The First Couple has begun on official visit to the Republic of Rwanda.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, accompanied by First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high-level delegation of government officials, departed from Velana International Airport (VIA) on Wednesday evening.

During the trip to Rwanda, the Maldivian president is scheduled to attend his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held since the Maldives’ re-accession to the Commonwealth of Nations on 01 February 2020.

CHOGM 2022 will be held from June 20 – 25 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The President’s Office revealed that the visit mirrors the incumbent administration’s commitment to engage with the international community, especially with the Commonwealth Member States, in promoting democracy, human rights, good governance, multilateralism and world peace.

The administration seeks to engage in exchange of expertise and assistance in regard to building inclusive, resilient, and environmentally conscious communities through such multilateral forums.

President Solih will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders in order to strengthen the island nation’s role in the international community, advance its shared interests and contribute to the resolution of global issues, on the sidelines of the meeting.