Relationship dossier
Rwanda
United States
Relationship assessment
Development and security cooperation coexist with serious disputes over Rwanda’s role in eastern Congo.
Rwanda toward United States
+20Rwanda has cooperated with the United States on development and security matters, including by contributing personnel to international peacekeeping operations supported by U.S. policy. Rwanda has also disputed U.S. criticism and measures concerning its alleged support for M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
United States toward Rwanda
+15The United States has provided Rwanda with development and health assistance and established bilateral investment arrangements. It has also used aid restrictions and other measures to press Rwanda over alleged support for M23 and related concerns about the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship has durable development and security cooperation, but it is not an unqualified partnership. U.S. pressure over Rwanda’s alleged role in the eastern Congo conflict, and Rwanda’s rejection of such accusations, create a significant recurring source of strain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Rwanda and the United States cooperate on development, health, trade and security, including through U.S. assistance and bilateral investment arrangements. Their relationship has also faced recurring strain over Rwanda’s role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. U.S. restrictions and criticism related to alleged support for M23 have been disputed by Rwanda.
Areas of tension
- U.S. allegations that Rwanda supports M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Rwanda disputes.
- U.S. restrictions and pressure concerning Rwanda’s role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Key developments
The United States and Rwanda signed a bilateral investment treaty.
The United States restricted some assistance to Rwanda amid concerns about its alleged support for armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral investment and development arrangements are unclear.
- The extent to which recent U.S. measures and Rwanda’s position on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have affected practical cooperation is uncertain.