At the forum, Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied. He called on Rwanda to halt the escalation of violence in eastern DRC and extended a public hand to President Paul Kagame, urging cooperation to resolve the crisis.
Tshisekedi insisted that the DRC had never been belligerent towards its neighbours, despite multiple reports of threats to invade Rwanda, bombard Kigali, and overthrow its leadership.
In a hard-hitting post on social media, Nyombayire highlighted contradictions in Tshisekedi’s narrative. She criticised him for presenting himself as a peace-loving leader while repeatedly threatening Rwanda and claiming victimhood in a conflict he has failed to resolve.
She outlined what she described as the true nature of Tshisekedi’s so-called “arm of peace.” Nyombayire alleged that he had armed and supported the FDLR, a genocidal militia formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and integrated them into the national army.
She further accused him of backing militias that persecute and kill civilians based on ethnicity. According to Nyombayire, he also denied the Congolese identity of the M23 to avoid responsibility for resolving the crisis.
Nyombayire added that Tshisekedi sought international assistance while simultaneously undermining signs of progress. She noted that he hired mercenaries to fight his wars, yet still failed to achieve results. Finally, she said he scapegoated Rwanda for the DRC’s failures while leaders enriched themselves at the expense of ordinary citizens.
President Kagame also appeared to dismiss Tshisekedi’s claims, calling them “noise of an empty drum” and urging the international community to ignore them.
“If one makes an issue of noise of an empty drum, they also have a problem! Better to let it pass or walk away from it!!!” President Kagame wrote on X the following remarks by the DRC president.
Citing President Kagame, Nyombayire wrote: “There is no use arguing with those who have repeated their lies long enough; they have come to believe them. There are no lessons Rwanda needs to be taught about the meaning of peace; those of us who have fought for peace know its price.”
The exchanges come amid ongoing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC over the M23 rebel group, which says it represents marginalised Congolese Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities. Rwanda continues to deny supporting the group, pointing instead to the DRC’s security lapses and involvement with armed militias, including the FDLR.
Despite multiple mediation efforts, including a peace deal signed in Washington and dialogue facilitated by Qatar, Rwanda has criticised the DRC for obstructing agreements and lacking the political will to ensure lasting peace.
Addressing a high-level audience in Brussels, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Angolan President João Lourenço, Chairperson of the African Union, Kagame warned that partnerships based on directives and compliance are a dead end for Africa’s transformation.
The Global Gateway Forum, now in its second edition since its 2023 launch, gathers leaders from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to tackle geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges while scaling up investments in global connectivity.
The 2025 Forum provides a critical platform to strengthen collaboration, identify investment opportunities, and promote sustainable development through infrastructure, technology, and green initiatives.
“This forum has, in a short time, proven its worth by connecting ideas and resources and turning them into real investment,” Kagame said, praising the Global Gateway’s focus on innovative strategies. Yet, he underscored a fundamental flaw in how partnerships are often conceived.
“For some, partnership is about giving instructions and setting conditions. For others, it means complying. Africa’s experience shows that this approach does not deliver the transformation we need,” he stated.
Kagame emphasised that genuine partnerships must be built on equality, with shared risks and rewards. “A good partnership does not create dependency. It creates value,” he asserted, outlining Africa’s priorities: robust infrastructure, advanced technology, and competitive industries.
He highlighted Africa’s value to Europe, noting its growing market, talent pool, and critical resources for the green and digital transitions. Pointing to tangible progress, Kagame cited BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, supported by the EU’s Team Europe initiative, as a landmark achievement.
“This project is a milestone for regional vaccine production. It will reduce Africa’s import dependency and strengthen our ability to respond to future pandemics,” he said, framing it as a model for partnerships with broader regional impact.
To sustain such initiatives, Kagame stressed the need for private sector engagement and stronger local ecosystems, aligning with the Forum’s goal of fostering sustainable development.
“The work has begun, and we are making good progress. Rwanda will continue to do its part to ensure measurable impact,” he pledged.
Echoing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kagame expressed optimism, noting a “positive energy about business, investment, peace, and prosperity” at the Forum.
Vision 2020 set ambitious targets to reduce poverty, boost economic growth, and build infrastructure, leading to significant progress in healthcare, education, governance, and economic stability.
