Rwanda lifts South African farm import ban after eight years

RWANDA – Rwanda lifted its eight year halt on agricultural and animal imports from South Africa on 14 November.

Local outlet The News Times reported the move after it spoke with Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe. He said that Rwanda made the decision after health teams confirmed clean conditions in South Africa. Bagabe stated, “The tests show that South Africa no longer has cases of listeriosis.”

Rwanda introduced the halt in December 2017 after a listeriosis outbreak in South Africa. Kigali stopped the entry of meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and other animal products to keep its population safe from Listeria monocytogenes. The bacterium can cause serious illness, especially among pregnant women, newborns and older people.

Bagabe explained that teams from both countries reviewed the health situation in 2025. They checked food handling and product safety systems. They also shared findings with public health bodies. He said, “We took our time. We needed clear proof that the risk no longer exists.”

South Africa seeks stronger trade ties

South Africa exports more farm and food products than it imports, and African countries take in most of these goods. Pretoria now sees the renewed access to Rwanda as a chance to grow its reach in the region.

Figures from the Chamber of Agricultural Affairs show that South African farm exports to African markets reached about 6 billion US dollars in 2024.

That amount formed 44 percent of the country’s full farm export earnings of 13.7 billion US dollars in the same year. The chamber noted that the 2024 earnings rose by 1 billion US dollars from 2023.

Exporters in South Africa hope that Rwanda’s decision will strengthen trade links in East Africa. Many traders say that Rwanda buys a wide mix of food products from the region.

They believe the market can help South African producers spread their risk across more buyers. One exporter said, “Rwanda gives us another strong buyer in East Africa. We welcome the chance to send products there again.”

Rwanda keeps looking for stable food supplies

Rwanda buys more food from abroad than it sells. UNCTAD data shows that the country imported food worth nearly 655 million US dollars each year between 2021 and 2023. Traders expect these volumes to stay steady as the country grows and urban areas expand.

The reinstated flow of farm products from South Africa now gives Rwanda one more stable source of supply. Officials in Kigali believe the move will help maintain steady food stocks for homes, shops and food processors. They also plan to keep monitoring health checks on imported goods.

Rwanda and South Africa now aim to keep closer contact between their agriculture and health teams. Bagabe said, “We will keep talking so we stay ahead of any health concerns. The goal is simple. We want safe food for our people.”

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