The Presidents of Rwanda and Uganda on 21st August 2019 signed an agreement in Angola to end months of tensions after a series of accusations of spying, political assassinations and meddling between their states.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni are allies but their relations had shifted in a dispute that damaged trade between the two countries.
The signing in the Angolan capital Luanda, was witnessed by the presidents of Angola Joao Lourenco, Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso.
After the signing, Kagame said he did not anticipate any problems in working “more specifically with President Museveni to address what we have agreed to address”.
The Angolan leader Lourenco hailed the agreement saying it illustrated the two presidents’ “willingness to overcome conflict”.
Trade has been disrupted since late February when Rwanda abruptly closed the border with its northern neighbor, severing a major economic land route.
The difference between the two strongmen had potential of dragging the neighbors into a threatening economic disintegration and regional instability..
The standoff escalated dramatically in March when Rwanda publicly accused Uganda of abducting its citizens and supporting rebels bent on overthrowing the government.
