Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

At the monument square honoring the martyrs of the Hundred-Regiment Campaign during the war against Japanese aggression, Xi laid a floral basket to pay tribute to the martyrs, and then visited the memorial hall commemorating this major campaign.

During the visit, Xi reviewed the history of the CPC leading both the military and civilians in the courageous fight against Japanese invaders, and learned about local efforts to carry out revolutionary history education and promote the great spirit of resisting aggression.

The update was shared on July 8, 2025, when the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa addressed the Lower House of Parliament.

He noted that by August 2024, all 416 Umurenge Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) had been digitized, and those in the districts of Nyarugenge, Gasabo, Kicukiro, Gicumbi, Rubavu, Rwamagana, and Nyamagabe had already been consolidated at the district level.

The ongoing integration of SACCOs is expected to eventually give rise to the Cooperative Bank, which will allow members to access their funds from anywhere and qualify for larger loans than those available through SACCOs operating at the sector level.

“We plan to complete the integration of SACCOs in all districts within this fiscal year [2025/26]. We have already merged SACCOs in seven districts; 23 remain. We are confident that by the end of this fiscal year, all remaining districts will have been integrated, and once that’s done, we will launch the Cooperative Bank,” he said.

Murangwa explained that the establishment of the Cooperative Bank will run in parallel with the district-level SACCO consolidation.

“We don’t want to wait until all districts are merged to begin preparing for the Cooperative Bank. We’re pursuing both processes simultaneously so that by the time SACCO integration is complete, the Cooperative Bank will be ready to launch as well,” he noted.

“The timeline for merging SACCOs at the district level and setting up the Cooperative Bank is the same. If everything proceeds smoothly, both processes will be completed within this fiscal year,” Murangwa added.

Currently, members can withdraw their money from any location within their district, in areas where SACCOs have been merged at the district level.

As part of the process to establish the Cooperative Bank, district-level SACCOs are being integrated into a system overseen by the National Bank of Rwanda.

“These district-level SACCOs will be incorporated into a system called RIPPS, which will streamline payments and enable SACCO members to access their funds from anywhere in the country,” the minister noted.

Umurenge SACCOs were first established in 2008 to help residents across various parts of the country save money and access low-interest loans as a means of improving their livelihoods.

In its latest Global Trade Update report, the UNCTAD warned that the global trade outlook remains uncertain due to persistent policy instability, geopolitical tensions, and signs of weakening global growth in the second half of the year.

According to the report, global trade rose by about 1.5 percent in the first quarter and was expected to grow by 2 percent in the second quarter.

The report noted that price increases contributed to the overall rise in trade value, while trade volumes grew by just 1 percent. Prices for traded goods edged up in the first quarter and continued to rise in the second quarter.

Services trade remained the primary driver of growth, rising 9 percent over the last four quarters.

The report showed mixed trends in merchandise trade among major economies in the first quarter of 2025, with developed economies outpacing developing countries. The report attributed this to a 14 percent surge in imports by the United States and a 6 percent rise in exports from the European Union.

Meanwhile, the United States has seen a widening trade deficit over the last four quarters, contributing to deepened trade imbalances.

The report also highlighted the heightened risks of trade fragmentation brought by recent U.S. tariffs, including a 10 percent baseline tariff and additional duties on steel and aluminum. It warned that a further wave of unilateral actions could trigger trade tensions.

“Rwanda recognizes the importance of Kiswahili in achieving inclusive and equitable education. Our government made a decision in 2017 to designate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the country, alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and French,” Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere told the closing the 4th World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, on Monday.

“This move was not just symbolic. It was a deliberate strategy to position Rwanda within the East African Community and the broader African linguistic landscape, while also strengthening African solidarity and fraternity,” she said.

Caroline Asiimwe, executive secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission, said Kiswahili language is fundamental to building society, nations, and the EAC region.

She emphasized the commission’s commitment to youth empowerment and digital innovation, urging young people to take ownership of Kiswahili’s digital future and use it as a tool for entrepreneurship and peace building.

“Let us build AI tools, dictionaries, and platforms in Kiswahili not only to preserve the language but to empower the next generation of African innovators,” Asiimwe said.

Co-hosted by Rwanda and the East African Kiswahili Commission, the two-day celebrations were held under the theme of “Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development” to examine relevant policies, best practices, and stakeholder engagement.

The event drew more than 300 participants, including senior government officials, delegates from EAC partner states, academics, Kiswahili experts, and university students.

The celebrations featured a regional symposium, youth engagement sessions, and an exhibition.

Participants explored how Kiswahili, artificial intelligence, and inclusive education can advance a culture of peace and drive innovative initiatives.

Of the fatalities, 87 occurred in Kerr County, officials said. Camp Mystic, located along the river in Hunt, Texas, confirmed on Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors died in the flooding.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told a news briefing Tuesday afternoon that at least 161 people are known to be missing after the deadly flooding, noting that searches will persist throughout the Guadalupe River system in the hope of locating anyone else. He also asked the public to contact local officials with information about friends or relatives believed to be missing.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” Camp Mystic said in a statement. “We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.”

At least five Camp Mystic campers are still missing, along with one counselor, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha was quoted by CBS News as saying on Tuesday. There were about 750 children at Camp Mystic when the floods hit, the sheriff said earlier.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County at Abbott’s request. On Saturday, Abbott said he visited the summer camp, describing the scene as “horrendously ravaged.”

