On Wednesday, January 14, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) deployed military engineers to Jamaica to assist in the rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in 2025. The deployment is in line with President Paul Kagame's pledge to support the Caribbean nation in post-disaster recovery process during his visit in April 2022. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: RDF engineer contingent arrives in Jamaica But even before this deployment, Rwanda and Jamaica had developed a strong relationship through diplomatic engagement, high-level visits, humanitarian support, and agreements in areas such as tourism, political consultation, and technology Diplomatic relations The two countries maintain formal diplomatic relations, with Rwanda currently covered by Jamaica’s High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. In 2024, President Kagame received letters of credence from Jamaica’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Lincoln G. Downer, who described Rwanda as a “brother country” and pledged to deepen the relationship. “So far, Rwanda and Jamaica have signed two bilateral agreements, on political consultation and tourism. Our next step is to operationalise these agreements and work with local partners in Rwanda to achieve our strategic objectives,” Downer said. Humanitarian cooperation In 2024, Rwanda donated $1.2 million (over Rwf1.5 billion) to support Caribbean nations affected by Hurricane Beryl. ALSO READ: Rwanda donates $1.2m to Caribbean countries hit by Hurricane Beryl According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rwanda allocated $300,000 to each of four affected Caribbean nations, namely Grenada, Jamaica, Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Presidential visits President Kagame has championed closer Rwanda-Caribbean relations through official visits and regional meetings. In April 2022, he visited Jamaica and addressed the Jamaican Parliament, emphasising the importance of direct cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean. During the visit, the two countries signed two Memoranda of Understanding on Political Consultation and Tourism Cooperation, laying the groundwork for deeper engagement. ALSO READ: President Kagame addresses Jamaican parliament, roots for direct cooperation Kagame has also visited other Caribbean nations, including Barbados, Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago, advocating for south-south cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture, aviation, and sports. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness also participated in the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali in 2022. Tourism and people-to-people ties During the meeting, Rwanda and Jamaica announced a tourism collaboration aimed at mutually benefiting their tourism sectors, with Rwanda drawing lessons from Jamaica’s well-established industry. The agreement followed President Kagame’s visit to Jamaica, during which he called for direct cooperation between the two countries. ALSO READ: Here are six deals Rwanda concluded during CHOGM He emphasised the importance of people-to-people exchanges, particularly for youth and entrepreneurs. “In Rwanda, we have already had several Jamaican professionals come to our country and make meaningful contributions,” he said. Kagame also noted key areas for further cooperation, including trade and investment, as well as national unity and citizen development. “Let’s exchange with each other directly and thereby honor the history that joins us, making it a potent force for practical cooperation in the modern world,” he added. Following the signing of the MoUs, Prime Minister Holness said: “I look forward to an even more vibrant partnership between Jamaica and Rwanda in the years ahead.” Trade, investment, and technological cooperation Bilateral cooperation has extended into trade, investment, and technology. In 2025, Rwanda secured a $4.6 million (Rwf6.6 billion) contract to design and deploy Jamaica’s Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS). The project, signed between Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI) and Jamaica’s Ministry of Justice, aims to modernise Jamaica’s justice system through digital governance solutions.
