In a public notice released on January 5, 2026, RDB said the decision is aimed at reinforcing Rwanda’s position as a leading destination for domestic and regional tourism. RDB, however, clarified that the promotional rates will not apply during the peak tourism period from June to October 2026.
Under the extended promotion, Rwandan citizens and East African Community (EAC) nationals are required to pay $200 (over Rwf290,000) for a gorilla trekking permit. Eligible visitors must present a national identity card, a valid passport, and a birth certificate to benefit from the discounted rate.
Africans and African residents from outside the EAC will pay $500 for a permit during the promotional period. To qualify, visitors in this category must present a valid passport, a resident identity card or diplomatic card, and a valid visa covering at least four consecutive months.
Outside the promotional window, the standard gorilla trekking fee is $1,500.
Volcanoes National Park remains one of Rwanda’s most significant tourism assets. In 2024, the tourism sector generated $647 million in revenue, driven largely by a 27 percent increase in earnings from gorilla-based tourism.
The updated legislation imposes harsher penalties for violations, emphasizes modern technology for enforcement and management, and aims to boost transparency, accountability, and road safety while cutting accidents and fatalities.
The previous framework, Law No. 34/1987 dated September 17, 1987, has been superseded. The new law was approved on January 5, 2026, at 9:30 p.m., with 77 parliamentarians in the plenary session voting in favor after a full day of article-by-article review.
Lawmakers highlighted that the reforms align with national development, introducing tougher sanctions to deter intentional breaches and encourage responsible driving.
Under Article 37, driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit of 0.80 g/L is an offense. For drivers of public transport vehicles, those carrying students, employees, or tourists, heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, or income-generating vehicles, conviction carries a fine of Rwf 100,000 to 400,000 and 3–6 months in prison.
For other drivers, penalties include a fine of Rwf 150,000 to 300,000 and up to 10 days in prison, or one of these alone. If the blood alcohol level is at least double the limit, penalties rise to a fine of Rwf 200,000 to 500,000 and 3–6 months in prison, or one of these. Repeat offenders within one year face the maximum penalty, which may be doubled.
Refusing a blood alcohol test is also an offense. For higher-risk category drivers, it brings a fine of Rwf 300,000 to 600,000 and 3–6 months in prison. For others, a fine of Rwf 400,000 to 600,000 and up to 10 days in prison, or one of these.
The prospect of jail terms sparked discussion in parliament. Deputy Christine Mukabunani argued against imprisonment where possible, proposing longer driving suspensions and steeper fines instead, believing higher financial consequences would be more effective.
Deputy Pie Nizeyimana raised concerns about potential psychological impacts.
In response, Ambassador Hope Gasatura Tumukunde, Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, defended the tough measures as necessary to shift attitudes toward road safety.
She stressed that the penalties were weighed against the gravity of offenses, their threat to lives, and the need for strong deterrence, addressing an urgent issue requiring shared responsibility.
Article 39 states that refusing to stop when signaled by a police officer or authorized official is an offense, punishable upon conviction by a fine of Rwf 400,000 to 700,000 and 3–6 months in prison. Driving without a valid license carries 15–30 days in prison and a fine of Rwf 100,000 to 200,000, or one of these.
For serious safety-threatening offenses, police must prepare case files and forward them to the National Public Prosecution Authority within legal deadlines. A forthcoming ministerial order will define administrative offenses, fines, and demerit points.
Those issued administrative fines must pay within 30 days of notification. Late payment incurs a 30% surcharge, due within another 30 days.
Non-compliance leads to vehicle impoundment. However, alleged offenders or vehicle owners can appeal in writing or other means; if no reply comes within three days, the offense is canceled.
Valais Canton police said the 40 victims, aged between 14 and 39, included 21 Swiss nationals, seven French nationals, five Italian nationals, one Belgian national, one Portuguese national, one Romanian national, one Turkish national, one dual Swiss-French national, one victim holding French, Israeli and British nationalities, and one dual Italian-United Arab Emirates national. Many of them were minors.
According to the police, a criminal investigation has been opened against the two managers of the “Le Constellation” bar on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury and negligent arson.
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin told Swiss media on Sunday that Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning on Friday.
Andean pan flute music provided the backdrop to the demonstration. Alberto Calderon, a member of a traditional Andean music group and descendant of Peruvian migrants, led the rhythm and guided the chorus.
He said the melodies, rooted in the Andean highlands and shared across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and parts of Argentina and Chile, predate modern national borders and were adapted to address Venezuela’s current situation.
