The World Health Organization (WHO) has honoured His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his visionary leadership in championing a legally binding international pandemic accord. 

The tribute was conferred during the closing session of the inaugural meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the Pandemic Agreement, held on 10 July 2025 at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Rwanda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Urujeni Bakuramutsa, received the certificate on behalf of the President from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

This symbolic recognition highlights the vital role that President Kagame has played since 2021 in advocating for stronger global cooperation and legal frameworks to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health emergencies. On 30 March 2021, President Kagame joined 24 other world leaders in co-authoring a historic Op-Ed calling for an international treaty on pandemic preparedness, signaling Rwanda’s enduring commitment to multilateralism and global health security.

The meeting of the IGWG—established following the adoption of Resolution WHA 78.1 by the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025—marks a key milestone toward finalizing the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Countries are now working to complete the agreement’s remaining annexes, including the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system.

In addition to his leadership in pandemic preparedness, President Kagame has consistently championed sustainable health financing for the African continent, notably through his work with the African Union and key multilateral health partnerships.

Rwanda joins over 20 other nations whose Heads of State or Government were similarly recognized for their leadership in the negotiations process. This recognition reaffirms Rwanda’s standing as a proactive voice for equitable, inclusive, and rules-based approaches to global health governance.