Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The update was shared during a June 2, 2025 press briefing on the state of human trafficking in Rwanda. It follows a recent operation on April 23, 2025, when 10 Rwandans were returned home after being trafficked to Myanmar. Efforts are ongoing to rescue five more individuals from the same country.

According to RIB spokesperson Dr. Thierry Murangira, 52 of the 57 individuals intercepted before being trafficked were women, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women, who are often targeted for forced prostitution.

The number of intercepted cases has risen significantly; between July 2019 and June 2024, Rwanda prevented 39 people from being trafficked, a figure that has been surpassed in just the past eight months.

Dr. Thierry Murangira stressed that even a single case of human trafficking deserves great attention.

“The gravity of human trafficking should not be measured by numbers. Even if it’s one person out of a thousand, it remains a serious human rights violation. No one should ever be treated as a commodity,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration in combating trafficking, noting that some victims are unknowingly aided by family members or relatives during the process.

“The fight is complicated by the fact that some victims believe those intervening are blocking their chance, be it a relationship with a foreign partner or a job opportunity abroad,” he added.

Dr. Murangira clarified that while most interceptions occur at Kigali International Airport, Rwanda is not a source of internal trafficking. However, traffickers from neighboring countries can sometimes use Rwanda as a transit point.

“Human trafficking does not occur within Rwanda, although traffickers may use the country as a transit point,” he said. “When such cases are identified, the victims are intercepted. Moreover, Rwanda is among the few nations that actively invest significant effort in repatriating its trafficked citizens,” he said.

He also highlighted links between trafficking and other crimes, citing the 2024 discovery of a strip club in Kigali where women were reportedly exploited for profit through forced nudity and sexual acts. He urged both the government and the public to reject such activities.

RIB advises the public to remain cautious when presented with suspicious overseas opportunities, especially when there are no known contacts or clear reasons for the offer.

Dr. Murangira also noted that other crimes in Rwanda may be linked to human trafficking. He cited the discovery of a strip club in Kigali in 2024, where dancers performed naked and were reportedly involved in sexual exploitation for someone else’s benefit. He urged the government and public to strongly oppose such activities.

RIB advises the public to remain vigilant when approached with suspicious offers of opportunities abroad, especially when they have no known contacts or legitimate reason to be selected for such offers.

IATA projects airline profits will reach $36 billion in 2025—$600 million less than previously expected—while total revenues are set to hit $979 billion, falling short of the earlier $1 trillion estimate.

Speaking at IATA’s annual meeting in New Delhi, Director General Willie Walsh warned of mounting economic headwinds, including rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

“It’s still a thin buffer and any new tax, increase in airport or navigation charge, demand shock or costly regulation will quickly put the industry’s resilience to the test,” he said.

Air cargo is also expected to slow, with 69 million tonnes forecast this year—down from 72.5 million. Trade tensions, including recent U.S. tariff moves, are partly to blame.

On the bright side, lower oil prices could ease pressure on airlines. Jet fuel is expected to average $86 a barrel, significantly below the $99 average in 2024, helping to reduce the sector’s fuel bill by $25 billion.

IATA urged policymakers to consider aviation’s vital role in global employment and economic activity, warning that increased regulation or taxes could hinder recovery.

Addressing a press conference, Fico said the plan would threaten the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia.

The European Commission last month unveiled a new roadmap to end EU’s reliance on Russian energy. The REPowerEU Roadmap sets out a phased and coordinated plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear materials across the 27-member bloc, according to the Commission.

“We’ve repeatedly declared this idea of the European Commission to be harmful, ideological and damaging to the competitiveness of the European Union,” said Fico, adding that Slovakia will intervene in the EU to fight for its national interests in the preparation of legislative changes concerning oil, gas and nuclear fuel.

As of April 2025, Slovakia has five nuclear reactors generating half of its electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Hadi Rahmat Hardjasasmita, a spokesperson for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of West Java province, said that two more bodies were found by rescuers on Sunday in Gunung Kuda mine situated in Bobos village of Cirebon Regency.

He said that to ensure smooth search operations and relief efforts, a state of emergency has been imposed since May 30 and will end on June 6.

The search and rescue operation has been halted due to further landslides at the quarry, said Mamang Fatmono, acting head of the operational unit of the provincial search and rescue office.

“We face a challenge today. Further landslides occurred at 11:10 a.m., so the search operation was temporarily suspended. The search operation will resume tomorrow,” he told Xinhua.

