The agreements were signed during a business forum held in Kigali on October 7, 2026, on the sidelines of the inaugural session of the Rwanda-Senegal Joint Commission for Cooperation. The forum brought together government officials, investors, businesses and other stakeholders from both countries.
Participants explored opportunities in transport and logistics, construction, agriculture and agro-processing, textiles, leather, services, tourism, health and education, while business-to-business meetings provided an opportunity to discuss potential trade deals, joint ventures and investment projects.
RDB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kangeli Muganza urged businesses to turn the strong political ties between Rwanda and Senegal into lasting economic partnerships.
She highlighted Rwanda’s 9.4% economic growth in 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, as well as $2.62 billion in investments registered through 799 projects in 2025, expected to create more than 38,000 jobs.
Muganza said the RDB supports investors through its One Stop Centre, streamlined procedures and connections with relevant institutions and partners and urged the private sector to trade, invest, build partnerships and create jobs.
APIX Deputy CEO Moustapha Cissé said cooperation should move beyond institutional relations to generate more investment, trade and private-sector partnerships.
He identified agriculture, industry, innovation, infrastructure, logistics, services, tourism, health and education among the priority areas.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the forum should lead to concrete business partnerships rather than remain a platform for dialogue.
“We want this forum to be not simply a space for dialogue, but the starting point for a new phase of cooperation between the business communities of Rwanda and Senegal,” he said.
Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang said both countries have complementary strengths that could support stronger economic ties.
“Rwanda and Senegal each have their own strengths. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that these strengths can complement each other more,” he said.
The forum comes amid strong political ties between Senegal and Rwanda, based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has called for the Rwanda-Senegal business forum to lead to concrete partnerships between the two countries’ business communities.Senegal’s Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang has said the two countries’ complementary strengths can create new opportunities for economic cooperation.Senegal’s APIX Deputy CEO Moustapha Cissé has urged the two countries to translate institutional cooperation into increased investment, trade and private-sector partnerships.Rwandan and Senegalese business leaders have explored opportunities for trade, investment and partnerships across sectors including agriculture, logistics, tourism, health and education.RDB Deputy CEO Juliana Kangeli Muganza has called on businesses to turn Rwanda-Senegal political ties into lasting commercial partnerships.
The remarks were made on August 7, 2026, during a sermon delivered by Apostle Gitwaza to Christians. An excerpt from the teaching began circulating widely on social media in recent days, drawing criticism from various people.
In the clip, Gitwaza tells Christians to be cautious about the first person to hold a newborn, claiming that witches could use nurses and midwives to affect a child’s reproductive health.
“If you give birth to a boy or a girl, be careful about the first person you do not know who takes the baby. The spirit of witchcraft is in many nurses and midwives; Satan uses them there. Who were the ones killing the Israelites? It was the midwives,” he is heard saying.
He goes on to claim that children could suffer reproductive harm shortly after birth, alleging that boys could have their sperm “taken away” while girls could have their “eggs” removed, which he said would affect their ability to have children later in life.
“If you have a baby boy and realize he has impregnated someone, be concerned but also rejoice that he is active. Many are targeted there when they are born. A girl may grow up without eggs. So pray for pregnant women, and even when children grow up, be careful about sending them to sleep in places you do not know. At night, they go and use them as sacrifices. Do not let your child sleep in a place you do not know again,” he said.
Zion Temple apologises
In a statement issued on October 7, 2026, Zion Temple Celebration Center said it had become aware that excerpts from the teaching were circulating on social media and acknowledged that the remarks had hurt nurses and midwives.
“We became aware that statements contained in the clip were understood by members of the public, particularly nurses and midwives, as disrespectful and as undermining their profession and the important role they play in the health and wellbeing of our society,” the church said.
The church said there had been no intention to discredit nurses, midwives or any other profession.
“We recognise, however, that the words used caused hurt and concern. For this, we sincerely apologise to nurses and midwives and to all those who were affected by the message,” it said.
Zion Temple said it highly values nurses and midwives and appreciates their dedication, professionalism and contribution to saving lives, caring for families and improving the wellbeing of communities.
The church also said it had held discussions with representatives of the nurses and midwives association to express its regret and explore ways to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the two sides.
