Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

This initiative stems from the UAE’s civilized and humanitarian mission to achieve the aspirations of people and help them obtain basic health services, enhancing healthcare across the world.

This initiative reflects the UAE’s humanitarian and moral duty towards its Yemeni brothers and sisters, with the aim of overcoming urgent health challenges on Socotra Island in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).

International reports indicate that the island’s population faces major nutritional challenges, especially among children, with the rate of acute malnutrition reaching 10.9%, and severe acute malnutrition reaching 1.6% among children under five. Global acute malnutrition rates ranging from 10% to 14% are internationally classified as critical, while severe acute malnutrition rates exceeding 1% are considered alarming.

In this context, Mohammed Haji Al Khouri, Director General of the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, emphasized the UAE’s humanitarian and international responsibility in developing communities and enhancing essential health services. This follows the immortal humanitarian approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to help one another everywhere and at all times.

This also implements the inspiring vision of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to address such nutritional and health challenges facing the children and women of Socotra Island in the sisterly Republic of Yemen, in strategic partnership with the World Health Organization.

He explained that the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, as an affiliate of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, will work with the World Health Organization to develop appropriate solutions to address these nutritional and health challenges by conducting a new survey based on current data.

This joint initiative seeks to reduce maternal and child deaths resulting from malnutrition by implementing a comprehensive approach to strengthening the health and nutritional system on Socotra Island over two consecutive years.

He stressed the importance of this in strengthening medical care services dedicated to maternal, infant, and child health, expanding emergency preparedness and epidemic control, and improving health and nutrition surveillance systems to ensure early detection of malnutrition and disease outbreaks.

Dr. Frema Coulibaly-Zerbo, Acting WHO Representative in Yemen, said that this joint effort reflects the shared vision of building sustainable health systems in Yemen. The organization is working with the United Arab Emirates and the Yemeni national authorities to meet urgent needs and lay the foundations for long-term health security on Socotra Island.

It is worth noting that this humanitarian initiative on Socotra Island is a form of official assistance between the UAE and the WHO office in Yemen, seeking to provide immediate food relief on the one hand, and mitigate nutritional and health deterioration among various groups and segments on the other.

This initiative will also enhance the healthcare infrastructure on Socotra Island by training staff, providing medicines, and establishing emergency preparedness mechanisms to ensure optimal response to health challenges.

It will also develop sustainable solutions to address malnutrition, raise community awareness, and improve disease surveillance to identify targeted medical interventions based on ongoing evaluation and study results.

“South Sudan cannot afford yet another crisis. The world’s youngest country has received more than one million people who fled the ongoing war in Sudan, while millions of its citizens continue to recover from years of conflict and crisis at home,” Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR’s regional director for the East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region, said in a statement.

Political instability and rising hostilities since late February between armed groups have led to fresh clashes, particularly in Upper Nile state, but also other hot spots, devastating lives and damaging essential services.

The UN agency said that some 100,000 people seeking safety in the neighboring countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda, cited insecurity, intercommunal violence and deteriorating humanitarian conditions as the main reasons for flight.

According to the UNHCR, humanitarian access to an estimated 65,000 newly internally displaced people in affected communities remains significantly constrained due to fighting and movement restrictions in Upper Nile state and other areas.

Desperately needed aid, including medicine and health care to tackle an increase in cholera cases, has come to a halt, it said, noting that looming rains are likely to exacerbate the situation, with flooding making transport problematic and expensive.

The UNHCR said it requires 36 million U.S. dollars to support up to 343,000 internally displaced people in South Sudan and refugees arriving in neighboring countries over the next six months.

“We reiterate calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urge all parties to spare civilians more suffering and find a peaceful solution,” Balde stressed.

South Sudan remains one of the largest displacement crises in the region, with more than 2.3 million South Sudanese living as refugees in the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the UNHCR said.

The company is now working diligently to deliver motorcycles to a large number of applicants, reassuring those awaiting their bikes that deliveries are ongoing.

The promotion, which saw the flagship EKON M3 electric bike’s price slashed from Frwf1.95 million to Frw750,000 with a Frw75,000 deposit to reserve, “has sparked remarkable interests in many riders,” according to a statement from Spiro management.

This interest is tangibly demonstrated by the numbers: to date, 3,500 Spiro bikes are already on Rwandan roads. The promotion alone has resulted in 3,515 new bookings, with 1,656 of these bikes fully paid for and 1,470 already successfully deployed to their new owners. Spiro describes this as “a clear sign of how riders are embracing the shift to electric.”

In response to the high demand, Spiro has been rolling out deliveries in batches since April. “As of today, many early applicants who signed up first have already received their motorcycles, and we continue to dispatch bikes daily,” the company stated. They emphasized their communication strategy, noting, “We’ve clearly communicated that this promotion was a first come, first served roll-out basis.”

Understanding that many are eagerly awaiting their new e-bikes, Spiro offered reassurance: “Please note that all riders who have received their motorcycles were contacted by phone and guided through the collection process. For those who haven’t been contacted yet, please rest assured that you will be contacted soon.”

To manage the increased volume, Spiro confirmed, “We’ve added more staff to manage customer service, make calls, and oversee physical delivery points.”

This surge in adoption comes as Rwanda prepares for a significant shift in its public transport sector. The Government of Rwanda announced that starting in January 2025, all new motorbike taxis registered for public transport in Kigali must be electric, an initiative aimed at curbing pollution.

Spiro’s efforts align with this governmental push and its broader vision. “Spiro is on a mission to revolutionize mobility in Africa through the large-scale electrification of transportation, enhancing livelihoods and promoting sustainable development,” the company affirmed.

