Jamaica Receives Rwanda Defence Force Engineer Contingent

Rwanda’s military safely arrived in faraway Jamaica on Thursday according to the Jamaican Defense Force.

The Contingent was welcomed to Jamaica and briefed about their tour of duty. The contingent received comprehensive briefings from the Brigade Commander, Support Brigade Brigadier O’Neil Bogle, Commander Officer.

The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Engineer Contingent has been deployed in Jamaica to support in the rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by a cyclone in 2025.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica’s western parishes as a Category 5 hurricane. At its peak, winds reached 298 kph (185 mph) ranking Melissa as the most powerful hurricane in the world in 2025 and the strongest ever registered in Jamaica.

“The deployment is conducted in accordance with a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and Jamaica aimed at assisting in the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure destroyed by disasters,” the RDF said.

Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, Commander of the Mechanized Division on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff Urged the deployed personnel to apply their full expertise, professionalism, and technical skills in order to successfully accomplish the mission entrusted to them by RDF leadership.

“It is these values that earned you this responsibility,” he said.