Now, Rwanda is looking to the future with Vision 2050, which aims to transform the nation into a high-income economy by mid-century, ensuring prosperity and opportunity for all. Let’s explore 10 key aspects of Rwanda’s Vision 2050.
{{1. A vision for prosperity and high living standards}}
At the heart of Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s goal to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050.
Between 1998 and 1999, the country set a target to increase GDP per capita from USD 250 per year to USD 900 by 2020.
The current roadmap targets an ambitious GDP per capita of USD 4,036 by 2035 and USD 12,476 by 2050.
To reach these targets, the needed GDP growth rates (annual average) are at least 12% during 2018-2035 and 10% from 2036 to 2050.
This economic growth is expected to provide Rwandans with better living standards, including universal access to quality education, healthcare, and modern infrastructure.
{{2. Human development as a key pillar }}
Human development is a central pillar of Vision 2050, aiming to harness the economic potential of Rwanda’s growing workforce. By 2050, the working-age population is expected to increase to 65.7%, up from 61% in 2017.
To realize the benefits of this demographic dividend, the Vision focuses on key priorities: ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare and education, transforming the workforce for greater productivity, and promoting skills development.
These investments are crucial for fostering a healthy, educated, and skilled labor force, which will be essential for driving Rwanda’s economic transformation and achieving long-term prosperity.
{{3. Economic growth through competitiveness and innovation}}
Rwanda is committed to enhancing its global competitiveness by developing a diversified economy.
By 2035, Rwanda plans to be among the top 10 countries for ease of doing business, rank among the top 20 economies in competitiveness by 2035 and top 10 in 2050.
This vision includes specific priorities which focus on creating a diversified economy built upon future industries.
It emphasizes developing competitive manufacturing, supported by a regional logistics hub, and driving transformative growth through modern and innovative services sectors.
The vision also prioritizes export-oriented knowledge services and high-end sustainable tourism, while ensuring universal access to financial services for all, among others.
{{4. Agriculture for wealth creation}}
In 2024, agriculture contributed 24 percent to GDP and employed over 43 percent of the population as at March 2025. As agriculture remains a key sector, Vision 2050 focuses on transforming the sector to generate wealth and reduce poverty.
By increasing the use of modern farming technologies, ensuring market-oriented agriculture, and enhancing climate resilience, Rwanda will integrate its agricultural products into global value chains.
This shift will lead to higher productivity and greater economic opportunities for both men and women in agriculture.
{{5. Urbanization and smart cities for growth}}
Urbanization is a central aspect of Rwanda’s future development. By 2050, 70% of the population is projected to live in urban areas, with Kigali and six secondary cities serving as hubs of socioeconomic activity.
Rural settlements will grow in a clustered and densified way with the necessary basic infrastructure, services and facilities.
Rural households settled in integrated planned settlements will increase from 67.2% (EICV5 2016/17) to 80% by 2024 and 100% by 2035. This will be maintained throughout 2050.
Overall, the country will embrace smart and green cities that are energy-efficient and designed to thrive in a sustainable urban ecosystem.
{{6. A modern and accountable governance system}}
Vision 2050 emphasizes the importance of accountable institutions and effective governance.
The vision outlines the continued development of citizen-centered reforms, where local innovations and home-grown solutions will remain central to the country’s development.
Institutions will be modernized, ensuring efficiency and transparency in public service delivery, reinforcing Rwanda’s progress towards socioeconomic transformation.
{{7. A green growth and climate resilience path}}
Sustainability is key in Vision 2050. The plan includes a Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS) aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient economy.
Rwanda will focus on efficient use of natural resources while ensuring the country’s climate adaptation strategies are strong enough to cope with challenges posed by global warming.
By protecting the environment, Rwanda will achieve long-term ecological sustainability alongside its economic growth.
{{8. Energy sustainability for the future}}
Energy access will play a crucial role in Rwanda’s economic expansion. Access to electricity stood at 72% in 2024 from 34% in 2017. By 2050, 100% of the population is expected to have access to electricity, with renewable energy making up at least 60% of the power generation mix.
Increased energy consumption is expected as Rwanda’s economy grows, but this will be managed sustainably to ensure energy supply meets demand without compromising environmental goals.
{{9. Life expectancy }}
Rwanda’s Vision 2050 sets ambitious targets for improving the health and well-being of its citizens, with life expectancy being a central indicator of success.
