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The previous framework, Law No. 34/1987 dated September 17, 1987, has been superseded.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.
Photos from U.S. media show Maduro landed in Manhattan by a helicopter from a Brooklyn detention center and was placed in an armored car, accompanied by heavily armed law enforcement officers.
Protesters gathering outside the court were shouting slogans and holding banners writing “Free Maduro” and “USA hands off Venezuela.”
U.S. troops carried out a raid on Saturday to kidnap Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them out of Venezuela, then put them in custody in New York.
“Congratulations to my brother, President Mamadi Doumbouya, on his election as President of the Republic of Guinea. We look forward to deepening our strong bilateral relations and working closely together to advance our shared priorities and the prosperity of our nations,” President Kagame said in a post on X.
Doumbouya’s win was confirmed by Guinea’s Supreme Court on Sunday, formalising his transition from junta leader to democratically elected president. The court validated the provisional results announced earlier, crediting Doumbouya, 41, with 86.72% of the vote.
The runner-up, Abdoulaye Yero Baldé, received 6.59% of the votes. The court noted that Baldé, who had initially challenged the election results with the Supreme Court, had since voluntarily withdrawn his complaint.
The election marks Guinea’s first presidential vote since Doumbouya led a coup in September 2021, which ousted Alpha Condé. The vote was held under a new constitution that removed the ban on military leaders running for office and extended the presidential term from five to seven years.
Rwanda and Guinea enjoy cordial relations, reinforced through exchanges of visits and cooperation across multiple sectors. President Kagame last visited Conakry in November 2024, joining President Doumbouya for the launch of the Simandou Iron Ore Project, considered the largest ongoing mining project in the world.
The Simandou deposit is estimated to contain approximately 3 to 4 billion tonnes of high-grade recoverable iron ore and is expected to reach full production capacity by 2030, with an annual output of around 120 million tonnes.
Bilateral cooperation has also been strengthened through agreements signed on October 9, 2024, in Kigali during a session of the Joint Cooperation Commission. According to announcements from both countries’ foreign ministries, the 12 agreements cover areas such as public administration modernisation, export promotion, tourism development, special economic zones, migration data management, defence and security, justice, economy, and trade.
“The partnership between our two countries is based on complementary and a win-win approach,” said Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. He noted that Rwanda can benefit from Guinea’s expertise in mining, while Guinea can learn from Rwanda’s experience in public service innovation and digitisation.
Although relatively new, the bilateral relationship has strengthened since Rwanda opened its embassy in Conakry in January 2024. President Doumbouya has expressed interest in adopting Rwanda’s development model, and the two leaders have met frequently to explore cooperation opportunities.
In addition to the agreements, both countries have established a follow-up mechanism to ensure proper implementation of recommendations from the first session of the Joint Cooperation Commission.
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.
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.
The report shows that the formal industrial sector also posted an annual average growth rate of 6.3 per cent, signalling sustained momentum despite month-to-month fluctuations in some activities.
Growth in November was driven largely by the electricity sector, which expanded by 14.1 per cent year-on-year, making it the biggest contributor to overall industrial growth. Electricity alone accounted for 2.8 percentage points of the annual increase, reflecting rising demand from households, businesses and industry.
The manufacturing sector, which carries the largest weight in the index at 68.1 per cent, grew by 4.9 per cent compared to November 2024. Within manufacturing, output gains were supported by a 2.6 per cent increase in chemicals, rubber and plastic products, as well as a 1.8 per cent growth in beverages and tobacco production.
However, the report highlights uneven performance across manufacturing sub-sectors. Textiles, clothing and leather goods contracted by 7.5 per cent, while wood and paper products, including printing, declined by 6.0 per cent, pointing to continued pressure in some traditional industries.
Mining and quarrying recorded a 4.1 per cent year-on-year increase, maintaining positive growth despite volatility in monthly output. Meanwhile, water and waste management activities expanded by 6.6 per cent, reflecting steady growth in urban services and environmental management.
The November figures are published using a new 2024 base year, following a rebasing exercise by NISR aimed at better reflecting Rwanda’s evolving economic structure. The rebasing captures the rapid expansion of manufacturing, utilities and other industrial activities over recent years, and aligns the index with international statistical best practice.
NISR noted that the IIP focuses on formal sector activity and excludes construction due to data limitations, but remains a key short-term indicator for tracking industrial trends and complementing quarterly GDP estimates.
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 occurred late on Saturday evening, just before 8 p.m. local time, when a large wooden canoe carrying 52 passengers overturned on the Yobe River near Garbi town. The boat had departed from Adiyani village in neighbouring Jigawa State and was en route to Garbi when it capsized.
Mohammed Goje, head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, said that 13 passengers have been rescued alive and are receiving medical attention, while 25 bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue operations involving emergency responders, local volunteers and security agencies remain ongoing to find the 14 people still unaccounted for.
Police in Jigawa State confirmed the accident and indicated that the canoe may have capsized due to leakage. A spokesperson noted that safety regulations, including bans on night travel and overloading, were reportedly ignored.
“It was a market day, and the victims were returning home after trading. If the driver survives, he will be prosecuted for negligence,” said Lawan Adam, the state police spokesperson.
Investigators say the boat was carrying more passengers than it should have, and authorities have warned that the operator could face prosecution for negligence if he survives.
Residents said the victims included people from both their village and the destination town, many returning home after a market day. When the boat failed to arrive on time, relatives raised the alarm and discovered that it had overturned partway across the river. Divers and emergency crews recovered some of the bodies.
Boat accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria’s rural regions, where waterways are often used for transport due to limited road infrastructure, and safety measures are frequently lacking. In a separate tragedy last September, an overloaded boat sank in Niger State, killing at least 60 people after it struck a tree stump.
