A letter circulating on social media claiming to be from US President Donald Trump to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, notifying him of Rwanda’s removal from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), has been described as fake.
The document, dated October 28, 2026, appears to carry the White House letterhead and a signature attributed to Trump. It claims that Washington had issued Rwanda with 60 days’ notice before terminating its status as an AGOA beneficiary, effective January 1, 2027.
However, the US Embassy in Kigali has flagged the circulating document as fake, warning against treating it as an authentic communication from the White House.
The letter makes several claims about Rwanda’s governance, human rights record and involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It also alleges that Kigali has continued providing military and logistical support to the M23 rebel group.
The document further claims that Rwanda must end all support for M23, withdraw its troops and military equipment from eastern DRC, protect human rights and restore democratic freedoms to regain eligibility for AGOA benefits.
The circulation of the document comes amid an actual announcement by the US government concerning Rwanda’s participation in the trade preference programme.
On November 5, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that President Trump had notified Congress and the governments of Rwanda and South Africa of his intention to terminate their participation in AGOA from January 1, 2027.
Greer said the decision followed an annual review of sub-Saharan African countries’ eligibility for the programme. He cited concerns over trade and investment barriers, human rights and issues affecting US national security and foreign policy interests.
For Rwanda, the concerns listed by the US administration included trade restrictions, the rule of law, political pluralism and internationally recognised workers’ rights.
South Africa was cited over barriers to American trade and investment, corruption and national security concerns.
The US announcement was issued through the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in coordination with the FBI, DEA and Department of Justice.
While the official announcement confirms Washington’s intention to remove the two countries from AGOA, the letter addressed to Kagame circulating online has been described as fake.
