During this period, the country exported 1,226 tons of coffee, earning $7.67 million. Additionally, 985 tons of tea were shipped, bringing in $2.92 million.
Exports of vegetables contributed $452,410, while fruits generated $407,409. Rwanda also exported 19 tons of flowers, which earned $108,534, and 378 tons of livestock products, amounting to $473,159.
A significant portion of these exports went to countries including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
The Government of Rwanda has set a target to increase agricultural and livestock production by 50% by 2029, aiming to enhance both food security and the country’s economic growth.
The government has outlined several initiatives to achieve this goal, focusing on boosting agricultural productivity and promoting the use of modern technology to support farmers and enhance yields.
In 2024, agriculture contributed 25% to Rwanda’s GDP. The sector has played a key role in improving the country’s GDP per capita, which grew from $754 in 2017 to $1,040 in 2024.
Agriculture remains a crucial source of employment, with 55% of jobs in rural areas and 12% in urban areas linked to the sector. By 2025, it is projected that 48% of farmers will be involved in commercial farming, while nearly 70% of Rwandans will continue to depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Speaking alongside Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Iran may be attempting to restore its weapons capabilities at new sites after a massive U.S. strike on Iranian facilities earlier in the year.
“We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing … and I hope they’re not doing it,” Trump told reporters, indicating Washington’s awareness of Tehran’s activities and the possibility of future action if the threat grows.
The meeting focused on advancing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan that the United States helped broker between Israel and Hamas. Trump emphasized the need for Hamas to disarm, warning the militant group of serious consequences if it fails to do so. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching the existing ceasefire, complicating efforts to move the peace process forward.
Trump also discussed broader regional security concerns, including Iran’s growing influence and military activities and the role of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s interest in ensuring the durability of the Gaza ceasefire and addressing Tehran’s strategic ambitions.
The Gaza ceasefire agreement, first reached in October after two years of intense conflict, envisioned a series of steps including a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave, increased humanitarian aid, and the deployment of international peacekeeping forces. However, progress has stalled amid mutual distrust and key conditions that both sides have struggled to fulfill.
In addition to warning Iran and Hamas, Trump reiterated his support for Israel’s leadership in pursuing regional stability, even as differing views on issues such as the Israeli‑occupied West Bank persisted between the two leaders.
The announcement was made by a newly-appointed spokesperson, who assumed the same nom de guerre, Abu Obeida, during a televised press conference.
The new spokesperson, wearing the uniform associated with the title, confirmed that Abu Obeida, whose real name was Hudhaifa Samir Al-Kahlout and also known as Abu Ibrahim, had died.
He said Abu Obeida “remained connected to his people during the darkest circumstances” and confirmed that several other senior leaders were also killed, including former Hamas military leader Mohammed Sinwar.
In 2005, Abu Obeida was appointed the military group’s official spokesperson.
He became widely known after announcing the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 and later gained prominence during Israeli military offensives on Gaza, particularly in 2014.
Abu Obeida delivered his last recorded statement on July 18, and was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza on Aug. 30, according to sources within Hamas.
On Aug. 31, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the spokesman of Hamas’s armed wing, Abu Obeida, had been killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip.
In his end-of-year message addressed to officers, men, and women of the RDF and other security agencies on Monday, President Kagame expressed deep appreciation for their dedication, noting that their work continues to uphold Rwanda’s values, sovereignty, and national security.
“Through adversity and challenge, the men and women of the Rwanda Defence Force and other Security Organs have consistently served with unwavering distinction — both here at home and on missions far beyond our borders,” the President said.
He highlighted the role of security organs in protecting Rwanda’s territorial integrity and ensuring a stable environment that enables citizens to pursue their daily economic and social activities. According to the Head of State, the country’s progress across multiple sectors is closely linked to the peace and stability guaranteed by the nation’s security forces.
President Kagame also praised Rwanda’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts across the continent, saying RDF personnel deployed abroad continue to honour Rwanda’s commitment to protecting human life with professionalism and resolve.
“As I have mentioned before, the Rwanda Defence Force and other Security Organs are today the forces I have always wished to have,” he said, describing them as a pillar of national unity, dignity, and strength.
Looking ahead to the new year, the President urged security organs to maintain high standards of integrity and accountability, while remaining vigilant and adaptive to evolving security threats in pursuit of a secure, prosperous, and united Rwanda.
He paid special tribute to personnel serving away from their families during the festive season, acknowledging their sacrifice and that of their loved ones. The President also honoured families who have lost relatives in the line of duty, assuring them of continued support from the state.
“On behalf of the Rwandan people, the government, and my own family, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your families for a joyful festive season and a successful year ahead,” President Kagame stated, adding, “May you continue to serve with honour and may your sacrifices always be recognised and rewarded.”
