South Africa, Rwanda to Discuss Bilateral Ties

By Eddyson Lugangwa Posted 30 August 2006 @ 03:13 pm EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

Johannesburg (IBTimes.com) - Discussions at the upcoming joint commission between South Africa and Rwanda were expected to include peace building in Africa with particular reference to Rwanda's neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where presidential and parliamentary elections were recently held.

South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma would chair together with her Rwandan counterpart Charles Murigande, the fourth session of the commission of co-operation in Kigali, the Rwanda capital on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. A presidential run-off between the two (DRC) presidential candidates - current President Joseph Kabila and his deputy Jean Pierre Bemba - was expected in October.

Although Kabila has emerged as the frontrunner in the recent presidential election first round, he did not acquire the required 51 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off. The commission was also expected to discuss political and economic bilateral relations between SA and Rwanda.