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TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 20-528 

DEFENSE 

Status of Forces 

Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and RWANDA 

Signed at Kigali May 28, 2020 

Entered into force May 28, 2020 
NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.”
AGREEMENT BETWEEN 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

AND 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA 

REGARDING 

THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES FORCES 

IN THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA 

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The Government of the United States of America (hereinafter "the United States") and the 

Government of the Republic of Rwanda (hereinafter "Rwanda"), hereinafter collectively referred 

to as "the Parties" and singularly as a "Party;" 

DESIRING to promote and strengthen closer bilateral tlefense and security cooperation, 

Have agreed as follows: 

ARTICLE I 

Scope and Purpose 

This Agreement shall apply with regard to U.S. personnel and U.S. contractors who may be 

temporarily present in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda in connection with ship visits, 

training, exercises, humanitarian activities, and other activities as mutually agreed. 

ARTICLE II 

Definitions 

1. "U.S. personnel" means members of the U.S. Armed Forces and civilian employees of the 

U.S. Department of Defense. 

2. "U.S. contractors" means non-Rwandan companies and firms, and their employees who are 

not nationals of Rwanda, under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense. 

ARTICLE III 

Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities 

1. U.S. personnel shall be accorded the privileges, exemptions, and immunities equivalent to 

those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission under the Vienna 

Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961. 

2. Rwanda recognizes the particular importance of disciplinary control by U.S. Armed Forces 

authorities over U.S. personnel and, therefore, authorizes the United States to exercise criminal 

jurisdiction over U.S. personnel while in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda. 

ARTICLE IV 

Entry, Exit, and Travel Documentation 

1. U.S. personnel may enter and exit the territory of the Republic of Rwanda with U.S. 

identification and with collective movement or individual travel orders. 

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2. U.S. personnel shall have freedom of movement and access to and use of mutually agreed 

transportation, storage, training, and other facilities required in connection with activities under 

this Agreement. 

ARTICLE V 

Licenses 

I. Rwanda shall accept as valid all professional licenses issued by the United States, its political 

subdivisions, or States thereof to U.S. personnel for the provision of services to authorized 

personnel. 

2. Rwanda shall accept as valid, without a driving test or fee, driving licenses or permits issued 

by the appropriate U.S. authorities to U.S. personnel for the operation of vehicles. 

ARTICLE VI 

Uniforms and Weapons 

U.S. personnel are authorized to wear uniforms while performing official duties and to carry 

arms while on duty if authorized to do so by their orders. 

ARTICLE VII 

Taxation 

l. The U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. personnel shall not be liable to pay any tax or 

similar charge assessed within the territory of the Republic of Rwanda. 

2. The U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. personnel may import into, export out of, and use 

in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda any personal property, equipment, supplies, materiel, 

technology, training, or services in connection with activities under this Agreement. Such 

importation, exportation, and use shall be exempt from any inspection, license, other restrictions, 

customs duties, taxes, or any other charges assessed within the territory of the Republic of 

Rwanda. 

ARTICLE VIll 

Security 

The Parties shall cooperate to take such measures as may be necessary to ensure the security and 

protection of U.S. personnel, property, equipment, records, and official information in the 

territory of the Republic of Rwanda. 

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ARTICLE IX 

Payment of Fees and Other Charges 

1. Aircraft, vessels, and vehicles operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the U.S. Department 

of Defense may enter, exit, and move freely within the territory of the Republic of Rwanda with 

respect for the relevant rules of air, maritime, and land safety and movement, and such vehicles 

(whether self-propelled or towed) shall not be subject to the payment of overland transit tolls. 

2. Aircraft and vessels owned or operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the U.S. Department 

of Defense shall not be subject to the payment of landing, parking, or port fees, pilotage charges, 

lighterage, and harbor dues at facilities owned and operated by Rwanda. 

3. Aircraft owned or operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the U.S. Department of Defense 

shall not be subject to the payment of navigation, overflight, terminal, or similar charges when in 

the territory of the Republic of Rwanda. · 

4. The U.S. Department of Defense shall pay reasonable charges for services requested and 

received at rates no less favorable than those paid by the Rwandan Defense Force. 

