After President Paul Kagame showed off military equipment made in Rwanda—like guns, drones, and war vehicles—the country quickly got its first buyer: South Sudan.
South Sudan has faced many years of violence and insecurity, so their leaders visited Rwanda right after the showcase. They met with REMCO, the company that makes the weapons, and signed a deal to buy a lot of equipment.
A REMCO worker said South Sudan didn’t take long to decide because “they have a lot of money.” They didn’t just buy what was already in stock—they also placed a big order for more weapons to be made in the future.
This means REMCO sold out all its stock and now has to speed up production to keep up with demand and also sell to other countries.
REMCO is based in Gasabo District, in Kigali. It’s the main company in Rwanda that makes modern weapons. It works with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), a top company from Israel, to produce:
Pistols for short-range, Big guns that shoot up to 500–800 meters, Night vision gear, Equipment for crowd control, and Machine guns like the NEGEV.
While some parts like bullets and lenses are still imported, most of the work is done inside Rwanda. This shows the country’s goal of being self-reliant in defense.
Besides arming the Rwandan military, REMCO also wants to help friendly countries get good-quality, reliable equipment.
Other African and international countries are already showing interest. During the Africa Security Conference (ISCA) in Kigali, REMCO impressed visitors with its advanced weapons.
This success is a big step for Rwanda, a country that had no weapons industry in the past but is now attracting global buyers.
