• Rwanda signed an expansion agreement with Zipline to build a national autonomous drone delivery network.

• The deal includes Africa’s first urban drone delivery system and a new long-range distribution hub.

• Zipline plans to establish its first international AI and robotics testing center in Rwanda.

Rwanda signed a strategic expansion agreement with Zipline on Thursday, February 6, to become the first country globally to operate a national autonomous drone delivery network, including Africa’s first urban drone delivery system. The agreement forms part of a $150 million grant awarded to Zipline by the U.S. Department of State, with Rwanda acting as the first beneficiary.

“The Rwanda-Zipline partnership has worked for years to deploy technology in service of our people. We have seen the extraordinary impact of drone delivery by saving time, saving money and saving lives. Through this partnership, we will now expand urban delivery and extend these benefits to even more communities,” said Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation.

Rwanda will become the first African country to deploy Zipline’s urban delivery system, Platform 2. The technology enables fast, quiet and highly precise deliveries in dense urban environments such as Kigali, which accounts for nearly 40% of national healthcare demand. Zipline already operates the platform in the United States, where it delivers tens of thousands of retail and grocery items directly to homes and public locations.

The agreement also includes reinforcement of the existing delivery network through the opening of a third long-range distribution center in Karongi district, complementing the Muhanga and Kayonza hubs. This infrastructure will extend delivery coverage beyond the Nyungwe forest toward districts bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby improving territorial equity in access to essential medical products.

Beyond logistics, Zipline plans to establish its first international testing center dedicated to artificial intelligence and robotics in Rwanda. The research and development facility will test new safety systems, next-generation logistics software and aircraft performance under varied climate conditions. The center will also support local talent development and create highly skilled jobs in advanced technologies.

The new agreement builds on a long-term partnership between Rwanda and Zipline. The U.S. company has operated in Rwanda since 2016 and has renewed its partnership several times, including a $61 million contract signed in December 2022. That contract targets expanded delivery sites in rural and urban areas, with plans to triple volumes and reach nearly 2 million deliveries by 2029, covering more than 200 million kilometers flown by autonomous drones.

According to company data, the partnership has contributed to a 51% reduction in maternal mortality in covered areas. The real-time integration of delivery data into national health and emergency systems has also strengthened epidemiological surveillance and crisis response capacity.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM