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.
FRVB President Raphaël Ngarambe attended the CAVB Ordinary Congress held in Sal, Cabo Verde, on October 4, 2026, where the federation received the award.
Rwanda was commended for successfully hosting the CAVB Africa Men’s Club Championship, which brought together some of the continent’s top men’s volleyball clubs from April 20 to May 3, 2026.
CAVB also highlighted the contribution of President Paul Kagame, who supported the tournament and attended matches held at BK Arena and Petit Stade in Kigali.
Rwanda, a CAVB partner, was further recognised for facilitating visa access for African players and officials attending international competitions hosted in the country.
Egypt’s Al Ahly SC won the African Men’s Club Championship after defeating Rwanda’s Police VC 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) in the final.
FRVB President Raphaël Ngarambe received the award on behalf of Rwanda.FRVB President Raphaël Ngarambe received the award on behalf of Rwanda.
The discussions could see Rwanda added to the list of countries hosting Formula 1 races, potentially as early as 2030.
Rwanda has for some time expressed interest in hosting one of the world’s biggest motorsport events, which has not been held in Africa for 33 years.
President Paul Kagame reinforced Rwanda’s bid in 2024 when the country hosted the General Assembly of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motorsport.
In 2025, Kagame held further talks with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has backed Rwanda’s bid, and Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali on plans to bring the race to the country.
Rwanda is not the only African country seeking to host Formula 1, with Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa also expressing interest in bringing the championship back to the continent.
According to motorsport publication RacingNews365, discussions between Rwanda and Formula 1 have reached an encouraging stage, with details of a potential agreement expected to be announced before the end of 2026.
Under the proposed arrangement, Rwanda could be included on the 2030 Formula 1 calendar and become one of the countries hosting a Grand Prix.
A permanent circuit is reportedly being planned about 40 kilometres from Kigali, near the new Kigali International Airport under construction in Bugesera District.
The circuit could be designed by former Formula 1 driver and renowned racetrack designer Alexander Wurz through his company, WurzDesign.
Formula 1 is the highest level of single-seater motor racing, combining high speeds, advanced technology and a global fan base.
The championship is contested across a series of races, held on purpose-built circuits or temporarily closed public roads.
Drivers and teams earn points based on their finishing positions in each race, with the points accumulated throughout the season determining the annual drivers’ and constructors’ champions.
Rwanda hosted the FIA General Assembly, which featured the Formula One awards ceremony.Formula One is the world’s premier motorsport championship.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, WHO said the Kenyan government is strengthening response coordination and case investigation while monitoring and listing contacts for enhanced disease surveillance.
Screening at high-risk points of entry, clear risk communication and community engagement are at the core of the response, it said.
Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, said Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place and that the priority now is to move swiftly to detect any further cases before the virus has an opportunity to spread.
“We’re supporting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the response, and with rapid and coordinated action, we can prevent the virus from gaining a foothold and stop a potential larger outbreak,” Janabi said.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale on Tuesday confirmed the death of the patient, a Kenyan national who had been residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the past seven years.
WHO and its partners have supported Kenya with Ebola simulation exercises and the training of a national pool of rapid response trainers, the statement said. Isolation units across 27 high-risk counties have been identified and assessed, case managers trained and Ebola surveillance tools updated.
The global health agency has also delivered about 1,000 Ebola tests and 1,000 personal protective equipment kits to high-risk counties in Kenya.
WHO said it advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, the DRC, Uganda or Kenya based on currently available information.
Following the confirmation by Kenyan authorities of the country’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), the World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Government of Kenya to intensify key control measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
The meeting brought together high-level representatives and high technical teams to review progress since the 9th Session in Kigali in April 2023, assess implementation of existing agreements, address outstanding challenges and identify new areas of collaboration.
The 2023 session produced ten Memorandum of Understanding signed in the presence of Presidents Paul Kagame and William Ruto, who directed that the JPCC meet biennially with annual mid-term reviews.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A. Korir Singoei, opened the session by welcoming his Rwandan counterpart, Ambassador Fidelis Mironko, and underscoring the breadth of the relationship.
“Kenya and Rwanda have enjoyed warm and longstanding relations, and over the years our partnership has grown well beyond traditional diplomatic engagement,” he said.
Kenya and Rwanda established diplomatic relations in 1965. Cooperation now spans trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, security, education, agriculture, ICT and institutional capacity building.
Janet Mwawasi Oben, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda since 2024, highlighted tangible advances during her tenure.