The ceremony brought together Rwandans from across Belgium to honor the over one million lives lost during the genocide, and to reaffirm a collective commitment to remembrance, justice, and peace.

In her keynote address, Mayor Marie-Christine Marghem of Tournai paid tribute to the victims and reflected on the universal importance of remembrance.

“Memory is not limited to recording events in the course of history,” she said.

“This long history, in which we have always been involved, has undoubtedly been marked by mistakes. However, over time, thanks to the beings of light who are capable of reaching out and recognizing human dignity, we have learned that such injustices are fundamentally unspeakable, culpable, and condemnable,” Marghem added.

Claire Kayirangwa, representing Ibuka Belgique, emphasized the duty of remembrance and the importance of transmitting truth to future generations.

“We do not come merely to mourn the dead; we come to carry their memory through the generations,” she said.

“Even today, there are voices that dare to relativize or distort the truth of what happened. To those voices, we respond with dignity and determination: to remember is not to seek pity—it is a moral duty and a commitment to justice,” Kayirangwa added.

Ernest Gakuba, President of the Rwandan Community in Belgium (DRB-Rugari), delivered a stirring address highlighting the role of youth in preserving memory.

“One hundred days of darkness. One hundred days when humanity failed. Today, we remember—but more than that, we act. We must pass on the memory not just to Rwandan youth, but to youth everywhere. Because today’s silence can nurture tomorrow’s violence,” he noted.

Gakuba also paid tribute to Corporal Bruno Méaux and the nine other Belgian peacekeepers killed in 1994, calling them “symbols of the price paid for the silence of powerful nations.”

Gakuba praised the Rwandan Patriotic Front for its decisive role in ending the genocide when the world chose to look away.

“These young Rwandans acted—not for revenge, but to save what could still be saved,” he stated.

Speakers also addressed the painful reality that, even today, some genocide suspects continue to live freely in Europe, particularly in Belgium and France.

Arnold Turagara, President of the Rwandan Community in Mons and Tournai, called attention to this ongoing injustice.

“These individuals live settled and protected, while survivors wait for justice,” he said. “Despite these challenges, Rwanda rises—not through foreign aid, but through the will and unity of its people.”

Turagara also urged Rwandan youth to carry forward the torch of truth, resilience, and national unity.

“You inherit a difficult past, but also a bright future. Let your generation be the one that defeats the silence of forgetting.”

The ceremony included the powerful testimony of Lyamukuru Félicité, a genocide survivor who also served as the master of ceremonies. Her story served as a reminder of the personal loss and resilience that shape the Rwandan identity today.

Mourners laid wreaths at two memorial sites: one honoring the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi, and the other commemorating Corporal Bruno Méaux.

The event concluded with moving performances by Suzanne Nyiranyamibwa, whose songs of remembrance echoed the collective sorrow and hope of a people determined never to forget.

{{Night to remember}}

karirima@igihe.com

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Burhan and other council members met with Idris to discuss government priorities, including stabilizing the economy, protecting civilian livelihoods, and restoring order across the country’s states, the statement said.

Idris’s appointment was formalized on May 19 through a constitutional decree issued by Burhan, who also serves as commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The decision was welcomed by the United Nations, the African Union Commission, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The prime minister’s post had remained vacant since the resignation of Abdalla Hamdok in January 2022, following a military coup led by Burhan in October 2021. Hamdok and other civilian leaders were briefly detained before being reinstated under a short-lived power-sharing deal. He stepped down weeks later, warning that Sudan was at a “dangerous turning point” as mass protests erupted against military rule.

Idris, who holds a doctoral degree in international law, previously served as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization and Secretary-General of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.

Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.

The event, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, brought together members of the Chinese community in Rwanda, Rwandan government representatives, and friends of China to celebrate both the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the traditional Chinese holiday.

Rwanda was chosen as the first African country to screen this film with a runtime of 2 hours 16 minutes, underscoring the growing cultural ties between China and Rwanda.

Detective Chinatown 1900, the fourth installment in the popular Chinese comedy-mystery franchise, directed by Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo, premiered globally on January 29, 2025, during the Chinese New Year.

The film, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1900, follows Qin Fu (Liu Haoran), a Chinese medicine practitioner, and Ah Gui (Wang Baoqiang), a Chinese man raised by a Native American tribe, as they investigate the murders of a white woman, Alice, and an elderly Native American man.

The prime suspect is Bai Zhenbang, son of Chinatown leader Bai Xuanling (Chow Yun-Fat). The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of anti-Chinese xenophobia fueled by the Chinese Exclusion Act, blending humor, action, and poignant social commentary on racism and cultural identity.

