The unrest, which involved heavy exchanges of gunfire between the two branches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) security forces, reportedly stemmed from a disputed arrest operation.
The clashes ignited on the afternoon of April 21 in the Mabulu area along Elengesa Road. According to local reports, officers from a police rapid response unit were in the process of arresting several youths suspected of theft.
The situation escalated when FARDC soldiers stationed nearby intervened to obstruct the arrests. Witnesses noted a troubling development as some of the youths, allegedly members of the notorious Kuluna criminal gangs, aligned themselves with the soldiers to confront the police.
The fighting quickly spread from Elengesa Road toward Kibambi 1 Road, eventually reaching a police station on Kimfumu Road. As the gunfire intensified, students at a nearby school were forced to lie on the floor to avoid stray bullets, while residents fled the area or barricaded themselves in their homes as the standoff transitioned from a local dispute into a broader tactical skirmish.
The violence resulted in significant property damage, including the complete destruction of a small police station and the reported looting of several residential houses during the chaos.
Makala Mayor Ngudia Kabongo confirmed the extent of the damage on April 22 but offered a reprieve regarding casualties.
“No fatalities have been recorded in these clashes,” Kabongo stated, though he acknowledged that the destruction of the police post and the trauma to the community were significant.
By the evening of April 22, the central government moved to de-escalate the situation. A joint team of senior military and police officials was deployed to Makala to conduct coordinated security operations and re-establish a unified command structure.
The clashes ignited on the afternoon of April 21 in the Mabulu area along Elengesa Road. According to local reports, officers from a police rapid response unit were in the process of arresting several youths suspected of theft.
While the move is welcome, it has yet to generate momentum for dialogue. Iran has made it clear that it will not engage in a new round of talks unless Trump lifts his blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. The contrast between a prolonged ceasefire and stalled diplomacy underscores the fragility of the current situation.
Against this backdrop, several key questions arise: Why has Tehran refused to attend the talks? What is Washington’s real intention in extending the ceasefire while maintaining pressure? And where might the situation head next?
Why Iran refuses to negotiate
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Iran currently has no plan for the second round of peace negotiations with the United States.
Tehran’s attendance depends on Washington meeting preconditions, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing the U.S. naval blockade and “excessive demands” as key obstacles.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Monday that U.S. “provocative actions” and ceasefire violations are major obstacles to continuing peace negotiations between the two countries.
The United States takes actions that are in no way indicative of its seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process, Baghaei said, noting that since the ceasefire took effect on April 8, “we have been faced with the breaking of promises and nagging by the United States.”
He also noted an attack against an Iranian commercial ship earlier in the day, which he said is also considered a violation of the ceasefire.
Baghaei said that under UN General Assembly resolutions, the blockade of a country’s seas and ports is an act of aggression. He said Iran will carefully decide on how to proceed based on a single guiding principle: safeguarding the Iranian nation’s interests.
He said the issue of transferring Iran’s enriched uranium has never been an option in any of the negotiations, stressing the importance for Iran to maintain its nuclear, industrial and scientific achievements.
This file photo taken on Feb. 19, 2025 shows the Strait of Hormuz.
What’s Washington’s real intention?
The U.S. decision to extend the ceasefire indefinitely has been widely interpreted as an attempt to preserve a diplomatic window, but analysts caution that it also serves broader strategic purposes.
“Trump … remains eager for a diplomatic solution to the war, wary of reviving an unpopular conflict he’s claimed the United States already won,” CNN reported Wednesday.
However, the United States has not scaled back its military posture in the region. Multiple media outlets reported that U.S. naval deployments and surveillance activities in the Gulf have been maintained—and even intensified—during the ceasefire, suggesting continued pressure and the retention of military options.
The United States is expected to deploy three aircraft carrier strike groups simultaneously in the Middle East in the coming days, NBC reported on Monday.
The U.S. military will continue the blockade against Iran and “remain ready and able,” Trump said Tuesday, although Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, told him that the blockade of Iranian ports would remain a major obstacle to meaningful diplomatic progress.
In this sense, the ceasefire extension is less a definitive step toward peace than a tactical maneuver to buy time for both negotiation and contingency planning.
This photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a view of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States.
Where are U.S.-Iran talks headed?
“Trump’s ceasefire extension means nothing,” said Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led the Iranian negotiating delegation.
