The team is working with high efficiency to contain the fires and limit their spread despite field challenges, including soaring temperatures and difficult terrain.
Operations carried out by the team so far have included 18 aerial sorties using two Black Hawk helicopters, with 359 water drops executed over fire hotspots.
The team began its mission last Monday in the Gramsh forest area and neighbouring regions, following the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support Albania’s efforts in controlling the wildfires.
Coordination meetings between the UAE team and Albanian officials are ongoing to devise appropriate plans and accelerate firefighting operations, alongside continued field monitoring to prevent the resurgence of flames.
All petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles nationwide will now be required to undergo emissions testing to ensure that they meet environmental standards and help reduce air pollution.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, REMA stated that from 25 August 2025, vehicle owners will be able to book appointments for testing through the Irembo platform, as is customary for other vehicle-related services. However, the emissions testing will be charged separately from regular mechanical inspections.
“The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) informs the public that the Enhanced Vehicle Emission Testing will officially start on 25 August 2025 as part of the ongoing #CleanAir Campaign,” the notice reads in part.
The rollout comes just days after the Cabinet approved the introduction of emissions testing fees for non-electric vehicles and motorbikes.
In a Cabinet meeting on 30 July 2025, chaired by President Paul Kagame, the government approved the introduction of these fees as part of a broader strategy to improve air quality, particularly in urban areas. The initiative aims to protect public health and promote environmental sustainability.
As part of the new system, all vehicles, including motorcycles, will be required to undergo an emissions test. If a vehicle passes, it will be cleared for road use. However, vehicles that fail the test must be repaired and re-inspected within two weeks to avoid further charges. The reinspection fee will be half the cost of the initial test, while a full retest will be required if the two-week window is missed.
The testing will be conducted at existing vehicle inspection centres, with emissions testing equipment currently being installed. The initiative is expected to make a significant contribution to Rwanda’s goal of reducing harmful emissions from vehicles and improving air quality nationwide.
REMA has urged vehicle owners to prepare their vehicles in advance to ensure compliance and contribute to the national effort for cleaner, healthier air for all Rwandans. The emissions testing will be conducted alongside regular mechanical inspections, which are required once or twice a year, depending on the vehicle’s classification and usage.
On August 15, President Ruto announced the redeployment of ambassadors, high commissioners, consuls general and deputy heads of mission to 20 posts worldwide, including Goma. Among the nominees was Judy Kiaria Nkumiri, tapped to serve as Kenya’s Consul-General in the city, which has been under the control of the M23 rebel coalition since January 2025.
The following day, the DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly questioned the move, citing the lack of prior consultations.
In a statement released Monday, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi stressed that the nomination was only the first step in a longer constitutional and diplomatic process.
“Presidential nomination does not in itself constitute a diplomatic posting,” Mudavadi said. “Once parliamentary approval is secured, Kenya will formally seek agreement from the DRC government. In the case of Goma, the process further requires the issuance of an exequatur before the Consul-General may assume official duties.”
Kenya emphasised that the redeployment of diplomats is aimed at strengthening service delivery and advancing its Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), not geopolitical manoeuvring.
“It is not intended to undermine ongoing regional peace efforts or the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any state,” the statement read, reaffirming Nairobi’s commitment to the joint EAC-SADC-AU peace initiative in the DRC.
Mudavadi added that he had spoken with his Congolese counterpart, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to provide clarification.
Kenya and the DRC have shared diplomatic ties since 1963. Nairobi opened its embassy in Kinshasa in 1968, while the DRC set up its mission in Nairobi around the same time. More recently, the DRC inaugurated a consulate in Mombasa in September 2023, while Kenya established its consulate in Goma in March 2022.
The clarification comes amid heightened sensitivities in eastern Congo, where Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in the region, are under M23 control.
Jeune Afrique reports that the text, shared with both parties on August 14, details security arrangements, transitional governance, and political reforms — but sharp disagreements remain.
The draft comes after the Doha Principles were signed on July 19, in which both sides pledged to reach a final deal by August 18. That deadline passed without an accord, though Doha insists negotiations are ongoing.