As of 2020, life expectancy in Rwanda stood at 67.8 years. However, Vision 2050 aims for significant improvement, projecting 71.7 years by 2035 and 73 years by 2050.
This is a reflection of the country’s focus on enhancing healthcare, access to medical services, and overall living standards.
Compared to regional averages, Rwanda’s current life expectancy is strong, particularly when compared to neighbors like Uganda (63 years).
{{10. Population growth and reduced unemployment }}
The country’s population, projected to grow at a slower rate, is expected to reach 1.4% by 2050, down from 2.5% in 2019, with a growing proportion of the workforce entering the productive age group.
Rwanda’s last national census in 2022 reported a population of 13.2 million, up from 10.5 million recorded in 2012. As of July 2025, Rwanda’s population had reached 14.1 million. In 2050, the population is expected to reach 22 million in 2022.
Besides, by 2050, Rwanda aims to significantly reduce unemployment, targeting an unemployment rate of 5%, down from 15.2% in 2019.
This will be driven by investments in education, skills development, and private sector growth.
Achieving Vision 2050 will not happen overnight, and a rigorous implementation framework is in place to ensure that progress is monitored and adjusted regularly.
The vision includes five-year reviews, starting with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which serves to bridge the Vision 2020 and Vision 2050, to assess how the goals are being met and identify necessary adjustments.
The elaboration of Vision 2050 has taken into consideration the global and regional development agendas, to ensure harmonization of targets and indicators.
Those include: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, East African Community (EAC) Vision 2050, and the Paris Agreement on climate change among other instruments.
At a recent investor presentation in Washington, D.C., officials showcased the country’s strong economic trajectory, crediting disciplined reforms, sound governance, and a sustained push in infrastructure development.
Despite being landlocked, Rwanda has leveraged its strategic location, progressive policies, and long-term Vision 2050 plan to position itself as a regional hub of stability and growth.
With a growing business ecosystem, the country is opening opportunities across sectors ranging from green energy to infrastructure, making it an increasingly compelling choice for investors looking to tap into Africa’s emerging markets.
Here are the ten key factors that continue to define Rwanda’s investor appeal.
{{1. Political stability and strong governance
}}
Rwanda’s reputation for order and predictability continues to anchor investor confidence. The World Justice Project ranks it first in Africa and 27th globally for order and security, while governance indicators show strong control of corruption (73.1 percentile) and effective institutions (61.5 percentile).
This combination of transparency and accountability creates a low-risk environment, one where long-term investments can thrive without fear of sudden policy shifts or instability.
{{2. Rapid and resilient economic growth
}}
Few African economies have maintained Rwanda’s momentum. Between 2021 and 2024, GDP grew by an average of 9.1%, powered by a balanced mix of services (48%), industry (21%), and agriculture (25%).
The growth has been inclusive: child mortality has dropped by two-thirds, and nearly every Rwandan child now completes primary school. The country’s economic progress tells a broader story of resilience, human development, and an expanding middle class.
{{3. Vision 2050: A clear roadmap for prosperity
}}
Rwanda’s long-term blueprint, Vision 2050, lays out a bold ambition to become a high-income, service- and industry-led economy.
The National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), covering 2024–2029, sets a target of 10%+ annual GDP growth, coupled with higher savings and export growth. For investors, this clarity of purpose and policy continuity signals reliability, a rare asset in many emerging markets.
{{4. Ambitious infrastructure investments
}}
Infrastructure development remains central to Rwanda’s transformation. The flagship Bugesera International Airport, a $840 million project co-developed with Qatar, is designed to handle 8.2 million passengers annually by 2028 and up to 14 million by 2032.
The Nyabarongo II hydropower plant, currently halfway complete, is expected to add 43.5 MW of clean energy and support irrigation across 20,000 hectares of farmland. New roads, upgraded water systems, and modern training centres are also connecting communities and reducing business costs, making Rwanda a logistics-friendly hub in East Africa.
{{5. Rising aviation and logistics hub
}}
With its strategic location and modernising infrastructure, Kigali is positioning itself as a continental gateway.
RwandAir’s expanding fleet and the upcoming airport are part of a wider ambition to integrate with Africa’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). As intra-African air travel is projected to hit 80 million passengers by 2030, Rwanda’s connectivity will underpin growth in tourism, trade, and regional corporate investment.
