Gambiaj.com – (KIGALI, Rwanda) – Rwanda has deployed a contingent of military engineers to Jamaica to support the Caribbean nation’s recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has announced.
According to an official statement shared on the RDF’s social media platforms, the deployment is aimed at rehabilitating critical infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the powerful cyclone. The mission is being carried out under a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and Jamaica focused on disaster response and post-crisis reconstruction.
“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. The military did not disclose the number of personnel involved in the mission.
Prior to their departure from Kigali, the Rwandese military engineers received a briefing from Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, Commander of the Mechanized Division. During the briefing, Brigadier General Tinka urged the contingent to demonstrate the highest levels of expertise and professionalism in executing their assignment.
He called on 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,” the statement added.
Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean region in late October 2025, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Jamaica was among the hardest-hit countries, suffering extensive damage to infrastructure and the loss of tens of lives.
The scale of the devastation triggered a large, multi-agency humanitarian response involving both regional and international partners.
Rwanda’s intervention comes amid broader international support for Jamaica’s recovery. In December 2025, Ghana deployed 54 military engineers to assist in rebuilding key infrastructure after the hurricane caused an estimated $8.8 billion in damage.
The RDF’s deployment underscores Rwanda’s growing role in international humanitarian and disaster-response efforts, particularly through the provision of technical and engineering support in post-disaster settings.