The suspension, confirmed by Congolese authorities, was authorised by the Chief of General Staff of the FARDC, Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe, and signed on December 28, 2025. It came a day after Gen Maj Ekenge appeared on state broadcaster RTNC and warned against marrying Tutsi women, claiming they do not bear children with people from other ethnic groups.
The comments sparked fierce backlash, reigniting concerns over the normalisation of ethnic slurs by senior state officials at a time of heightened tensions, particularly in the country’s conflict-affected eastern regions.
In announcing the suspension, Lt Gen Mwilambwe said the remarks were inconsistent with the army’s doctrine and national policy. However, critics argue that the decision amounts to damage control rather than a genuine break from a broader pattern of ethnic hostility tolerated at the highest levels of power.
Fanny Kaj Kayemb, the Deputy Director General for Finance of the AFC/M23 coalition, dismissed the suspension as cosmetic, saying the army spokesperson merely articulated a line sanctioned by senior authorities.
“An army spokesperson does not think independently; he executes,” Kayemb said. “He speaks according to a line approved by the top military leadership. In the DRC, the person at the very top has a name: Félix Tshisekedi, the Supreme Commander.”
Kayemb described the disciplinary action as a theatrical manoeuvre designed to mislead both Congolese citizens and the international community, arguing that the remarks reflect unspoken views embedded in the current political leadership’s ideological orientation.
The controversy has also revived scrutiny of the state’s long-standing failure to act against figures accused of inciting hatred against Tutsi communities. For years, MP Justin Bitakwira openly targeted Tutsi, particularly the Banyamulenge, referring to them as an “evil ethnic group”, without facing consequences at home. He was only sanctioned by the European Union in 2022.
Further inflaming tensions, President Félix Tshisekedi hosted two Congolese nationals from the United States on 22 December 2025 under the banner of “Congolese Unity”.
One of them, Jean-Claude Mubenga, has previously described Tutsi as “cockroaches” and a virus who should be eliminated, remarks that drew sharp condemnation.
Observers caution that when such rhetoric is voiced or tolerated by state institutions, it evokes a troubling historical legacy, leaving open the question of whether these statements are mere slips of the tongue or a deliberate psychological warfare strategy reminiscent of the Hutu Ten Commandments that preceded the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
While the suspension of Gen Maj Ekenge may momentarily ease pressure, many observers contend that it does little to address the underlying climate of impunity surrounding hate speech and ethnic incitement within the DRC’s political and security establishment.
This meeting was part of his official visit to Brazzaville, which included a series of other engagements.
“Amb. Bazivamo, after conveying the greetings of the Chairman of the RPF Inkotanyi, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, who wished them good health and prosperity in their endeavors, presented Rwanda’s national development agenda. He also took the opportunity to remind them that, as Rwandans, they should actively contribute to these efforts,” reads a statement from RPF Inkotanyi shared on X account.
Amb. Bazivamo reminded the Rwandans that Rwanda, their homeland, fully supports them in their development endeavors and that the country stands ready to assist them in every possible way.
He also encouraged the Rwandan community to uphold core Rwandan values, particularly the principles of unity, collaboration, and integrity.
Amb. Bazivamo also extended his heartfelt wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year in 2026 to all those present.
Amb. Bazivamo is currently in Congo, where he was invited to attend the sixth congress of the ruling political party, Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT).
He noted with satisfaction the similarities in inclusive governance and the pro – people centeredness between RPF Inkotanyi and PCT and renewed the party’s commitment to advance bilateral cooperation with PCT and through the two political formations, bilateral relations between Rwanda and the Republic of Congo.
The two countries have long enjoyed diplomatic and political relations. Rwanda opened its embassy in Congo-Brazzaville in August 2016.
In 2011, Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville signed several agreements in key sectors such as aviation, tourism, energy, security, justice, environmental protection and fisheries.
In 2023, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville visited Rwanda, significantly boosting bilateral relations between the two countries.
The visit occurred a few hours after Congo-Brazzaville had granted Rwandans visa-free access. This visit also resulted in the signing of eight additional cooperation agreements, bringing the total number of agreements between the two nations to 33, following the signing of 25 agreements during President Kagame’s visit to Congo-Brazzaville in April 2022.
According to Reuters, the exercises involve the deployment of warships, fighter jets, artillery, and other military assets, simulating attacks on maritime and land-based targets, as well as military blockades and encirclement tactics near Taiwan’s major ports.
These drills are seen as part of China’s continued efforts to assert its sovereignty over Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province.
This latest round of military exercises follows increased U.S. support for Taiwan, highlighted by an $11.1 billion arms sale approved by Washington in recent weeks. This sale, the largest of its kind, has exacerbated the already tense situation, prompting Beijing to express its strong disapproval through military action.
China has framed the exercises as a warning against any form of “Taiwan independence” and external interference in its domestic affairs. The PLA’s exercises focus on simulated strikes and a show of force, meant to underscore China’s capability and readiness to take action if necessary.
