The development has been confirmed by Rwanda’s Office of the President.
DTC Botswana is a 50/50 joint venture between the Government of Botswana and De Beers. The company is regarded as the world’s largest and most sophisticated rough diamond sorting and valuing operation, with the capacity to sort up to 45 million carats annually.
The visit to the diamond facility comes amid renewed efforts by Rwanda and Botswana to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen investment partnerships between the two countries.
On Wednesday, President Kagame and Botswana’s counterpart Duma Boko witnessed the signing of several bilateral agreements at the State House in Gaborone following bilateral talks between the two delegations.
The agreements covered avoidance of double taxation, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official, and national passports, air services, health cooperation, and broader economic, trade, and investment partnerships.
A cooperation framework between the Rwanda Development Board and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre was also signed to promote private sector collaboration and facilitate investment flows.
During the engagements, President Kagame praised Botswana’s approach to natural resource management, particularly in the diamond sector, describing it as an example of forward-looking governance.
President Boko said the visit marked a strategic realignment between the two countries and stressed the need for swift implementation of the signed agreements.
President Kagame’s visit is his first State Visit to Botswana since 2019, when both countries agreed to establish the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation framework aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Kagame arrived in Botswana on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, where he was welcomed by his counterpart Duma Boko at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Kagame explored Botswana’s diamond industry during a two-day State Visit.President Kagame toured DTC Botswana, the world’s largest rough diamond sorting and valuing facility, during his State Visit to Botswana.President Kagame’s Botswana visit featured high-level engagements, including a tour of one of the world’s most sophisticated diamond operations.
The announcement was made on May 6, 2026, during the launch of DNA Week at the University of Rwanda College of Science and Technology (CST).
The week-long event aims to raise awareness about DNA, widely regarded as the backbone of all living organisms, including plants, humans, and animals.
RAB revealed that since 2025, it has been working with various partners on a project that will result in the establishment of a center dedicated to developing enhanced crop seeds in Rwanda. The facility will be located at RAB’s Rubona branch in Huye District.
RAB’s Plant and Microbial Biotechnology Programme Coordinator, Dr. Bellancile Uzayisenga, said that the Rubona branch already has the capacity to identify diseases affecting crops.
However, she noted that this is not enough, as Rwanda still lacks the ability to locally produce genetically enhanced seeds.
She explained that the project launched in 2025 aims to train Rwandans with the necessary expertise while also establishing a model center capable of developing crops resistant to major diseases.
“Here in Rwanda and elsewhere, many crop diseases continue to affect production. For example, banana plants are severely affected by Wilt disease, cassava is attacked by Cassava Brown Streak Disease, and potatoes suffer from Late Blight. Through this project, enhanced seeds will be developed with the ability to resist these diseases,” she said.
Dr. Uzayisenga explained that the project will initially focus on bananas, potatoes, and cassava, before expanding to other crops. She added that neighboring countries could also benefit from the facility, as no similar center currently exists nearby.
“We already use enhanced cassava, maize, and potato varieties in Rwanda, but they were all developed outside the country. Under this new project, Rwandans themselves will gain the expertise to produce them locally. In particular, the popular Kinigi potato variety will be improved to increase productivity,” she said.
Dr. Uzayisenga also addressed concerns surrounding genetically enhanced crops, stressing that the technology only modifies the crop’s DNA structure without introducing harmful changes that could affect human health.
A lecturer in the Department of Biology at the University of Rwanda, Prof. Mutangana Dieudonne, said that while DNA-related courses are taught at the university, public understanding of the subject remains low.
He noted that plans are underway to extend awareness programs to secondary schools so students can develop a better understanding of DNA science from an early age.
Banana plants are among the crops that will be genetically enhanced through research conducted in Rwanda.Dr. Uzayisenga explained that the project will initially focus on bananas, potatoes, and cassava, before expanding to other crops.
Twenty-three soldiers were killed and 26 others injured on Monday in an assault by Boko Haram militants on the Barka Tolorom island military base in the region.
Late Wednesday, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno signed a decree declaring the mourning.
“During this period, flags are flown at half-mast and all festive activities are prohibited. Only religious music and prayers are permitted in the media and places of worship,” the decree stated.
