The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) battalion, known as Rwanbatt-2, relieved their colleagues at the Sector North base in a routine troop rotation aimed at maintaining continuity in peacekeeping operations.
Upon their arrival, the RDF said in a statement, Maj Gen Rayamajhi received a detailed briefing from Lt Col Robert Rwagihungu, the Rwanbatt-2 Contingent Commander, on the battalion’s operational readiness and deployment plan.
In his address to the troops, the Sector Commander commended the outgoing contingent for their professionalism and dedication, urging the incoming personnel to uphold the highest standards of discipline and training.
He reminded them that their mission—protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian assistance, and contributing to lasting peace in South Sudan—was both critical and demanding.
With the handover completed, Rwanbatt-2 has now fully assumed its duties in Sector North, reinforcing Rwanda’s longstanding contribution to international peacekeeping.
Rwanda remains one of the world’s top contributors to UN peace operations. According to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as of May 31, 2025, Rwanda was the second-largest troop-contributing country with 5,886 personnel, following Nepal with 6,119. Other leading contributors included Bangladesh (5,686), India (5,393), and Ghana (2,845).
Robertinho was dismissed by the Blues earlier this year after the club cited health concerns. The Brazilian tactician, however, lodged a complaint demanding his unpaid wages covering January to June 2025, when the season came to a close.
In a letter dated August 12, 2025, FIFA informed both parties that Rayon Sports has 45 days to settle the dues. Should the club fail to comply, it faces stiff sanctions, including a transfer ban preventing it from registering new players, both locally and internationally, for three consecutive windows.
The 63-year-old coach, who was earning $5,000 per month and went six months without pay, has since landed a new role with Saudi Arabian side Jeddah SC ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The signing, held in Doha on Sunday, August 17, 2025, was attended by Ambassador Igor Marara.
“This partnership strengthens healthcare cooperation between Rwanda and Qatar,” the Rwandan Embassy in Qatar said in a post on X.
In a related deal, Philex Pharmaceuticals also signed a joint venture and technology transfer agreement with Rwanda’s Labophar Ltd. The agreement will enable Labophar to locally manufacture Philex’s solid dosage forms, boosting Rwanda’s capacity to produce high-quality medicines domestically.
The deal was signed by Labophar CEO Pascal Gatete and Philex CEO Waseem Hamad.
Founded in 1983, Labophar produces a range of pharmaceutical products, including oral solutions, suspensions, and topical products. The company is currently expanding to manufacture intravenous (IV) fluids, syrups, and other products, and the partnership with Philex is expected to accelerate these efforts.
Philex Pharmaceuticals, based in Oman’s Salalah Free Zone, serves markets across the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa. The company specialises in research, development, and production of high-quality pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products, with a focus on generics.
The agreements mark a significant step in Rwanda’s drive to improve access to affordable medicines and strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The move follows the signing of the Doha Principles on July 19, 2025, in which both sides, under Qatari mediation, committed to key measures including a permanent ceasefire and the release of prisoners. The provisions were expected to take effect by July 29, with direct talks in Doha scheduled to resume by August 8.
However, neither deadline was met, leading to a delay in the formal signing of the peace accord, initially anticipated by August 18.
A Qatari official involved in the mediation told the media on Sunday that a draft peace agreement had been prepared and shared with both parties as part of the ongoing Doha process, with the Qatari capital set to host an important round of negotiations soon.
The official acknowledged ongoing obstacles but expressed optimism that they could be resolved through continued dialogue. He noted that despite missing the signing deadline, both the DRC government and M23 had reaffirmed their willingness to continue negotiations.
“We recognise the challenges on the ground and hope they can be overcome promptly through dialogue and genuine commitment,” the official added.
Qatar said it is currently overseeing discussions to review compliance with the Doha Principles and is working closely with international observers, including the United States and the African Union.
On August 15, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources convened agricultural exporters to align with government institutions and private players, including banks, on how to tackle bottlenecks and accelerate this push.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the drive will be implemented under the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5), which requires an estimated Frw 144 billion, or 2.3% of its total budget.
{{Agribusiness hubs lead the way
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Minister of Agriculture Dr Cyubahiro Mark Bagabe highlighted the Gabiro Agribusiness Hub, a modern 5,600-hectare irrigation zone drawing water from the Akagera River into a 120,000 m³ reservoir. The government has already invested over $118 million (Frw 170 billion) in the site, where investors lease land at $375 per hectare per year.
Seven investors are currently operational, with pledged investments surpassing Frw 53 billion. The hub’s first phase created 6,000 jobs, while the second phase will expand it to 15,600 hectares across Nyagatare and Gatsibo, complete with advanced irrigation and improved road infrastructure.