It said the discussions were constructive, with both sides agreeing to continue strengthening cooperation and public trust in nurses and midwives.
Gitwaza signed the statement apologising to nurses and midwives over recent statements linking them to witchcraft.
The conference will take place on October 17 and 18, 2026, featuring prayer, worship and praise, teachings from the Bible and other activities aimed at encouraging people to strengthen their relationship with God.
It will be led by Apostle Grace Lubega, the founder of Phaneroo Ministries International, alongside Nigerian gospel singer Moses Bliss. Other gospel artists, including Rwandan musicians, are also expected to participate.
The Rwanda Revival Conference was launched in 2023 to bring together Christians from Rwanda and abroad to share the Word of God, pray and worship together.
The inaugural edition was held at BK Arena, with Apostle Grace Lubega serving as the main preacher. It brought together Rwandan and regional gospel artists and groups, including James & Daniella, Levixone, Elayone Music, Kajambiya and True Promises Ministries.
More than 5,000 people from different parts of Rwanda and abroad attended the first edition. The conference also featured prayers and testimonies from participants who said they had experienced different forms of spiritual renewal.
The second edition was also held at BK Arena in 2025, continuing the conference’s goal of transforming people’s lives through the Word of God.
Organisers say this year’s edition is expected to bring together more ministers and gospel artists, while encouraging Rwandans and people from other countries to come together in worship and praise.
Apostle Grace Lubega, who has been involved in the conference since its inception, will again serve as the main preacher.
According to information provided by the organisers, the ministry of Phaneroo Ministries International has expanded to more than 55 countries. In Uganda alone, it has more than 850 branches and conducts evangelistic activities in more than 1,200 schools.
The organisers also say that services led by Lubega every Thursday and Sunday attract more than 20,000 people attending in person, while tens of thousands more follow them online.
His teachings, known as “Rhythm of Grace,” are broadcast on various radio stations in Uganda and the United States.
His programmes are also aired on television networks including TBN Africa, TBN Asia, TBN Russia, Daystar Television, TBN UK, GOD TV, GBS TV in Malawi, Calvary TV in India and TBN Asia-Pacific.
Organisers describe the Rwanda Revival Conference as an opportunity to encourage the current generation to remain strong in their faith and become ambassadors of Christ wherever they are, including in churches, schools and workplaces.
They say the conference is rooted in Rwanda’s Christian history, particularly the East African Revival that began in Gahini in the 1930s.
“The flame that began in our country of a thousand hills should not be allowed to die out. Instead, we should keep it burning until it becomes a fire of revival that spreads across the country,” the organisers said.
“Many may say that we were born too late to be part of the young people who witnessed the first revival that began in Gahini. But today’s generation has been given an opportunity to revive what had been lost. We invite all Rwandans, from every province, district, sector and village, as well as people from all parts of the world, to come together at BK Arena in unity.”
Admission to the conference will be free, with the doors of BK Arena opening at 10 a.m.
Phaneroo Ministries International is a Christian organisation that seeks to transform nations and contribute to the lives of people from different generations through the Word of God.
It focuses on helping Christians build their lives on the Word, understand their purpose and contribute to the development of their communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Four Square Gospel Church of Rwanda, which is partnering with Phaneroo Ministries International to organise the conference, is a Christian church focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, strengthening Christians in their faith and contributing to spiritual transformation within Rwandan society.
The Rwanda Revival Conference was launched in 2023
“The fifth round of straw polls has taken place,” said Aglaia Balta, the UN ambassador of Greece, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of October.
Each candidate will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of nominating member states. The president of the UN General Assembly will also be informed that the straw poll has been conducted, she told reporters after the conclusion of the secret vote.
Security Council straw polls on secretary-general candidates are informal closed-door ballots used to determine the viability of the candidates. Their results are not officially released.
Seven candidates remain in the race for the next UN secretary-general: Ivonne A-Baki, a former Ecuadorian minister and diplomat; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former UN General Assembly president and former foreign minister and defense minister of Ecuador; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica and current secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; Olara Otunnu of Uganda, a former UN under-secretary-general; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the United Nations; and Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal.
Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ term of office expires at the end of this year. The next secretary-general will assume office on Jan. 1, 2027.
Security Council straw polls on secretary-general candidates are informal closed-door ballots used to determine the viability of the candidates.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts undocked from the ISS at 8:05 a.m. Eastern Time (1205 GMT) to begin the journey home.
The spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the California coast at approximately 11:34 a.m. Thursday, marking the end of the Crew-12 mission’s months-long stay in space, according to NASA.
The four-member crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 13.
(Left to right) Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot. /CMG
Rwanda used the occasion to showcase its coffee sector and highlight its vision of building a more sustainable, inclusive and value-driven industry, with farmers and rural communities at the heart of the transformation.
The event held recently brought together the Permanent Missions of Indonesia and Türkiye, the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda, among other partners.
For Rwanda, coffee represents much more than an agricultural commodity. It is closely linked to the livelihoods, resilience and aspirations of rural communities across the country.
Rwanda’s coffee sector has undergone significant transformation, with increasing emphasis on quality, origin and value creation rather than simply export volumes.
The country has invested in improved farming practices, processing, traceability and access to international markets, with the aim of ensuring that Rwandan coffee is recognised not only for its origin, but also for its distinctive quality and the story behind it.
Putting farmers at the centre
A key message from Rwanda was the importance of ensuring that farmers benefit more from the value generated throughout the coffee value chain.
Every cup of coffee reflects the work of farming families involved in cultivating, harvesting and processing the crop. Their contribution remains fundamental to the development of the sector.
Rwanda therefore continues to emphasise the need for greater value to reach the producers whose work makes the entire coffee industry possible.
The event also highlighted the importance of inclusion across the coffee value chain.
Women and young people play important roles as farmers, entrepreneurs, processors and innovators.
Their meaningful participation is essential to developing a coffee sector that is competitive while also being equitable and sustainable.
Strengthening international cooperation
The discussions further highlighted the importance of cooperation among producing countries, consumer markets, businesses, international organisations and consumers.
Such cooperation can contribute to strengthening sustainability, improving traceability, expanding market access and supporting decent livelihoods for coffee-producing communities.
The International Coffee Day celebration therefore served not only as an opportunity to celebrate coffee, but also as a platform to reflect on the people and communities behind the product and on the partnerships needed to strengthen the sector.
Rwanda showcases its coffee in Geneva
As part of the event, participants were invited to visit the Rwandan coffee table, where they had the opportunity to taste Rwandan coffee and discover its distinctive quality and character.
The showcase provided an opportunity for Rwanda to promote its coffee, share its experience with international partners and engage with stakeholders from across the global coffee value chain.
For Rwanda, the event offered another platform to position its coffee as a product of quality and origin, while drawing attention to the farmers, families and communities whose work remains at the foundation of the sector.
The celebration ultimately placed coffee at the centre of a broader conversation about quality, sustainability, inclusion, value creation and the future of the communities that produce it.
Rwanda has used the International Coffee Day celebration to promote greater value for farmers across the coffee value chain.The Geneva event has brought together stakeholders from coffee-producing and consuming countries to discuss the future of the sector.Rwanda has used the Geneva celebration to highlight the role of farmers and rural communities in its coffee sector.Rwanda has showcased its coffee sector and the communities behind it at an International Coffee Day celebration in Geneva.Participants have tasted Rwandan coffee and learned more about its quality, origin and journey from farm to market.
Akagera National Park has become Rwanda’s only Big Five destination, offering visitors the chance to see lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards in a landscape of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes.
Its transformation has also created more activities, accommodation and reasons for travellers to spend longer exploring Rwanda.
The return of lions is one of the clearest signs of the change. After being locally extinct in Akagera, seven lions were reintroduced in 2015, followed by two males in 2017 to strengthen genetic diversity.
The population has since reproduced successfully and reached around 70 lions by 2026. Conservation managers are now using fertility-control measures to manage the growing population while maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Rhinos tell a similar story. Eighteen eastern black rhinos were reintroduced in 2017 after a decade-long absence, followed by five more in 2019.
In 2021, 30 southern white rhinos were introduced, and another 70 arrived from South Africa in June 2025.