“Venezuela, an immortal nation,” the crowd chanted. “For your resistance, the peoples of the world stand with you.” Araceli Munoz Rojas, one of the participants, said she joined the rally to protest what she described as U.S. military interference in Venezuela, calling it a violation of international law and national sovereignty. Miguel Sanchez, a dual Spanish-Argentine citizen, warned that external intervention could set a precedent across the region.
As the rally concluded, the music and chants gradually faded, leaving participants emphasizing solidarity and the ongoing memory of foreign intervention in Latin America. “Even if time passes, I can’t forget you, it’s impossible,” the crowd sang.
Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of Venezuela,” according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
The U.S. military action against the South American nation has drawn widespread international condemnation, with multiple countries calling for a coordinated global response.
At a press briefing, First President of the Supreme Court Fode Bangoura officially announced Doumbouya’s election to a seven-year presidential term in accordance with the Constitution.
According to data previously released by Guinea’s General Directorate of Elections, about 6.8 million voters were registered for the election. Voter turnout was initially announced at 80.95 percent and later revised by the Supreme Court to 82.86 percent.
The presidential election marks a significant step in Guinea’s efforts to restore constitutional order. In September 2021, then-President Alpha Conde was overthrown in a military coup, after which a transitional government led by Doumbouya assumed power.
In September this year, Guinea adopted a new constitution through a nationwide referendum and announced that the presidential election would be held on Dec. 28. The new constitution lifted restrictions on junta members running for office and extended the presidential term from five to seven years, clearing the way for Doumbouya’s candidacy.
Throughout the election period, the overall situation across the country remained stable, with no major security incidents reported. Guinean political figures, electoral authorities, as well as domestic and international observers said the voting process was largely calm and orderly and that the organization of the election broadly complied with relevant legal procedures.
According to the official website of the Guinean presidency, Doumbouya, 41, was born on Dec. 5, 1984, in Kankan, northeastern Guinea.
The soldiers had been operating in several areas of South Kivu province, including Luvungi, Sange, Luberizi and Kiliba, where heavy clashes took place between December 2-9, 2025.
The fighting pitted fighters from the M23 rebel group against Congolese government forces, supported by troops from Burundi, alongside Wazalendo militia groups and the FDLR.
At the start of the clashes, Burundi had deployed an estimated 20,000 soldiers in South Kivu. During the fighting, the Burundian contingent suffered heavy losses, including soldiers who were killed, captured or wounded.
Those injured were evacuated to several medical facilities, among them Kamenge Military Hospital, Tanganyika Care Polyclinic and Kira Hospital.
The AFC/M23 rebel coalition has acknowledged capturing a number of Burundian soldiers during the fighting in the Rusizi Valley. It said it would continue to respect the rights of those in its custody and indicated that it would facilitate their return home.
While M23 has not released an exact figure, sources in South Kivu indicate that the number of captured Burundian soldiers is believed to be in the hundreds.
On January 4, 2026, the Burundian human rights organisation FOCODE reported that more than 1,000 Burundian soldiers had gone missing in the Rusizi Valley.
The organisation said it remains unclear whether the missing soldiers are alive, were captured, deserted or were killed during the fighting.
“Following the recent fighting in Congo, soldiers deployed in the Kamanyola Lubarika Luvungi area of the Rusizi Valley confirm that more than 1,000 soldiers are unaccounted for by the army,” the organisation said. “It is not known whether they were killed in combat, deserted, were captured, or are still wandering in the forests.”
Meanwhile, another reliable source in Burundi claims that the number of Burundian soldiers missing in the Rusizi Valley stands at 1,794, asserting that all of them deserted the army and that their current whereabouts remain unknown.
This capacity forms part of Rwanda’s broad overview of petroleum products storage figures, reflecting the nation’s current capability to store fuel and associated products.
In total, Rwanda maintains storage facilities able to accommodate up to 118 million litres of petroleum products, encompassing both government-owned and privately owned reserves.
Government-owned petrol storage facilities in Gatsata hold a capacity of 7.2 million litres, while privately owned petrol tanks in Kabuye, in the City of Kigali, can accommodate up to 3.1 million litres.
In Rwabuye, Huye District, government-owned petrol storage facilities offer a capacity of 1.9 million litres, whereas those in Bigogwe, Nyabihu District, provide government tanks capable of storing 3 million litres of petrol.
Privately owned petrol storage tanks in Jabana, within the City of Kigali, have a capacity of 10 million litres, complemented by additional government-owned tanks in Rusororo that can hold up to 20 million litres.