{{Scaling smallholder farming
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Another key initiative is the Food Basket Sites (FoBaSi) programme, designed to consolidate fragmented small plots into productive zones of about five hectares each. Over 495,000 hectares have already been identified out of a targeted 600,000 hectares.
Farmers in these sites will receive early access to fertilisers, quality seeds, and the support of permanent agronomists. The scheme begins in Season A of 2026 (September–December 2025) and is expected to drive significant yield increases, covering nearly half of Rwanda’s cultivated land.
The government projects significant growth in export earnings from high-value crops over the next five years. Chilli exports are expected to increase eightfold, moving from $6 million to $48 million by 2028/29, largely driven by expanding markets in Asia, particularly China and India.
Coffee earnings are forecast to rise from $78.7 million to $115.5 million, an increase of 46.8%, supported by the replacement of ageing trees and expansion of plantations. Tea is also set to record substantial gains, with export revenues projected to grow from $107.7 million to $164.4 million, representing a 52.6% increase.
{{PSTA5 to transform the sector
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PSTA5, a five-year programme, will channel $5.4 billion into modernising agriculture, promoting climate-smart technologies, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening value chains. The initiative is expected to create 644,000 jobs, up from 400,000 currently sustained in the sector.
“We are focusing on transforming agriculture into a business rather than subsistence farming,” Dr Bagabe said, noting that farmers’ performance will determine whether they retain or lose access to consolidated farming sites.
“At the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” von der Leyen wrote on social media platform X.
At a later press conference with Zelensky, von der Leyen said territorial decisions must be made by Ukraine, and these decisions cannot be taken without Ukraine at the table.
She stated that Europe would firmly support Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved, and that the European Union (EU) will keep up diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. A 19th package of sanctions could be introduced in early September, according to von der Leyen.
She also noted that the EU welcomed Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article Five-like security guarantees, and that the Coalition of the Willing, including the EU, is ready to do its share.
Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the clause on collective defense. U.S. president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday that it was possible for the United States and several European nations to provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article Five.
Several other European leaders said Sunday they will accompany Zelensky to Washington. The German government announced that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington on Monday, joining other European leaders and Zelensky for talks with Trump.
Merz is expected to discuss the current state of peace efforts, a statement said, adding that security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine will be addressed.
The French presidency told the press on Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington on Monday together with Zelensky and other European leaders to advance coordination between Europe and the U.S.
ANSA news agency reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be in Washington on Monday to attend a meeting with Trump at the White House, together with Zelensky and other European leaders.
Other leaders also making the trip include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Enditem
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump wrapped up their talks in the U.S. city of Anchorage in Alaska, but no deal was reached. The talks, which lasted about three hours, focused primarily on the Ukraine crisis, as well as on reshaping bilateral relations that have largely stalled in recent years.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.” “No getting back Obama given Crimea…and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
Earlier, Trump shared a social media post from his supporter, which said, “Ukraine must be willing to lose some territory to Russia otherwise the longer the war goes on they will keep losing even more land!”
Also on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC News’ “This Week” that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky must make concessions to achieve a peace deal.
In a separate interview with Fox News, Rubio said that European leaders involved in talks with Ukraine “are very helpful being in the room sometimes,” particularly in providing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Rubio said he hoped the Europeans would also help to push Ukraine toward a potential peace deal by “giving ideas about what accommodations can be made.”
Meanwhile, Rubio did not rule out the United States imposing more sanctions on Russia. In an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said doing so would signal the failure of Trump’s efforts to reach a ceasefire or lasting peace in Ukraine. “The minute he takes those steps, all talks stop,” he said.
Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said the White House extracted critical wins from its Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska.
Security guarantees offering Ukraine “Article 5-like protections” are the real prize, Witkoff said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” They’re “game-changing,” he added.
“We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” Witkoff said.
“We didn’t think that we were anywhere close to agreeing to Article 5 protection from the United States in legislative enshrinement within the Russian Federation, not to go after any other territory when the peace deal is codified,” he added.
Article 5 protection generally refers to the collective defense provision within NATO, which states that an attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies.
On Friday, a Trump-Putin meeting was held in Anchorage, Alaska, with no deal reached. Zelensky will travel to Washington, alongside a number of major European leaders, to meet with Trump on Monday.
“At the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday on X.
At a later press conference with Zelensky in Brussels, von der Leyen said the EU welcomed Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees, adding that it was essential to have a trilateral meeting between the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the United States “as soon as possible.”
He made the appeal on Friday, August 15, 2025, during the official inauguration of the Mugera Basilica, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and attended by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. Located in Gitega Province, Mugera Parish has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica, the first of its kind in Burundi.
