Rwanda, Israel sign education and science deal

JERUSALEM – Rwanda and Israel have signed cooperation agreements to strengthen collaboration in education, technology, higher education and scientific research.

The agreements were signed in Jerusalem on July 6, 2026, by Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Moshe Sa’ar.

The Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI) and Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) also signed partnership agreements.

“Both our peoples have suffered the worst tragedies,” Saar said, referring to the Holocaust and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

He said shared historical experiences had created a strong bond between the two countries, with cooperation in education and remembrance remaining a key pillar of relations.

“Different histories, different regions, pure evil. Yet our nations did not allow tragedy to define our future. Instead, we chose to rebuild,” he said.

Sa’ar said both countries were defined by resilience and innovation rather than size, noting Israel’s role as a global technology hub and Rwanda’s rapid economic growth driven by innovation.

Nduhungirehe said Rwanda–Israel relations went beyond diplomacy, rooted in shared experiences and a commitment to development.

He said the agreements would enhance cooperation in education, skills development, training and knowledge exchange.

“Rwanda and Israel share strong ties that go beyond diplomacy. What defines us is the resilience of our peoples and our determination to turn adversity into progress, to turn the tragedy of genocide into socio-economic transformation, into resilience and into innovation,” Nduhungirehe said.

During the visit, Nduhungirehe and his delegation toured Jerusalem, the Western Wall and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.