“Although the August 18 deadline was not met, both parties responded positively to the facilitator and expressed their willingness to continue,” a Qatari official told Jeune Afrique.
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The draft seen by the publication outlines a three-phase conflict resolution process expected to take at least seven months after signing. The first phase prioritises humanitarian relief and security, with the establishment of an “interim special force” under the Interior Ministry.
Half of its members would be drawn from “eligible” M23 fighters, working alongside elements of the national police. The force would operate only in affected areas of North and South Kivu, before its members are eventually integrated into the army and police.
To ensure compliance, the draft establishes a multilateral monitoring mechanism co-managed by the DRC and M23, with Qatar and the African Union (AU), serving as observers.
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Perhaps the most sensitive provision concerns the restoration of state authority in areas controlled by M23. The plan envisions the Congolese government appointing interim local authorities, while allowing for candidates proposed by M23. These transitional administrations would govern until elections scheduled for 2027.
Kinshasa insists this requires a full rebel withdrawal, while M23 argues it will not abandon what it calls “liberated” zones. The group has also voiced frustration that its federalism project, denounced by the government as “balkanization”, is absent from the draft.
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The agreement also calls for a national dialogue in 2026, long demanded by Congolese opposition groups and backed by religious leaders. However, political analysts note that the recent formation of a new government has further delayed prospects for such talks.
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The release of hundreds of prisoners remains a sticking point. M23 has demanded it as a precondition for resuming talks, but Kinshasa insists it will only act after a final deal. While the Qatari draft includes the measure, the government has yet to concede.
Despite the hurdles, both sides are preparing for a fresh round of negotiations in Doha. A Congolese delegation and M23 representatives are expected to participate.
The discussions took place at the White House in a high-stakes meeting that brought together Zelensky, Trump, and top European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was also present.
“If everything works out today, we’ll have a trilat,” Trump said, referring to potential three-way talks between himself, Zelensky, and Putin. “We’re going to work with Russia, we’re going to work with Ukraine.” Zelensky responded positively, stating, “We are ready for trilateral. I think this is very good.”
The meeting follows Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska last Friday.
Trump has urged Zelensky to consider concessions, including abandoning Ukraine’s goal of joining NATO and giving up Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. European leaders, excluded from the Alaska talks, attended Monday’s session to ensure Ukraine’s security and safeguard the continent from potential aggression.
During the White House meeting, discussions also focused on NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine, which could provide a durable framework for peace. While Putin opposes Ukraine joining NATO outright, Trump’s team indicated that Russia might accept Western powers committing to defend Ukraine if attacked.
Despite the high tensions surrounding the war, the atmosphere between Trump and Zelensky was calm, a contrast to their February Oval Office meeting, where Trump publicly criticised Zelensky over US military aid.
Trump even complimented Zelensky on his black jacket, joking, “I love it,” a lighthearted moment that drew attention to the Ukrainian leader’s decision to wear his signature war-leader attire rather than a formal suit. The choice of attire was a change from his previous visit in February, when he was criticised by a reporter for not wearing a formal suit and said he would wear one “after the war is finished.”
Air raid sirens sounded over Kyiv as the European delegation arrived in Washington, underscoring the ongoing threat from Russian strikes that killed at least seven people overnight.
Zelensky described the talks as “very serious” and emphasised the need for “reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and the whole of Europe,” highlighting the importance of Western security guarantees.
Trump said he planned to speak with Putin later on Monday, maintaining that while a ceasefire may not be necessary for negotiations, there remains a “good chance” of ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Four of the victims were struck by lightning, while one died when a house collapsed. The fatalities were reported in Burera, Gicumbi, Ngororero and Rusizi districts.
The rains also damaged 15 houses and caused localised flooding in parts of Kigali and other districts, though officials said river levels remained stable.
MINEMA Permanent Secretary Aristarque Ngoga warned that unusual August rainfall highlights shifting weather patterns linked to climate change. He urged the public to take precautions during storms, including staying indoors, avoiding electrical appliances, and reinforcing rooftops against strong winds.