They aim to achieve this by providing affordable e-transport solutions and establishing a comprehensive EV ecosystem, including a wide network of charging infrastructure.

So far, Spiro has 70 active battery swapping stations, with 56 more underway to keep riders powered up and moving smoothly.

The company also thanked its clients for their patience and shared commitment to building a greener future. “You deserve better, and we are committed to delivering the very best,” it stated.

On the first day of his visit, President Kagame was received by his counterpart and laid a wreath at the Maqam Echahid (Martyrs’ Memorial) in honour of those who lost their lives during the Algerian War of Independence.

During the visit, the two Heads of State will hold a one-on-one meeting at El Mouradia Palace, followed by bilateral talks between their respective delegations. The leaders will also address members of the press during a joint press conference.

Several bilateral agreements between the Governments of Rwanda and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria are expected to be signed during the visit.

The Head of State is also expected to visit the National School of Artificial Intelligence (ENSIA), where five Rwandan students are currently enrolled in programs specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

During the visit, a State Dinner will be held in honour of President Kagame. This is President Kagame’s second visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, following his visit in 2015.

The visit builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation. For example, on December 9, 2024, President Kagame held talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to explore ways of deepening collaboration between Rwanda and Algeria.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Continental Forum on Education and Youth Employability in Nouakchott, Mauritania, focused on enhancing partnerships in key areas such as education, defence, and security.

The two Heads of State also discussed potential cooperation in agriculture and infrastructure development.

Algeria and Rwanda enjoy strong bilateral cooperation in key sectors such as security and education. This partnership includes a student exchange program, with Rwandan students traveling to Algeria for their studies.

In the 2016/2017 academic year, Algeria awarded scholarships to 25 Rwandan students, demonstrating its commitment to educational collaboration.

Since 1982, Rwanda and Algeria have signed several agreements covering areas such as economic development, social welfare, cultural exchange, and institutional cooperation.

The two nations have also committed to enhancing ties in key sectors like health, trade, investment, security, and education.

In December 2023, Algeria opened its embassy in Rwanda, a move that signaled its intention to deepen diplomatic and cooperative ties with Rwanda.

Meanwhile, President Kagame’s visit to Algeria coincides with the presence of Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi, in the country for a friendly match against the Algerian national team.

Speaking at the Regional Dairy Conference Africa 2025, which focused on topics such as livestock health, milk value addition, and improving market access for dairy products, BK Insurance reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers, especially those engaged in professional livestock farming.

Eric Ntaganira, Head of Agribusiness at BK Insurance, highlighted the importance of insurance in mitigating financial losses caused by disasters or unforeseen events.

“When you have insurance, you farm with confidence,” he said. “As livestock farming becomes more professional and capital-intensive, it’s essential that farmers protect their investments to ensure peace of mind and sustainable growth.”

Ntaganira noted that BK Insurance is actively working to expand access to insurance services for farmers while also raising awareness about how these services operate.

“We take time to explain what is covered and what is not. Whether a farmer owns one cow or many, they are eligible for coverage. This service is tailored for professional livestock farmers, and we’ve already registered over 20,000 clients,” he added.

BK Insurance provides a variety of insurance products, including vehicle, fire, construction, agriculture, and livestock insurance.

According to a nationwide survey, more than 50% of farmers and livestock keepers who insure with BK Insurance expressed high levels of satisfaction, with 98% reporting positive experiences.

Since the launch of the “Tekana Urishingiwe Muhinzi Mworozi” (Feel Secure, You are Insured) initiative, BK Insurance has disbursed over Frw2.5 billion in compensation to policyholders in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

The meeting, which brought together defence and security officials, marks a key milestone in regional collaboration on civil-military relations, a cornerstone of humanitarian support, and regional integration within the EAC.

This year, Civil Military Activities Week will feature a series of community outreach initiatives that promote peace, stability, and development with the Rwandan Community, aimed at improving the well-being of local populations.

On behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, the Defence Spokesperson expressed appreciation to all partner states for their active participation in regional initiatives which reflect the EAC’s vision of fostering a strong bond between the Armed Forces and the civilian population.

“It is not only a military engagement, it is a humanitarian commitment and a powerful demonstration of our collective values of Unity, solidarity, and service to community.

“Real security lies primarily in the pursuit of human security solutions to societal problems.” Brig Gen Rwivanga said.

He further urged the participants to engage actively and share their experience to ensure that the outcome of this meeting reflects the aspirations of the defence sectors of EAC.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Kimani, representing the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), expressed his gratitude to Rwanda for hosting this year’s Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities.

He noted that these activities rotate among all EAC partner states. “This initiative is a rotational event bringing the communities we serve as military personnel closer to us, to build trust, and to help address shared challenges among them.

“It also serves to strengthen regional unity and advance the EAC integration agenda.” Lt Col Kimani said.

The EAC CIMIC activities began in 2018 in Uganda and have since been held in various partner States, making a meaningful impact by addressing the needs of local communities.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli confirmed that the talks, held behind closed doors, “did not end negatively.”

Following the talks, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, stated at a press conference that the two sides had reached concrete humanitarian outcomes in the talks.

Umerov said during the talks Ukraine presented its agenda to Russia, proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, alongside the release of prisoners and the return of young soldiers and children.

Moscow will return Ukraine 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers, said Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky after the peace talks.

Moscow and Kiev agreed to exchange all heavily wounded and 18-25-year-old soldiers, while Moscow proposed to declare a ceasefire with Ukraine for two to three days at some areas of the front line, he added.

The two countries last held direct talks on May 16 in Istanbul — their first face-to-face negotiations since March 2022. During that meeting, the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest prisoner swap since the start of the conflict.