Beginning today, the Dallas area will host the Rwanda Convention USA 2025, a vibrant gathering of Rwandan Americans and friends of Rwanda from across the United States and beyond. Running through July 6 at the Irving Convention Center, this event will celebrate culture, community and connection — but its significance goes far deeper: It symbolizes the evolving and vital relationship between Rwanda and Texas, a partnership that reflects and advances our broader strategic and human ties.
The Lone Star State has been at the heart of the special relationship between Rwanda and the United States. At the core of this bond is a shared belief in resilience, innovation and progress. Texas, with its culture of entrepreneurship and civic engagement, is uniquely aligned with Rwanda’s commitment to inclusive development and stability. These shared values have created fertile ground for meaningful collaboration — in diplomacy, education, military cooperation and beyond.
This deepening partnership was recently underscored by a powerful gesture of solidarity from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. In April, he issued a proclamation recognizing April 7 as the Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, joining voices around the world in honoring the memory of more than 1 million innocent lives lost.
Importantly, he used the correct and internationally recognized designation — “Genocide against the Tutsi” — affirming historical truth and moral clarity. His recognition, echoed by the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, was warmly received by the Rwandan community and stands as a meaningful affirmation of remembrance, justice and shared humanity.
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Educational ties between our people are also expanding. Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and Southern Methodist University in Dallas have welcomed Rwandan students into top programs, helping to build the human capital central to Rwanda’s strategic vision of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050. These academic connections represent lasting investments in people who will shape the future of both nations.
Our partnership includes expanding economic and technological collaboration. With Rwanda ranked by the World Bank as one of the easiest places to do business in Africa, the Convention offers a timely opportunity for Texas-based companies to explore partnerships and investment in areas such as sustainable agriculture, infrastructure, energy and digital services. Rwanda’s pro-business climate, political stability and regional connectivity make it a compelling partner for Texas innovators and entrepreneurs.
Rwanda’s leadership in digital transformation presents another promising frontier. As a founding member of the Smart Africa initiative and home to Kigali Innovation City, Rwanda is emerging as a continental hub for tech-driven growth. These efforts align with Texas’s thriving tech sector, especially in the Dallas area, where innovation is reshaping industries. Together, we can build knowledge-sharing networks and digital partnerships that serve both Communities. For example, Zipline, an American drone logistics company that delivers blood and medical supplies, had its commercial launch in Rwanda and recently expanded its services to the Dallas area through a partnership with Walmart.
There are also strong examples of security cooperation between Rwanda and Texas. Through joint military training exercises, Texas National Guard personnel have worked alongside the Rwanda Defence Forces to build capacity in medical readiness, casualty care and operational planning for peacekeeping missions. These engagements reflect shared commitments to global stability and leadership — areas where both Rwanda and Texas contribute meaningfully.
The Rwandan American community in Texas — especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — is a bridge between our countries. Community leaders, small-business owners, teachers, firefighters, entrepreneurs and professionals are contributing to American society while nurturing initiatives that benefit both the U.S. and Rwanda. The Rwanda Convention in the Dallas area is one such initiative, offering a platform to strengthen bonds through shared interests.
This is what makes the U.S.-Rwanda relationship unique: It is not confined to embassies or formal agreements. It lives in the experiences of everyday people — in cities like Dallas and Houston, in classrooms, business forums, military training sites and innovation labs. And at a time when global partnerships are more important than ever, the ties between Texas and Rwanda offer a model of cooperation that is locally grounded and globally significant.
Dallas is not only hosting a convention. It is welcoming a deeper conversation about how people and nations, across continents and cultures, can come together to solve shared challenges. In doing so, it affirms the enduring bonds between Rwanda and the United States, and the role of Texas in strengthening them.
Mathilde Mukantabana is the ambassador of Rwanda to the United States.