{{6. Leading Africa’s green transformation
}}
Rwanda is also emerging as a continental leader in sustainable growth. It was the first African country to update its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Its Green Fund (FONERWA) has mobilised $200 million, created 140,000 green jobs, and attracted international partnerships, including $319 million from the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust. With a national green taxonomy now in place, Rwanda is showing that climate responsibility can be an engine of innovation and investment.
{{7. Inclusive growth and gender equality
}}
Rwanda’s social transformation is one of its strongest calling cards. Women make up 63.75% of Parliament and 51.9% of Cabinet, the highest representation in the world.
Access to electricity jumped from 22% in 2014 to 72% in 2024, and 92% of adults now use formal financial services. These social gains are not just moral victories; they create a stable, skilled workforce and a consumer market primed for responsible, inclusive growth.
{{8. Tourism and global branding power
}}
Tourism continues to drive Rwanda’s service economy, growing 4% in 2024 despite global challenges. The country’s appeal lies in its mix of natural beauty and high-end experiences, from mountain gorilla trekking to world-class events.
“The “Visit Rwanda” brand, supported by partnerships with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, has elevated the country’s profile on the global stage by blending tourism with soft power and international business visibility.
More recently, Rwanda signed long-term agreements with the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) and the Los Angeles Rams (NFL) in September 2025, marking the first time an African tourism brand has partnered with both an NBA and an NFL team.”
{{9. Financial and macroeconomic stability
}}
Rwanda’s fiscal discipline and sound monetary management have helped the country maintain investor confidence.
Foreign reserves cover 5.4 months of imports, inflation eased to 4.8% in 2024, and public debt remains within IMF sustainability thresholds. The banking sector is healthy, with capital adequacy ratios above 20% and non-performing loans declining. This macroeconomic stability offers investors the predictability they need to plan long-term.
{{10. Investor-friendly reforms and capital access
}}
Rwanda has consistently ranked among the world’s easiest places to do business. It now sits 5th globally for business environment and 3rd in Africa as a financial centre.
Recent reforms include modernised tax laws, simplified investment codes, and a maturing capital market offering bonds of up to 20 years. These measures have strengthened investor confidence and made Rwanda an emerging hub for African finance and innovation.
As outlined in the Washington presentation, Rwanda’s development model blends vision, accountability, and innovation.
From sound governance to green ambition, the country continues to attract investors seeking sustainable opportunities in Africa’s new growth frontier.
For global partners, Rwanda represents more than an emerging market. Observers increasingly view it as a blueprint for transformation rooted in discipline, inclusivity, and long-term vision.
The announcement was made in Kigali on Tuesday during a meeting convened by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), in partnership with the World Bank and the World Food Programme, to review strategies for disaster preparedness and response.
Speaking at the event, Ngoga Aristarque, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA), said Rwanda continues to face challenges in responding to severe disasters, often requiring funds to be diverted from other planned activities. He noted that the new support will help the country bridge critical gaps.
“While the national budget allocates resources for disaster response, unpredictable and large-scale disasters can quickly strain available funds. In the past, we had to reallocate resources from other programs, which affected implementation. This new mechanism will allow Rwanda to access emergency funding more quickly,” Ngoga said.
He added that the 2023 disasters highlighted the need for stronger resilience, as the country still requires an estimated $451 million to fully support affected communities two years later.
According to Ngoga, the new World Bank financing will reduce the shortfall between available and required resources, as Rwanda currently has less than half of the funding needed to address the impact of major disasters.
Kabera Godfrey, Minister of State for the National Treasury at MINECOFIN, said disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes cost the country about $145 million each year. Between 2013 and 2023, disasters and droughts alone reduced Rwanda’s GDP by 1.75 percent, with projections showing losses could rise to 3.25 percent without intervention.
“To address these risks, Rwanda has introduced mechanisms including the National Disaster Risk Fund, quick-access credit facilities, and insurance solutions to help mitigate losses. These measures ensure that funds for other national priorities are not diverted to disaster response,” Kabera said.
For decades, the exiled Rwandans had lived in limbo, scattered across Uganda and other countries in the region, dreaming of a return to a homeland most had not seen since childhood.
Many had fought under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the Ugandan Bush War, rising through the ranks of the National Resistance Army (NRA). But in their hearts, they were still refugees. Their families remained in camps, their parents’ land still out of reach. Diplomacy had done nothing.