President Ndayishimiye expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for choosing Mugera as the first Basilica under his papacy, and invited him to personally celebrate Mass there.
“We have come to receive the gift from our father, Pope Leo XIV, who has granted Mugera Church the title of Basilica. We invite him to come and bless it at a time he finds suitable—let him come to his home,” the President said.
He added that a papal visit to Burundi would include a Mass at the new Basilica.
“From today, this Basilica is his home. Mugera Church has long been a symbol of faith for all Christians, welcoming even Protestants. It is a place for all Burundians. We are deeply grateful to the Pope for this gift,” Ndayishimiye said.
The President emphasised the significance of the Basilica for national unity and called on Burundians to contribute to its development.
“This is the first Basilica under Pope Leo XIV. We hope it will become a place where we meet God—a space of peace, reflection, and inspiration to build our country,” he said.
He further urged the Pope to consider granting Burundi a Cardinal to oversee the Basilica.
“While the Basilica has been conferred, a Cardinal is still needed to shepherd it. We hope that all who pray here will feel at home, as Saint Peter once guided his followers. This will be a hub uniting Christians across the region,” the President said.
The Mugera Parish was founded in 1908 during the reign of King Mwezi Gisabo by missionaries Father Van Der Burgt and Father Van Der Wee. In 1922, as Burundi became an independent Vicariate, Mugera became the seat of its first Bishop, Monsignor Julien Louis Gorju, making it the country’s first cathedral.
Mugera, formerly known as ‘Mu mana za Mugera,’ also produced the first Burundian priests, Father Patrice Ntidendereza and Emile Ngendagende, who were ordained in 1925.
The Senegalese soldier was among the African peacekeepers deployed to Rwanda in 1994 under the United Nations mission. The veterans are currently on a seven-day visit to Rwanda.
On April 7, 1994, Belgium decided to pull out its troops from Rwanda, a move that severely weakened UNAMIR. That same day, Belgium launched a strong campaign to have the entire mission dissolved and withdrawn from Rwanda.
Under Belgian pressure, the UN Security Council on April 21, 1994, drastically reduced UNAMIR’s presence, leaving only 270 soldiers—too few and ill-equipped to protect those being massacred.
Brig. Gen. Faye explained that they had every right to leave, since that was the official order. He was then part of the observer group assigned to monitor military activities.
“Those who left for Nairobi received $135 per day, while those of us who stayed under gunfire in Rwanda were given only $93. If we had left, we would have enjoyed good hotels, comfort, and safety. But choosing to remain here was choosing death. It was a major decision and a symbol of sacrifice for those who stayed,” he recalled during an engagement with young people at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
“Every day, we came closer to death. But our greatest joy was that sometimes we managed to save two or three lives, whether in areas controlled by the UN or by the Rwandan army,” he added.
{{Mistaken for an ‘Inyenzi’
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Brig. Gen. Faye recalled an evening when he encountered Interahamwe who accused him of being an Inyenzi (a derogatory term for RPF Inkotanyi soldiers), even though he had already explained he was not Rwandan.
“That day I had been asked to escort a nun living near the Bralirwa factory. As we neared the convent, we saw three armed men who suddenly began shouting, ‘Inyenzi, Inyenzi.’ That was the first time I ever heard the word.”
He explained that after escorting the nun safely inside, he returned to find the armed group had grown from three to eight men.
“One had a rifle, the rest carried other weapons. I didn’t run. Instead, I approached them and said, ‘Don’t mistake me—I am not an Inyenzi, I am from Senegal.’ One of them said, ‘But you look like them.’ I replied, ‘Yes, but I am not.’ He told me, ‘You know, those people are witches. They can reach anywhere.’ In the end, they let me go.”
{{Remembering His Fallen Comrade
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Brig. Gen. Faye also remembered his close friend, Capt. Mbaye Diagne, describing him as an inseparable companion, since they had served together in another mission for four years before being deployed to Rwanda.
Capt. Mbaye, also Senegalese, was among the UN peacekeepers deployed to Rwanda in 1993 following the Arusha Accords between the Rwandan government and the RPF-Inkotanyi.
He served as a UN military observer, tasked with reporting information to UN leadership. Upon arrival, he was based at Hôtel des Mille Collines.
When President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, the genocide began almost immediately. The first victim was Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana, who was assassinated.
Hearing rumours of her death the following morning, Capt. Mbaye drove alone to her house to verify, without waiting for orders. He found that she had indeed been killed, along with the ten Belgian soldiers guarding her. Nearby, he discovered her children hiding and, though unarmed, managed to rescue them.
He placed the children in the boot of his car, covered them with clothes, and drove them to Hôtel des Mille Collines, where many had sought refuge.