5. Aircraft and vessels of the U.S. Government shall be free from boarding and inspection. 

ARTICLEX 

Contracting and Contractors 

1. The U.S. Department of Defense may contract for any materiel, supplies, equipment, and 

services (including construction) to be furnished or undertaken in the territory of the Republic of 

Rwanda without restriction as to choice of contractor, supplier, or person who provides such 

materiel, supplies, equipment, or services. Such contracts shall be solicited, awarded, and 

administered in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations. 

2. Acquisition of articles and services in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda by or on behalf 

of the U.S. Department of Defense in connection with activities under this Agreement shall not 

be subject to any taxes or similar charges in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda. 

3. U.S. contractors shall not be liable to pay any tax or similar charges assessed within the 

territory of the Republic of Rwanda in connection with activities under this Agreement. Such 

contractors may import into, export out of, and use in the territory of the Republic of Rwanda 

any personal property, e<.)uipment, supplies, materiel, technology, or services in fulfillment of 

contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense in connection with activities under this 

Agreement. Such importation, exportation, and use shall be exempt from any license, other 

restrictions, customs duties, taxes, or any other charges assessed within the territory of the 

Republic of Rwanda. 

4. U.S. contractors shall be granted the same treatment as U.S. personnel with respect to 

professional and drivers' licenses. 

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ARTICLE XI 

Telecommunications 

Rwanda recognizes that it may be necessary for the U.S. Armed Forces to use the radio spectrum 

and, therefore, authorizes the U.S. Department of Defense to operate its own telecommunication 

systems (as telecommunication is defined in the 1992 Constitution and Convention of the 

International Telecommunication Union). This shall include the right to utilize such means and 

services as required to ensure full ability to operate telecommunication systems, and the right to 

use all necessary radio spectrum for this purpose. Use of the radio spectrum shall be free of cost 

to the United States. The United States, in the interest of avoiding mutually harmful 

interference, shall make every reasonable effort to coordinate the use of frequencies with the 

relevant Rwandan authorities concerning the use of frequencies. 

ARTICLE XII 

Claims 

1. The Parties waive any and all claims (other than contractual claims) against each other for 

damage to, loss, or destruction of the other's property or injury to or death of personnel of either 

Party's armed forces or their civilian personnel arising out of the performance of their official 

duties in connection with activities under this Agreement. 

2. Claims by third parties for damages or loss caused by U.S. personnel shall be resolved by the 

United States in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Implementing Arrangements 

The Parties, or their designated representatives, may enter into implementing arrangements to 

carry out the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of conflict between an implementing 

arrangement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. 

ARTICLE XIV 

Settlement of Disputes 

All disputes shall be resolved exclusively through consultation between the Parties, or their 

designated representativts, and shall not be referred to any national or international court, 

tribunal, or similar body, or to any third party for settlement, unless otherwise mutually agreed. 

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ARTICLE XV 

Entry into Force and Amendment 

I. This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature. 

2. Upon entry into force, this Agreement shall supersede the Agreement Between the United 

States of America and the Republic of Rwanda regarding the status of United States military and 

civilian personnel of the United States Department of Defense who may be present in Rwanda in 

connection with the military airlift of Rwandan military forces in support of operations in Darfur 

and future mutually agreed activities, effected by exchange of notes at Kigali, July 5 and 11, 

2005, which entered into force July 11, 2005, and the Agreement Between the United States of 

America and the Republic of Rwanda regarding the status of United States military and civilian 

personnel of the United States Department of Defense who may be present in Rwanda in 

connection with ACOT A training and other activities as mutually agreed, effected by exchange 

of notes at Kigali, August 21 and November 1, 2006, which entered into force November l, 

2006. 

3. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the Parties. 

ARTICLE XVI 

Duration and Termination 

This Agreement shall continue in force unless terminated by either Party on at least one year's 

written notice, through diplomatic channels, to the other Party. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective 

Governments, have signed this Agreement. 

DONE at __ KI'--__ _ ChAl-_1 _ ___ _ _, on this lb~day of _ _ M. _4-+--- - ' 20__!9 in 

duplicate, in the English language. 

FORTHEGOVERNMENTOFTHE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: REPUBLIC OF RWANDA: 

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