Ambassador Aslan Alper Yüksel made the remarks on October 29, 2026, during a reception at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Kigali, marking the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye.

Republic Day, celebrated annually on October 29, commemorates the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who became its first president. The occasion marks Türkiye's transition to a republican system of government and honours the founding principles of the modern state.

Yüksel praised Rwanda's development ambitions and commitment to progress, saying the country held a special place in Türkiye's engagement with Africa.

“Having served in Kigali for more than three years now, let me emphasise that I am very much impressed by Rwanda's forward-looking vision and commitment to further progress,” he said.

“I congratulate the relevant Rwandan authorities on bringing Formula One back to Africa.”

Rwanda is preparing to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix in Bugesera in the early 2030s under a 10-year agreement announced earlier this month, marking the return of Formula 1 to Africa after more than three decades since the last race on the continent, held in South Africa in 1993.

Cooperation extends to security and diplomacy

Yüksel said relations between the two countries had strengthened through commercial ties, defence and security cooperation, political consultations, education and institutional capacity building.

He highlighted development projects supported by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, cultural activities organised by the Yunus Emre Institute, and capacity-building initiatives involving Turkish institutions, including the Turkish National Police.

He also cited Turkish Airlines' daily direct flights between Kigali and Istanbul and recent engagement between the two countries' space agencies as examples of expanding cooperation.

Yüksel said exchanges between the two presidents reflected the strength of bilateral relations and their shared interest in peace and stability.

He reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to promoting peace, security and stability through dialogue and responsible diplomacy, citing the principle of “peace at home, peace in the world”, associated with Atatürk, as a continuing guide for Turkish foreign policy.

Rwanda welcomes growing Turkish investment

Speaking at the same event, Rwanda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Usta Kaitesi, said more than 25 Turkish companies had invested in Rwanda, particularly in construction, energy and infrastructure.

She encouraged further investment and trade between the two countries, emphasising the need for partnerships that create jobs, develop skills and facilitate knowledge transfer.

Kaitesi said President Paul Kagame's visit to Türkiye in January 2025 had given fresh momentum to bilateral relations. The two countries signed four cooperation agreements during the visit, covering defence industries, media and communication, and civil aviation.

She also highlighted the second round of Rwanda-Türkiye political consultations, hosted by Türkiye in 2026, as an opportunity to review progress and identify new areas of cooperation.

Beyond investment, the minister pointed to direct flights between Kigali and Istanbul as an important link for business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

She also welcomed Türkiye's scholarship programmes for Rwandan students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies, saying they helped develop skills and strengthen ties between the two countries.

Rwanda sees further opportunities to expand cooperation in agriculture, mining, information and communication technology, and renewable energy.

Both officials expressed confidence that continued engagement would strengthen the partnership and create further opportunities for their countries.