The mourning declaration came just hours after local media reported another deadly Boko Haram attack on soldiers in Lake Chad on Wednesday. There was no official announcement regarding the number of casualties.
The Lake Chad region, bordering Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon, has long faced attacks by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno signed a decree declaring the mourning on Wednesday.
Epstein’s cellmate stated that he discovered the note in a book after the financier’s failed suicide attempt, several weeks before his eventual death in August 2019.
“They investigated me for month — Found NOTHING!!!” the note reads. “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.”
“Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!! No fun — NOT WORTH IT!!” it continues.
The handwritten letter, undated and unsigned, has not yet been authenticated and was not included in the millions of pages of Epstein-related documents released earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the note’s release following a request by The New York Times, which reported its existence last week and argued that there was no basis for keeping the document sealed.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution. He was arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and was found dead in his jail cell the following month.
Although federal authorities ruled his death a suicide, questions about the official account have persisted for years.
A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, photographed Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, shows a photo of Epstein on a inmate report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons . (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
In December 2023, while concluding his campaign for a second presidential term, Tshisekedi had declared that if a single bullet fired by the AFC/M23 coalition landed in the city of Goma, he would seek authorization from both chambers of parliament to launch attacks on Rwanda.
“At present, our army can strike Kigali while stationed in Goma. Kagame will not sleep in his house; he will sleep in the forest. He may play games with others, but not with Fatshi Béton,” Tshisekedi had said to cheering supporters.
He added that if even a small provocation occurred or any territory around Goma was captured, he would convene parliament and request permission to declare war on Rwanda.
Speaking during a press conference in Kinshasa on May 6, a journalist told Tshisekedi that he appeared to prioritize diplomacy more than military strength, despite many historical thinkers emphasizing the importance of military power in securing peace.
The journalist referenced the famous saying attributed to Vegetius Renatus, “If you want peace, prepare for war,” and cited political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli as well as comments once made by Barack Obama concerning peace in eastern Congo.
The journalist then asked Tshisekedi when the cities of Goma and Bukavu would be liberated. Responding to the question, Tshisekedi acknowledged that the criticism about his diplomatic approach was understandable.
“You must understand that as a civilian like me, with no military training or background whatsoever, the first instinct when such events happen is diplomacy. But I must also tell you that this comes after an honest assessment of the situation,” he said.
Tshisekedi recalled statements he made during the 2023 election campaign regarding possible military action against Rwanda in response to what he described as provocations.
“Today, I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the Congolese people, not because I was rushed into speaking, but because I had been given false information about our military,” he said. He went on to explain that the Congolese army lacked the capacity to confront Rwanda in the way he had initially envisioned. He revealed that some soldiers and officials are now being arrested and punished over failures within the military structure.
“Today you can see punishments and arrests taking place. These are the consequences. It means we were being kept from the truth about the condition of our army. We could not go to war with a military that lacked direction and was deeply divided,” Tshisekedi said.
He added that the army lacked uniforms, weapons and sufficient ammunition for combat operations.
“How could we enter a war under those conditions? That is not how I think. It is important to face reality and use other available means, and I believe we achieved a lot through that approach,” he stated.
Tshisekedi further claimed that the Congolese military had been infiltrated from within by hostile elements who weakened it under the cover of peace agreements.
“Today we have the information, and that is the good thing. We now know our military had been infiltrated and destroyed from within. There were people inside it whose objective was to seize part of our country. That is the truth,” he said.
According to Tshisekedi, diplomacy became the only viable option available to his government at the time.
“We had no other choice except diplomacy. That became our weapon. There is no debate about it,” he said.
He added that the Democratic Republic of the Congo now has international allies helping it restore peace while also benefiting from the country’s natural resources.
Speaking during a press conference in Kinshasa on May 6, Tshisekedi apologized to Congolese, noting that he abandoned plans to attack Rwanda after discovering that he had been misled about the true capabilities of his country’s military.
In its first-quarter earnings report published on Wednesday, Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa said it had hedged around 80 percent of its jet fuel requirements. Despite these measures, it expects fuel-related costs in 2026 to increase by 1.7 billion euros (2 billion U.S. dollars), nearly 24 percent higher than previously forecast, mainly driven by surging energy prices and disrupted global aviation markets.
