Lawrence Manzi presented his Letters of Credence as Rwanda’s first ambassador to Brazil to President Lula da Silva on Wednesday, May 22.
Building a Bridge Between Kigali and Brasília
Diplomatic channels between Rwanda and Brazil officially opened in 1981. That dynamic shifted in December 2023 when the Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda announced Lawrence Manzi’s appointment as the nation’s first ambassador to Brazil.
By presenting his credentials to President Lula da Silva in May, Ambassador Manzi transitioned bilateral ambitions into active diplomacy. Just months prior to Manzi’s arrival, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta, traveled to Brazil in October 2023 to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Ties That Bind: Wheat, Sugar, and Skies
Following a decrease in imports from Ukraine, Rwanda began importing wheat from Brazil starting in 2022. Alongside grain, Rwanda imports significant quantities of Brazilian sugar.
Trade logistics received a boost when both governments signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) in 2019. Business forums, such as the Rwanda-Brazil Business Forum hosted in São Paulo by the Rwanda Development Board, highlight how private sector actors are leveraging these state-level agreements.
| Year | Milestone / Agreement | Strategic Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Establishment of Diplomatic Relations | Initial formal recognition. |
| 2019 | Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) | Agreement to cooperate in air travel. |
| 2022 | Initiation of Brazilian Wheat Imports | Diversified agricultural supply chains after imports from Ukraine decreased. |
| October 2023 | Ministerial Visit by Dr. Vincent Biruta | Strengthened the relationship between the two countries. |
| May 2024 | Presentation of Credentials by Ambassador Lawrence Manzi | First Ambassador of Rwanda to Brazil. |
