Trump posted a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his social media platform Truth Social, criticizing Canada for retaliating against previous U.S. tariffs.
He pointed out that the new tariff is in part caused by the flow of fentanyl from Canada, as well as allegedly unfair trade practices, and that he would “consider an adjustment” to the tariffs if Canada cooperated with the United States to stop the flow of fentanyl.
Trump used basically the same wording in the letter as that in the more than 20 letters sent to leaders of other countries earlier this week, such as warning them not to retaliate, urging them to move companies to the United States and the rates may be adjustable if they cooperate.
According to an NBC News report, Trump said that blanket tariffs of 15-20 percent will be imposed on most trading partners.
“We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it’s 20 percent or 15 percent. We’ll work that out now,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview.
The Trump administration had previously imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods, but later exempted products covered under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal.
The roll-call vote, held at noon in Strasbourg, ended with 360 votes against the motion, 175 in favor, and 18 abstentions, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for passage.
{{From Pfizer texts to election interference
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The no-confidence motion marked the first no-confidence vote in the European Parliament since 2014 and brought to the forefront growing criticism of von der Leyen’s leadership style.
Romanian lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea initiated the motion, accusing von der Leyen of refusing to disclose text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations for COVID-19 vaccine contracts in 2021, raising concerns about transparency.
Piperea also accused the European Commission of inefficiencies and potential misuse of funds, as well as interference in elections in member states such as Romania and Germany.
The motion garnered some support, including from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who publicly endorsed the motion on Wednesday, tweeting “Time to go” alongside a photo of von der Leyen on social media platform X.
Addressing the parliament earlier this week, von der Leyen defended the Commission’s pandemic decisions as being in Europe’s best interest, likening her contact with Pfizer to “seeking advice from the best epidemiologists and virologists in the world.”
{{“Last chance” for von der Leyen
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Despite surviving the vote, von der Leyen faces growing criticism from various parliamentary groups. Concerns have been raised about a rightward shift within von der Leyen’s center-right European People’s Party (EPP), aimed at advancing certain legislative agendas, including efforts to roll back green policies.
“Our vote today is not an endorsement of the direction of the Commission. It is undeniable that the Commission and its President are losing support in recent months,” the Greens/EFA group co-president Bas Eickhout said in a statement, calling on the Commission to stop rolling back the Green Deal.
Valerie Hayer, the president of the pro-business Renew Europe group, wrote on X that although they voted against the motion, their support for von der Leyen is not unconditional. She urged von der Leyen to take control of her political family to “put an end to alliances with the far-right.”
The centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the European Parliament’s second-largest political group, had previously threatened to abstain. However, after securing budget concessions from von der Leyen, they ultimately backed her in the vote.
Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley, of the S&D, said many lawmakers are determined that this will be the “absolute last chance” for von der Leyen, POLITICO Europe, a news outlet covering European Union politics, reported.
The country’s demographic momentum continues to be fuelled by its youthful population, with young people under the age of 30 now accounting for 64.6%, more than 9.1 million Rwandans.
NISR announced the milestone on Friday, June 11, as Rwanda joins the world in marking World Population Day.
This year’s World Population Day theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” resonates strongly with Rwanda’s current demographic landscape.
“Rwanda’s vibrant population, now 14.1 million, powered by its youth, is the greatest asset, driving the development, innovation, and resilience,” NISR said in a statement.
Steady growth over the years
Rwanda’s last national census in 2022 reported a population of 13.2 million, up from 10.5 million recorded in 2012. Over the ten-year period between the two censuses, Rwanda maintained an average annual growth rate of 2.6%.
Demographic projections also indicate important shifts ahead. While youth under 30 currently dominate the population, their share is expected to decrease to 54.3% by 2050, reflecting a maturing population.
Conversely, the working-age population (16–64 years) is rising, from 53.4% in 2012 to 56.0% in 2022, and is projected to hit 61.4% by mid-century.
World Population Day, commemorated every July 11, was established by the United Nations in 1989 to draw attention to global population trends and their impact on development and human well-being.
The day encourages dialogue around key population-related issues, including reproductive health, gender equality, and sustainable resource use.
