MINEMA data shows that 8,905 Rwandans had already been repatriated before 285 more arrived on Wednesday through the La Corniche border post linking Rubavu and Goma.
More than 300 others also crossed into Rwanda through the Rusizi-Bukavu border.
Upon arrival, the returnees were transported by buses waiting at the border to Kijote Transit Centre in Nyabihu District, where they will receive initial assistance before being reunited with their communities.
Among those who entered through the Rubavu border were 177 children, 71 women and 37 men.
Speaking to IGIHE, François Bizumuremyi, who left Rwanda in 1994, said misinformation had kept him away from his homeland for more than three decades.
“We were constantly told to wait because nothing was happening in Rwanda and that one day we would all return together. Later, we realised we had been lied to. I decided to return home to Gikongoro, and I am ready to join fellow Rwandans in building our country,” he said.
Welcoming the returnees, Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa urged them to embrace their Rwandan identity and avoid the divisions that had forced many into exile.
He noted that many had lived difficult lives as refugees through no fault of their own and reminded them that ethnic division was one of the factors that had driven people from the country.
“You did not choose to live as refugees, and you did not live well there. Some people fled without even understanding why. Embrace your Rwandan identity and stay away from the divisions that led to your displacement because they did not bring you a better life,” he said.
Mulindwa assured the returnees that the government would continue to support them throughout the reintegration process and provide assistance to help them rebuild their lives.
Each returnee aged 18 and above will receive an initial reintegration grant of US$188, while those under 18 will receive US$113. In addition, every returnee will receive basic food supplies valued at Rwf45,000 to support their resettlement.
Rwandan returnees formerly held by FDLR arrive at the La Corniche border post in Rubavu after returning from eastern DR Congo.Children and adults were among the latest group of returnees welcomed back to Rwanda after years away from their homeland.Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa welcomed returnees and urged them to embrace unity and their Rwandan identity as they rebuilt their lives.
Trump’s comments came one day after a CNN report on U.S. weapons shortages following intensive military campaign against Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.”
On Tuesday, CNN, citing two sources familiar with the latest inventory report, disclosed that the U.S. military has burned through nearly four-fifths of its THAAD missile inventory compared to pre-war numbers and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the start of the Iran war.
The inventory report also noted that the stockpile issue was raised again prior to Trump’s decision last weekend to cancel new strikes on Iran, said CNN.
The U.S. Army has also used “virtually all” of its highly accurate long-range, surface-to-air weapons during the conflict, the news report said.
According to a report by the Washington Post on Wednesday, Trump at the presidential retreat Camp David last week vented anger at U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that he thought the munitions issue “had been fixed.”
Trump demanded answers from Hegseth on why he had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that threaten to limit military options with Iran, the newspaper said.
“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought,” Trump warned in his Thursday Truth Social post.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has “massive” amounts of munitions, especially of certain types.
The suspect, Baziruwiha Eliezer, also known as Sebishihe, is being held at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) station in Rubengera. He had previously been sentenced to 19 years in prison by Gacaca courts but fled before serving his sentence.
The 58-year-old was arrested on August 3, 2026, in Matyazo Village, Kinyonzwe Cell, Mutuntu Sector, Karongi District.
The Executive Secretary of Mutuntu Sector, Wilson Ntaganda, said Baziruwiha is suspected of taking part in the killing of Tutsi victims in Bisesero, one of the areas that witnessed some of the most brutal massacres during the genocide.
Ntaganda explained that Baziruwiha disappeared immediately after receiving his 19-year sentence, leaving both survivors and neighbours unaware of his whereabouts. Some even believed he had died while on the run.
According to the local official, Baziruwiha eventually returned to his home area, apparently assuming he had escaped justice. Although he tried to keep a low profile, residents—including genocide survivors whose relatives were killed in Bisesero—eventually recognised him and alerted the authorities.
One of the survivors who identified the suspect reported the information to the sector leadership and was advised to file a complaint with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, leading to an operation that resulted in his arrest.
“He was arrested on Monday, August 3, and handed over to the RIB station in Rubengera for further investigation,” Ntaganda said. “Authorities will also seek to establish where he had been hiding and whether he has information about other genocide suspects who are still at large so that justice can take its course.”
