Kigali, 14 January 2026

Today, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) deployed a contingent of military engineers to Jamaica, a Caribbean island nation, to support the country’s recovery efforts by rehabilitating infrastructure destroyed by a powerful cyclone (Hurricane Melissa) last year.

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.

Prior to their departure for Jamaica, the RDF engineers received a briefing from Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, Commander of the Mechanized Division on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, who urged 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. He emphasised that the beneficiaries of their support should clearly feel the positive impact of their work.

He highlighted the values that define the RDF, particularly discipline, which form the foundation of the Force.

“It is these values that earned you this responsibility,” he said, calling on the officers and other ranks to uphold and safeguard the RDF’s core values at all times.

Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean region in late October 2025 with devastating force. Jamaica experienced the most severe impact, prompting a large-scale multi-agency humanitarian response.