“Ordinarily, August is not known for heavy rains, but this time we recorded storms that claimed lives and caused damage. It is further evidence that weather patterns are changing,” Ngoga told RBA.
Authorities said emergency teams are working with districts to support affected families and provide assistance to those who lost relatives or property.
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) battalion, known as Rwanbatt-2, relieved their colleagues at the Sector North base in a routine troop rotation aimed at maintaining continuity in peacekeeping operations.
Upon their arrival, the RDF said in a statement, Maj Gen Rayamajhi received a detailed briefing from Lt Col Robert Rwagihungu, the Rwanbatt-2 Contingent Commander, on the battalion’s operational readiness and deployment plan.
In his address to the troops, the Sector Commander commended the outgoing contingent for their professionalism and dedication, urging the incoming personnel to uphold the highest standards of discipline and training.
He reminded them that their mission—protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian assistance, and contributing to lasting peace in South Sudan—was both critical and demanding.
With the handover completed, Rwanbatt-2 has now fully assumed its duties in Sector North, reinforcing Rwanda’s longstanding contribution to international peacekeeping.
Rwanda remains one of the world’s top contributors to UN peace operations. According to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as of May 31, 2025, Rwanda was the second-largest troop-contributing country with 5,886 personnel, following Nepal with 6,119. Other leading contributors included Bangladesh (5,686), India (5,393), and Ghana (2,845).
Robertinho was dismissed by the Blues earlier this year after the club cited health concerns. The Brazilian tactician, however, lodged a complaint demanding his unpaid wages covering January to June 2025, when the season came to a close.
In a letter dated August 12, 2025, FIFA informed both parties that Rayon Sports has 45 days to settle the dues. Should the club fail to comply, it faces stiff sanctions, including a transfer ban preventing it from registering new players, both locally and internationally, for three consecutive windows.
The 63-year-old coach, who was earning $5,000 per month and went six months without pay, has since landed a new role with Saudi Arabian side Jeddah SC ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The signing, held in Doha on Sunday, August 17, 2025, was attended by Ambassador Igor Marara.
“This partnership strengthens healthcare cooperation between Rwanda and Qatar,” the Rwandan Embassy in Qatar said in a post on X.
In a related deal, Philex Pharmaceuticals also signed a joint venture and technology transfer agreement with Rwanda’s Labophar Ltd. The agreement will enable Labophar to locally manufacture Philex’s solid dosage forms, boosting Rwanda’s capacity to produce high-quality medicines domestically.
The deal was signed by Labophar CEO Pascal Gatete and Philex CEO Waseem Hamad.
Founded in 1983, Labophar produces a range of pharmaceutical products, including oral solutions, suspensions, and topical products. The company is currently expanding to manufacture intravenous (IV) fluids, syrups, and other products, and the partnership with Philex is expected to accelerate these efforts.
Philex Pharmaceuticals, based in Oman’s Salalah Free Zone, serves markets across the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa. The company specialises in research, development, and production of high-quality pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products, with a focus on generics.
The agreements mark a significant step in Rwanda’s drive to improve access to affordable medicines and strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The move follows the signing of the Doha Principles on July 19, 2025, in which both sides, under Qatari mediation, committed to key measures including a permanent ceasefire and the release of prisoners. The provisions were expected to take effect by July 29, with direct talks in Doha scheduled to resume by August 8.
However, neither deadline was met, leading to a delay in the formal signing of the peace accord, initially anticipated by August 18.
A Qatari official involved in the mediation told the media on Sunday that a draft peace agreement had been prepared and shared with both parties as part of the ongoing Doha process, with the Qatari capital set to host an important round of negotiations soon.
The official acknowledged ongoing obstacles but expressed optimism that they could be resolved through continued dialogue. He noted that despite missing the signing deadline, both the DRC government and M23 had reaffirmed their willingness to continue negotiations.
“We recognise the challenges on the ground and hope they can be overcome promptly through dialogue and genuine commitment,” the official added.
Qatar said it is currently overseeing discussions to review compliance with the Doha Principles and is working closely with international observers, including the United States and the African Union.