The Vice President of Ibuka in Karongi District, Jean Laurent Ntukanyagwe, welcomed the arrest, saying the suspect must serve the sentence handed down by the Gacaca courts to reinforce the fight against impunity.
He reiterated that genocide crimes are not subject to a statute of limitations and urged anyone still in hiding to surrender, acknowledge their role, seek forgiveness from survivors and the country, and face justice. He also called on the public to report anyone who escaped justice so they can be arrested and complete their sentences.
Authorities said that 19 genocide suspects who had previously fled justice have been arrested in Mutuntu Sector over the past six months.
According to Ibuka in Karongi District, more than 3,000 people convicted by Gacaca courts for their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi remain at large in Karongi and other parts of the country. More than 160 fugitives have been arrested over the past three years.
The 58-year-old was arrested on August 3, 2026, in Matyazo Village, Kinyonzwe Cell, Mutuntu Sector, Karongi District.
The U.S. military has burned through nearly four-fifths of its THAAD missile inventory compared to pre-war numbers and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the start of the war, the report cited two sources familiar with the latest inventory report as saying.
The report noted that the stockpile issue was raised again prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last weekend to cancel new strikes on Iran.
The U.S. Army has also used “virtually all” of its highly accurate long-range, surface-to-air weapons during the conflict, the report said.
The latest report came as the Pentagon updated its military casualties in overseas operations Tuesday, which showed four U.S. service members have been killed and 270 have been injured since July 7, the start date of a new round of hostilities with Iran as defined by the White House.
Previously released data showed that 14 U.S. service members were killed and 417 were injured during “Operation Epic Fury,” the joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran that started on Feb. 28.
With the latest update, total U.S. military injuries in the war against Iran have reached 687.
In the August 27, 2025 photo, an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is displayed in Unterluess, Germany.
The floating barrier, installed off Ceuta’s Tarajal beach, is now fully operational. The measure is designed to prevent irregular sea crossings after tens of thousands of migrants entered the enclave in recent days, many by swimming.
Spanish authorities also said on Sunday that the official death toll linked to the crisis has risen to 72.
Meanwhile, the regional government of Ceuta said 88 bodies are currently being held in the city’s morgue. Local authorities said some of the bodies were recovered from the sea more than two weeks after the migrant surge. The process of identification is still underway.
Although the large-scale arrivals have subsided, Ceuta has yet to return to normal. Police and military personnel continued security operations across the city on Sunday, detaining migrants found on the streets. Those apprehended were taken to police stations for identification before deportation procedures were initiated.
The migrant surge has become one of the most serious border crises in Spain’s recent history, prompting emergency measures by the Spanish government and renewed debate across Europe over migration management and the protection of the European Union’s external borders.
Irregular migrants gather outside a convenience store in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, on July 30, 2026. (Photo by Liu Wenyong/Xinhua)People gather on the Moroccan side of the border with Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, preparing to cross into the enclave, on July 30, 2026. (Photo by Liu Wenyong/Xinhua)
He made the call on July 31, 2026, during a general assembly that brought together youth volunteers from across Kigali City.
Dusengiyumva urged the volunteers to work closely with authorities and communities to identify and report people involved in the production and distribution of illicit alcoholic drinks, which have been linked to serious health consequences and deaths.
Some of the illicit drinks are commonly known by names including Dundubwonko, Yewe Muntu, Umumanurajipo, Bareteta, Akajinga and Beyurawihe.
Health officials have raised concerns about the substances reportedly used in producing some of these drinks.
Antoine Hagenimana, an official in the Mental Health Division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said some illicit alcoholic drinks may contain substances such as Pakmaya yeast, brick powder, excessive amounts of sugar, tobacco, and methanol among others.
Methanol is an industrial chemical that can be highly toxic when ingested.
“Methanol added to these alcoholic drinks acts like a poison that can kill quickly. It can damage the brain and cause the kidneys to stop functioning. This is why someone may appear healthy and then suddenly die after consuming such drinks,” Hagenimana said.
The effects of excessive consumption are not limited to deaths.
