Kigali Summit

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has concluded her participation at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) in Kigali with a key milestone—witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation between Tanzania and Rwanda. The agreement signals deepening ties in advancing Africa’s energy agenda.

The MoU was signed by Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Deogratius John Ndejembi, and Rwanda’s Minister for Infrastructure, Dr Jimmy Gasore. The agreement reflects growing bilateral collaboration aimed at strengthening energy systems and supporting economic transformation in both countries.

Officials noted that the agreement builds on resolutions reached during the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting held in July 2025. It represents a concrete step forward in implementing shared priorities and enhancing economic diplomacy between the two nations.

The cooperation framework covers a wide range of strategic areas, including electricity connectivity, petroleum and natural gas development, and energy infrastructure expansion. It also introduces collaboration in emerging areas such as cybersecurity and digital transformation within the energy sector.

In addition, the MoU promotes the use of artificial intelligence in energy systems, alongside knowledge and skills exchange to build technical capacity. These areas are seen as critical for modernizing energy sectors and improving efficiency across the region.

The signing of the agreement marked the conclusion of President Samia’s engagements at the Kigali summit, reinforcing Tanzania’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable energy development as a driver of long-term economic growth.

Kigali: President Samia Suluhu Hassan has described the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) in Kigali as a critical platform for translating Africa’s energy ambitions into practical, investable solutions. She emphasized that the continent must move decisively from policy discussions to real implementation.

Addressing Heads of State, policymakers, and global energy stakeholders, President Samia said Africa’s economic transformation depends on reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems. She noted that sectors such as industrialization, mining, manufacturing, transport modernization, and digital infrastructure all require stable power to thrive.

She called for stronger collaboration among African nations, development finance institutions, and the private sector to create enabling environments for energy investments. According to the President, building institutional capacity and technical expertise is essential for long-term energy transformation across the continent.

Highlighting Tanzania’s growing energy needs, President Samia said electricity demand continues to rise in line with development priorities under Tanzania Development Vision 2050. This growth is driven by rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, mining activities, and increasing digital infrastructure demands.

While noting Tanzania’s investments in hydropower, natural gas, renewables, and regional interconnections, she stressed the importance of diversifying energy sources. She said the country is exploring nuclear energy, particularly emerging technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs), as flexible and scalable solutions.

President Samia underscored that financing, regulatory readiness, public awareness, and regional cooperation remain key challenges. She reiterated that nuclear energy should complement—not compete with—renewable energy, forming part of a broader strategy to build resilient, sustainable, and reliable power systems for Africa’s long-term development.

Tanzania, Rwanda sign energy cooperation deal at Kigali summit

President Samia pushes nuclear energy as key to Africa’s industrial future at Kigali summit