The figures were disclosed during a press briefing held on July 8, where RRA shared the performance of tax collection in the fiscal year that ended in June 2025.

According to RRA Commissioner General Ronald Niwenshuti, this represents a 16.7% increase compared to the previous year (2023/2024), when Frw 2.619.2 trillion was collected.

The amount collected in 2024/2025 accounts for 52.9% of the total national budget for that year.

Several key factors contributed to this performance. One was the continued push to promote the use of Electronic Billing Machines (EBMs). The number of EBMs distributed increased from 117,631 in 2023/2024 to 147,700 in 2024/2025.

Among new traders who received EBMs, 44,000 were registered for Value Added Tax (VAT), up from 32,529 in the previous year. RRA also benefited from its voluntary tax declaration program, which brought in Frw 18.1 billion from 5,328 participants.

Additionally, a significant rise in imports contributed to the increased tax revenue. Imports went up by 21.9% compared to the 16.3% that had been projected. Efforts to combat smuggling also helped, yielding Frw 14.6 billion, while recovery of tax arrears brought in around Frw 278 billion.

Economic growth also played a role. The economy grew by 8.0% between July 2024 and March 2025, exceeding the projected 7.6%, which boosted tax collections further.

Looking ahead, RRA has set a tax collection target of Frw 3,628 trillion for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, which is about 53% of the projected national budget of Frw 7,032.5 trillion for the same period.

Niwenshuti noted that RRA plans to strengthen tax collection in underperforming sectors, such as manufacturing and construction.

He highlighted that in construction, many transactions go undocumented, and some traders operate informally or fail to provide proper receipts. He also pointed to cases where companies have misrepresented prices or used fake invoices.

To meet its new goals, RRA will intensify its efforts to fight smuggling, one of the main causes of tax evasion, and improve the use of digital tools.

Niwenshuti said RRA will enhance its existing technology and introduce new systems, particularly in customs tax collection.

The authority also plans to make EBM usage more efficient and easier to monitor to ensure accurate tax declarations.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and Innovation under the One Million Rwandan Coders initiative, this program leverages existing infrastructure, including smart classrooms, youth centres, and Hanga Hubs, to deliver targeted digital skills trainings to secondary school students under general education and TVET and other motivated young people nationwide looking to upskill and/or transition into tech careers..

The program is designed to bridge the digital skills gap, a critical step toward realizing Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation, which emphasizes building a digitally adept workforce and fostering job creation for the country’s youth.

By transforming underutilized holiday periods into opportunities for hands-on, project-based learning, Smart Ibiruhuko ensures equitable access to skills that will prepare participants for the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The initiative’s scope is ambitious yet practical, leveraging partnerships with global tech leaders like; Cisco , ALX , Huawei, Oracle, Udacity and DTP (Digital Talent Program) and others to deliver a curriculum tailored to various skill levels and career aspirations.

Smart Ibiruhuko offers three distinct learning tracks, each carefully curated to fit within the two-month holiday window. The first track focuses on basic digital literacy, equipping participants with foundational skills for everyday and workplace technology use through programs like the Digital Competence Passport and UNICEF-supported INGAZI and Passport2Earning.

The second track introduces beginner-level coding and technical skills, including Python, JavaScript, data analysis, IoT technologies, and UI/UX design, laying the groundwork for future studies or careers in tech. The third track explores emerging technologies like applied AI and includes an English communication module to enhance workplace readiness and digital thinking.

What sets Smart Ibiruhuko apart is its emphasis on practical, collaborative learning. Participants engage in group projects, school competitions, and presentation coaching, fostering not only technical expertise but also critical soft skills like teamwork and communication.

By utilizing existing smart classrooms and certified learning centers, the program ensures that young Rwandans from diverse backgrounds can access high-quality training without geographic or economic barriers.

This initiative reflects Rwanda’s broader commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy, aligning with the country’s Vision 2050 aspirations.

Through Smart Ibiruhuko, Rwanda is not only equipping its youth with the tools to thrive in a digital world but also positioning itself as a regional hub for innovation and technology.

As the program unfolds across the nation, it promises to ignite a spark in the next generation, preparing them to lead Rwanda’s digital future with confidence and creativity.

On June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed an agreement to restore peace in the Great Lakes region, with facilitation from the United States.

The accord calls for the dismantling of the FDLR and the removal of Rwanda’s defensive measures at the border, both to be completed within 90 days.

However, BBC Gahuza (the Kinyarwanda-language service of the BBC) published an article titled “What the FDLR Says About the Washington Deal Calling for Its Elimination,” which included a summary of an open letter from FDLR leader Lt Gen Byiringiro Victor addressed to former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Minister Nduhungirehe responded sharply, stating that the BBC was providing an inappropriate platform to a group designated for dismantling by multiple international actors. He emphasized that the media must not normalize or sanitize groups responsible for past atrocities.

“It is unacceptable that this British Broadcasting Corporation continues to whitewash, sanitize, and promote the FDLR, a genocidal force that the DRC, Rwanda, the US and the larger international community have committed to neutralize,” he shared on X.

The Rwandan government has long identified the FDLR as a direct threat to national security. For years, the group has attempted to destabilize Rwanda, launching several attacks from across the border, particularly in the northwestern region.

FDLR incursions in March, May, and June 2022 were among the reasons Rwanda reinforced its border security measures. These measures, now set to be lifted under the new agreement, were implemented to prevent further cross-border threats.