from PHYLLIS BIRORI in Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda Bureau
KIGALI, (CAJ News) – RWANDA has made aviation history by hosting Africa’s first public flight of a self-flying electric air taxi, positioning the country at the forefront of advanced air mobility on the continent.
The demonstration, held Thursday during the Africa Aviation Summit in Kigali, featured the EHang EH216-S, a pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The showcase was organized in partnership between the Rwandan government and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), with technical support from EHang, a global leader in urban air mobility.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the initiative reflects Rwanda’s commitment to testing and adopting cutting-edge technologies that can transform urban transport, reduce congestion, and offer sustainable mobility options.
“Rwanda is actively building a future where our cities are more connected and our economy is more dynamic through innovative transport solutions,” said Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore.
He added that the collaboration demonstrates Rwanda’s readiness to foster a progressive regulatory framework for emerging aviation technologies.
Building on Drone Delivery Success
Officials highlighted that Rwanda’s embrace of drone delivery services, widely used in its healthcare sector, provided a strong foundation for this new phase of digital aviation.
By pioneering eVTOL testing, Rwanda hopes to attract investment, partnerships, and technical expertise to scale advanced air mobility across Africa.
The Ministry described the live demonstration as a real-time case study for policymakers, regulators, and industry players exploring how autonomous aerial transport can be safely integrated into African airspace.
For EHang and CRBC, the Kigali flight marks a milestone in expanding their footprint beyond Asia and Europe, with Africa now entering the map of early adopters of self-flying aircraft.
– CAJ News