In a significant diplomatic and economic move, Rwanda and the Kingdom of Morocco have signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) that is set to boost trade between the two countries over time. The agreement was formalised on the sidelines of the 42nd International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) General Assembly in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, by Rwanda’s Representative to ICAO, H.E. Prosper Higiro, and Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, H.E. Abdessamad Kayouh.
This milestone is poised to dramatically expand civil aviation cooperation and holds immense potential for Rwanda’s trade, tourism, and investment sectors.
For Rwanda, a landlocked country, the new BASA is a critical piece of its strategy to become a major African trade and logistics hub. The agreement immediately facilitates the expansion of direct air links between the two nations, which are geographically separated but strategically connected.
The establishment of direct flight paths will significantly reduce the cost and time required to move goods between Rwanda (in East Africa) and Morocco (in North Africa).
This will particularly benefit Rwandan exports, such as coffee, tea, and manufactured goods, by providing a more efficient, direct route to North African markets. Primarily, it establishes a streamlined channel for Moroccan imports and trade expertise to enter the East African region.
By linking Kigali and Moroccan hubs like Casablanca, Rwanda reinforces its commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This connectivity bypasses traditional, longer European layovers, fostering genuine intra-African trade and strengthening South-South cooperation.
Beyond cargo, the ease of movement for people will encourage direct foreign investment from Morocco into Rwandan sectors like finance, technology, and manufacturing.
Furthermore, the agreement will boost tourism, simplifying travel for visitors between the historic, diverse cultures of the two nations.
The signing of the BASA is more than just a regulatory formality; it is an economic declaration that deepens the ties of friendship and collaboration between Rwanda and Morocco.
The agreement provides the necessary legal framework to enable their national carriers to operate new routes, increase flight frequencies, and ultimately unlock new commercial possibilities that will drive Rwanda’s sustainable economic growth. This is a clear demonstration of Rwanda leveraging global aviation platforms to secure tangible economic benefits at home.