Taiwan, in response, condemned the military drills as an act of military intimidation designed to undermine peace and stability in the region.
Taiwanese defense officials reported detecting a significant number of Chinese aircraft and naval vessels near the island, which prompted Taiwan’s military to raise its alert levels and conduct its own rapid-response exercises.
Additionally, Taiwan highlighted its military readiness with footage of U.S.-supplied systems, such as the HIMARS rocket artillery, as a testament to its ability to defend itself against external threats.
Despite these escalatory moves, Taiwan’s financial markets have remained relatively stable, with investors continuing to show confidence amid growing geopolitical pressure.
China’s longstanding policy on Taiwan remains one of reunification, with Beijing.
Currently, the nearest sources for these critical medical materials are often Egypt or, further afield, Europe. Domestic production is expected to reduce costs and create around 100 high-tech jobs in the nuclear and radiation sectors.
Remy Wilson Bana, acting division manager for nuclear and radiation safety at RURA, told the New Times that Rwanda has already acquired the necessary equipment.
“Economically, this is a great achievement because most Rwandans have been going abroad, especially in India or Europe, for diagnosis,” Bana explained, adding that nuclear medicine allows doctors to track diseases early, improving treatment outcomes.
The initiative, backed by the government in partnership with Aegle Onco Care, will see nuclear medicine departments licensed at major hospitals, including Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital and King Faisal Hospital. It also complements existing cancer care infrastructure, such as MRI, CT scans, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgeries.
The move marks Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional medical hub, reduce reliance on imported medical isotopes, and offer high-quality healthcare at home.
In a speech broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah television channel, al-Houthi stated that his forces consider “any Israeli presence in the Somaliland region a military target,” “aggression against Somalia and Yemen, and a threat to the security of the region.”
He added that the group would take “all possible supportive measures to stand with the brotherly Somali people.”
Al-Houthi, whose movement controls large parts of northern Yemen, indicated that Israel aims to “make Somaliland a foothold for hostile activities against Somalia, African countries, Yemen, and other Arab countries,” a move he said would destabilize an already fragile region.
He also called for a “firm and serious” Arab and Islamic stance in support of Somalia and its people, urging collective action to counter what he characterized as Israeli expansionism.
Meanwhile, several Arab and Muslim countries issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On the evening of December 27, 2025, the state broadcaster RTNC featured Major General Sylvain Ekenge in a segment ostensibly providing updates on security in eastern DRC, particularly South Kivu amid ongoing conflict.
While the primary focus was on military developments, the discussion largely shifted to attacks on Rwandans and Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, especially Tutsis, whom Ekenge accused of deception.
He warned viewers to be cautious about marrying Tutsi women, alleging that traditional leaders facilitate such unions only for the woman’s relatives, such as cousins or uncles, to later intervene.
Ekenge claimed these relatives father children with the wife, attributing the offspring to supposed genetic dominance in the Tutsi community, and described the practice as a scam to infiltrate marriages.
Minister Nduhungirehe noted that this came after the DRC government had cooperated with the FDLR terrorist group in attacks on Banyamulenge in Minembwe and hosted Jean-Claude Mubenga in Kinshasa, where the latter allegedly called Tutsis “cockroaches” and a virus that must be eradicated.
He added that General Ekenge was now endorsing Gitera’s document.
“The spokesperson of the Congolese army now, FARDC, is adopting on national television RTNC the first of the ‘Ten Commandments of the Hutu’ [1990] from the extremist Rwandan newspaper Kangura,” he said.
Gitera founded the Association for the Social Promotion of the Masses (APROSOMA), which fostered division and hatred among Rwandans. He issued the set of ten commandments during a party meeting in Ngoma, Butare, on September 27, 1959.
The first prohibited Hutus from trusting Tutsis, while subsequent ones forbade praising them, forming relationships with them, among others designed to divide Rwandans.
These ideas were later republished and expanded in Kangura, a magazine that promoted genocidal ideology, in its December 1990 edition.
Minister Nduhungirehe observed that General Ekenge appeared to be drawing from material by intellectuals such as Professor Filip Reyntjens , as the term “intelligence” (often used by the Belgian academic to describe Tutsis) was a focus of the military officer’s remarks.
“This Congolese general does not stop there and even goes as far as repeating colonial theories that laid the foundation for the ‘ethnic’ division and the Genocide against the Tutsi, specifically the idea that the Tutsi are ‘Nilotics’ who conquered Rwanda and oppressed the Hutu, even appropriating ‘their Bantu language’’ Kinyarwanda,” Nduhungirehe said.
The minister concluded by warning that, even if President Félix Tshisekedi dismisses General Ekenge due to embarrassment or Western advice, the Congolese Tutsi community would still suffer the consequences of his words unless the international community responds decisively.
