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).
[Amb. Kacyira died of natural causes on June 12, 2025->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/amb-aissa-kirabo-kacyira-dies-at-61], leaving a profound void among colleagues, friends, and the international community.
According to The New Times, the final vigil is scheduled for Monday at her home in Kabeza, Kigali City.
After Kacyira’s demise, the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, extended sympathies to her family and to the people of Rwanda.
The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Souef Mohamed El-Amine, also expressed sorrow over her passing, describing her as a leader dedicated to building connections between people from Kigali to the United Nations.
Dr. Kacyira’s career spanned senior roles both in Rwanda and abroad. She served as a Member of Parliament from 2003 to 2006 before becoming Mayor of Kigali from 2006 to 2011. She was then appointed Governor of the Eastern Province, serving briefly in that capacity.
During her tenure as Mayor of Kigali, she was recognised in 2008 by UN-Habitat for transforming the city into a model of cleanliness, tranquillity, and sustainable development.
Her efforts also included promoting affordable housing and creating accessible job opportunities for residents.
From 2011 to 2018, Dr. Kacyira was the Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat. She also held the role of Project Director in Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and worked with international organisations such as Oxfam and Care International.
In 2020, she was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to Ghana, with concurrent accreditation to Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia. In 2023, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed her Head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), a position she held until her passing.
Dr. Kacyira held a master’s degree in Veterinary Science in Animal Production and Economics from James Cook University in Australia, and a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University in Uganda.
The initiative reflects Uganda’s broader strategy to enhance local mineral processing, add value to natural resources, and increase national revenue.
The Bank of Uganda reports that the country earned $3.4 billion from gold exports last year. This figure includes both domestically mined gold and gold imported from other countries.
President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly emphasized that exporting unprocessed minerals undermines Uganda’s economic potential, while nations that refine their minerals locally generate substantially higher profits.
On August 16, 2025, President Museveni officially inaugurated the Wagagai gold processing plant, located in the Busia District. The facility spans nine square kilometers and is equipped to refine gold to a purity level of 99.9 percent.
During the inauguration ceremony, President Museveni ruled out the possibility of exporting unprocessed gold in the future , to ensure that Uganda captures the full value of its resources.
The Wagagai plant is expected to significantly contribute to Uganda’s economic development by creating jobs, increasing revenue, and fostering a sustainable gold industry that retains more of the country’s wealth within its borders.
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.
In 2024/2025, Kigali had set a goal of collecting Frw 60 billion, which was achieved. Building on that success, the city has now raised its target for the coming year.
The Director General in charge of Communication and Education at the City of Kigali, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya explained that strategies to meet this target include raising awareness among business owners about the importance of timely tax payment and guiding them through the process.
“We continue to remind taxpayers about deadlines and show them the systems they can use to pay, since many get caught up in their work and end up missing the due dates,” she said.
According to Ntirenganya, higher tax revenues directly strengthen the city’s ability to finance infrastructure projects such as roads, health centers, and other public services.
Officials from the City’s Department of Economic Development acknowledged that some business operators still do not fully recognize the value of paying taxes, a gap that slows down economic growth. New measures are being introduced to improve compliance.
The City of Kigali’s total budget for 2025/2026 is projected at Frw 250 billion. If the Frw 80 billion revenue target is achieved, the city will cover nearly one-third of its budget through its own resources.
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.
Speaking about RRA’s new targets, he highlighted the ambitious goal of collecting Frw 3.628 trillion in taxes during the 2025/2026 fiscal year, explaining how the Authority intends to achieve this and why citizens should better understand their role in building their country’s economy.
For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, RRA aims to collect 54% of the national budget, which amounts to Frw 7.032.5 trillion. This collection effort aligns with the government’s introduction of new taxes, expected to significantly contribute to financing Rwanda’s development.
Niwenshuti stressed that citizens should appreciate the benefits of taxation, as revenues are reinvested in public infrastructure and services across the country.
“A nation can rely on its future if its people work, pay taxes, and grow the economy,” he explained. “Think of taxes as the blood in a body. Taxes are the blood of a country’s economy because when we collect them, we build roads, schools, hospitals, ensure security, and most importantly, we create jobs.”
He further noted that taxes stimulate employment through infrastructure projects, which generate jobs for citizens who, in turn, support their families. Taxes also create business opportunities through public tenders and contracts, expanding economic activity year by year.
{{Is collecting 54% realistic?}}
According to Niwenshuti, entrusting RRA with the responsibility of collecting 54% of the national budget is a remarkable milestone.
He recalled that when RRA was established in 1998, it collected just Frw 66 billion, yet since then tax revenue has grown by an average of 13% annually.
The 2025/2026 budget allocates 62.8% to economic development projects such as roads and infrastructure, and 21% to social welfare initiatives.
“Much of this money will directly benefit citizens through infrastructure and services,” he explained. “But to achieve these targets, RRA cannot do it alone. It requires collective effort and citizen cooperation.”
{{Why new taxes?}}
The Commissioner General explained that the introduction and revision of new taxes is part of the government’s broader plan to strengthen the taxation system.
Rwanda’s ambition is that by 2029, tax revenue should reach 19% of GDP.
“The more taxes we collect, the more the country can prosper — just like a household striving to improve its wellbeing. When you approach a bank for a loan, it first checks your ability to repay. Similarly, a nation must demonstrate its capacity to grow, and that capacity comes from tax revenues. Taxes give the country the strength to borrow and invest in development projects early, instead of postponing progress to the future,” he noted.
This year marks one of the most significant shifts in Rwanda’s taxation framework, designed to help Rwandans clearly understand the nation’s development path.
“Taxation itself is not enough. People must understand why it matters,” he added. “First, it’s about raising more revenue. Second, it reduces the deficit between what people earn and what is needed for national services. Third, it changes citizens’ mindset toward embracing their role in development.”
He noted that some taxes, such as those on alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, might be enacted to serve a social purpose, discouraging harmful habits that can negatively affect citizens’ wellbeing.
Niwenshuti urged Rwandans to shift their mindset and recognize that paying taxes is not merely an obligation but a direct contribution to the nation’s progress.
“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.”
The ministry announced in a press release that Hussein Moallim Hassan, a key figure in the al-Shabab terrorist group for over 15 years and one of its most wanted senior leaders, was killed on Saturday night.
The deceased had played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks against civilians in the central and southern regions of Somalia, said the ministry.
It added that the elimination of Moalim provided strategic impetus to the intensified campaign to degrade al-Shahab terrorists, including those in the group’s leadership structure.
Somalia’s security forces have vowed to step up air and ground operations to flush out al-Shabab militants in the central and southern regions of the country.
