Rwanda has signed a US$228 million health-sector agreement with the United States, marking one of the first major wins following renewed peace commitments between Kigali and Kinshasa. The deal, announced by the US State Department late Friday, comes just hours after President Donald Trump hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington to reinforce ongoing peace and economic cooperation efforts.
The agreement, part of Trump’s new America First Global Health Strategy, aims to strengthen Rwanda’s health system while bolstering long-term financial independence. Of the total package, US$158 million will support efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, while enhancing disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.
In line with Washington’s new approach, the Rwandan government will contribute an additional US$70 million of domestic funding to the health sector. The State Department says this demonstrates Rwanda’s readiness to assume “greater financial responsibility” as US support gradually tapers.
The announcement followed a high-stakes diplomatic meeting in Washington, where Trump praised Kagame and Tshisekedi for recommitting to the US-brokered June peace deal and the recent economic integration compact.
“We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” Trump said, claiming the renewed cooperation will redirect both nations toward regional stability and economic partnership.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, hailed the new health agreement as a milestone aligned with Rwanda’s goal of building a “self-reliant, adaptive, and technology-enabled” healthcare system. He highlighted innovative partnerships, including medical drone-delivery company Zipline, as part of the country’s broader modernization push.
For Washington, the deal blends geopolitical stabilization in the Great Lakes region with development cooperation under a stricter performance-based aid model. For Kigali, it represents a strategic investment in public health and one of the early material gains arising from renewed US engagement following regional peace efforts.
Kenya, US seal US$2.5bn ‘America First’ health deal as Trump rewrites foreign aid