“The losing side cannot dictate terms. The continuation of the siege is no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response,” he added.
Araghchi said Monday that Iran would decide whether to continue diplomacy based on “all aspects of the issue” and U.S. behavior, adding that Tehran would take steps to protect its interests and national security.
“Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote in a post on X on Monday. He said deep mistrust of U.S. conduct persists in Iran, with “unconstructive and contradictory signals” from American officials suggesting they seek Iran’s surrender.
Despite significant hurdles, a U.S. official said there is still a chance that U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet soon, though whether and when such talks might occur is far from certain, according to CNN reports.
“The question now is not whether diplomacy has failed, but whether both sides are willing to keep trying despite that failure,” said an analysis article published by Geojuristoday, a non-partisan think tank based in New Delhi.
This photo taken on April 20, 2026 shows an interior view of the Golestan Palace damaged by the U.S.-Israeli attacks, in Tehran, Iran.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), together with private-sector stakeholders, held an engagement session with members of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) on Wednesday to discuss expectations and preparations for the upcoming Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit, scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre.
The summit, one of Africa’s leading platforms for high-level business dialogue and deal-making, is expected to bring together more than 2,000 chief executives, investors, policymakers and heads of state from over 75 countries.
Speaking during the engagement session, RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said the forum presents a rare opportunity for Rwandan businesses to directly engage with leading African and global investors, financiers and decision-makers in one place.
“For Rwandan firms, the value of the forum is practical and immediate. It offers a rare opportunity to meet potential investors, identify strategic partners, open new commercial partnerships, and present concrete projects or expansion plans to decision-makers who are otherwise difficult to access in a single setting,” he said.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), together with private sector stakeholders, on Tuesday held an engagement session with members of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) to discuss expectations and preparations for the upcoming Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit.
Afrika noted that the forum goes beyond networking, providing businesses with a chance to benchmark themselves against leading firms across the continent, understand where capital is moving, and sharpen their growth ambitions.
He also highlighted the event’s advanced matchmaking technology, which allows registered participants to access profiles of investors, policymakers and financiers before the summit and request one-on-one meetings.
“They have coupled the forum with sophisticated matchmaking technology that suggests people who could be of interest to your business,” he said, urging businesses to register early and approach the event with clear targets and defined business goals.
“This is not a platform to attend passively. Firms should come prepared with clear objectives, targeted meetings, and a strong sense of what partnerships, capital, market access or commercial opportunities they want to pursue.”
This will be the third time Rwanda hosts the Africa CEO Forum, reinforcing Kigali’s growing role as a regional hub for investment, conferencing, tourism and business diplomacy.
The Africa CEO Forum is scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre.
Afrika said the organisers’ decision to return to Kigali reflects confidence in Rwanda’s logistics capacity and ability to host major continental events.
“This event is happening in Kigali for the third time because the organisers trust our ability, our logistics capabilities, and our ability to organise events of this scale,” he said.
He noted that Rwanda has sufficient conferencing and hospitality capacity and that authorities are closely monitoring registrations and visitor arrivals to ensure a smooth experience for delegates.
The 2026 summit will be held under the theme, “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” with discussions expected to focus on business expansion, cross-border investment and regional integration.
The agenda will centre on three priorities: shared equity to promote multinational African firms, shared infrastructure to strengthen regional value chains, and shared frameworks aimed at harmonising regulations and standards across borders.
Various private sector stakeholders attended the meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2026.
PSF urges businesses to prepare
Private Sector Federation Chairperson François Twagirumukiza said the forum, co-organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), offers a strategic gateway for Rwandan businesses to move from ambition to execution.
“This forum matters because it provides a powerful gateway to new partners, new suppliers, new clients and new technologies. It connects our businesses to the networks and capabilities they need to grow significantly and compete,” he said.
He urged businesses to approach the summit with intent by identifying the partners they want to meet and booking meetings in advance.
“The value you derive will depend on the level of preparation you put in,” he said.
The Africa CEO Forum 2026 is expected to position Rwanda’s private sector at the centre of some of the continent’s most important investment conversations.
Businesses share past gains
Several business leaders shared testimonies of how previous editions of the Africa CEO Forum created tangible results for their companies.
Fabrice Shema, CEO and founder of Africa Medical Supplier Ltd, said attending the 2019 forum in Kigali helped him secure a $5 million in financing from a private investment fund without collateral requirements.