Some people reportedly collapse in streets, drainage channels and on embankments after becoming heavily intoxicated, raising concerns about both public safety and the wider impact of substance abuse on communities.
During the meeting, Dusengiyumva showed the volunteers photographs of people lying intoxicated on roads and used them to illustrate the consequences of alcohol abuse.
He told the volunteers that combating illicit alcohol was part of Kigali City’s priorities and urged them to overcome fear when reporting suspected cases.
“Have you seen the pictures? Is this the future we want? You have been trained, and now we are going to share responsibilities. We recently committed ourselves to ensuring that such scenes no longer appear in Kigali City, and you are the ones who will help make that happen. You know where these drinks are produced because you live in these communities. You must overcome fear and report what you see,” Dusengiyumva said.
Drug abuse remains another concern
The campaign against illicit alcohol comes amid broader concerns over substance abuse.
According to the RBC, substances being abused include cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, rwiziringa, as well as substances administered through injections.
The health institution identifies several factors that can contribute to substance use, including peer pressure, curiosity, loss of hope, limited communication between young people and their parents, family conflicts and, in some cases, families that encourage or facilitate substance use.
Continued substance abuse can have serious consequences, including mental health problems, kidney complications, cancer and difficulties maintaining employment, among other effects.
Dusengiyumva reminded the youth volunteers that their responsibility goes beyond addressing illicit alcohol and includes preventing and reporting all forms of substance abuse.
The volunteers pledged to support the campaign through community awareness and timely reporting.
Cyiza Joseph, one of the youth volunteers, said they had recognised the threat posed by substance abuse to Rwanda’s development.
“We have seen that drug abuse is a serious obstacle to the development of our country. We have therefore decided to engage our fellow young people through awareness campaigns and to report any cases we come across,” he said.
Cyiza also urged fellow volunteers to report cases without fear, saying their role reflects the spirit of service demonstrated by Rwandans who have dedicated themselves to protecting and developing the country.
The call comes as Kigali continues to rely on community-based initiatives and youth participation in efforts to address issues affecting public health and safety.
Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva told youth volunteers that they share a responsibility to combat illicit alcohol.Youth volunteers pledge to remain committed to the fight against drug abuse.RBC’s Antoine Hagenimana explains the dangerous production of illicit alcohol and its harmful effects on human health.
Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Gahuza, Ndayishimiye said discussions between Rwanda and Burundi had been concluded and that he was now waiting for Rwanda to implement what had been agreed.
The Burundian president said the dispute was not between the people of the two countries but rather their leadership. He explained that whenever he meets Rwandan officials, he asks why the agreements reached have not yet been implemented, suggesting that the delay raises questions about Rwanda’s intentions.
Ndayishimiye further stated that all outstanding issues had already been discussed and agreed upon, leaving only implementation. He added that if Rwanda believes additional matters should be addressed before those agreements are carried out, it should say so openly.
He also said representatives of the two countries held their latest round of talks less than five months ago and indicated that Burundi’s main expectation is for Rwanda to hand over individuals accused of participating in the failed 2015 coup against Nkurunziza.
However, in an interview with IGIHE on July 31, 2026, Amb. Nduhungirehe rejected that claim.
“That is not true. It never happened.”
The minister said the latest meeting between Rwandan and Burundian delegations, involving military and intelligence officials, took place at the common border in December 2025 and that the issue of the 2015 coup suspects was never discussed.
Instead, he explained, the talks focused on addressing the security implications that emerged after the AFC/M23 coalition captured the city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Burundi experienced an attempted coup in May 2015 amid a political crisis triggered by Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third presidential term, a move that was strongly opposed by sections of the population.
The failed coup was led by Major General Godefroid Niyombare. After it collapsed, some of those involved fled to countries, including Rwanda.
Burundi requested their extradition, but Rwanda maintained that it could not hand them over because doing so would violate international obligations protecting them as refugees.
Burundian authorities continue to seek the extradition of 34 people accused of participating in the attempted coup, some of whom are living in European countries, including Belgium. In 2020, Burundi’s Supreme Court sentenced them in absentia to life imprisonment.
