The United States has officially integrated the Rusizi III hydropower project into ongoing negotiations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—a key element aimed at resolving tensions in eastern DRC.
Rwanda, the DRC, and Burundi are co-developers of Rusizi III. According to Africa Intelligence, the dam has become the centerpiece of Washington’s political and economic strategy with Kinshasa, in hopes of ending the three-year conflict in the Kivu region.
Since February 2025, when negotiations began, the U.S. has prioritized Rusizi III as a confidence‑building measure, believing its economic benefits will foster peace.
Once completed, the dam is expected to generate 206 MW annually, to be shared among Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.
Though the project has been under discussion for over 20 years, progress has been hindered by longstanding mistrust. The U.S. plans to fast‑track construction if it can secure cooperation from both Rwanda and the DRC, potentially partnering with an American firm for funding and development.
Other major stakeholders include Total Energies (France), set to take 20% equity upon completion, and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). Additionally, the governments of Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi are expected to each hold 10%.
Financial backing is lined up from institutions like EIB, KfW, IFC, BII, and AfDB. The French Development Agency was involved but exited in January 2025.
Five construction consortia are in contention to build the dam:
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Ozaltin‑Summa (Turkey)
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NurolDL (Turkey–Korea)
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PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corp (China)
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Sinohydro Bureau 14 & Bureau 8 (China)
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Orascom‑DEC (Egypt–China)
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Limak‑Mota Engil (Turkey–Portugal)