African Parks says the 2021 group had grown to 41 animals before the latest translocation.
Elephants have also multiplied from a small founding population. Akagera’s latest survey put the number at at least 115, all descendants of 26 elephants relocated to the park in 1975.
The park also has at least 3,300 buffaloes and an estimated 60 leopards.
The attraction, however, is not simply the Big Five. Akagera contains a mosaic of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes that supports almost 500 recorded bird species, making it an important destination for birdwatchers as well as conventional safari visitors. The park has also recorded 179 butterfly species.
That biodiversity is being turned into a broader visitor experience. Travellers can go on game drives, boat trips, guided walks and birdwatching excursions, while guided rhino walks provide a closer experience with one of the park’s conservation success stories.
Accommodation options include Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp and Magashi, allowing visitors to stay within or close to the park and experience the landscape over several days rather than making a short safari visit.
The tourism infrastructure has developed alongside the wildlife recovery. Karenge has been renovated, while the Magashi Peninsula has expanded the park’s accommodation offering.
These investments matter because they turn wildlife recovery into a complete tourism product: visitors need somewhere to sleep, activities to choose from and reasons to remain in the destination.
The economic results are increasingly visible. In 2024, tourism generated 97% of Akagera’s total revenue, with the park earning more than US$4.7 million in total revenue and welcoming 56,219 visitors.
In 2025, paying visitors increased by 7%, while commercial activities; including tourism, hospitality, leisure and fisheries, generated more than US$5 million, a 4% increase from the previous year.
That year was also the first in which Akagera no longer required operational funding from RDB, covering its operating costs through self-generated revenue.
The benefits extend beyond the park. Akagera employs more than 300 full-time staff, the vast majority from surrounding communities, while 10% of its income contributes to Rwanda’s Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme.
Nationally, more than Rwf23 billion has been reinvested through the programme in nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health facilities, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives.
In 2025, elephant identification projects documented 92 individuals, representing about 75 percent of Akagera National Park’s estimated 142 elephants.
Akagera’s growth is part of a wider expansion of Rwanda’s nature-based tourism offer. Volcanoes National Park continues to draw visitors for mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking, while Nyungwe offers chimpanzee tracking, forest trails and its canopy walkway and has UNESCO World Heritage status. Gishwati-Mukura adds another protected forest ecosystem.
For travellers, this diversity has made it possible to combine very different experiences. Tour operators can package gorilla trekking with safari, forest exploration, cultural encounters, hiking and other outdoor activities, giving visitors reasons to stay longer and explore beyond a single attraction.
Rwanda generated a record US$685 million in tourism revenue in 2025 from 1.49 million visitor arrivals, while its national parks recorded 155,394 visits and US$40.8 million in revenue.
Rwanda has set a target of reaching US$1.1 billion in annual tourism revenue by 2029.
Akagera National Park has become Rwanda’s only Big Five destination, offering visitors the chance to see lions.Akagera National Park is home to diverse species including giraffes. Leopards are also found in Akagera National Park. Akagera is home to a large number of bird species. In 2025, elephant identification projects documented 92 individuals, representing about 75 percent of Akagera National Park’s estimated 142 elephants. A hippopotamus has large, powerful teeth. It is among species found in Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park received nearly 60,000 visitors in 2025.
On the first day of the trade fair running through October 6 to 8, the women held meetings with prospective buyers while also reconnecting with existing business partners from Europe and other markets.
At the RwandaFresh stand, the delegation showcased their products and used the platform to establish new commercial connections and explore opportunities to expand their exports.
The delegation also received Christine Nkulikiyinka, Ambassador of Rwanda to Spain, who met with the women representing Rwanda and held discussions with representatives of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the SheTrades Rwanda Hub, hosted by the Private Sector Federation (PSF) – Specialized Cluster.
