During the five-day period, the country exported 9,629 tonnes of agricultural and livestock products to international markets.
Coffee was the biggest contributor to export earnings, generating $4.94 million from 851 tonnes shipped abroad.
Tea exports generated more than $1.2 million from 426 tonnes. Rwanda also exported 657 tonnes of vegetables worth $497,200. The vegetables were sold in markets including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and several African countries.
Fruit exports stood at 321 tonnes and generated $521,900. The produce was shipped to markets in the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Africa.
The country exported five tonnes of flowers worth $29,668, with the shipments going to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Livestock products accounted for 300 tonnes and generated $515,200 in export revenue. These products were destined for markets across Africa.
Other agricultural products accounted for the largest export volume, with 7,069 tonnes generating more than $4.2 million. The shipments went to Bangladesh and various African markets.
Rwanda exported 9,629 tonnes of agricultural and livestock products to international markets within five days.
Ignatius Chiome, Kariba district coordinator for the Rural Infrastructure and Development Agency, appeared in court following his arrest, police said in a statement on social media.
On Aug. 11, the passenger ferry traveling from Kariba town to Chalala Fishing Camp capsized on the lake bordering Zambia, reportedly due to bad weather. Authorities said 77 people were rescued.
Preliminary investigations showed that the boat was carrying about 180 passengers and cargo, exceeding its capacity. A formal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the country’s deadliest boat disaster.
Lake Kariba, which sits on Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia, is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs.
U.S. embassies in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait are among the missions expected to increase staffing, the report said Tuesday, citing an internal U.S. State Department document and three U.S. officials.
According to the document obtained by the NYT, the first diplomats to return will be at the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, though the embassy would not reach full staffing under the plan.
Posts in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon will initially cap staffing at 85 percent, and posts in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain at 75 percent.
In the six Gulf countries and Lebanon, the State Department will enforce restrictions on bringing family members, the document added.
The restaffing is set to proceed as the Trump administration threatens new economic sanctions on Iran after talks between Washington and Tehran floundered, suggesting that the United States does not expect an imminent renewal of full-scale conflict, said the report.
This photo taken on May 15, 2026 shows the U.S. Department of State building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
The two loans have a combined value of more than Rwf 280 billion and will be repaid over 15 years, including a six-year grace period during which Rwanda will not be required to repay the principal.
The yen-denominated portion marks the first time Rwanda has secured financing in Japanese yen, opening access to a new pool of investors and capital in Asian markets.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning said the financing is backed by guarantees from the World Bank Group and forms part of Rwanda’s strategy to diversify its borrowing sources while securing funding on favourable terms.
The six-year grace period has been structured so that repayment of the principal begins after Rwanda’s existing Eurobond matures. This is intended to prevent a concentration of major debt repayments within the same period and support smoother management of the country’s debt obligations.
The loan proceeds will be used for general budgetary purposes, supporting priority areas including infrastructure, health and nutrition, education, agriculture, social protection and industrial development.
Finance and Economic Planning Minister Yusuf Murangwa said the transaction demonstrates Rwanda’s efforts to explore new financing options while maintaining prudent debt management.
“This second PBG+ [Policy-Based Guarantee] transaction demonstrates Rwanda’s unwavering commitment to innovative, best-practice funding solutions, as we proactively diversify our borrowing sources while maintaining prudent debt management,” Murangwa said.
The funds secured by Rwanda will be used to finance projects including infrastructure development.
The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum for Eastern Africa began on August 24, 2026, bringing together representatives from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda.
FAO Representative in Rwanda Mohamed Aw Dahir said the success of the forum would not be measured by discussions alone, but by its ability to turn ideas into concrete investments that benefit farmers, businesses and rural communities.
“We need to move from discussions to concrete action, and the success of this forum will not be measured only by the discussions, but by our ability to turn ideas into investments that deliver tangible benefits to farmers, the private sector and rural communities,” Dahir said.
He said the Hand-in-Hand initiative seeks to help countries move beyond projects that rely mainly on aid towards sustainable investments capable of transforming agriculture and food processing.
Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, said the challenge was not a lack of projects, but ensuring that existing opportunities are converted into profitable investments.
“The opportunities are there. What remains is to turn them into investments that can generate returns, scale up and contribute to development,” he said.
Dr. Ndabamenye said Rwanda is working with FAO to identify investment opportunities across agricultural value chains and develop projects that can connect investors with the capital, technology and expertise they need.
FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa Farayi Zimudzi said opportunities exist in coffee, livestock and dairy, fisheries, horticulture, cereals and oil-producing crops.
However, she identified climate change, inadequate infrastructure, high transport costs and limited access to finance as some of the challenges constraining agricultural investment.
Zimudzi called for stronger cooperation among governments, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners and technology experts.
She said all eight participating countries are part of the Hand-in-Hand initiative, which seeks to attract investment that adds value to agricultural production, expand trade and strengthen regional cooperation.