Brig. Gen. Faye recalled:
“When he got to Agathe’s house, he called me and told me she had been killed, but that he had found her children. He immediately informed Gen. Romeo Dallaire. From that day on, he kept saving lives until May 31, 1994—the day he was killed.”
On May 31, 1994, while carrying a message from Gen. Dallaire to the then Rwandan army chief, Augustin Bizimungu, Capt. Mbaye was stopped at a roadblock. A mortar shell exploded near his car, striking him in the head and killing him instantly—just as he was preparing to return home to Senegal.
Brig. Gen. Faye said he was among the first to arrive at the scene.
“Among the Senegalese contingent, there were several officers like Capt. Mbaye. Though not all had his level of courage, they shared the same spirit. Of the 29 observers, 25 chose to remain in Rwanda, carrying out different missions. They led by example, alongside us and other soldiers from countries such as Togo.”
Brig. Gen. Faye was among a group of former UN peacekeeping soldiers who recently visited Rwanda to share their experiences from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, particularly with youth and members of the Rwandan Defence Force.
Speaking to business leaders and global delegates, he outlined how Rwanda’s bold choice to “think big” has transformed a nation once deemed doomed into a beacon of resilience and progress.
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi left Rwanda in ruins, with one million lives lost in just 100 days. Institutions were shattered, the economy collapsed, and hope seemed lost. Yet, as Minister Nduhungirehe explained, Rwanda refused to accept despair.
“We chose to stay together, to be accountable, and to think big,” he said, describing three defining decisions that reshaped the nation’s DNA.
Rejecting a one-size-fits-all development model, Rwanda forged its own path with homegrown solutions rooted in its culture and context. The Gacaca community courts, inspired by traditional dispute resolution, processed over two million genocide-related cases in a decade, delivering justice and reconciliation where conventional courts would have taken a century.
“Gacaca means grass,” Nduhungirehe noted, recalling how village elders once settled conflicts on grassy patches, a practice revived to heal a fractured society.
Other innovations drew from Rwanda’s traditions. Umuganda, a monthly community work day, unites citizens for public projects like tree planting and building homes for the vulnerable, making Kigali one of Africa’s cleanest cities.
Imihigo, or performance contracts, hold public officials accountable with measurable targets, fostering a results-driven culture. The Girinka program, meaning “own a cow,” has lifted thousands out of poverty by providing cows to poor families, with recipients passing on calves to neighbours in a chain of solidarity.
Rwanda’s ambition extended to gender equality, with women now holding 61% of parliamentary seats, the highest globally.
“After the genocide, women were victims beyond men, facing sexual violence and loss,” Nduhungirehe said. Reforms ensured equal rights to inheritance and services, while gender-responsive budgeting prioritizes women in education, health, and agriculture. Programs like One Laptop Per Child aim to leapfrog Rwanda into the digital age.
The minister highlighted Rwanda’s defiance of sceptics who called its goals too ambitious. Despite pressure from international partners like the World Bank and IMF to scale back, Rwanda invested in five-star hotels and tourism campaigns like Visit Rwanda, partnering with soccer giants Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich.
“They told us we were a poor country, that we should stay where we are,” he said. “We refused, and it’s paying off.”
Rwanda’s Vision 2020 lifted millions out of poverty and established universal healthcare and free primary education. Now, Vision 2050 aims to make Rwanda an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050, with a GDP per capita target of $12,000.
“Even if we don’t fully reach our goals, we know we’ll be close,” Nduhungirehe said, emphasising the power of ambition.
The minister also addressed Rwanda’s global partnerships, including its role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative since 2018, which has funded roads, hospitals, and irrigation projects.
On the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nduhungirehe noted that FDLR, a militia group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, continues to destabilise the region from DRC territory.
He highlighted a peace agreement signed with the DRC in Washington on June 27, 2025, aimed at neutralising the FDLR, lifting Rwanda’s defensive measures, resolving political issues for Congolese of Rwandan descent, and fostering joint economic projects like methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu and critical minerals development.
“We hope to change the narrative from blood minerals to shared prosperity,” he said, stressing Rwanda’s commitment to implementing the agreement in good faith.
Responding to questions, Nduhungirehe credited President Paul Kagame’s visionary leadership. A delegate from his team recounted Kagame’s post-genocide call to “transform suffering into a creative force,” choosing unity over bitterness. This clarity of vision, coupled with accountability, has driven Rwanda’s progress, from performance contracts for mayors to resisting external pressures to conform.
“Development should never be about fitting into a frame designed elsewhere,” Nduhungirehe remarked. “It should be rooted in values, driven by pragmatism, and flexible enough to adapt.”