Overall, Rwanda’s petrol storage facilities boast a combined capacity of 45.2 million litres.
For diesel, storage facilities in Gatsata accommodate 6.7 million litres, while privately owned tanks in Kabuye hold a capacity of 2.7 million litres.
Government-owned diesel tanks in Rwabuye can store 1.9 million litres, and those in Bigogwe have a capacity of 2 million litres. Privately owned diesel tanks in Jabana can accommodate up to 10 million litres.
Furthermore, the government operates diesel storage tanks in Rusororo with a capacity of 36 million litres. In total, Rwanda’s diesel storage capacity reaches 59.3 million litres.
The country also maintains government-owned kerosene storage tanks in Gatsata with a capacity of 1.5 million litres.
With respect to aviation fuel, Rwanda features government-owned storage tanks in Rusororo capable of holding 10 million litres, along with additional tanks in Kanombe offering a capacity of 2 million litres, resulting in a total aviation fuel storage capacity of 12 million litres.
By location, Gatsata hosts petroleum product storage facilities with a combined capacity of 15.4 million litres; Kabuye has 5.8 million litres; Rwabuye, 3.8 million litres; and Bigogwe, 5 million litres. Jabana provides a storage capacity of 20 million litres, Rusororo 66 million litres, and Kanombe 2 million litres. Collectively, these facilities can store up to 118 million litres of petroleum products.
In March 2025, Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi stated that Rwanda’s petroleum reserve storage capacity exceeded 110 million litres, with plans to expand it to 320 million litres within the next two years.
She noted that in 2017, Rwanda consumed approximately 600,000 litres of petroleum products daily, when existing storage facilities had a capacity of 111 million litres, sufficient for six months.
However, owing to rising vehicle numbers and industrial growth, Rwanda now consumes at least two million litres of petroleum products per day.
Consequently, current reserves suffice for no more than two months.
She cautioned that this could present challenges in the event of disruptions to regional fuel supply routes, prompting government plans to increase the nation’s petroleum storage capacity.
Rwanda primarily imports petroleum products from Arab countries, routed through East Africa. The majority arrives via Tanzania, with a smaller share sourced through Kenya.
The incident took place on January 4, 2026, at around 5:30 p.m. local time, in Jarama Sector near the Akagera wetland, close to the Burundi border.
The victims include farmers returning from their daily activities who had sought shelter from the rain in a building used by port guards along the Akagera River.
The lightning struck the shelter, killing nine people instantly. Six others were injured and experienced trauma.
Eastern Province Governor Prudence Rubingisa told the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency that this marked the first recorded incident of its kind in the area.
“This is the first time such an incident has happened here. We have requested experts to investigate potential causes, as the strike appeared unusually intense,” he said.
Rubingisa confirmed that local authorities swiftly initiated emergency response efforts.
“Of the 15 people affected, nine died at the scene, six were injured and others suffered psychological trauma. Local leaders have already launched support operations,” he added.
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to the mortuary at Kibungo Hospital, with burial arrangements being coordinated between Ngoma District authorities and the victims’ families. The injured are receiving treatment.
Rwanda is among the countries affected by natural disasters. In 2023, disasters claimed at over 130 lives and destroyed more than 1,800 houses.
A 2024 disaster risk assessment report indicated that Rwanda has at least 326 locations that are vulnerable to natural hazards. Of these, 134 areas were identified as being at high risk.
Findings from the 2024 national climate change risk and vulnerability analysis further show that landslides and lightning strikes are among the deadliest natural disasters in the country.
Between 2016 and 2023, landslides killed 449 people, while lightning strikes claimed 379 lives over the same period.
The conflict intensified in January 2025, as AFC/M23 fighters advanced from the mountainous areas surrounding the city of Sake in Masisi Territory. By mid-January, they captured the city and successfully blocked key supply routes used by the DRC army for transporting weapons.
On January 20, Burundian troops were stationed in Minova, in the Kalehe Territory, tasked with preventing the AFC/M23 coalition from entering Goma. However, by January 21, AFC/M23 had already withdrawn from the area, setting their sights on Goma, which soon became the focal point of their offensive.
In response, the DRC army launched a series of heavy counterattacks in an attempt to push AFC/M23 fighters out of Sake and back into the Masisi region, specifically targeting the Mushaki area. However, AFC/M23 fighters held their ground and managed to push DRC forces towards the outskirts of Goma.
