Kampala — Fourteen years after getting the first invitation, the British Council has finally officially launched its activities in Rwanda. Rwanda invited the British Council, a British government 'not-for-profit' agency responsible for promoting British culture throughout the world to operate in Kigali in 1994.

The establishment of the council in Kigali will be perceived as a move, Rwanda has pulled to strengthen her Anglophone ties. It would also give a nod to Rwanda for her 2003 application to join the Commonwealth, a 53-member English-speaking club of countries, most of whom have colonial ties to the United Kingdom. The application is to be approved next year.

Rwanda like neighbouring Burundi was colonised by Belgium. After independence in 1962, it became an important player in the Francophone world and enjoyed close relations with France.