This follows their official visit to Côte d’Ivoire on 19 and 20 December 2018, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
President Kagame thanked his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouatara, and the people of Côte d’Ivoire, for the great honor they have bestowed on them.
"We dedicate this distinction to the people of Rwanda, with whom we share the journey to build a united, prosperous country," he said.
President Kagame also said that Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire may be at opposite ends of the African continent, but they share more than their African heritage.
"Like Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire has lived through extremely difficult circumstances. But we also have in common the drive to break with the past, and create a brighter future for our people," Kagame noted.
He congratulated his Ivorian counterpart, and the people of Côte d’Ivoire, for overcoming many obstacles and the ongoing work to restore Côte d’Ivoire as an economic powerhouse in the region.
President Kagame said that they want to build on the friendship and solidarity, between Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire, for the benefit of their two peoples.
Meanwhile, the two countries some agreements earlier yesterday, following which, RwandAir will be executing flights from Kigali to Abidjan.
Kagame said they look forward to an even more productive partnership.
"The regular RwandAir flights from Kigali to Abidjan, are a good starting point. Rwandans and Ivorians should visit each other more," said Kagame.
President Kagame also thanked Ouattara for his support of the new Secretary General of the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.
"The success of her candidacy is proof that nothing is impossible when Africa comes together," he noted.
President Kagame pledged that Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire will continue to work together for a stronger and more united continent, particularly through the ongoing reform of the African Union.
President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara was last in Rwanda in April 2018 for a three-day visit.
He too also took part in the presentation of Mo Ibrahim Prize that was given to the former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
President Paul Kagame was last in Ivory Coast in November 2017 when he attended the 5th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) summit.