“I attended Africa CEO Forum 2019 here in Rwanda and it brought significant opportunities. I was able to connect with an institution that helped me secure $5 million in financing without providing collateral,” he revealed, adding, “That alone was a major milestone and gives us confidence that the 2026 edition will deliver even greater value.”
Julie Mutoni, Deputy Group CEO of Multilines International, said the last forum helped her logistics company secure new international partners and business leads that continue to support operations today.
“Through networking, I managed to get partners that I’m still working with today. In countries where I could not even reach, I was able to reach there through partnerships,” she said.
This will be the third time Rwanda is hosting the Africa CEO Forum.
For the 2026 edition, Mutoni said she is targeting more logistics partners across global markets as well as potential financing opportunities to expand and diversify her business.
“I’ll be looking at getting more partners, and depending on who is attending, I may also look for funding to expand my business. I’m just going to keep my eyes open and ensure that I grab the opportunities,” she said.
With President Paul Kagame, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several other African leaders expected to attend, the Africa CEO Forum 2026 is expected to position Rwanda’s private sector at the centre of some of the continent’s most important investment conversations.
For many businesses, the goal is to turn two days of meetings in Kigali into partnerships and deals that last well beyond the summit itself.
The UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident about 8 nautical miles west of Iran. The master of a cargo ship outbound from the Gulf reported that the vessel came under fire and was stopped in the water.
All crew members are safe and accounted for, and there are no reports of damage to the vessel, it said.
In a separate incident, a container ship was fired upon by a gunboat believed to be linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps off the coast of Oman, damaging the vessel’s bridge.
The ship’s master reported that the gunboat approached and opened fire without issuing any VHF challenge, the UKMTO said.
All crew members are safe, and no fire or environmental damage has been reported, it added.
The International Maritime Organisation has warned that the situation remains volatile and urged vessels to exercise maximum caution when transiting the area.
Two commercial vessels were reportedly fired upon in separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz, with all crew members safe, according to warnings issued Wednesday by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The messaging service, owned by Meta Platforms, is trialling a plan called WhatsApp Plus, similar in concept to subscription offerings on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, where users pay for enhanced customisation rather than core functionality improvements.
The company confirmed the test in a statement to TechCrunch, describing WhatsApp Plus as an optional subscription designed to give users “more ways to organise and personalise their experience.”
“Premium features include expanded pinned chats, custom lists, new chat themes, and more,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We’re starting with a small test to gather feedback and ensure we’re building something people find genuinely valuable.”
Mostly cosmetic upgrades
Early details show that WhatsApp Plus is heavily centred on personalisation. Users would be able to access custom icons, themes, wallpapers, ringtones, and exclusive stickers. However, these upgrades do not significantly change the core messaging experience.
One of the more functional additions is the ability to pin up to 20 chats, compared to the current free-tier limit of three. Users may also be able to apply themes and notification tones across chat lists for a more customised interface.
Pricing has not been confirmed for African markets, including Rwanda, while early reports suggest it could be around €2.49 (approximately Rwf 4,300 ) per month in Europe.
Limited rollout and platform scope
The feature is currently being rolled out to a small number of Android users, with iOS support expected at a later stage. It is also limited to the standard WhatsApp Messenger app and does not extend to WhatsApp Business.
Meta emphasised that the subscription will not affect the core WhatsApp experience for non-paying users.
“The WhatsApp you know and rely on remains free, simple, reliable, private messaging and calling,” the company noted in its FAQ. “This subscription does not change your core experience.”
Part of a broader monetisation push
The test comes as Meta continues expanding paid features across its apps. The company has already explored similar subscription models under branding like Instagram Plus, focusing on exclusive social and customisation tools.
More broadly, Meta has been strengthening its monetisation strategy across messaging services. WhatsApp revenue has grown significantly in recent years, driven by business messaging and click-to-WhatsApp advertising tools. The company has previously said WhatsApp now generates over $2 billion in annualised revenue.
While WhatsApp Plus is still in early testing and limited to a small user base, it signals Meta’s ongoing effort to diversify revenue without disrupting the app’s free core messaging service.
For now, the experiment appears focused on one question: how much users are willing to pay just to make WhatsApp look and feel different.
