Rwanda Hosts Nuclear Energy Summit, Signs Strategic Civil Nuclear Deal with U.S.
KIGALI — Rwanda is positioning itself as a continental leader in nuclear energy, hosting the second Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) in Kigali while sealing a strategic civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States.
The summit, held May 18–21 at the Kigali Convention Centre, brought together heads of state, regulators, financiers, and industry leaders to advance Africa’s nuclear energy ambitions. Rwandan President Paul Kagame opened the event alongside Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
U.S.-Rwanda MoU
On May 19, U.S. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Renee Sonderman and Rwandan Minister of State Dr. Usta Kayitesi signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation. The agreement advances peaceful nuclear collaboration, with both countries committing to the highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation.
Such agreements, developed during President Trump’s first term, lay the groundwork for long-term strategic civil nuclear partnerships.
On the same occasion, U.S. company Holtec International signed a comprehensive development agreement with the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board to deploy Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactors, with a potential capacity of up to five gigawatts.
IAEA Milestone
Earlier in the day, IAEA Director General Grossi handed President Kagame the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) of Rwanda’s nuclear readiness. The report marks successful completion of Phase 1 of the IAEA Milestones Approach, allowing Rwanda to progress to Phase 2 — preparatory work for a nuclear power plant. Rwanda targets having nuclear plants online by the early 2030s and aims for over 60% of its energy from nuclear by 2050.
Regional Cooperation
On the summit sidelines, Kagame met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the two leaders witnessed the signing of a bilateral energy sector MoU between Rwanda and Tanzania. Kagame also met with President Gnassingbé, who announced that Togo will host the next edition of NEISA.
Kagame: ‘Energy is the foundation of industrial growth’
In his opening address, Kagame urged investors to look beyond perceived risks. “For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue. It is the foundation of industrial growth and competitiveness,” he said. “Too often, investors hesitate because they perceive many risks in Africa. We must work to strengthen regulation, ensure consistency and accountability, in order to build confidence and attract long-term capital.”
He warned against fragmentation: “If countries work in isolation, progress will be slow and far more costly. Cooperation on regulation, financing, and regional power integration is essential. This is precisely why NEISA matters.”
With 600 million Africans lacking electricity, summit organizers say small modular reactors offer a viable path to closing the continent’s energy gap.
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