{{Who killed Alice?}}

The investigation reveals a complex conspiracy: Alice’s murder was orchestrated by a corrupt businessman in collusion with a xenophobic congressman (John Cusack) to frame Bai Zhenbang and stoke anti-Chinese sentiment for political and economic gain.

The elderly Native American’s death was a related cover-up. There is no indication that Bai Xuanling, the influential Chinatown leader, was involved in Alice’s death; rather, he plays a pivotal role in protecting the community.

Qin Fu and Ah Gui’s clever deductions expose the true culprits, resolving the case while highlighting ongoing racial tensions, leaving a bittersweet reflection on cultural harmony.

Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kigali, highlighted the film’s global success and symbolic importance for Africa and Rwanda.

“Detective Chinatown 1900 is a blockbuster, which was officially launched on January 29 and so far has made a revenue of 1.3 billion US$ globally. It’s the first screening of the movie in Africa, choosing Rwanda as the first and unique country. It’s a special and joyful occasion, the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival,” she noted.

She also reflected on the reasons behind the film’s widespread popularity.

“More importantly, it may be attributed to the focus on the respect and equality, tolerance and inclusiveness, mutual learning and appreciation, and harmonious coexistence of civilizations. This is particularly meaningful for today’s world, which is plagued by frequent conflicts and turmoils.”

{{The essence of Dragon Boat Festival}}

Dragons in Chinese culture symbolize, among others, good luck, protection and intelligence. The festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (May 31, 2025), commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair over political betrayal.

Locals raced boats to save him and dropped sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) to protect his body, origins of the festival’s dragon boat races and zongzi traditions.

The Kigali screening also underscored the shared cultural values between China and Rwanda as highlighted by Hang who praised Rwanda’s support for China’s Global Civilization Initiative.

“Rwanda’s cosponsoring of [the UN resolution for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations] is highly appreciated,” she stated.

“Like Rwanda, we oppose others imposing their own governance and development models on us. We are firmly against the interference of our internal affairs in the name of so-called democracy and human rights,” Hang added as she underscored shared values.

Hang also celebrated cultural exchanges, such as the upcoming participation of Rwanda’s Agaseke Culture Center in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2025, which will showcase Rwandan culture alongside Chinese traditions.

She concluded with a call to action: “Let’s work together for a better world with peace, stability and prosperity, for future and our next generations.”

Now in its third year, the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform continues to drive impact across the continent by mentoring and supporting startups working on cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, computing, and IoT.

This year’s program saw an overwhelming response, with nearly 435 applications submitted from innovators across 19 African countries.

After careful selection, ten promising startups were chosen for the Qualcomm Make in Africa 2025 cohort.

These startups will now embark on an incubation journey where they will receive mentorship, technical guidance, business coaching, and support in product development—including access to engineering consultations and hardware platforms.

They will also be guided on how to protect and commercialize their intellectual property.
The ten selected startups represent a diverse array of solutions and sectors.

They include Nigeria’s Aframend, which is using AI for drug discovery based on African phytochemicals, and ClimatrixAI, which is building hyperlocal flood prediction systems.

Tunisia is represented by AmalXR, offering AI-driven VR rehabilitation, Pixii Motors, an electric scooter company focused on battery optimization, and Ecobees, an AI solution for monitoring hive health.

Kenya contributes three entries: Farmer Lifeline, with solar-powered AI pest detection robots, Solar Freeze, which tackles post-harvest food loss through solar IoT cold storage, and Pollen Patrollers, focused on AI-assisted precision pollination.

Senegal’s Edulytics is using mobile AI to detect liver fibrosis via ultrasound, while Archeos from Benin is revolutionizing fish farming through solar-powered IoT automation.

In a show of continued support for innovation with societal impact, Qualcomm has confirmed that the startups will be eligible for the Qualcomm Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund at the conclusion of their mentorship cycle.

One startup will be awarded funding for its exceptional use of wireless technology to address community needs, while the remaining nine will receive development stipends to further scale their solutions.

Complementing the incubation program is L2Pro Africa, Qualcomm’s IP education platform launched in partnership with leading intellectual property law firm Adams and Adams.

The online platform offers free training to African startups, SMEs, and researchers on how to protect and manage their innovations.

The recently updated platform now includes patent and trademark filing guides for key markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, and the African regional patent bodies ARIPO and OAPI—covering 43 countries in total.

To date, over 135 African learners have enrolled, with several alumni of the Qualcomm Make in Africa program already initiating their own patent filings.

