In a message posted on X on February 13, 2026, President Kagame praised Mottley’s renewed mandate, writing, “Warm congratulations to my sister, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, on her well-deserved re-election.”
He emphasized that Rwanda values the strong friendship between the two countries, grounded in shared principles of self-determination, resilience, and commitment to delivering prosperity and dignity for our people.
“We look forward to further deepening our cooperation in the years ahead.I wish you and the people of Barbados continued success and progress,” he added.
Mottley secured a decisive victory after her Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats in the parliamentary general elections. She defeated Ralph Thorne of the opposition Democratic Labor Party.
Addressing citizens after her victory, Mottley said her administration was committed to transforming the country, pledging continued progress in healthcare, public security, and transport.
Barbados, a Caribbean island nation covering 439 square kilometres, is known for its advanced tourism sector and its ability to attract foreign investment.
Rwanda and Barbados maintain strong bilateral relations. The two countries have signed cooperation agreements in several sectors, including aviation, paving the way for RwandAir to operate flights to Barbados.
In November 2022, Prime Minister Mottley inaugurated Barbados’ diplomatic mission in Rwanda during an official visit that followed President Kagame’s trip to Barbados earlier that year.
In February 2025, President Kagame held talks with Prime Minister Mottley and Daniel Chapo in Addis Ababa during the 38th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at escalating violence in the states of Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and throughout the country, emphasizing that under international law, individuals who order the commission of war crimes may be held accountable.
They expressed their full support for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and stressed that continued constructive cooperation between the host government and UNMISS is essential to sustaining peace and stability, facilitating safe and timely humanitarian access and ensuring the protection of civilians.
While reaffirming their commitment to supporting South Sudan’s peace process and working in partnership with the transitional government to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, the members of the council called on South Sudanese leaders to engage in genuine inter-party dialogue about potential changes to the 2018 peace agreement, through an inclusive and transparent process.
They also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of South Sudan.
The vehicle was handed over to the Rwanda National Police at its headquarters in Kigali on February 13, 2026. The ceremony was attended by the leadership of Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPC Ltd), senior RNP officials, and other distinguished guests.
The donated unit is a MAN Model TGS 31.400 firefighting truck equipped with modern firefighting systems, capable of responding to incidents in standard environments as well as high-rise buildings. It is valued at €759,100 (over Rwf 1.3 billion).
Eric Mpayimana, head of RPC Ltd, said the donation reflects the company’s commitment to supporting communities beyond its core mandate of electricity generation.
“We chose to donate fire trucks to the countries where our power plant supplies electricity, including Burundi and Tanzania, and now Rwanda. This is part of our commitment to providing assistance in case of fire outbreaks so that they can effectively combat fires,” Mpayimana explained.
He added that this donation complements other projects that RPC Ltd is involved in, including building markets, youth centers, and hospitals, which contribute to connecting the people of these three countries.
ACP Boniface Rutikanga, the spokesperson for RNP, emphasized that the truck is a significant contribution to ensuring the safety of people and property, as the existing firefighting vehicles were insufficient.
“This donation increases our capabilities, as we aim to have such vehicles in more locations. The reason for this is the growth of infrastructure, urban expansion, and the increasing need for emergency services. We anticipate more trucks like this as we continue to improve our resources,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He also noted that the donation shows RPC’s awareness of the potential dangers associated with electricity when used improperly.
“RPC provides electricity to homes, but when used incorrectly, it can result in fires. Receiving this firefighting truck means they are also considering the safety of those who will use this electricity in case of accidents,” ACP Rutikanga added.
Rangira Bruno, the Mayor of Kirehe District, where the power plant is located, highlighted that the donation of the fire truck is another important step in RPC Ltd’s ongoing partnership with the government to support the welfare of the community.
The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to stabilize the country’s volatile east.
Van de Perre arrived on Thursday in the capital of North Kivu province aboard a helicopter, landing at Goma’s airport since the seizure of the city by the rebel group in January 2025 amid deteriorating security conditions. Her visit comes as part of efforts to operationalize a ceasefire monitoring mechanism envisaged within the broader regional peace architecture.