The group said it plans to offset the additional burden through higher ticket revenues, network optimization and further cost-cutting measures in the coming quarters.
“The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, combined with rising fuel costs and operational constraints, poses enormous challenges for the global economy, the aviation industry and our company,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), jet fuel prices surged 106.6 percent year-on-year in March amid escalating geopolitical tensions. In Europe, prices have climbed to their highest since 2022.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that while the industry remains in better shape than during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, the current fuel crisis has emerged as the most acute shock to global aviation since COVID-19.
According to a study released by Allianz Trade last week, Europe produces only half of the kerosene required by its domestic market, leaving the region’s aviation sector dependent on imports for the remainder of its jet fuel needs.
Several European airlines have already introduced measures to cope with rising fuel costs and concerns over potential supply disruptions.
Air France-KLM said it plans to impose a surcharge of up to 50 euros (58.73 dollars) on long-haul flights, while EasyJet and Ryanair warned that fares could rise further if fuel markets remain tight. Lufthansa said it has already implemented ticket price increases.
Analysts at Allianz Trade painted an equally bleak picture, estimating that international airfares have already risen by between 5 percent and 15 percent.
Lufthansa is also evaluating stopover options for its long-haul routes to Asia and Africa as a contingency measure against potential refueling failures at destination airports. Highlighting the gravity of the supply crisis, Spohr remarked, “We can only fly if we have fuel.”
A Lufthansa aircraft (Rear) and an EasyJet aircraft are seen after arriving at the newly-opened Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schoenefeld, Germany, on Oct. 31, 2020. (Thomas Trutschel/photothek/Handout via Xinhua)
The spokesperson for Rwanda Correctional Service, CSP Sengabo Hillary, told IGIHE that on Wednesday, after all procedures related to Karasira’s release had been completed and only a few hours remained before he could leave prison, he took medication he normally used to manage a mental health condition.
“He would usually take the medicine and sleep for about six hours, as it helped him rest. However, because he took it in what appeared to be a suicide attempt, he consumed a large amount, which resulted in his death. He was taken to Nyarugenge Hospital, but doctors were unable to save him,” Sengabo said.
Sengabo added that Karasira died during the night at around midnight.
A medical report explaining the cause of his death is still expected, but preliminary findings indicate that he died after taking an excessive amount of medication.
Sengabo added, “All procedures required for his release had already been completed. What remained was the final search and exit process. That was the only step left when he took the medication and swallowed a large quantity of it.”
Karasira, widely known as Prof Nigga, had been convicted of inciting divisions among the public. He had completed the five-year sentence handed to him.
The sentence was issued on September 30, 2025, by the High Court Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes (HCCIC) based in Nyanza.
Based on the way prison sentence calculations are carried out within the correctional system, Karasira officially completed his sentence on May 6, 2026.
He had been charged with offenses including genocide denial, inciting divisions, and spreading false information.
Other charges included money laundering and failure to explain the source of his wealth, including cash found in his possession and funds held in various bank and Mobile Money accounts.
The prosecution had appealed the court’s decision to sentence him to five years in prison, but the appeal case had not yet been heard.
The correctional service stated that when releasing an inmate, it only follows the sentencing decision recorded in the electronic system used by the institution.
RCS has confirmed that Karasira Aimable died hours before scheduled release.
A potential deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to lift sanctions, with both sides lifting restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it said.
The duration of the moratorium on uranium enrichment remains under negotiation, with an estimated period of 12-15 years, said the report, adding that Iran initially proposed a five-year suspension while the United States demanded 20.
The White House is reportedly close to a deal with Iran on how to end the war
Heza Estate comprises 548 residential units across two categories, apartments and townhouses designed to meet the needs of working professionals, families, and members of the Rwandan diaspora seeking a secure, fully integrated community to call home.
Heza Estate comprises 548 residential units across two categories , townhouse and apartments designed to accommodate a range of household needs and budgets.
Apartments are available in two and three bedroom configurations, arranged across four-storey blocks with two units per floor. Townhouses are offered in two types: two and three bedroom duplex units with a 3 bedroom corner townhouse
Pricing
Unit prices are structured based on the type and size of the property. Townhouses start at Rwf 80 million for a two-bedroom unit and go up to Rwf 117 million for a three-bedroom unit.
