On March 2, 2026, the bilateral relationship between Rwanda and Ethiopia reached a new technical milestone. During the 130th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia, a high-level delegation from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) formalised an expansion of defence cooperation specifically targeting the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military frameworks. This engagement, led by RDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, involved detailed consultations with the Ethiopian Minister of Defence, Honourable Engineer Aisha Muhammed. The discussions centred on how emerging technologies can mitigate modern security challenges by enhancing operational efficiency, intelligence analysis, and strategic preparedness.
The RDF delegation conducted extensive tours of Ethiopia’s premier technical institutions to identify specific avenues for collaborative research and development. These sites included the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, the Ethiopian Military Museum, and the Science Museum. This diplomatic and technical exchange follows a foundational defence cooperation agreement signed in March 2025 by Ethiopia’s Chief of General Staff, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, and Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Mubarak Muganga. That 2025 accord established the initial protocols for military capacity building, counter-terrorism synchronisation, and joint technical expert meetings.
Institutional Frameworks and Strategic Alignment
The partnership is not an isolated military arrangement but is nested within a broader institutionalised relationship guided by a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). In February 2024, the 3rd JMC meeting held in Addis Ababa reviewed the implementation of resolutions from the 2nd JMC, which took place in Kigali in 2017. While the 2017 agreements covered eleven sectors, including legal assistance, communications, and water resource management, the current focus has pivoted sharply toward high technology and defence modernisation.
Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa, Director of International Military Cooperation for the RDF, has noted that Ethiopia remains a consistent partner in Rwanda’s security architecture. This sentiment is echoed by Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General of External Relations and Military Cooperation at the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), who stated that the formalised agreements seek to strengthen a partnership that has existed informally for years. For Ethiopia, these ties represent a successful branch of its expanding military diplomacy, joining a list of recent strategic alliances with Kenya, Qatar, South Africa, South Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Artificial Intelligence and Defense Modernization
The emphasis on AI reflects a shared vision for national security and economic development. Rwanda launched its national AI strategy between 2022 and 2025, and Ethiopia followed with its own in 2024. The convergence of these policies allows both nations to pool resources in the development of algorithms for predictive maintenance of hardware, automated threat detection, and enhanced command and control systems.
For Rwanda, the partnership provides access to Ethiopia’s growing aerospace and industrial infrastructure. For Ethiopia, the collaboration offers an opportunity to exchange knowledge with a Rwandan military that has gained substantial operational experience in complex environments, such as the Central African Republic (CAR). In the CAR, over 2,000 Rwandan peacekeepers operating under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSCA) have successfully stabilised the environment around Bangui. The RDF’s ability to maintain discipline and tactical effectiveness in such missions provides a practical case study for the ENDF as it undergoes its own defence reforms.
Technological Acquisitions and Regional Context
The move toward AI integration complements recent hardware acquisitions by both nations. In 2024, Rwanda enhanced its sovereign airspace protection by acquiring the SKYctrl and FIELDctrl anti-drone systems from the Polish Firm Advanced Protection Systems (APS). These systems, which are capable of detecting and neutralising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), represent the type of kinetic technology that requires AI for rapid sensor fusion and decision making.
Ethiopia has simultaneously pursued a robust re-equipment program to alter the regional military balance. In the 2010s, the ENDF focused on long-range strike capabilities, acquiring Chinese-made PHL-03 300 mm Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MRLS), A-200 guided rocket artillery (GRA) systems, and M-20 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). These assets, which possess a range between 150 km and 300 km, require sophisticated intelligence and targeting data to be effective. The integration of AI into intelligence analysis could theoretically provide the precision necessary to leverage these long-range projectiles in a modern conflict scenario.
Aerospace Collaboration and Indigenous Development
The March 2026 discussions also reference a broader trend of African-led aerospace solutions. This mirrors recent interactions between Ethiopia and other regional powers, such as Nigeria. In July 2025, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) delegation explored Ethiopia’s Aviation Depot Maintenance Centre (ADMC) and the Dejen Aviation Engineering Industry (DAVI). The focus of those talks, which included the overhaul of L-39 jets and Mi-series helicopters, extends to the ambitious goal of co-developing a fully indigenous African UAV.
Rwanda’s involvement in this technical ecosystem is evidenced by the presence of Lieutenant Colonel Gaspard Harerimana, Director General of Digitisation at the Ministry of Defence, in the 2026 delegation. His role suggests that the RDF is prioritising the digital architecture necessary to support modern hardware. The inclusion of Major Emmanuel Murenzi, Head of History and Archives, indicates that the partnership also seeks to preserve the historical context of African military resistance, specifically the legacy of the Battle of Adwa, while pursuing a “radiant horizon” of technological self-reliance.
Economic and Strategic Indicators
Healthy economic ties underpin the defence relationship. As of early 2026, trade between Rwanda and Ethiopia is largely balanced; Rwanda’s exports to Ethiopia are valued at approximately $6 million, while Ethiopian exports to Rwanda exceed $7 million. Furthermore, about 40 Ethiopian companies operate within Rwanda, contributing over $73 million in capital investment, primarily in the manufacturing and real estate sectors. This economic interdependence provides a stable foundation for long-term defence commitments.
The presence of Colonel David Sangani, the Defence Attaché to Ethiopia and representative to the African Union, in the recent meetings ensures that the bilateral cooperation remains aligned with the African Union’s broader security goals. By focusing on joint training and coordinated planning, Rwanda and Ethiopia are positioning themselves as a stabilised axis in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
While the integration of AI offers substantial benefits in operational speed, it introduces technical trade-offs that both nations must navigate. Relying on AI for defence requires a robust digital infrastructure and a workforce capable of maintaining complex software. The partnership between the Rwandan Ministry of Defence and the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute is designed to address this by facilitating experience sharing and joint capacity building.
The transition from traditional military structures to innovation-driven initiatives involves a shift in doctrine. Minister Aisha Mohammed’s emphasis on innovation-driven defence initiatives suggests that Ethiopia is willing to move beyond mere hardware acquisition toward the development of sovereign technical intellectual property. Rwanda’s proactive stance in acquiring anti-drone technology and its involvement in international peacekeeping missions suggest a military that is highly adaptable and ready to test these new digital doctrines in real-world environments.
This deepening of ties between Kigali and Addis Ababa represents a shift toward a more sophisticated, technologically focused defence architecture in Africa. By combining Rwanda’s operational discipline and digital strategy with Ethiopia’s industrial capacity and long-range strike capabilities, the two nations are creating a framework that addresses both immediate security threats and the long-term requirement for technological sovereignty. The engagement at the Adwa Victory Memorial serves as a reminder that while the two nations honour their history of resistance, their current focus is firmly on the future of autonomous systems and regional stability.