Following talks with Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military coalition allied with the M23, the UN official said discussions focused on “the concrete implementation of the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism in line with the agreement signed by the AFC/M23 and the government of the DRC” under the Doha process.
“It is essential that commitments made in this agreement quickly translate into clear, credible and verifiable operational arrangements on the ground,” she said, adding that MONUSCO is mandated by the UN Security Council to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and to participate in verification efforts.
She noted that MONUSCO’s support would be provided gradually, depending on confirmed security arrangements and guarantees for UN personnel and assets, stressing that the mission’s actions would remain strictly within its Security Council mandate.
Speaking to the press on behalf of the AFC/M23, the group’s senior official Benjamin Mbonimpa welcomed MONUSCO’s role, saying it was expected to support the process “with logistical assistance” within the ceasefire verification framework. Mbonimpa noted that UN personnel would enjoy full security in areas under AFC/M23 control, while declining responsibility for areas outside its control.
Mbonimpa also said the group had “not been informed or invited” regarding the ceasefire proposed by Angola as part of regional mediation efforts, while accusing Kinshasa of repeated ceasefire violations on the ground.
In a separate statement released Friday, the Congolese presidency said to have accepted the principle of a ceasefire proposed by Angola, “in a spirit of responsibility and de-escalation” to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict, reaffirming Kinshasa’s commitment to regional stability and a return to lasting peace.
Angola, which has served as a key mediator in the DRC crisis since 2022, proposed late Wednesday that a ceasefire between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group take effect on Feb. 18. The proposed date remains contingent on a public declaration of acceptance by the parties, according to Angolan authorities.
However, Kinshasa has yet to clarify whether it agrees to the proposed date for the ceasefire to take effect.
The M23 seized the eastern city of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, the following month.
In recent weeks, clashes have been reported near the town of Minembwe in South Kivu, according to local sources.
In a statement issued on February 13, 2026, the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said the ceasefire requires both the government and the AFC/M23 coalition to remain in their current positions, halt reinforcements in conflict zones, refrain from repositioning forces for attacks, and stop receiving external support.
The presidency warned that attempts to expand positions or any actions violating the ceasefire monitoring framework, established under an agreement signed in Doha, Qatar on October 15, 2025, would undermine progress already made.
The Angola government proposed that the ceasefire take effect on February 18, two days after Lourenço hosted Tshisekedi alongside mediators appointed by the African Union, including Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Despite Tshisekedi’s acceptance, the Congolese government has previously been accused of violating ceasefires agreed with the AFC/M23 coalition and breaching signed peace accords, often intensifying military operations to retake lost territory.
Each time Congolese forces reportedly broke ceasefire terms, AFC/M23, citing its principle of “eliminating threats at their source”, responded with force and captured additional areas, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, among other strategic locations.
On February 12, Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, expressed skepticism about the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) willingness to honor a new ceasefire proposed by Angola, noting that Kinshasa has so far shown no political will.
“We can stack peace agreements or ceasefire declarations endlessly, but as long as Kinshasa shows no political will to stop its air and artillery attacks, as long as President Tshisekedi remains fixated on impossible military solution, and as long as the international community continues to turn a blind eye to Kinshasa’s actions, which violate all these agreements, it will be in vain,” he shared on X.
The AFC/M23 coalition has not yet commented on Angola’s ceasefire proposal, though it has repeatedly stated that political dialogue is the only viable path to ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
His policies on trade, foreign aid, and immigration have cast a long shadow over the summit’s discussions, leading analysts to describe him as the “elephant in the room” amid efforts by African leaders to find balance in their global engagements.
Although President Trump did not travel to the summit, leaders from all member states are acutely aware of how his administration’s actions have shifted the landscape of U.S. Africa relations.
Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has moved away from traditional broad‑based foreign aid programs toward a more transactional, bilateral approach.
