KEY POINTS
- Presidents Kagame and Samia witnessed Rwanda and Tanzania sign a strategic energy cooperation MoU in Kigali.
- The deal covers power infrastructure, renewable energy, capacity building and cross-border energy collaboration.
- The signing took place at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa held in Kigali from May 18 to 21.
Rwanda and Tanzania have sealed a strategic energy partnership, with both presidents on hand Tuesday in Kigali as their infrastructure ministers put pen to paper on an agreement that covers power infrastructure, renewable energy and cross-border energy collaboration.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore and Tanzania’s Minister of Energy Deogratius John Ndejembi on the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre. President Paul Kagame and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu witnessed the signing.
The summit, running from May 18 to 21, brought together African heads of state, policymakers, regulators, financiers and energy industry leaders to map out the future of nuclear energy and energy financing across the continent.
What the deal commits both countries to
The MoU covers power infrastructure development, renewable energy, institutional capacity strengthening and cross-border energy collaboration. Gasore described the agreement as a strategic platform for deepening ties in areas including power trade, technical cooperation, capacity building and investment promotion in the energy sector.
“Energy is the backbone of development. It powers industries, supports businesses, enables digital transformation, improves social services, and enhances the quality of life of our citizens,” Gasore said following the signing.
He framed the timing as deliberate, noting that the region is prioritizing sustainable energy development as a central driver of economic growth, industrialization and social transformation.
Regional cooperation at the center of the summit
During the summit’s opening session, both Kagame and Suluhu stressed the importance of regional cooperation and coordinated investment in addressing Africa’s growing energy demands and supporting long-term industrial development.
The Rwanda-Tanzania deal is one of several energy agreements concluded at the Kigali summit, which has become a key venue for translating continental energy ambitions into bilateral and multilateral commitments. Rwanda has been particularly active in using the summit to anchor partnerships, having also signed a civil nuclear cooperation MoU with the United States on the same day.
Tanzania brings significant energy assets to the partnership, including natural gas reserves and hydropower potential, while Rwanda offers a track record in cross-border energy trading and a grid that has expanded steadily over the past decade.