The messaging service, owned by Meta Platforms, is trialling a plan called WhatsApp Plus, similar in concept to subscription offerings on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, where users pay for enhanced customisation rather than core functionality improvements.
The change will take effect on September 1, 2026, marking the end of one of the most consequential leadership periods in the tech giant’s history. Cook will remain CEO until then to oversee a smooth handover before assuming a more strategic position focused on governance and engagement with policymakers.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has been appointed as Cook’s successor. The appointment, approved unanimously by Apple’s board, makes Ternus the company’s next chief executive and signals the first leadership change since Cook succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011.
Apple said the transition reflects long-term succession planning rather than a dramatic strategic shift, with continuity expected across its core operations and business model.
A defining Cook era
Cook, only the second CEO in Apple’s history, took over following Steve Jobs’ resignation in 2011. Over his tenure, Apple evolved into one of the world’s most valuable companies, expanding its reach to more than 200 countries and territories and growing its active device base to over 2.5 billion.
Under his leadership, Apple’s market value surged from around $350 billion to approximately $4 trillion, while annual revenue rose from $108 billion in fiscal 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal 2025.
Cook is widely credited with strengthening Apple’s global supply chain, scaling its operations, and reshaping its business model through a major shift toward services. Products such as iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Pay helped build a services division generating over $100 billion annually, providing stable, high-margin revenue beyond hardware sales.
Apple also expanded into new product categories, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro during his tenure, while increasing its retail footprint to more than 500 stores globally. The company also reported a significant reduction in its carbon footprint, cutting emissions by more than 60% compared to 2015 levels.
Ternus takes over as Apple’s hardware leader
John Ternus, who has spent more than two decades at Apple, brings a deeply technical and engineering-focused background to the top role. Joining the company in 2001, he rose through the hardware engineering ranks before becoming vice president in 2013 and joining the executive team in 2021.
Ternus has overseen development across Apple’s major product lines, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He has also been associated with key innovations in materials, durability, and performance.
Recent product milestones under his leadership include the MacBook Neo and the iPhone Air, as well as improvements to AirPods featuring advanced noise cancellation technology. Apple also credits him with driving efforts in sustainability, including the use of recycled materials and extended product durability.
His appointment is widely viewed as a move toward reinforcing Apple’s engineering and product-led culture.
Balancing services growth with product innovation
Ternus takes over at a time when Apple faces growing pressure to accelerate innovation. While Cook’s tenure transformed Apple into a services-powered ecosystem, critics have argued that the company has recently relied on incremental product updates compared to earlier breakthrough eras.
At the same time, competitors such as Google and Microsoft are advancing rapidly in artificial intelligence, intensifying pressure on Apple to respond more aggressively in the AI space. The company is reportedly exploring partnerships, including integrating Google’s Gemini model into its next-generation Siri assistant.
Slower consumer upgrade cycles and global supply chain risks also present challenges. Apple has already begun diversifying manufacturing away from China to markets such as Vietnam in response to geopolitical uncertainty.
Analysts expect Ternus to emphasise hardware innovation while maintaining Apple’s highly profitable services ecosystem, striking a balance between product reinvigoration and stable recurring revenue.
Cook described the transition as “the greatest privilege of my life,” while praising Ternus as a leader with a strong engineering mindset. Ternus, in turn, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to build on Apple’s long-standing values.
As Apple prepares for this leadership shift, the company enters a new chapter shaped by continuity at the top, but with renewed expectations around innovation in an increasingly competitive global tech landscape.
Tim Cook (right) and John Ternus at Apple Park. Apple has appointed Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus as CEO effective September 1, 2026. The board is handing the 25-year company veteran control of Apple as Tim Cook exits the top operating role after 15 years.
The substantive hearing of the case was held on Monday, April 20, 2026, after proceedings had earlier been adjourned to allow the accused’s lawyers to be physically present with him at Mageragere Prison, where he is being held.
DJ Toxxyk is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, engaging in activities related to narcotic drugs or substances treated as such, and fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident.
The charges stem from a road accident that occurred in the early hours of December 20, 2025, in which a traffic police officer died. Investigators also reportedly recovered illegal drugs from his residence during the subsequent investigation.
Prosecutors asked the court to find him guilty on all counts and impose the maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter, which under Rwandan law carries a prison term of between six months and two years, along with a fine ranging from Rwf 500,000 to Rwf 2 million.