This means that instead of large multilateral development projects involving many countries, Washington increasingly focuses on individual deals with selected nations that offer strategic or economic advantages.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, experts note that this approach has created uncertainty among African leaders.
“There has been a perceptible shift away from broad multilateral engagement toward a more security‑ and deal‑focused approach,” said Carlos Lopes, a politics professor at the University of Cape Town.
As a result, many African states are pursuing closer ties with other global powers including China, Europe, and Middle Eastern partners to avoid over‑dependence on Washington.
One of the more controversial aspects of recent U.S. policy has been cuts to foreign assistance. Historically, the United States has been a major donor to health and development programs across Africa, including initiatives focused on combating HIV/AIDS and improving maternal and child health.
Trump’s budgetary decisions have significantly reduced funding, prompting concern from civil society and public health experts across the continent.
Economically, Trump’s administration also imposed tariffs on imports from several African countries in previous years, affecting key export markets and increasing pressure on nations that rely on trade with the United States. These trade policies, paired with slower aid flows, have pushed African leaders to seek alternative trading partners and development models.
At past AU Summits, representatives have been working to strike a calculated equilibrium between engaging with the United States and deepening ties with other international partners.
Analysts believe that African diplomats will emphasize “strategic ambiguity” engaging the U.S. where beneficial while also strengthening relationships with China, the European Union, and intra‑African bodies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Asked who is running Venezuela in a Thursday interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC News, Rodríguez said, “I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it’s stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela.”
She added that her daily workload reflects the seriousness of her role: “From the amount of work that I have… it’s very, very hard work and we’re doing it completely day by day.”
The comment comes more than a month after U.S. forces captured Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to federal custody in New York on narcoterrorism, drug trafficking and corruption charges, where he has pleaded not guilty.
Despite his detention, Rodríguez made a clear legal and political defense of her predecessor, saying: “I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president… Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent.”
Rodríguez, who once sharply criticised the U.S. military operation, has signalled a shift toward cooperation with Washington.
She confirmed receiving an invitation to visit the United States, saying, “We’re contemplating coming there once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything.”
The interview also took place amid an ongoing visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focused on discussions over Venezuela’s crippled oil industry and potential economic and diplomatic engagement with the interim government.
The disclosure was made by the Finance and Economic Planning Minister Yusuf Murangwa during his presentation of the revised national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year to Parliament on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
Minister Murangwa stated that the construction of the Masaka hospital, where CHUK will move, is now 98% complete.
He confirmed that the relocation of the hospital will begin in March 2026, with the move being carried out in phases, and the entire process is expected to be completed by September this year.
Murangwa explained that the remaining tasks to ensure CHUK’s relocation include finishing the construction work, installing equipment, and preparing the staff, as the new hospital will have double the capacity of the existing one.
“The new hospital is significantly larger than the current CHUK; the current facility has 400 beds, but the new one will have over 800 beds. This requires more modern equipment and staff, which will exceed what we currently have at CHUK. However, as advised, the relocation cannot happen all at once; some services will move first, while others will continue to operate at CHUK to ensure that services remain uninterrupted during the transition,” he said.
“This is a well-thought-out plan, and we expect to begin the phased relocation starting in March, with full completion by September. Some services, such as emergency care, will remain at CHUK for a longer period, but eventually, all services will move. We aim for CHUK to be fully relocated by the end of this year,” Murangwa added.
Major construction work has now been completed, and the remaining tasks include final touch-ups, cleaning, and preparing the landscaping around the hospital.
The hospital is being built by the Chinese company, Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd, at a cost of 85 billion Rwandan Francs, (approximately 580 million Chinese Yuan).
The new hospital will have 18 operating rooms, excluding those for maternity cases.
The hospital will also be equipped with advanced medical technology, including four X-ray machines, two anti-rays, MRI machines, radiology services, and other essential equipment.
Rwanda’s goal is to build a healthcare system that serves as a leading medical hub in Africa and promotes medical tourism.
This move will help reduce the number of Rwandans seeking medical treatment abroad, as many of these services will now be available within the country.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, told lawmakers that the current law was enacted in 2017 and revised in 2021.
