Rwanda has secured a $228 million partnership with the United States to boost its health sector, becoming the second country to sign on to President Donald Trump’s new America First Global Health Strategy.
The agreement was announced by the U.S. State Department late Friday.
The deal comes a day after Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo reaffirmed peace commitments during a meeting in Washington.
A boost for Rwanda’s health system
Under the agreement, the U.S. will provide $158 million to support Rwanda’s fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases. The funds will also help strengthen outbreak surveillance and emergency preparedness, key areas for a country that has prioritised rapid response to health threats.
As part of the partnership, Rwanda will contribute an additional $70 million in domestic funding. U.S. officials say this shows Kigali’s commitment to gradually taking on more financial responsibility as American support decreases over time.
The deal follows U.S.-brokered peace talks
The announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump met Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington. The leaders recommitted to a peace deal brokered in June and an economic integration pact agreed last month.
“We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” Trump said. “They spent a lot of time killing each other, and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands, and taking advantage of the United States of America economically like every other country does.”
The health-sector agreement is seen by Washington as part of a broader effort to stabilise the Great Lakes region through both diplomacy and development.
Rwanda pushes for a more self-reliant health system
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Oliver Nduhungirehe, said the partnership supports the country’s long-term goal of building a resilient, technology-driven health system. He highlighted Rwanda’s work with drone-delivery company Zipline as an example of the country’s shift toward innovative health solutions.
For Kigali, the deal represents both a major investment in public health and one of the first clear outcomes of renewed U.S. engagement after the recent regional peace efforts.