Dar’s turn to eat Mombasa’s lunch as Rwanda looks south for trade across borders

Rwanda cargo- exports

Rwanda has diverted most of its cargo- exports via the Port of Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA

Rwanda and Tanzania have moved to reshape East Africa’s trade and logistics, with Rwanda being the latest landlocked country to divert its cargo traffic from the port of Mombasa to Dar es Salaam.

This week Rwandan President Paul Kagame hosted Tanzania’s Samia Suhulu Hassan for two days, and their discussions largely focused on improving trade relations. Notably, Dar es Salaam port and Customs officials were part of the high-powered delegation to Kigali.