These include the January 2026 Memorandum of Understanding operationalising the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Liaison Office in Kigali, which has improved logistical coordination and trade flows along the Northern Corridor.
That framework delivered results almost immediately. On September 29, 2026 the vessel MT Sea Wolf berthed at Kipevu Oil Terminal 2 in Mombasa with Rwanda’s first consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of refined petroleum products from Oman.
Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, described the shipment as a concrete demonstration of what partnership can achieve.
“This new route through the Northern Corridor will help strengthen Rwanda’s energy security, make our supply chain more efficient and reduce logistics costs. It also shows what our two countries can achieve when we work together,” Amb. Rwamucyo said.
Both sides also pointed to growing two-way private-sector engagement.
Kenyan institutions including KCB, Equity Bank, NCBA, I&M Bank, Serena Hotels and others maintain a significant footprint in Rwanda across banking, insurance, hospitality, manufacturing and agribusiness.
Rwanda, in turn, has demonstrated confidence in Kenyan infrastructure by acquiring a 1.05 per cent equity stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company through its recent Initial Public Offering and by participating in the launch of major investments such as the Dangote Group project in Lamu.
Kenya has also received land from Rwanda for the construction of a permanent Chancery in Kigali, a gesture both sides described as an important institutional commitment.
An estimated 10,000 Kenyans live and work in Rwanda, roughly 4,000 of them registered with the High Commission and organised under the Association of Kenyans living in Rwanda.
Officials noted that cultural events, diaspora engagement and institutional exchanges including recent collaboration between the Kenya Foreign Service Academy, the Kenya School of Government and Rwandan counterparts continue to deepen mutual understanding.
Teta Gisa Rwigema, the Director General responsible for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also called for focus on delivery.
“This 10th JPCC provides us with an important opportunity to move beyond reviewing progress and to ensure that our bilateral commitments translate into tangible outcomes for the people of Rwanda and Kenya,” she noted.
Speakers framed the session as an opportunity to consolidate gains while adapting to a more uncertain international environment.
Kenya and Rwanda have reviewed progress in their bilateral cooperation during the 10th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation in Nairobi.Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr A. Korir Sing’oei, has welcomed Rwanda’s delegation to the 10th Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation in Nairobi.Teta Gisa Rwigema highlighted the need for both countries to move beyond reviewing progress and focus on translating bilateral commitments into tangible outcomes. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ernest Rwamucyo, has described Rwanda’s first petroleum shipment through the Port of Mombasa as a milestone in bilateral cooperation.Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Janet Mwawasi Oben, has highlighted progress in bilateral cooperation between the two countries.Officials from Kenya and Rwanda have identified new areas of cooperation while addressing outstanding challenges in their bilateral partnership.
The training, which started on October 5, 2026, will run until December 31 and brings together prisoners from 17 correctional facilities. Half of the participants have spent more than 30 years in prison.
The programme is the 10th cohort of an initiative by the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), implemented with the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) and other partners.
Kayumba Alice Uwera, Executive Director in charge of National Unity and Community Resilience at MINUBUMWE, said the programme prepares prisoners to return to society peacefully and avoid behaviour that could undermine national unity.
She said some may face challenges after release, including stigma, isolation, loss of confidence and strained relationships with their families or those of people they harmed.
Others may still hold genocide ideology, refuse to acknowledge their crimes, seek forgiveness or reveal the location of victims’ remains for dignified burial.
“This is why participants are taught the country’s history, the consequences of the Genocide against the Tutsi, their role in building national unity and resilience, and how they can contribute to the development of their families and the country,” Uwera said.
The training also helps participants understand their responsibilities after release, adjust to changes within their families and rebuild trust.
Uwera urged them to uphold Rwandan identity and live peacefully with their families, neighbours and survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Focus on building on the principle of Rwandan identity and living peacefully with those you will find there: your families, neighbours and survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, while avoiding reoffending, particularly discrimination and division, as well as genocide ideology,” she said.
RCS Deputy Commissioner General Theos Badege urged the participants to take the training seriously as they prepare to leave prison.
“We ask those benefiting from this training to listen carefully and understand that they are between the correctional facility and the families they are about to rejoin,” Badege said.
He urged them to return to their communities ready to contribute positively and demonstrate behavioural change.
“We do not want to see you again in our records. Start preparing to contribute as much as possible so that people can see that you have changed and have moved away from anything that could lead you back into the correctional system,” he said.
