Rwanda is setting its sights high to beat burgeoning urban traffic congestion.

As part of a partnership between the Rwandan government, the China Road and Bridge Corporation and air mobility technology company EHang, a self-flying urban air taxi was put through its paces at the Aviation Africa Summit in Kigali at the beginning of September, according to ITWeb Africa. It was the first time that a pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) has been flown in Africa, reports Nasdaq.

‘This is more than just a demonstration. It is a glimpse into how Rwanda envisions its cities and economy – connected, efficient, and sustainable,’ said Rwanda’s minister of infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, who attended the demonstration along with President Paul Kagame.

‘With the ability to bypass clogged roads and connect key points in minutes rather than hours, the technology promises to ease pressure on ground transport, cut commuting times and improve urban mobility,’ Gasore said.

The Chinese-built EHang EH216-S eVTOL is fully electric, is powered by next-generation autonomous navigation technology, and can carry two passengers.

9 September 2025
Image: Flickr