Republic of Rwanda

Brazil and Rwanda established diplomatic relations in 1981. The Embassy of Brazil in Nairobi, Kenya, is concurrently accredited to represent Brazil before the Rwandan authorities. In 2024, Rwanda opened an embassy in Brasília.

In 2007, Minister Celso Amorim met with the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting the Framework Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the two countries was signed. In 2011, Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in New York, on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. In October 2019, Brazil and Rwanda signed an air services agreement. The Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, visited Brazil in 2023. On that occasion, treaties on the transfer of sentenced persons and the waiver of visas for holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports were signed.

The history of bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Rwanda includes activities in the sectors of energy (biofuels), agriculture (sugarcane), and food security (school feeding programs).

In 2012, Brazil donated $100,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in support of refugees hosted in Rwanda. In July 2020, Brazil provided resources to the Rwandan government, through the World Food Programme (WFP), to assist in the fight agaisnt the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Trade exchange between Brazil and Rwanda remains limited.

In 2024, bilateral trade reached approximately $3.1 million—the highest level on record—marking a 98.7% increase over 2023. Brazilian exports accounted for nearly all of this figure ($2.9 million), with key products including oilseed crops such as copra and flaxseed (26%), agricultural machinery (15%), and other machinery (11%). Brazilian imports from Rwanda totaled $200,000, consisting mainly of inorganic chemical elements (89%). Brazil’s trade surplus amounted to $2.7 million.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2024 – Opening of the Embassy of Rwanda in Brasília (April)

2023 – Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta visits  Brazil

2020 – Brazilian donation to the Government of Rwanda through the World Food Programme (WFP) to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

2019 – Signing of the Air Services Agreement between Brazil and Rwanda (in force)

2012 – Donation of $100,000 to UNICEF in support of emergency humanitarian assistance for refugee camps in Rwanda

2011 – Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Promotion of South-South Cooperation for the Strengthening of Agriculture and Food Security (in force)

2011 – Meeting between Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS

2007 – Signing of the Framework Agreement on Technical Cooperation (under review by the Rwandan side)

2007 – Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and the Rwandan Foreign Minister meet on the sidelines of the 62nd UN General Assembly

1982 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda visits Brazil

1981 – Establishment of diplomatic relations