Rwanda joins Ghana in sending military engineers to Jamaica

Rwanda has sent a contingent of military engineers to Jamaica to "support the Caribbean country's recovery efforts by rehabilitating infrastructure destroyed by a powerful cyclone (Hurricane Melissa)" in 2025, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) said on Wednesday.

"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's statement said.

The official communication did not specify the number of deployed professionals.

The Rwandese military engineers received a briefing from Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, the Commander of the Mechanised Division, before departing Kigali for Jamaica.

'Expertise and professionalism'

Brigadier General Tinka "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," the military said in its statement.

Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean region in late October 2025, leaving a trail of destruction.

Jamaica experienced the most devastating effect, resulting in tens of deaths. This prompted a large-scale multi-agency humanitarian response.

In December, Ghana deployed 54 military engineers to Jamaica to help rebuild critical infrastructure after the hurricane caused an estimated damage of $8.8 billion.