Rwanda has officially discovered oil for the first time, with confirmation of 13 reservoirs located in Lake Kivu, a shared body of water with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The announcement was made by Francis Kamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board, during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.
“We have oil,” Kamanzi stated, as reported by local media outlet Igihe. This discovery comes after more than a decade of exploration efforts in the lake, marking a significant achievement for Rwanda’s energy sector. 
Kamanzi shared optimism about the possibility of uncovering additional reserves, citing the substantial oil finds in neighboring Uganda and the DRC, both part of the Great Lakes region.
Despite ongoing tensions in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels with alleged Rwandan support have taken control of parts of the region, discussions between Rwanda and the DRC on Lake Kivu’s exploration have persisted.
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