Drug-related offences carry a prison sentence of between one and two years or community service, while fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident is punishable by between three months and one year in prison, depending on the circumstances.
During the hearing, DJ Toxxyk admitted to charges of involuntary manslaughter and fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident, but denied the drug-related allegations.
He also told the court that he had apologised to the family of the deceased police officer and that they had forgiven him.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict on May 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The Prosecution wants the Nyarugenge Primary Court to convict Shema Arnaud De Bosscher, popularly known as DJ Toxxyk, on charges including involuntary manslaughter and sentence him to two years in prison, along with a fine of Rwf 1 million.
The award-winning artist made the remarks during a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, where he opened up about family, fatherhood, and the lessons he learned from his own journey into music.
Davido said he would prefer his children to work in the companies owned by his father, Deji Adeleke, instead of navigating the challenges of the entertainment world.
According to the singer, his decision is largely influenced by the struggles he faced before finding success in music.
He explained that his father initially did not support his decision to pursue music, a situation he said affected him deeply before his eventual breakthrough.
Responding to a question on whether he would want his children to enter the industry or work with their grandfather, Davido replied, “Omo, go and work with my dad.”
He went on to describe how much joy his father finds in spending time with his grandchildren, especially during family gatherings such as Christmas.
“Every Christmas, my dad takes all the grandkids with him. And I could just see that upon all the things he has including multiple private jets and all that, his happiness is him seeing his grandchildren,” he said.
Davido also noted that seeing his father’s happiness changed his perspective on life and success.
“And my father is single. So I just saw his happiness and I’m like meh, this is like what life is all about,” he added.
Reflecting on his own experience, the singer said his father’s early resistance to his music career “really killed my joy” until he eventually proved how determined he was.
Despite preferring a different path for his children, Davido said he would not stop them if they chose entertainment, adding that one of his daughters is already showing interest in music.
“I wouldn’t want to do that to my kids as well. My daughter is already singing and dancing,” he said.
Davido said he would prefer his children to work in the companies owned by his father, Deji Adeleke, instead of navigating the challenges of the entertainment world.
In financial results announced on Monday, April 20, 2026, the fintech subsidiary of MTN Rwanda reported revenue of RWF 43 billion for the quarter, supported by robust activity across its mobile money and merchant payment platforms.
During the period under review, MoMo Rwanda processed 803 million transactions, underscoring the continued shift toward digital payments as a preferred mode of financial exchange among individuals and businesses in Rwanda.
MoMoPay, the company’s merchant payments platform, now serves more than 4 million users. The company noted increasing diversification in usage, with customers progressively moving beyond peer-to-peer transfers into services such as credit, bank integrations, and remittances, reflecting deeper integration of mobile money into everyday financial activity.
The agent network expanded by 13 percent year-on-year to 74,000 agents, enhancing service accessibility nationwide and contributing to financial inclusion and income-generating opportunities within the distribution network.
MoMo Rwanda said the revenue growth provides additional capacity to accelerate investment in product innovation and ecosystem expansion aimed at improving access to financial services.
In the quarter, the company also strengthened its market presence through participation in key national platforms, including Tour du Rwanda and the Inclusive Fintech Forum (IFF), reinforcing its positioning within Rwanda’s growing digital economy landscape.
On the product side, MoMo Rwanda introduced MoFlex, a credit solution developed in partnership with Ecobank and Yabx. The solution is designed to expand access to flexible financing for individuals and businesses.
Commenting on the performance, Chantal U Kagame, Chief Executive Officer of MoMo Rwanda, attributed the growth to sustained customer trust and ecosystem expansion.
“The continued growth over the last three months is a result of the trust our customers have in MoMo,” she said. “Beyond transactions, we are enabling greater access to financial services, supporting businesses, and creating more opportunities for people to participate in the economy.”
She added that the company remains focused on expanding financial inclusion, building practical solutions, and strengthening an ecosystem that works for every Rwandan.
MoMo Rwanda, established in 2021 as MTN Rwanda’s fintech arm, serves more than 6 million subscribers, supported by over 65,000 agents and more than 590,000 MoMoPay merchants across the country. Its services include mobile payments, savings and loans, bill payments, transport solutions, and domestic and cross-border remittances.