At the heart of Rwanda’s liberation dream were two lifelong friends; Paul Kagame and Fred Gisa Rwigema. As boys in exile, they spent hours listening to elders recount the daring fights of earlier resistance fighters known as the Inyenzi, their imaginations fired by stories of return and freedom.
Those childhood talks hardened into resolve as the two rose to command positions in Uganda’s army. After helping bring Yoweri Museveni to power, they and other exiled Rwandans began quietly shaping a different mission, one not for another nation, but for their own. The time had come to stop waiting and start reclaiming home.
{{The calm before the march}}
According to historian John Burton Kegel in his book The Struggle for Liberation: War and Militarism in African History, the final decision to activate Option Z came in September 1990.
By then, tension within Uganda’s army was palpable. Anti-Rwandan sentiment had grown, and intelligence officers were already suspicious that some NRA soldiers were secretly loyal to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). If the plan leaked, the entire network could be dismantled overnight.
Rwigema’s home in Kampala quietly became the center of operations. Around 20 September, small groups of trusted officers began visiting under the cover of darkness. No meetings were recorded, no written orders were left behind. Each man left with one instruction: be ready to move at any time.
One of the key figures in these clandestine gatherings was Major Sam Kaka, the then commander of Uganda’s Military Police and one of Rwigema’s most trusted allies.
Kaka traveled across the country using official duties as camouflage, quietly alerting Rwandan officers in scattered NRA units, those stationed in Bihanda under Theogene Bagire, others at Mbarara under Charles Musitu, and some embedded in 129 Battalion under Commander Cyzia. He told them only what they needed to know: the time had come.
By September 29, the decision was sealed. The armed return was no longer an aspiration, it was a date on the calendar.
{{Building an army without an army}}
The RPA existed more in loyalty than in form. It was a force that lived within another army but bound by a deeper allegiance. Mobilization had to be improvised.
Kegel notes that the core of the initial force came from Kaka’s Military Police Battalion, which was almost entirely composed of Rwandan patriots.
Around one hundred soldiers from President Museveni’s elite Presidential Protection Unit joined in, having been secretly recruited by charismatic commanders Charles Muhire and Charles Ngoga. Another three hundred came from 31 Brigade in central Kampala.
They brought what they could carry, rifles, ammunition, boots, even food rations. They had no tanks, no artillery support, no formal supply chain. But they had determination. By evening on September 30, Rwigema gave the final order.
{{The convoy that slipped through the night }}
At 2:30 a.m. on October 1 , 1990, a convoy began rolling out of Kampala’s dark streets. It was an unlikely army on the move, a jumble of army trucks, minivans, borrowed buses, and private cars.
Kaka’s military police led the way to discourage roadblocks. Each man knew discovery meant death or imprisonment, but not a single one turned back.
As the convoy moved, radios buzzed with tension. Rwigema’s communications team stayed awake through the night, listening for any sign that NRA commanders had noticed the disappearance.
Then came a brief radio message, relayed from the Ugandan presidency’s office: “ Don’t be afraid, if it is Fred who is going with his soldiers, they are not going to fight us. I think he must be returning home.”
President Museveni was out of the country. To this day, no one knows who sent that message, but it kept the convoy moving, unchallenged, toward the border.
{{Dawn at Kagitumba}}
By 10 a.m., the first RPA platoons reached the Kagitumba border post on the Muvumba River. Morning mist blanketed the valley. Across the river, a small detachment of Rwandan government troops stood guard, unaware that history was about to cross their path.
Then came a moment of symbolism that would echo through history. Before crossing the border, Rwigema’s men stopped and tore the Ugandan insignia from their uniforms.
The firefight was swift and decisive. The road to Nyagatare was suddenly open.
They entered Rwanda not as invaders, but as sons returning home. As Kegel observed, this act was deliberate, a declaration that this was not Uganda’s war but Rwanda’s own awakening.
{{The chaos of secrecy}}
Victory at Kagitumba brought euphoria but also confusion. The RPA had emerged from the shadows, but it was still a network, not a structured army. Fighters arrived in scattered groups, many unsure of who to follow or what the overall plan was. Rwigema and his senior officers; Kaka, Steven Ndugute, and others, scrambled to restore order.
By nightfall, they had created four ad-hoc battalions led by Chris Bunyenyezi, Steven Ndugute, Adam Wasswa, and Sam Kaka. Yet they faced an immediate crisis: hunger. Because secrecy had been absolute, no supply lines or civilian staging areas had been arranged. The soldiers began seizing cattle from local herders, leaving handwritten IOUs that promised repayment after the war.
