Bilateral relations

Relations between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Republic of Rwanda are rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and a common commitment to sustainable development. Cooperation dates back to the 1960s, initially through the engagement of Luxembourgish non-governmental organisations active in sectors such as health, education, and community development.

Formal bilateral development cooperation began in 1989 with the rehabilitation of the Rwamagana hospital, where Her Royal Highness Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg had volunteered as a nurse in 1974 and 1975. This marked an important milestone in Luxembourg’s engagement in Rwanda. In 2002, the two countries signed a General Cooperation Agreement, establishing a structured framework for their partnership. In line with its geographic concentration policy, Luxembourg concluded its bilateral programme in Rwanda in 2013 to focus its development cooperation on the Sahel region.

As part of its strategy to diversify partnerships across Africa, Luxembourg progressively re-engaged with Rwanda in recent years. This renewed engagement was supported by two trade missions organized by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and 2022, as well as scoping missions led by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation and the reopening by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, LuxDev, of an office in Kigali in 2022.

During a working visit to Kigali in June 2024 by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, this re-engagement was formally consolidated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which defines three priority areas for Luxembourg’s development cooperation with Rwanda:

• Vocational training, skills development and employability;
• Climate resilience, adaptation, and environmental sustainability;
• Green and innovative finance.

In addition to LuxDev, a wide range of Luxembourgish public and private institutions are actively engaged in Rwanda. These include the Luxembourg Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity, the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT), the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), the Luxembourg House of Training and its ATTF programme, the Luxembourg School of Business, as well as ADA, among others. Their involvement reflects Luxembourg’s multi-stakeholder approach, contributing expertise in areas such as sustainable finance, climate action, professional training, and inclusive finance.

Trade and Commerce

To further strengthen its diplomatic presence and enhance coordination of bilateral cooperation, Luxembourg opened an Embassy in Kigali in August 2024. In parallel, the Embassy actively works to broaden the scope of bilateral relations beyond development cooperation by promoting economic diplomacy and connectivity and strengthening commercial ties. In this context, the Embassy facilitated the trade mission of IT service providers from Rwanda to Luxembourg in October 2025.

A Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTA) was signed in 2021 and ratified by Luxembourg in 2022, facilitating investment and fiscal cooperation. In addition, an Air Services Agreement (ASA), signed in 2019 and ratified by Luxembourg in 2021 and by Rwanda in 2023, provides a framework for strengthening air connectivity and exchanges between the two countries.

In addition to bilateral cooperation, Luxembourg engages in several multilateral initiatives, humanitarian assistance, and partnerships with civil society. These efforts include support for human rights, youth employment and digital skills development, inclusive and sustainable finance, and access to education and health services, especially for refugees.