MINUBUMWE said preparing prisoners for release should also involve preparing the families they will return to, to promote peaceful relations and understanding.
By September 2026, 2,103 prisoners had completed the programme through its first nine cohorts. The 10th cohort will bring the total to 2,629 participants.
The 10th cohort will bring the total to 2,629 participants.
In its weather outlook issued on October 5, 2026, Meteo Rwanda forecast rainfall ranging between 90 and 300 millimetres during the month, which is above the normal average for October.
Daytime temperatures are expected to range between 20°C and 31°C, while nighttime temperatures will range from 9°C to 19°C.
The country is also expected to experience moderate winds that could occasionally become strong, with speeds ranging between four and 14 metres per second.
The expected heavy rainfall will increase soil moisture in many parts of the country. Meteo Rwanda said this is expected to benefit agricultural activities during the 2027 Season A planting period and contribute to increased water availability.
The agency noted that soil moisture had declined in some parts of the country in September 2026 due to below-average rainfall, but is expected to improve in October as more rain falls.
September recorded below-average rainfall
Meteo Rwanda reported that most parts of the country received below-average rainfall in September 2026.
Of the 44 stations used to analyse rainfall during the month, 40 recorded below-average rainfall, while only four recorded above-average rainfall.
Rainfall totals in September ranged from 1.2mm to 124.6mm. The highest amount was recorded at Ntendezi in Nyamasheke District, with 124.6mm, while the lowest was recorded in Nyamata, Bugesera District, with 1.2mm.
In Kigali, Kigali International Airport recorded 38.1mm of rainfall, while the Gitega station in Nyarugenge District recorded 47.1mm.
Meteo Rwanda said the low rainfall in September affected land preparation and crop planting activities for the 2027 Season A, as well as livestock farming due to reduced pasture and water availability.
The rainfall expected in October is expected to improve soil moisture and water availability, supporting agriculture and livestock farming, particularly crop planting activities.
Meteo Rwanda urged residents to continue following weather updates issued at different intervals, including six-hourly, daily, five-day, seven-day and 10-day forecasts.
The Rwanda Meteorology Agency (Meteo Rwanda) has forecasted above-average rainfall in October
Rutabana served as RNC Commissioner in charge of training. He left Europe on September 4, 2019, and arrived in Uganda the following day, but disappeared shortly after arriving in the country.
Rutabana’s wife, Diane Rutabana, said that after her husband went missing, she contacted RNC members, who gave her conflicting accounts. Some reportedly told her that they knew where he was and that he was safe.
RNC Secretary General Gervais Condo said there had been information that someone had seen Rutabana on October 2, apparently suggesting that he was still alive after the date when he was initially reported missing.
Diane said she was also told by RNC members that the group had discussed the possibility that her husband would be arrested once he reached Uganda. She also said Rutabana had told her before leaving that he was having problems with Frank Ntwari, the brother-in-law of RNC leader Kayumba Nyamwasa.
These accounts led Diane to argue that RNC knew what had happened to her husband, although Kayumba Nyamwasa reportedly sent someone to contact her and reassure her.
Rutabana’s disappearance also contributed to divisions within RNC, with some former members arguing that the group has been reduced to a name, following what they described as internal disputes stemming from the case.
On September 20, 2026, Jean Paul Turayishimye and other Rwandans living abroad who oppose the government held an event dedicated to Ben Rutabana, seven years after his disappearance.
Rutabana’s sister, Adeline Rwigara, was invited to speak about her brother’s life. Her remarks triggered a strong reaction from the RNC.
In a prayer during the event, Adeline recalled how Rutabana had introduced her to RNC and Kayumba Nyamwasa, saying she was later shocked by what she described as their betrayal of her brother and his subsequent disappearance.
She accused RNC of being built on lies and misleading people, saying some had defended the organisation and Kayumba without knowing its true nature.
Adeline also accused Kayumba and Ntwari of playing a leading role in what she described as the betrayal of her brother. She said she was grateful that the RNC had collapsed because, in her view, it had been built on lies, cruelty and betrayal.
Her remarks angered RNC spokesperson Ignace Rusagara, who argued that Adeline should not have used a prayer to insult the organisation.
Turayishimye, who previously served as RNC spokesperson before breaking away from the group following Rutabana’s disappearance, later criticised Rusagara, saying he appeared confused and did not understand the case.