Wassim Chourbaji, SVP and President of Qualcomm MEA and SVP of Government Affairs for EMEA, praised this year’s selection of startups, describing them as a powerful reflection of the continent’s rising innovation ecosystem.

“This year’s cohort of deep technology startups is a testament to Africa’s burgeoning innovation landscape,” he said. “By leveraging Qualcomm’s cellular, IoT, and edge-AI technologies, these startups are poised to revolutionize agriculture, sustainability, climate change, transportation, and healthcare. We are honored to support their journey toward creating transformative solutions for a better future.”

John Omo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), echoed the excitement, highlighting ATU’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm and calling on broader collaboration to bring African-led technologies to life.

“Innovation is the engine of Africa’s future, and it is clear the ten startups in this year’s cohort exemplify its power,” he said. “While ATU works to align spectrum policy, regional standards, and open-data practices so that new technologies move quickly from lab to market, we also recognize that real progress demands a broad coalition. We therefore call on governments, academia, investors, and industry to back these ventures—and every initiative that puts African ingenuity first.”

Rwanda was among the countries that participated in the Coffee Europe Expo 2025, an international coffee trade fair held at Ptak Warsaw Expo in Warsaw, Poland.

The event convened stakeholders from across the coffee value chain, including innovators and technology providers in coffee production, processing, and distribution.

Despite being a first-time participant at the Expo — which marked its 10th edition — Rwanda was given a place of honor and recognized for its growing role in the global coffee industry.

The event ran from May 27 to 29 and welcomed around 6,000 visitors from 15 countries. More than 100 exhibitors, including several Rwandan businesses, showcased premium Rwandan coffee and tea.

While the expo’s primary focus was coffee, Rwanda also presented its tea products, positioning Poland as a potential alternative to Russia — historically one of Rwanda’s top tea importers.

“Russia was a key buyer of Rwandan tea via the Mombasa auction,” said Bizimana in an interview with IGIHE. “But due to the war in Ukraine, volumes have declined. We now see Poland as a country that could fill that gap.”

According to Bizimana, both coffee and tea from Rwanda were warmly received, signaling strong interest from Polish and Eastern European buyers. Although Rwandan coffee already has established markets, new export destinations often bring competitive pricing and better terms.

“What makes Poland stand out,” Bizimana explained, “is its interest in value-added coffee — roasted and packaged in Rwanda. This creates more jobs for our youth and keeps more value within the country.”

He also emphasized the broader importance of such international expos, which provide insights into regulatory requirements and market preferences, helping Rwanda refine its export strategy.

{{Exhibitors speak out}}

Rusatira Emmanuel, CEO of Baho Coffee Company, was among the Rwandan participants. He said the sheer scale and enthusiasm of the Polish market exceeded expectations.

“No one anticipated such a large and vibrant market. People were genuinely curious about Rwanda. This is the first expo where we’ve been given such a prominent and respected platform,” Rusatira said.

He described the event as a valuable opportunity to network with roasters, exporters, and industry professionals across Eastern Europe.

“Everyone sold out. There was strong demand for both Rwandan coffee and tea. People are eager to know more about our products,” he added.

Also exhibiting was Rubayiza Aloys, CEO of Rwanda Mountain Coffee Ltd & JAC Coffee Ltd. With a five-hectare farm in Huye District, Rubayiza not only grows coffee but processes it into various formats — green beans, roasted coffee, and eco-friendly capsules.

“This Eastern European market is significant — it accounts for 40% of global coffee consumption,” he noted. “Capsule coffee is especially popular here. Around 20% of consumers prefer it, and it sells at a premium price. We tailor our offerings based on customer needs.”

Michael Wyroslak, the General Manager of 1000 Hills Products in Poland, has been importing and distributing Rwandan coffee for seven years. He described the journey as one of growth and transformation.

“In the beginning, there were many misconceptions about Rwandan coffee. But over the years, we’ve changed that narrative. People now appreciate its quality and unique flavor profile,” he said.

Wyroslak explained that they’ve increased both the quantity and quality of coffee exports year after year, and they continue to introduce new Rwandan products to the Polish and broader European markets.

“Our future is bright — as long as Rwanda keeps producing high-quality coffee, demand will only grow,” he concluded.

The Coffee Europe Expo was hosted at Ptak Warsaw Expo, one of the largest exhibition centers in Europe. It hosts more than 70 events annually, attracting over 1 million visitors and over 7,000 exhibitors across various industries.

{{Highlights from day two of the trade fair}}