Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has said it deployed military engineers to Jamaica to support the Caribbean nation's recovery from Hurricane Melissa in 2024. The deployment is conducted in accordance with a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and Jamaica aimed at assisting in the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure destroyed by disasters, the RDF said in a statement on Wednesday, January 14. ALSO READ: What Rwanda's expanding military diplomacy means Prior to their departure, the RDF engineers received a briefing from Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, Commander of the Mechanized Division on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff. Tinka urged the deployed personnel to apply their full expertise, professionalism, and technical skills in order to successfully accomplish the mission entrusted to them by RDF leadership. He emphasised that the beneficiaries of their support should feel the positive impact of their work. ALSO READ: Rwanda to build Jamaica’s digital justice system in $4.6m deal He highlighted the values that define the RDF, particularly discipline, which form the foundation of the force. “It is these values that earned you this responsibility,” he said, calling on the officers and other ranks to uphold and safeguard the RDF’s core values at all times. Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean region in late October 2025. Jamaica experienced the most severe impact, prompting a large-scale multi-agency humanitarian response.