The forum aims to showcase investment opportunities, connect investors with project developers and facilitate agreements that can accelerate transformation in East Africa’s agriculture and livestock sectors.
The meeting comes ahead of the Africa Food Systems Summit scheduled to take place in Kigali in the first week of September 2026, as well as the global FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum planned for Rome, Italy, in October 2026.
Eight East African countries have gathered in Kigali to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock and agro-processing.FAO Representative in Rwanda Mohamed Aw Dahir has said rising food demand and the region’s young population have created significant opportunities for agricultural investment.Agriculture Minister Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye has called for greater investment to transform Eastern Africa’s agrifood systems into engines of economic growth and job creation.FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa Farayi Zimudzi has described the region as one of Africa’s most promising frontiers for agrifood investment.Participants of the forum posing for a group photo The Kigali forum has brought together governments and partners seeking to turn agricultural opportunities into concrete investments.The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum has created a platform for countries to showcase agricultural investment opportunities.Dr. Chantal Ingabire, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, also participated in the Kigali forum as stakeholders sought to showcase investment opportunities across its agricultural sector.
According to the Office of the President, the two discussed Rwanda’s partnership with the African Development Bank and exchanged priorities for accelerating investment, economic growth and Africa’s development.
The meeting came as the two-day Africa Mindset Reset Forum brought together African leaders, policymakers, young people and other participants in Kigali to discuss approaches to the continent’s development and leadership.
Speaking at the forum, Kagame said Africa has the people and resources needed to succeed but is held back by attitudes that Africans need to confront.
He urged Africans to recognise and support one another’s achievements instead of continually looking outside the continent for validation and inspiration.
The meeting with the AfDB president also comes against the backdrop of the Bank’s growing financial engagement with Rwanda.
The AfDB plans to invest more than $400 million, equivalent to about Rwf590 billion, in Rwanda’s agriculture sector over the next three years, according to its 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review released on August 20.
The planned investment is part of efforts to rebalance the Bank’s Rwanda portfolio, which is currently dominated by infrastructure, accounting for 87% of total commitments.
The Bank’s active portfolio in Rwanda stood at $2.6 billion as of January 2026, covering 29 operations.
The agriculture sector currently represents a relatively small share of the portfolio, with agriculture, communications, social and urban development together accounting for 6% of its value.
A $348 million Climate Smart Agriculture Results-Based Financing programme is among the agriculture operations in the Bank’s pipeline.
President Paul Kagame met Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on the sidelines of the inaugural Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Kigali.President Paul Kagame and AfDB Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah held talks on investment, economic growth and Africa’s development.
Canadian officials said the countermeasures match the total value of Canadian products targeted by the latest 50-percent U.S. tariffs, achieving a “dollar-for-dollar, rate for rate” response. The counter-tariffs are scheduled to take effect officially on Sept. 8.
Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the reciprocal tariffs as well as the multi-billion-dollar support package will protect workers, farmers, families and businesses.
According to a list released by the Finance Ministry, the new targeted counter-tariffs are concentrated in sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, with tariff rates set at three tiers: 15 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent.
In certain sectors, such as steel and aluminum, existing counter-tariffs will increase from 25 percent to 50 percent to match U.S. rates. Other existing counter-tariffs, including those against U.S. autos, will also continue to apply, said the ministry.
A 25-percent tariff will be levied on dairy products such as cheese, fish, seafood, and certain steel and aluminum derivatives.
In addition to the tariffs, the federal government announced a 7.5-billion-Canadian-dollar relief package, primarily targeting small and medium-sized enterprises. Ottawa promised to help companies avoid layoffs, enable more workers to upgrade skills, and increase flexibility for accessing employment insurance.
Cargo containers are stacked at a container terminal at the Port of Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Aug. 25, 2026. The Canadian federal government on Tuesday announced retaliatory tariffs on over 700 U.S. goods valued at 27.6 billion Canadian dollars (about 20 billion U.S. dollars), alongside a 7.5-billion-Canadian-dollar assistance package for domestic businesses and workers. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
In a social media post, Ersoy said the 70-cm sculpture, which was unearthed at Karahantepe near the city of Sanliurfa this year, was found on a bench against the wall of a circular structure about 3 meters in diameter.
Minister Ersoy called the find a “unique sculpture” and said its artistic style had not previously been identified at the prehistoric settlement.
Karahantepe is part of an archaeological site that encompasses a group of Neolithic sites dating back more than 10,000 years.
In the Neolithic period, communities in the region were transitioning from mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyles toward more settled forms of life. Excavations in the region have revealed monumental structures and sophisticated artwork, providing evidence of complex social and ritual practices long before the emergence of cities and written records.
“I believe this discovery, which opens the door to new questions about the earliest periods of human history, will resonate widely in the scientific community,” the Minister added.
