MWE Correspondent
On June 12, 2025, Tanzania and Rwanda took a significant step toward strengthening their shared international border by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The signing ceremony was held in Ngara, a district within Tanzania’s Kagera Region, following the conclusion of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) meeting, which brought together border experts from both countries.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Hamdouny Mansour, Director of Survey and Mapping at Tanzania’s Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development, and Mr. Abel Buhungu, head of the Rwandan delegation and Rwanda’s Chief of Mission to Sudan. The agreement aligns with the African Union’s broader agenda to improve border governance and promote peace, security, and regional integration by 2027.
Speaking after the signing, Mansour emphasized the critical importance of the initiative. “This effort goes beyond marking boundaries; it is about fostering peace, facilitating economic development, and reinforcing the longstanding friendship between Tanzania and Rwanda,” he said. He also highlighted how clear border demarcation supports national security and socio-economic progress.
Buhungu lauded Tanzania’s hospitality and the spirit of collaboration demonstrated during the JTC sessions. “We have worked together with respect and shared purpose, and I am confident that this partnership will be a model for others in the region,” he said.
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The border region between the two countries plays a vital role in trade, security, and local livelihoods. Disputes often arise from ambiguous boundaries, but this agreement paves the way for joint surveying, enhanced border infrastructure, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Both nations are active members of the East African Community (EAC), a regional intergovernmental organization focused on economic and political cooperation. This MoU strengthens the cooperative framework within the EAC by addressing one of the region’s key challenges — effective border management.
Moving forward, Tanzania and Rwanda have committed to regular monitoring and evaluation meetings, with the next review slated for early 2026. These sessions will ensure continuous progress and adapt strategies as needed.
This cooperation supports the African Union Border Programme, which aims to peacefully resolve boundary disputes and deepen African integration by the target year of 2027.