The funding will support ecosystem restoration and community resilience building in six districts of Rwanda’s Southern Province, namely Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyanza, Ruhango, Huye, and Gisagara.
The newly endorsed project, to be implemented through a programmatic approach, builds on the success of the ongoing Green Amayaga Project. It aims to strengthen nature-based solutions, promote integrated natural resource management, and enhance livelihoods through ecosystem-based adaptation.
This latest endorsement comes just days after the GEF approved another $9 million grant to support restoration of Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor, bringing total recent GEF support to Rwanda to $27 million (over Frw 38 billion).
The Government of Rwanda has mobilised these resources to extend the impact of the Green Amayaga Project across all districts of the Southern Province. To date, the project has been operating in selected areas of Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Gisagara, where it has made impressive strides in restoring degraded ecosystems and enhancing community resilience to climate change.
Commenting on the development, Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to restoring its environment and strengthening the resilience of its people through inclusive, science-based, and locally driven solutions.
“Thanks to the unwavering support from the GEF, we can now scale up Green Amayaga across the entire Southern Province. This marks a critical step forward in our national efforts to build a climate-resilient, green economy. We are also deeply grateful to UNDP for their technical guidance and partnership in the development of this new project,” Kabera added.
The Green Amayaga initiative has achieved significant results in its current areas of implementation. One of its major accomplishments is the restoration of landscapes, with over 929 hectares of woodlots planted and the buffer zone of the Kibirizi–Muyira natural forest successfully rehabilitated.
In the area of agroforestry and erosion control, the initiative has planted more than 243,000 fruit trees. It has also implemented erosion control measures across 13,886 hectares, using a combination of agroforestry trees, terracing techniques, and reeds to stabilize soil and reduce degradation.
Riverbank and roadside protection has also been a key focus. A total of 93 kilometers of riverbanks have been safeguarded, and 763 hectares of roadside areas have been planted with trees.
To promote environmental sustainability at the household level, the initiative has distributed improved cookstoves to 21,000 families. These cleaner cooking solutions play an important role in reducing deforestation and minimizing indoor air pollution, thereby improving both environmental and public health outcomes.
Lastly, the initiative has contributed to livelihood improvement by providing livestock—including cows, goats, and pigs—to 2,534 vulnerable households. This support has strengthened food security and created new opportunities for income generation.
These achievements demonstrate the power of integrated environmental restoration and livelihood development. Scaling up these efforts will ensure that more communities benefit from improved ecosystems, increased climate resilience, and green economic opportunities.
The project is aligned with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation, Vision 2050, and the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), contributing directly to its climate action and sustainable development goals.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus formally recognised President Kagame’s role in championing a stronger international framework to enhance global health security during the closing of the inaugural WHO Pandemic Agreement meeting.
President Kagame has been at the forefront of championing a new treaty that would help establish better systems for alerting populations about potential pandemics, while also improving data sharing and the distribution of vaccines and personal protective equipment.
In recognition of his advocacy, WHO awarded President Kagame a certificate of recognition, which was received on his behalf by Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa.
The recognition comes as WHO Member States adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement on May 20 during the 78th World Health Assembly, marking a historic milestone in global health governance.
The legally binding accord is aimed at ensuring a more equitable, coordinated, and robust international response to future pandemics, drawing from the hard lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis.
“This agreement is a victory for public health, science, and multilateral action,” said Dr. Tedros. “It ensures we can collectively better protect the world from future pandemic threats.”
He added that the agreement recognises the imperative to shield societies and economies from the severe losses experienced during COVID-19.
The Pandemic Agreement lays out principles and tools to boost global cooperation, including provisions to ensure equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. While reaffirming national sovereignty, it encourages governments to work together in the face of shared global threats.
Key next steps include negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, a mechanism to ensure fair and timely distribution of pandemic-related health tools.
The WHO is also set to establish a Coordinating Financial Mechanism and a Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network to facilitate access to critical health products during emergencies.
The new accord becomes only the second legally binding treaty negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, following the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control adopted in 2003.
In partnership with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Rwanda this week dispatched over 40 tons of essential foodstuffs and medical supplies to support civilians affected by the protracted conflict, the Office of the Government Spokesperson announced on Thursday, July 10.
The consignment was received in Amman by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, which is facilitating the onward distribution to Gaza.