The newly discovered 11,000-year-old composite statue at Karahantepe depicts a human figure seated on the back of a leopard. Credit: Ministry of Culture and Tourism / Mehmet Nuri Ersoy
US President Donald Trump has ordered American flags across the country to be flown at half-staff for one week in honour of country music icon Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday aged 80.
In a post on Truth Social on August 25, Trump said he was ordering the flags to be lowered.
“Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump wrote.
“In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
Parton’s death was announced in a video message from her nephew Bryan Seaver, shared on her social media accounts.
The singer rose from humble beginnings in rural East Tennessee to become one of the most celebrated figures in country music, with hits including Jolene, I Will Always Love You and Coat of Many Colors.
Beyond music, Parton was widely admired for her philanthropy, particularly through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide.
Trump had previously offered Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, but she declined the honour. She said she could not accept the first offer because her husband was ill and later declined to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parton’s health had drawn public attention in 2025 after she postponed a concert tour, citing health challenges. Her sister Frieda later appealed to fans to pray for her.
No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
Parton’s death has prompted tributes from political leaders, musicians and fans around the world, with many remembering her lasting contribution to music, entertainment and philanthropy.
Dolly Parton became one of the most celebrated country music stars through her music, acting and philanthropy.
Ntihanabayo appeared in court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, alongside some of the other suspects in a case involving 80 people accused of offences related to the production, sale, distribution or importation of substandard alcoholic beverages commonly known as “Ibyuma.”
Sixteen of the suspects appeared before the court to argue their cases on provisional detention.
At around 10 a.m., the judge announced the start of the proceedings and explained that the suspects would be heard in groups of three or four.
Ntihanabayo appeared alongside Twahirwa Fulgence, Ingufu Gin’s quality control officer, and Katushabe Donias Donias, who is responsible for production at the company. They were among the first suspects to appear before the court.
Prosecution cites alleged quality and safety violations
Prosecutors told the court that investigations into the production of alcoholic beverages that have raised concerns among the public found that some manufacturers, including Ingufu Gin, had allegedly failed to comply with required quality and safety standards.
The prosecution said one of the grounds for seeking Ntihanabayo’s pre-trial detention was his alleged failure to ensure compliance with quality standards, resulting in the production of beverages that did not meet the required standards.
Prosecutors said manufacturers are expected to conduct tests to determine whether substances contained in their products could pose health risks to consumers, but alleged that such testing was not carried out at Ingufu Gin.
“When such testing is not conducted, it can have adverse health effects on people who consume these beverages over a long period,” the prosecutor told the court.
The prosecution also alleged that Ingufu Gin did not have documentation showing that the tanks used to store beverages at the factory were properly cleaned and sanitised.
It further alleged that ethanol was not stored in accordance with safety requirements. Investigators reportedly found that the ethanol was kept in an area where temperature levels were not controlled and whose conditions did not comply with applicable standards.
According to prosecutors, these conditions could cause the concentration of ethanol to rise to as high as 94%, potentially affecting the quality of the products.
The prosecution said ethanol at such a concentration could pose a significant fire risk.
It argued that improper storage increased the risk of fire and could expose factory workers to health risks through inhalation.
Another ground cited by prosecutors concerned the alleged improper storage of flavouring substances used to give alcoholic beverages their taste, aroma and colour.
The prosecution told the court that the flavours used in Ingufu Gin’s alcoholic beverages did not indicate their source or origin.
Investigators also allegedly found that some of the caps used to seal the beverages had exceeded their recommended period of use. Prosecutors said this could pose health risks to consumers.
Ntihanabayo denies personal responsibility
Ntihanabayo told the court that he is an investor whose role was to establish different departments within the company responsible for ensuring that operations were properly conducted and products met the required quality standards.
He argued that if violations had occurred, the employees responsible for the relevant areas should be held accountable because they had been given the authority to oversee them.
The judge questioned whether Ntihanabayo’s position as an investor and the existence of employees responsible for quality control meant that the alleged violations did not concern him personally.
“Does that mean that your company is separate from you as an individual?” the judge asked.
The judge further told Ntihanabayo that the prosecution was alleging that he had personally played a role in the violations, despite his argument that specific employees had been assigned responsibility for quality control.
Ntihanabayo asked the court to allow him to remain free while investigations continue, saying he had no intention of interfering with or obstructing the investigation.
Ntihanabayo’s lawyer challenged some of the grounds presented by the prosecution, including the allegation that the factory used expired caps to seal its alcoholic beverages.
The lawyer argued that liqueurs generally do not have an expiry period in the same way as some other products and questioned the prosecution’s claim that the caps had exceeded their permitted period of use.
The lawyer also asked the court to allow Ntihanabayo to remain free while the case proceeds, arguing that his detention could affect several other investments he has made.
These include a school and a project to build a market in Biryogo, which the lawyer said could be delayed if Ntihanabayo is remanded.
The court will consider the arguments from both sides before ruling on the prosecution’s request for 30 days of pre-trial detention.
Prosecution has sought 30-day remand for Ingufu Gin owner