After coming under criticism from Adeline, RNC published a statement on social media on October 4 saying that, seven years on, Rutabana’s whereabouts remain unknown.
“Seven years have passed, but what happened to Ben Rutabana remains unknown. His family needs answers, his relatives need the truth. Witnesses should be heard and Ben deserves justice,” RNC said.
The group also said a song had been produced to ensure that Rutabana’s name would not be forgotten, while calling for a credible investigation into all circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
One person responding to RNC’s statement reminded the group that Rutabana’s family had called for an investigation years ago, but that RNC had rejected the request and stripped him of his membership before the circumstances surrounding his disappearance were clarified.
The critic also questioned RNC’s decision to comment on Rutabana’s disappearance, pointing to allegations that senior figures within the group, including Kayumba Nyamwasa and his brother-in-law, had played a significant role in the matter amid disputes involving Rutabana.
Ben Rutabana disappeared in early September 2019 after travelling to Uganda for RNC-related activities.Kayumba Nyamwasa and his brother-in-law, Frank Ntwari, have been accused of playing a significant role in Ben Rutabana’s disappearance.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that the number of lecturers with PhDs increased from 1,091 in 2023/2024 to 1,360 in 2024/2025, representing a 24.6% increase in one year.
Of the 1,360 lecturers with PhDs, 1,144 were men and only 216 were women. Women therefore accounted for 15.9% of lecturers with PhDs, compared with 84.1% for men. Despite the wide gender gap, the number of women with PhDs has generally increased over the past five years.
There were 141 women with PhDs in 2020/2021, rising to 162 in 2021/2022 and 179 in 2022/2023, before falling slightly to 169 in 2023/2024. The number then rose to 216 in 2024/2025.
This represents an increase of 47 women, or nearly 28%, in one year. Among men, the number of PhD holders increased from 922 in 2023/2024 to 1,144 in 2024/2025.
Overall, the number of lecturers with PhDs increased from 976 in 2020/2021 to 1,360 in 2024/2025. However, women’s share of lecturers with PhDs grew only modestly, from 14% to 15.9% over the same period.
The gender gap is not limited to lecturers with PhDs. In 2024/2025, universities and higher learning institutions in Rwanda had 5,463 lecturers, including 4,283 men and 1,180 women. Women accounted for 21.6% of all lecturers, while men represented 78.4%.
There has nevertheless been progress compared with previous years. In 2020/2021, women accounted for 809 of the 4,301 lecturers, or 18.8%. Their number had increased to 1,180 by 2024/2025, raising their share to 21.6%.
Public higher learning institutions had 2,517 lecturers, including 539 women, representing 21.4%. Private institutions had 2,946 lecturers, of whom 641, or 21.8%, were women.
Most lecturers hold Master’s degrees
The report shows that while the number of PhD holders is increasing, Master’s degree holders make up the largest group of university lecturers.
In 2024/2025, 2,935 lecturers, or 53.7% of the total, held Master’s degrees. They included 2,265 men and 670 women.
PhD holders numbered 1,360, accounting for nearly a quarter of all lecturers. Another 936 lecturers held Bachelor’s degrees, including 683 men and 253 women, while 232 had qualifications below Bachelor’s degree level.
The Ministry of Education says the rise in the number of lecturers with PhDs reflects continued efforts by academics to advance their educational qualifications.
However, the low number of women reaching PhD level remains an area requiring greater support to enable more women to pursue advanced studies.
The increase in PhD holders came as the overall number of lecturers at universities and higher learning institutions also grew.
The number of lecturers rose from 4,577 in 2023/2024 to 5,463 in 2024/2025, an increase of 886 lecturers, or 19.3% in one year.
The number of lecturers with PhDs in Rwanda increased from 976 in 2020/2021 to 1,360 in 2024/2025.
A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment on “foreign nations’ military operations,” but said the base was safe. The spokesperson cited Defence Secretary Wes Streeting as saying last week that Britain had “tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that he would not directly link an incident near the base last week to the decision to withdraw the bombers, describing movements at that time as routine exercises and redeployments.
Rubio said that the United States continued to have full confidence in the security of its bases, adding that British authorities had been cooperative following the incident.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the United States.
About a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the base before their departure.
The withdrawal came after six suspects were arrested in connection with a suspected attack on the base, which U.S. and British officials said had been foiled.
On Sept. 27, British police evacuated homes near RAF Fairford after several men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act. Army bomb-disposal experts were also called in to examine a number of vehicles.
About a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base before their departure.