Apartments, on the other hand, are priced between Rwf 101 million and RWF 111 million, depending on the specific configuration and features.
Buyers may purchase units through flexible installment payment plans. RSSB has also partnered with multiple banks to provide mortgage financing at competitive interest rates, making homeownership more accessible than ever.
RSSB has launched Heza Estate, a residential community in Batsinda featuring 548 housing units.
A community built for modern living
Heza Estate is designed as a fully integrated community rather than a typical housing development.
It includes a nursery school, basketball and volleyball courts, landscaped gardens and family relaxation areas, as well as commercial spaces.
The estate also features paved internal roads with street lighting and dedicated parking for each unit.
Commenting on the development, Claudette Rubangura, RSSB’s Commercial Operation Manager, said: “Heza Estate was built with a clear purpose — to give middle-income Rwandans, young professionals, families, and diaspora members a place they can truly call their own. We wanted residents to have everything they need within reach: schools for their children, nearby shopping and everyday conveniences, spaces to relax, and a secure environment. This is not just a housing project; it is a community designed around how people actually live.”
Heza Estate is part of RSSB’s broader housing portfolio, which spans multiple market segments. The institution is also developing Vision City II , a project three times the scale of Vision City I, growing from 500 to approximately 1,500 units.
These developments directly support Rwanda’s housing goals. Current projections indicate that the country will require at least 5.5 million housing units by 2050, when the population is expected to reach 22.1 million.
Heza Estate is a 548-home housing project in Batsinda designed to provide modern, well-serviced living for middle-income Rwandans and diaspora buyers.
How to apply
Interested buyers are invited to take the first step towards owning their home by visiting hezaestate.rssb.rw to register online, calling sales team on +250 787 750 033
About RSSB
The Rwanda Social Security Board is a government institution responsible for social security administration in Rwanda.
Through its investment arm, RSSB develops housing and infrastructure projects that contribute to national development while generating sustainable returns for its members.
RSSB’s housing portfolio includes projects across multiple market segments, from Vision City to Heza Estate, serving a wide range of Rwandans seeking quality homes.
Heza Estate, developed by RSSB in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District, offers 548 apartments and townhouses as part of efforts to expand quality housing in Kigali.The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) has unveiled Heza Estate in Batsinda, a 548-unit residential development aimed at middle-income buyers in Kigali, with construction now 90% complete.Heza Estate is a 548-unit residential project by RSSB featuring modern interior designs, green open spaces, and a secure environment tailored for middle-income homeowners.Heza Estate in Batsinda presents residents with a fully integrated living environment, featuring scenic views, green landscaped gardensHeza Estate forms part of RSSB’s broader housing portfolio aimed at expanding urban housing supply.The project combines housing with landscaped gardens and designated family relaxation spaces.Heza Estate features modern apartments and townhouses designed for middle-income homebuyers in Kigali.The 548-unit Heza Estate project by RSSB features apartments and townhouses with stylish interior designs and a focus on functionality, targeting middle-income buyers in Kigali’s growing housing market.
This afternoon, the two Heads of State will hold a tête-à-tête meeting followed by bilateral talks between their respective delegations, before addressing a joint press conference.
The discussions will culminate in the signing of bilateral agreements and Memorandums of Understanding in various areas, including a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement; a Memorandum of Agreement on Visa Abolition for holders of Diplomatic, Official, and National Passports; a Bilateral Air Services Agreement; an MoU in the field of Health; an MoU on Economic, Trade and Investment; and an MoU between the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Later in the evening, President Kagame will attend a State Banquet hosted in his honour by President Duma Boko.
On the second day of the visit, President Kagame will tour the Botswana Diamond Trading Company.
The State Visit was preceded by the Second Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) and the Second Rwanda–Botswana Business Forum.
The Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation was established in 2019 during President Kagame’s previous visit to Botswana.
Rwanda and Botswana enjoy warm bilateral relations, strengthened through high-level exchanges and the signing of various agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.
The two countries cooperate in several sectors, including diplomacy, mineral resources, defence and security, police cooperation, investment promotion, and agriculture.
President Paul Kagame has arrived in Gaborone, Botswana for a two-day State Visit.President Kagame was welcomed by his counterpart of Botswana upon arrival