Apart from repeatedly accusing Rwanda of sheltering the suspects, Burundi has not publicly exerted similar pressure on other countries hosting individuals linked to the failed coup, and its relations with those countries have remained unaffected.
Burundian President Ndayishimiye recently alleged that all outstanding issues had already been discussed and agreed upon, leaving only implementation.Minister Nduhungirehe has rejected Ndayishimiye’s claim over the alleged agreement on sending coup suspects to Burundi.
The appointments were announced in a communiqué released by the Office of the Prime Minister on July 30, 2026.
Brig Gen Munyengango takes up the ATL leadership after serving as Commander of the Logistics Brigade in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
A career military officer with more than 35 years of service, he has held several senior positions, including RDF Joint Staff J5 for Strategy, Plans and Policy and Defence and Military Spokesperson. He has also served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Sudan and South Sudan.
Brig Gen Munyengango holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defence University in the United States and a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from the University of Ghana.
Jules Muheto Ndenga, appointed CEO of Airport City, is an engineer with extensive experience in infrastructure development and aviation-related projects.
Ndenga previously served as CEO of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding Ltd, where he oversaw the group’s operations and strategic projects, including the development of the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and has previously worked in infrastructure planning, transport development and project management roles.
Airport City is a planned development around the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera, designed to provide supporting services such as hotels, logistics facilities, commercial spaces and other amenities for passengers, investors and businesses operating around the airport.
The project is expected to complement the airport’s operations and contribute to the growth of Bugesera as a new hub for investment, trade and transport.
Brig Gen Innocent Munyengango has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding Ltd (ATL).Jules Muheto Ndenga has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Airport City, a planned development around the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera.
Makolo made the remarks on July 30, 2026, in response to comments by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Communication and Media and Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya.
Muyaya had announced that, as part of implementing the Washington Agreement, the FDLR had signed an agreement on disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and relocation to a secure, monitored site.
In a post on X, Muyaya described the move as a major breakthrough in resolving the FDLR issue, despite the Washington Agreement making no provision for such a process.
Responding to the remarks, Makolo wrote: “The Washington Agreement calls for the neutralisation of the FDLR—not a negotiated protocol with a genocidal militia that the DRC government continues to arm and collaborate with.”
She added that declarations of voluntary disarmament are meaningless while the group remains integrated into the Congolese army and continues to fight on the frontlines.
“Voluntary ‘disarmament’ announcements while the FDLR remains embedded in the Congolese army & active on the frontlines change nothing. Implementation means verifiable dismantlement, not theatre.”
Makolo reiterated that Rwanda remains committed to implementing the agreement.
“Rwanda remains focused on implementation of the agreement. Our region deserves real security & stability, not paper exercises.”
On the evening of July 28, 2026, DRC’s Minister for Regional Integration, Floribert Anzuluni, accompanied by Patrick Muyaya, announced that the FDLR had agreed to lay down its arms, arguing that the remaining step was for Rwanda to lift its defensive measures.
The announcement came after Anzuluni had spent several days touring African and European countries, discreetly promoting a proposal prepared by the FDLR and signed by its president, Victor Byiringiro.
The document, described as the FDLR’s “self-dissolution” plan, was submitted to DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on May 30, 2026.
Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo has reiterated that implementing the Washington Agreement requires the FDLR’s verifiable dismantlement, not what she describes as “theatre.”
She died at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda, where she had been receiving treatment for some time.
News of her passing emerged on Thursday morning. A fellow senator who worked with her told IGIHE that he had recently visited her at the hospital.
Mukabalisa was born in Nyamata, Bugesera District, in July 1960 and later worked as a law lecturer at the Independent University of Kigali (ULK).
She also worked for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she served for 16 years.
In October 2003, Mukabalisa was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, where she served until 2008. She later became a senator, serving from 2011 to 2013.
In 2013, she returned to the Chamber of Deputies and was elected Speaker, a position she held until 2024. She did not seek re-election after completing the two-term limit.
Mukabalisa also served as President of the Liberal Party (PL), a political party founded on July 14, 1991.
Senator Donatille Mukabalisa, who previously served as Speaker of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies, has died.
