclaimed strategically important territory and captured several rebel bases in recent months.
In July 2018, Rwanda and Mozambique signed five bilateral pacts in a bid to strengthen ties and partnership.
The five pacts include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission which is currently overseeing the process of strengthening ties between the countries.
The two countries also signed a Bilateral Air Service agreement, exemption of visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport holders and an MoU on science and technology, higher education and professional training.
The Bilateral Air Service agreement is a step towards more reliable and predictable air services between the countries and could see the national carrier operate flights to Mozambique.
The two countries also signed another MoU between Rwanda Development Board and the Investment and Export Promotion Agency of Mozambique.
CU/as/APA