The very secrecy that had ensured success now revealed its price, confusion, shortages, and improvised command.
{{Lighting the fuse}}
Still, morale burned brighter than fear. Plans for the following day were bold, push deeper into Rwanda, seize Gabiro, Camp Mutara, and Nyagatare before reinforcements arrived.
The fighters moved forward with faith stronger than logistics, believing that speed would compensate for what they lacked in numbers and supplies.
In hindsight, Option Z was not simply a military maneuver. It was a gamble built on courage, stealth, and conviction, a calculated leap into the unknown.
Despite early setbacks, including the death of Maj Gen Fred Rwigema on the second day of the struggle, the drive to free Rwanda did not falter.
Just days later, Maj Paul Kagame returned from military training in the United States to assume command. He reorganized the war, restored the soldiers’ morale, and led the campaign that ultimately liberated Rwanda and ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Option Z had succeeded.
This victory opened the path to rebuild a nation once reduced to ashes, restore unity, and set Rwandans on a shared journey of recovery and development.
At the heart of this transformation is the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which oversees national economic development and ensures that tourism functions as a strategic pillar rather than a peripheral industry. The “Visit Rwanda” initiative is tasked with promoting the country’s natural and cultural assets while ensuring that tourism benefits local communities and preserves critical wildlife ecosystems.
Tourism contributed a record Frw 1.9 trillion (9.8% of GDP) in 2024, a 17.7% increase over pre-pandemic levels. Central to this success is Rwanda’s high-value, low-volume model, which prioritises conservation and attracts affluent travellers seeking luxury eco-tourism experiences, such as gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
By linking tourism revenue to wildlife preservation and community benefit, Rwanda has transformed its natural capital into a premium, sustainable offering that ensures long-term economic resilience.
{{Global recognition through sports diplomacy
}}
Beyond traditional marketing, Rwanda has leveraged elite sports partnerships to enhance its international recognition. Collaborations with European football clubs such as Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern Munich, and Atlético de Madrid, along with more recent partnerships with U.S. sports franchises including the LA Clippers and LA Rams, have placed the country firmly on the global stage.
The Arsenal partnership, launched in 2018, alone reaches millions of fans worldwide through stadium branding and broadcast coverage, with a reported annual value exceeding $12 million. PSG’s partnership, renewed through 2028, extends Rwanda’s influence into youth development, education, and cultural exchange, including initiatives like the PSG Academy Rwanda.
Additionally, Bayern Munich and Atlético de Madrid further consolidate visibility across Germany, Spain, and Latin America, while U.S. sports deals connect Rwanda with high-net-worth American audiences.
These partnerships serve dual purposes: generating extensive international media coverage and showcasing Rwanda’s economic strength and stability to the global investment community. By partnering with world-renowned, financially robust institutions, Rwanda reinforces its image as a modern, trustworthy economy and a prime destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).
{{Tangible economic impact
}}
The branding strategy has produced measurable results. Tourism revenues surpassed $620 million in 2023 and grew to $647 million in 2024, driven by a 27% increase in gorilla tourism revenue and an 11% rise in air travel. The sector directly supported nearly 386,000 jobs, benefiting hospitality, service, and rural communities.
FDI has similarly surged, with total inflows reaching $716.5 million in 2023, a 44.3% increase from the previous year.
Strategic visibility through sports partnerships has also helped attract investment for major infrastructure projects, including the greenfield Bugesera International Airport, designed to handle 14 million passengers annually by 2028. This airport, alongside roads, hotels, and logistics projects, is set to catalyse further tourism and business development.
{{Soft power and human capital development
}}
The initiative’s benefits extend beyond financial metrics. Partnerships with PSG and Bayern Munich have facilitated skills transfer, mentorship, and youth development, creating a pipeline of talent that elevates Rwanda’s human capital. The PSG Academy Rwanda, for instance, produced the country’s U13 team that won the PSG Academy World Cup in 2022, showcasing Rwanda’s rising youth potential on an international stage.
Domestic buy-in is also crucial. By channelling investments into local communities and job creation, Rwanda ensures that high-profile campaigns garner public support and link global visibility to tangible national development.