The participation of the Rwandan women is part of the Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) Programme, co-implemented by ITC and TradeMark Africa in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
Rwandan women entrepreneurs have showcased their products at the RwandaFresh stand during Fruit Attraction in Madrid.The Rwandan women entrepreneurs have engaged with potential buyers as they seek new export opportunities at Fruit Attraction.The delegation has strengthened business connections with partners from Europe and other international markets during Fruit Attraction.Christine Nkulikiyinka, Ambassador of Rwanda to Spain, has met with Rwandan women entrepreneurs participating in Fruit Attraction in Madrid.The Rwandan delegation has used Fruit Attraction to promote Rwandan products and explore new export opportunities.Kenya’s Ambassador to Spain, Nairimas Sharon Ole-Sein, welcomed Rwanda’s delegation during their visit to explore innovations from other countries.
Amb. Nkulikiyinka also held discussions with representatives of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the SheTrades Rwanda Hub, which operates under the Private Sector Federation (PSF).
The agreements were inked during the 10th Session of the Kenya–Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC), held in Nairobi from October 5 to 6, 2026.
According to the joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the agreements are intended to further strengthen the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries and provide a framework for increased cooperation across several sectors.
The newly signed instruments include an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, alongside a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations.
The two countries also signed MoUs covering immigration matters, housing and urban development, diaspora management, water resources management and irrigation, and local governance.
Other agreements provide for cooperation between the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the Kenya National Police Service, as well as collaboration in culture and heritage and conservation.
The development comes as Kenya and Rwanda seek to translate their political relations into stronger practical cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional integration.
The communiqué also noted that the two countries discussed ways to address barriers to trade, facilitate the movement of goods and services and strengthen business-to-business links where the Northern Corridor and the Port of Mombasa remain central to the economic relationship, with Rwanda continuing to use the port for its imports.
The two sides also highlighted initiatives including the Kenya Ports Authority Liaison Office in Kigali, land allocated to Rwanda at Miritini and Naivasha, and direct RwandAir flights between Kigali and Mombasa.
These discussions formed part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation beyond trade and infrastructure, with Kenya and Rwanda also reaffirming their commitment to working together on peace and security, particularly in the Great Lakes Region.
The two countries also pledged to strengthen coordination through regional and continental bodies, including the East African Community (EAC), African Union (AU), COMESA and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
At the conclusion of the session, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, commended the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the JPCC.
Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Usta Kaitesi, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Kenya for the warm reception and hospitality extended to her delegation during their stay.
The 10th JPCC follows the previous session held in Kigali in 2023, which resulted in the signing of 10 memoranda of understanding in various areas of cooperation.
The two countries agreed that the 11th Session of the Kenya–Rwanda JPCC will be held in Rwanda in 2028, with the exact dates to be agreed through diplomatic channels.
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Usta Kaitesi exchanging documents after signing the agreements. The 10th Kenya–Rwanda JPCC has concluded in Nairobi, with the next session scheduled to take place in Rwanda in 2028.Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Usta Kaitesi signing agreements on behalf of both countries. Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Usta Kaitesi, has commended Kenya for the hospitality extended to her delegation during their stay in Nairobi.Officials from Kenya and Rwanda pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the session.
The office began operations on October 1, 2026, as part of the company’s efforts to expand its operations in Africa, with a particular focus on landlocked countries.
Jesper Kanstrup, Hapag-Lloyd’s Managing Director Sub-Region Africa, said strengthening the company’s presence in Rwanda and Burundi was an important step in its expansion across the continent.
“Africa is a highly diverse continent, and serving our customers successfully requires a strong understanding of the individual markets in which they operate. By strengthening our presence, we combine local industry knowledge and customer proximity with the reach of Hapag-Lloyd’s global network,” he said.
Hapag-Lloyd is a global container shipping company operating in 140 countries.
Importers in Rwanda and Burundi primarily use the Port of Dar es Salaam, from where goods are transported to the two countries. Previously, customers requiring Hapag-Lloyd’s services in Rwanda had to rely on the company’s offices in neighbouring countries such as Kenya or Uganda.
The company said the new Kigali office is expected to improve customer support, facilitate trade and speed up services related to the import and export of goods.
Hapag-Lloyd operates a fleet of around 300 modern container ships and has approximately 15,200 employees in its liner shipping business. It also has about 400 offices across 140 countries.
The company offers 129 liner shipping services connecting around 600 ports across all continents.
Hapag-Lloyd operates a fleet of around 300 modern container ships.