Tragically, during the fighting on January 24, General Maj Peter Cirimwami, the Governor of North Kivu, was killed in Kasangezi while visiting DRC troops engaged in the battle. He succumbed to his injuries while being transferred to Kinshasa for medical treatment.
Despite the setback, AFC/M23 fighters showed no signs of slowing down. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, issued a call for DRC forces to vacate Goma, warning that their arrival in the city was imminent, a warning that many initially dismissed as a joke.
On the morning of January 27, a fierce battle broke out in Goma, with the airport becoming a key battleground. By the end of the day, AFC/M23 had taken control of all major locations within the city. In their wake, DRC forces and local militias left behind a considerable amount of heavy weaponry, including Sukhoi-25 fighter jets.
Many DRC forces, alongside Burundian troops, local militias, and the FDLR, retreated to the southern Kivu region, attempting to halt AFC/M23’s advance. Key infrastructure, including the Kavumu airport, which was used by the DRC to launch airstrikes on areas like Minova, became a target for AFC/M23.
On February 14, Kanyuka declared that AFC/M23 had successfully captured the town of Kavumu and its airport, which had been a significant source of conflict for both civilians and the coalition’s military positions.
“We have neutralized the threat at its source,” Kanyuka explained, emphasizing that the control of Kavumu and its surrounding areas was firmly in their hands.
With the capture of Kavumu, AFC/M23 extended their reach towards Bukavu, a journey of approximately 25 kilometers, which they completed on February 16.
Upon entering Bukavu, AFC/M23 fighters found that DRC forces had retreated to Uvira and Kalemie in Tanganyika Province. Meanwhile, Burundian forces, local militias, and the FDLR remained in close proximity, keeping an eye on the developments.
The security situation in Bukavu remained unstable, with some Wazalendo fighters still present in the Kamanyola center. In response, AFC/M23 launched an operation to remove these fighters from the center and the surrounding border areas, pushing them towards Uvira.
The conflict spread further into North Kivu, particularly in Walikale Territory. On March 19, AFC/M23 captured the city of Walikale and the small Kigoma airport, although they eventually withdrew in early April.
AFC/M23’s decision to leave Walikale was part of an effort to build trust in peace negotiations, which had been facilitated by Qatar since March. Qatar had also called for the release of 700 individuals accused of collaborating with the group.
The peace talks, held in Doha, Qatar, helped to de-escalate the violence in eastern DRC, although occasional flare-ups occurred due to provocations by Wazalendo militias. When necessary, AFC/M23 responded with force to assert their control.
On June 29, 2025, AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa announced that the coalition now controlled over 34,000 square kilometers of territory, home to more than 11 million people. This area exceeded the size of Rwanda, which has a land area of 26,300 square kilometers and a population of just over 14 million.
Nangaa explained, “Today, AFC/M23 controls over 34,000 square kilometers of land, home to 11 million people. In just five months, our forces have restored security, established stability, and instilled a sense of hope among the local populations.”
In November, heavy fighting erupted in Walungu Territory, where AFC/M23 captured the city of Nzibira on November 21. Later that month, the coalition also seized the Kamanyola center in Walungu, South Kivu, and the Buhimba center in Walikale after defeating the DRC army and local militias.
The situation took a dramatic turn shortly before Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace and economic cooperation agreement on December 4, 2025. Two days before the agreement, the Kamanyola center was shelled, and intense fighting erupted.
In the ongoing conflict in the Rusizi/Ruzizi Valley, AFC/M23 captured several strategic locations, including Katogota, Kaziba, Luberizi, Runingu, Sange, Luvungi, Kiliba, and the city of Uvira. However, at the request of international mediators, including the United States, AFC/M23 later withdrew from Uvira, marking the conclusion of the year’s major military engagements.
In separate statements, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Treasury said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions had been involved in the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian-designed combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Other sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs, said the statements.
“The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missile-related items in violation of UN restrictions,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
He added that the Trump administration will take action to curb Iran’s ballistic missile program, block its development of other conventional and asymmetric weapons, and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the U.S. financial system,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.
The U.S. Treasury Department also said that Iran’s UAV and missile programs threaten U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The sanctions came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump, when meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, warned that the United States would support renewed strikes if Iran tries to rebuild its ballistic missile program.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday warned on X that his country would respond harshly to any act of aggression.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to any cruel aggression would be harsh and regret-inducing,” Pezeshkian said.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated after a series of strikes in June. On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on several locations in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have also remained strained, with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing regime change and expanding its military presence in the region under what the United States calls an anti-narco-terrorism campaign.