This latest delivery marks Rwanda’s fourth humanitarian shipment to Gaza since the conflict erupted in October 2023. It follows a May 29 2025, shipment of over 20 tons of aid, which also included food and medical supplies. That consignment, like the current one, was transported by RwandAir and coordinated closely with Jordanian authorities.
Rwanda’s initial humanitarian intervention came in late October 2023 with a package of 16 tons of medicines, food, and water. A second shipment followed in November 2024, comprising more than 19 tons of fortified food for children and other critical supplies.
The Office of the Government Spokesperson previously emphasised that Rwanda’s contributions are part of a broader international effort to alleviate civilian suffering in Gaza. It reiterated Rwanda’s call for an end to the conflict and the urgent protection of innocent lives.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel, has since escalated into one of the region’s deadliest in recent history.
The violence has resulted in the death of at least 57,575 people and wounded 136,879, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Initial drilling conducted on the HCK Project site revealed rich lithium deposits beneath the surface. One drill hole in particular, known as MWOG0002, reached a depth of 174.6 meters and uncovered a 6.9-meter section of lithium-bearing rock.
Within this section, a higher concentration was found, an impressive 3.2% lithium oxide, which is considered high-grade in the industry. The geological team also found thick sections of pegmatite rock, known to host lithium, with some layers measuring up to 80 meters in thickness.
This exploration only covered two of the twelve areas identified as potential lithium sites on the 2,750-hectare license in southern Rwanda. The fact that such promising results have already been achieved in such a small portion of the site has generated strong excitement about what may be found in the remaining zones.
In response to these early findings; Rio Tinto, which also operates in Rwanda, has confirmed that it will exercise its Stage 1 earn-in rights under the joint venture agreement. This means, the company will now own a 51% stake in the exploration license.
Moreover, Rio Tinto plans to invest further and can earn up to a 75% share by spending $7.5 million over the next three years. As part of this next phase, Aterian Plc will receive a $100,000 cash payment, and the two companies will continue to jointly manage the exploration process.
In a statement released on July 10, 2025, Simon Rollason, CEO of Aterian Plc, expressed enthusiasm about both the results and the partnership.
He emphasised that although the work is still in early stages, the thickness of the pegmatite layers and the quality of the lithium discovered so far are very encouraging.
“While further work is required to fully assess the project’s scale and continuity, these early indications provide a strong foundation to build upon as we advance our exploration activities in Rwanda,” Rollason noted.
The broader exploration effort began in August 2023 and included several phases of mapping, geochemical sampling, and geophysical surveys.
Drilling only recently began as a way to test whether early surface findings translated into deeper mineral deposits.
Aterian and Rio Tinto plan to release more updates as exploration continues. A detailed technical review is already underway to determine the best path forward, and decisions about the next phase of work are expected by the end of 2025.
Lithium was first reported in Rwanda in 2020. That same year, its global market value began to rise sharply. The price per ton increased from $44,090 in 2022 to $61,520 in 2023.
In August 2023, exploration efforts were intensified through an agreement signed between Aterian PLC, RIO Tinto Mining and Exploration Ltd, and Kinunga Mining Ltd.
Lithium is a valuable mineral used in the production of various technologies, including batteries for phones, computers, cameras, and more.
Before 2020, few people recognised the value of lithium, and its price was relatively low. In December 2020, one kilogram of lithium cost around $9 (about 9,000 Rwandan Francs), up from $20.5 per kilogram in January 2018.
Lithium prices dropped in 2020 due to an oversupply, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, 2021 was a breakthrough year for lithium traders, as prices soared by over 600%. By April 2021, the price reached $78,000 (over 78 million Rwandan Francs) per ton.
This price surge was driven largely by the increased production of electric vehicles, which require large, long-lasting batteries made from lithium.
In 2021 alone, 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold globally, double the number sold in 2020.
Experts in the mineral trade predict lithium will continue to be in high demand, as electric vehicle production continues to rise. By 2030, it is expected that more than 26 million electric vehicles will have been sold.
Currently, the leading exporters of lithium include Chile, China, the Netherlands, South Korea, Germany, and Belgium.
