Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, on Wednesday signed an MoU in Angola to officially end months of tensions between them. The two countries have in the recent past accused each other of spying, political assassinations and meddling in their respective sovereignty.
The two leaders were once close allies but have recently faced off in a series of disputes that many feared could threaten regional stability and economic integration. The enmity led to the closure of an important commercial crossing in February this year.
According to a statement issued after Wednesday’s signing ceremony in Luanda, the two presidents agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and that “of the neighboring countries”.
They also undertook to “refrain from actions conducive to destabilization or subversion in the territory of the other party (and) acts such as the financing, training and infiltration of destabilizing forces”.
The two leaders also agreed to “protect and respect the rights and freedoms” of people “residing or transiting” through their respective countries and to resume cross-border activities “including movement of persons and goods … as soon as possible”.
After the signing, Museveni said “Uganda is fully committed to enforcing this agreement”, while Kagame noted “it may take a bit of time” for the two countries “to understand each other, but I think we have come a long way”.
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.
For his part, Angolan President Joao Lourenco hailed the agreement, saying it showed the two presidents’ “willingness to overcome conflict”.
Trade has been severely disrupted since late February when Rwanda abruptly closed the border with its northern neighbor, severing a major economic land route.