{{Resilience amid criticism
}}
The high-profile partnerships have often attracted scrutiny, with critics citing the costs and alleging “sportswashing” aimed at “polishing” Rwanda’s image abroad. Officials have consistently dismissed these claims, defending the strategy as a long-term investment in national branding, economic growth, and youth development.
Tensions with the Democratic Republic of Congo over alleged funding sources have added a geopolitical dimension. Despite calls for termination from the DRC, Rwanda has maintained its agreements, highlighting the strategic resilience and enduring value of the partnerships.
Looking ahead, Rwanda’s future growth will hinge on diversifying tourism offerings, including luxury resorts, golf courses, and experiential centres, while leveraging sports partnerships to expand the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. Strategic infrastructure projects like Bugesera Airport will further enable high-yield tourism and business travel, translating global recognition into sustainable economic development.
The “Visit Rwanda” initiative exemplifies how developing economies can leverage strategic global partnerships to amplify their voice, attract investment, and drive comprehensive national growth. By aligning tourism, conservation, youth development, and infrastructure, Rwanda has positioned itself as a model of how destination branding can intersect with economic diplomacy to deliver tangible and intangible returns.
In a post on X on Saturday night, October 4, Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. was fully prepared to sign the framework, describing it as beneficial to both nations and the wider Great Lakes region.
“The Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. this week was ready to sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), which benefits both our countries and the region,” Makolo wrote.
“We are puzzled by the DRC’s last-minute decision not to sign the agreement, given the positive atmosphere of the negotiations during which the text of the REIF was finalised, and the diligent mediation work of Senior Advisor Massad Boulos and the State Department.”
Makolo added that while progress had been made under the Peace Agreement signed in June, the DRC had refused to proceed with certain security commitments until specific actions discussed at the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) meeting earlier in the week were implemented.
That meeting, held on October 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C., brought together representatives from Rwanda, the DRC, the United States, Qatar, Togo (as the African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission.
According to a joint communiqué issued by the U.S. State Department, the parties discussed concrete steps to neutralise the FDLR militia group and advance the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures in line with the peace roadmap. The FDLR was formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the Government of Rwanda maintains that the group’s genocidal ideology poses a grave security threat to the Great Lakes region.
The Committee also finalised an Operation Order for the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism and confirmed October 1 as its start date, with both sides reaffirming commitments to refrain from hostile rhetoric.
However, the communiqué also acknowledged rising tensions in Uvira and Walikale, where the AFC/M23 rebel coalition continues to accuse the Kinshasa administration of targeting civilian populations through drone attacks despite a declared ceasefire. The Congolese government has also faced accusations of using foreign mercenaries in its conflict with the M23, in contradiction to ongoing peace efforts. The Committee urged calm and restraint by all actors, warning that renewed hostilities could undermine the fragile progress achieved through recent diplomacy.
Despite the setback on the REIF, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process and the U.S.-mediated approach.
“Rwanda believes in the peace agreement and in the approach of the U.S. mediation, and hopes that the REIF will eventually be signed,” Makolo said. “The peace process must succeed. It is the best chance for stability and economic development for our region.”
{{A blueprint for shared prosperity
}}
The Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), first announced in August 2025, was designed to strengthen economic cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC while supporting regional peace efforts.
The framework, finalised after the Washington Declaration of Principles and aligned with the June Peace Agreement, outlines joint commitments in key sectors, including mineral governance, energy, infrastructure, tourism, and public health.
Both countries had agreed to combat the illicit mineral trade, formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, and promote transparency in the critical minerals sector, including tin, tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and gold. The framework also envisions cooperation in energy generation through projects such as Ruzizi III and methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu, as well as infrastructure development linked to the Lobito Corridor.
Further provisions include collaboration on cross-border conservation, tourism, and public health, alongside expanded cooperation in sectors such as agribusiness, education, and ICT.
Officials had described the REIF as a “living platform” for sustained economic collaboration, expected to complement security stabilisation under the Washington peace roadmap.
{{Hopes for renewed momentum
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The DRC’s hesitation to sign the REIF comes at a delicate time for regional diplomacy, as both nations work to implement the June 2025 Peace Agreement under U.S. mediation. The agreement’s success is seen as crucial to stabilising eastern Congo and creating conditions for long-term economic recovery.
Rwanda has expressed optimism that the framework will eventually move forward. “The peace process must succeed,” Makolo reiterated, framing economic integration as inseparable from the region’s broader security and development goals.