However, he said, recent assessments, including a 2024 safeguards review by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), found legal gaps in the law governing BNR and recommended reforms to address them.
He emphasized that the revision aims to establish a stronger operational framework aligned with the central bank’s mandate, enhance its autonomy in staff management, governance and financial management, strengthen transparency in cooperation, and reinforce accountability.
While some provisions will remain unchanged, others will be revised and new ones added so that BNR’s legal and regulatory framework aligns with governance practices used by central banks worldwide and with international standards.
One major change concerns capital increases from the government. The current law does not clearly provide for recapitalizing BNR when its capital declines. Article 67 of the draft law establishes a clear procedure requiring the government to cover any capital shortfall within six months after receiving BNR’s request.
Murangwa noted that such recapitalization would be rare and used only when it is the sole way for BNR to maintain the financial independence necessary for sustainable operations.
The draft law also protects BNR leaders, staff, agents and decision-making bodies from external interference when exercising their authority or performing their duties. The existing law does not fully guarantee institutional autonomy in implementing BNR’s powers or achieving its objectives. The revised Article 4 strengthens independence for staff, representatives and decision-makers, shielding them from outside influence.
Another proposed change limits the powers that the Board of Directors can delegate to the Governor of the central bank. Supervisory and oversight responsibilities would no longer be transferable to the Governor.
The bill also gives BNR authority to impose administrative sanctions on individuals or legal entities that fail to comply with its regulations, regardless of criminal proceedings, while remaining consistent with other applicable laws.
Regarding governance, the number of Board members would increase to at least 11, selected based on expertise in accounting, risk management, law, technology or other fields relevant to BNR’s work. To strengthen independence, no more than 30% of Board members would be public officials, excluding the Governor, Deputy Governor and one member drawn from academia or research.
The proposal also allows the appointment of non-BNR members to the Monetary Policy Committee and the Financial Stability Committee to reinforce their independence.
The draft law reaffirms that BNR manages Rwanda’s currency, while the authority to change the currency remains with the President of the Republic as provided by the Constitution. BNR would retain an advisory role on currency changes.
Another expected reform expands BNR’s powers in foreign exchange management and protection of other financial assets.
The current law provides limited authority in this area. Given rapid financial sector growth and the increasing range of financial instruments, permitted operations would expand to include currency and other eligible assets such as support for cross-border trade, collateral instruments and a wider range of approved investments.
Murangwa added that, to strengthen financial stability and sound monetary management, the law will also establish a clear timeframe for repayment of loans BNR grants to the government.
Finally, the bill formally establishes an internal audit function within BNR (as provided in Article 63 of the draft law) to enhance oversight, risk management and operational effectiveness.
The two-day meeting, attended by foreign ministers from AU members under the framework of the 39th AU Summit, among others elected 10 members of the Peace and Security Council of the AU. Accordingly, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Uganda, Morocco, Lesotho, South Africa, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone are elected to serve the council for a two-year term.
The foreign ministers’ session also discussed discussed the AU’s strategic engagement with the G20, building on the momentum of the summit held in South Africa, and underscored the need for strengthening its cooperation with member states of the group to tap into possible sources of funding and finance the continent’s development programs.
In a concluding remark, Tete Antonio, Angolan Minister of External Relations and outgoing chair of the executive council, underscored the AU’s continued commitment to strengthening continental governance, advancing peace and security, and accelerating the implementation of Africa’s shared development agenda.
The session appreciated the tangible progress on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and specialized agencies, stressing the need for applying innovative financing and inclusion of the private sector, civil society, and philanthropic foundations to accelerate the continent’s development.
The session also underscored the critical importance of AU’s 2026 theme on water and sanitation, framing water as a vital collective resource that must be preserved amid climate change, and as a tool for peace and cooperation.
“The session highlighted the huge gap between required and available investment in water and sanitation in Africa,” Antonio said, noting that 400 million people in the African continent still lack water for their daily livelihood, and over 800 million African people lack basic hygiene services.