Speaking on Wednesday while hosting several African heads of state, he emphasised that the peace deal signed between Rwanda and the DRC on June 27, 2025, aims to end three decades of conflict in eastern Congo.
“It’s been a long and vicious fight, and I just wanted to say that the countries represented were very happy that we were able to solve that problem,” Trump stated.
He noted that following the recent signing of the accord by foreign ministers from both countries, the two presidents are expected to sign the final agreement soon.
“Over the next couple of weeks, the leaders of both countries will come to sign the final agreement,” he added.
The announcement came as Trump hosted several African leaders at the event, including President Joseph Boakai of Liberia, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.
Trump also praised his senior adviser for Africa, Masssad Boulos, for playing a key role in mediating the deal, saying, “He was very much involved in that settlement. Most people thought it couldn’t be done.”
The peace agreement signed last month includes commitments to dismantle the FDLR, an armed group that has long destabilised Rwanda from Congolese territory, and to roll back defensive measures Rwanda had implemented in response to regional threats. It also addresses the return of refugees and outlines a framework for economic cooperation.
Beyond Rwanda and the DRC, Trump said his team is also working to facilitate peace in other troubled regions on the continent. “We’re going to be facilitating peace also in places like Sudan, where they have a lot of problems, Libya, and others.”
He emphasised a shift in U.S. engagement with Africa, moving from aid to trade:
“We’re shifting from aid to trade. Trade seems to be a foundation that I’ve been able to use to settle a lot of these disputes — India and Pakistan, Kosovo, Serbia. We said, ‘You guys are going to fight? We’re not going to trade,’ and we seem to be quite successful in doing that.”
To support this new approach, Trump defended tougher measures introduced by his administration, including the shutdown of USAID, describing them as part of efforts to support the trade initiative.
“We have closed the USAID group to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, which was tremendous. We’re working tirelessly to forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations.”
“There’s great economic potential in Africa, like few other places in many ways. In the long run, this will be far more effective, sustainable, and beneficial than anything else we can be doing together.”
“I’m eager to work with each of you on your vital issues and also to discuss security,” he concluded.
The project integrated photovoltaic (PV) generation, energy storage, charging, and smart energy management into a unified “PV-Storage-Charging-Load System”, establishing an intelligent energy control architecture for efficient utilization and precise distribution of energy resources.
The initiative aims to promote the adoption of clean energy, enhance school energy efficiency, and provide a cutting-edge, practical platform for education and research.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, Gen Cesar, chief technical adviser at the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure, described the completed project as a milestone in a shared journey toward green development, educational cooperation, and deepening Rwanda-China friendship.
“We place great importance on expanding clean energy, strengthening our vocational education system, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors,” he said. “The project we are celebrating today embodies all of these goals — it is not only a source of renewable power but also a hands-on training facility that empowers our youth with valuable technical skills.”
Gao Zhiqiang, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, noted that since its establishment, Forever TVET Institute has remained committed to the principle of “industry-education integration and skills first,” focusing on Rwanda’s local development needs while aligning its programs with key sectors such as heavy machinery, electrical engineering, and information and communications technology.
“Over the years, it has made remarkable contributions in serving Chinese enterprises, cultivating local technical talent, and promoting cultural and educational exchange between China and Rwanda,” he said.
Jiang Chunhua, chairman of the board of Beijing Forever Technology Co., Ltd, said the company institutionalized China’s proven “industry-education integration” model through the establishment of Forever TVET Institute in 2018.
“Today’s inauguration represents our green commitment to Rwanda’s sustainable development agenda. This facility embodies cutting-edge integration of generation, grid, load, storage, and microgrid technologies, forming an intelligent energy ecosystem that ensures optimal efficiency and reliability,” he added.
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council welcomed the peace deal and expressed their deep appreciation to the United States, Qatar, and the African Union for their facilitation efforts.
The council members urged the DRC and Rwanda to honor in good faith their obligations and commitments for lasting peace in eastern DRC.
They expressed their determination to actively support the two countries in the implementation and follow-up of this agreement.
[Related article: ‘We are cautiously optimistic’ – Minister Nduhungirehe on peace deal signed with DRC->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/we-are-cautiously-optimistic-minister-nduhungirehe-on-peace-deal-signed-with]