The fintech subsidiary of MTN Rwanda reported revenue of RWF 43 billion for the quarter, supported by robust activity across its mobile money and merchant payment platforms.In the quarter, the company also strengthened its market presence through participation in key national platforms, including Tour du Rwanda and the Inclusive Fintech Forum (IFF), reinforcing its positioning within Rwanda’s growing digital economy landscape.
The Joint ICAO–EASA Regional Environmental Workshop, hosted by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), brings together stakeholders from Eastern, Western and Central Africa under the ICAO–EU ACT-SAF Assistance Project.
The meeting follows key environmental resolutions adopted at the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montréal, Canada, in October 2025 and is expected to translate global aviation climate commitments into regional implementation pathways.
Opening the workshop, officials underscored the urgency of decoupling aviation growth from rising greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining the sector’s critical role in connectivity and economic development across Africa.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, the Head of Section for Green and Digital Transition, Helena Guarin, said sustainable aviation fuels present a key opportunity for African countries to reduce emissions while strengthening energy independence.
“Decoupling air traffic growth from greenhouse gas emissions is one of the key challenges. Sustainable aviation fuels could offer possibilities for African countries to achieve this while also enhancing energy independence,” she said, noting that scaling SAF will require strong technical capacity, long-term planning and significant investment.
ICAO Deputy Regional Director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Office, Richard Gatete, highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving aviation decarbonisation, noting progress already made across the continent.
He said about 81 percent of Eastern and Western/Central African states have taken steps toward CORSIA readiness, while 75 percent have joined the ACT-SAF programme, which supports the development of sustainable aviation fuel projects.
“Aviation stands at a defining moment. As global air traffic continues to grow, our shared responsibility to ensure that growth is sustainable, inclusive and environmentally responsible has never been greater,” Gatete said.
He added that while momentum is building around SAF feasibility and implementation projects, access to finance remains a major challenge requiring coordinated action between governments, industry and development partners.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment said the aviation sector must be integrated into broader national climate strategies, noting that energy-related emissions remain a major contributor to greenhouse gases and are expected to rise significantly in the coming decades.
Representing the Minister of Environment, Acting Director General for Environment and Climate Change, Thadée Twagirimana, said Rwanda is committed to supporting initiatives such as CORSIA and SAF development under the ACT-SAF programme.
“The aviation sector plays a vital role in regional development and connectivity. However, it also presents notable challenges in balancing growth with sustainability,” he said, calling for stronger cooperation between governments and industry stakeholders.
Over the four-day workshop, participants will focus on the implementation of CORSIA, the expansion of SAF production and supply chains, emissions reduction strategies, and financing mechanisms to support large-scale deployment of green aviation technologies.
Key sessions include discussions on States’ Action Plans for emissions reduction, SAF certification and deployment, feedstock sustainability, airport infrastructure roles, and investment frameworks for aviation decarbonisation.
The workshop also provides a platform for African states to share experiences and best practices, as well as to explore regional solutions for scaling sustainable aviation fuels and improving operational efficiency through initiatives such as free route airspace.
ICAO said the outcomes of the Kigali meeting are expected to contribute directly to advancing the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.
The workshop continues through April 23, 2026, bringing together governments, international organisations and private sector actors in what officials describe as a critical step toward building a more sustainable aviation future for Africa.
The Joint ICAO–EASA Regional Environmental Workshop, hosted by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), brings together stakeholders from Eastern, Western and Central Africa under the ICAO–EU ACT-SAF Assistance Project.The workshop is expected to translate global aviation climate commitments into regional implementation pathways.Speaking on behalf of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, the Head of Section for Green and Digital Transition, Helena Guarin, said sustainable aviation fuels present a key opportunity for African countries to reduce emissions while strengthening energy independence.ICAO Deputy Regional Director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Office, Richard Gatete, highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving aviation decarbonisation, noting progress already made across the continent.Representing the Minister of Environment, Acting Director General for Environment and Climate Change, Thadée Twagirimana, said Rwanda is committed to supporting initiatives such as CORSIA and SAF development under the ACT-SAF programme.Different countries from across the region are represented at the workshop,Key sessions include discussions on States’ Action Plans for emissions reduction, SAF certification and deployment, feedstock sustainability, airport infrastructure roles, and investment frameworks for aviation decarbonisation.The workshop also provides a platform for stakeholders to share experiences and best practices.The four-day workshop will close on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