The next Joint Oversight Committee meeting is expected to take place later this month following sessions of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, with hopes that discussions will restore momentum toward implementing both the peace and economic integration agreements.
Addressing President Paul Kagame, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, and international delegates, Lappartient said the 2025 edition in Kigali had exceeded all expectations.
“This week in Kigali has not just met our expectations. It has, of course, done more than that. It has taken our breath away,” he said. “In love with its countryside, in love with its people, in love with its beauty, in love with its vitality — we will never forget your country’s welcome.”
The UCI President hailed the historic significance of this year’s championships, the first to be hosted in Africa. He highlighted two milestones: the debut of dedicated women’s under-23 races and the crowning of 12 world champions before Sunday’s men’s elite road race.
“Quite simply, we have never experienced an event like this before,” he said.
In recognition of Rwanda’s role, Lappartient presented President Kagame with a framed rainbow jersey and the UCI Order, the federation’s highest distinction.
“This is the highest award given to people who make an outstanding impact on the sport of cycling,” he said.
President Kagame, in his own remarks, welcomed the honour and congratulated Lappartient on his election as UCI President. He also acknowledged the warm presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
With humour, Kagame noted the symbolic value of the gift: “So, for me, I won’t necessarily have to participate in the competition. I have more or less already won.”
The President emphasised the unifying power of sport and its role in inspiring Africa’s youth.
“The chants, the crowds, and the smiles are a true testament to the unifying power of sports,” he said.
“For our young and talented people, this is an inspiration for them to follow their own dreams with a spirit of sacrifice and endurance, like true champions.”
He added that investment in sports across the continent is part of investing in Africa’s future.
“It all comes down to giving everyone a fair chance, not out of sympathy, but because everyone has something good to give back and because the sport is stronger for it,” Kagame said.
As the evening drew to a close, both leaders praised the organisers, the Rwandan Cycling Federation, and hundreds of volunteers whose smiles and energy were credited for much of the event’s success.
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships conclude on Sunday with the highly anticipated men’s elite road race, set to feature some of the world’s top riders in what promises to be a historic finale.
The Hakan Power Plant, located in Mamba Sector next to the Akanyaru marshes, was launched in 2021 after four years of construction. Despite its design capacity of 80 megawatts—70 of which were meant to be fed into the grid—the plant currently generates only about 23 megawatts.
According to the project manager, Tonci Tadic, the main challenge has been the unreliable supply of peat. Initial feasibility studies suggested that the Akanyaru River would not disrupt peat extraction, but rising water levels linked to heavier rainfall have washed away significant deposits.
“What we have observed over the past four years is the impact of climate variability on the Akanyaru River,” Tadic said. “The earlier study showed the river’s width at 3.5 meters, but it has since expanded to 4.9 meters, causing floods that sweep away our peat.”
Seasonal rains have compounded the problem, making peat mining nearly impossible for three to four months a year. The company also faces a shortage of specialized equipment to extract and transport peat, further limiting operations.
Calls for new investment
Tadic revealed that so far, about $450 million ( approximately Frw 500 billion) has been invested in the plant, but an additional $25 million is needed to expand capacity and resolve the bottlenecks.
“To deliver the 70 megawatts expected to the grid, we must expand the mining area from the current 300 hectares to 800 hectares,” he said. “We also need at least 40 additional machines to support peat extraction and transportation. With $25 million invested over three years, I believe the plant could finally supply the full 70 megawatts.”
The investor also called for smoother cooperation with the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), which buys the electricity generated by the plant. He noted that while contracts stipulate payment within 45 days, delays have stretched to as long as four months.
“Meanwhile, the Rwanda Revenue Authority still counts penalties for late tax payments, even though REG itself has not paid us on time,” Tadic said.
The Rwandan government has pledged to support the company in addressing these challenges, with discussions underway on how to strengthen collaboration with other agencies.
{{Broader peat potential
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Hakan Power Plant is not the only facility using peat in Rwanda. The Gishoma power plant in Rusizi District also produces 15 megawatts from peat.
Studies indicate that Rwanda holds an estimated 155 million tonnes of peat reserves covering about 50,000 hectares. According to REG data, about 77% of the country’s peat resources are concentrated in the Akanyaru and Nyabarongo wetlands, as well as the Rwabusoro valley.
