Despite the setback, Rubio will proceed with his scheduled visits to Germany and the Middle East using a different aircraft, the spokesperson confirmed.
An official speaking to AP stated that the problem, linked to the cockpit windshield of the C-32, a modified Boeing 757, surfaced approximately 90 minutes into the flight.
The SIA stands as a key meeting point for professionals, producers, and the public, all gathered to explore the latest developments in agriculture.
Its core mission is to spotlight local products, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices.
With its vast appeal, the show draws a broad audience, from industry experts to families and students, eager to engage with the world of agriculture.
Rwanda’s participation in the event is gaining momentum. Last year, over 25 representatives from Rwandan businesses, alongside key institutions like the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), and the Rwandan Embassy in France, joined the show.
This collective effort showcased Rwanda’s agricultural potential, strengthened international partnerships, and highlighted the country’s expertise in agro-industry.
At SIA 2025, Rwanda will display an array of high-quality products, such as renowned fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, and a variety of local specialties.
The country’s focus on sustainable agriculture will also take center stage, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly practices and a commitment to excellence.
This is an invaluable opportunity for Rwanda to not only showcase its agricultural strengths but also foster new trade relationships and explore emerging opportunities in the sector.
The show is rich with activities, including demonstrations, workshops, and discussions on pressing agricultural issues such as sustainability, energy transition, and food security.
These events are designed to enhance public understanding of sustainable agriculture and inspire the next generation to join this crucial field.
Rwanda’s participation in SIA 2025 is more than just a showcase of agricultural products; it is a strategic effort to highlight the country’s innovative practices, raise awareness about its agricultural diversity, and build stronger international partnerships.
As Rwanda continues to make its mark on the global agricultural stage, this event is a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of farming and Rwanda’s role in it.
{{Below are some photos showing Rwanda’s participation in SIA last year }}
karirima@igihe.com
The delegation engaged with key stakeholders, including the Private Sector Federation (PSF) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), to discuss potential investments in agriculture, real estate, urban development, and trade. Rwanda’s business-friendly environment and strategic position in East Africa were highlighted as major attractions for investors.
During their visit, a cooperation agreement was signed between PSF and FSC, establishing the Saudi-Rwanda Chamber of Commerce to facilitate economic partnerships. PSF Chairperson Jeanne-Françoise Mubiligi emphasized that this initiative would boost trade, investment, and cultural cooperation between the two nations.
President Paul Kagame received the delegation on February 13, reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Saudi Arabia. This courtesy call underscored the growing trade relationship between the two countries and reinforced investor confidence.
The Saudi delegation’s visit is part of a broader investment mission across Africa, including stops in Kenya and Tanzania. Business forums in these countries aim to foster trade engagements between Saudi investors, private sector players, and government representatives.
Rwanda and Saudi Arabia already enjoy strong diplomatic and economic relations, with agreements in healthcare, education, energy, and infrastructure. In October 2025, Rwanda’s Football Federation endorsed Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, reflecting their expanding cooperation beyond business.
As Saudi Arabia increases its trade footprint in Africa, Rwanda emerges as a key partner, offering vast opportunities in technology, finance, tourism, and manufacturing.
The visit confirms strengthen ties in economic collaboration, positioning Rwanda as a strategic investment hub in the region.
The Office of the President said through a post on X that the discussions focused on strengthening Rwanda’s collaboration with the World Bank in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and skills development, among others.
The World Bank has been a key development partner for Rwanda, supporting projects in energy generation and distribution, education, agriculture, and socio-economic development.
Rwanda became a member of the World Bank in September 1963, and in 1970, the bank’s board approved the country’s first loan of $18.8 million.
By the end of 2023, the World Bank had provided Rwanda with over $8 billion in loans, funding critical sectors such as education, infrastructure, agriculture, and livestock.
In December 2024, the bank allocated more than $255 million to Rwanda in support of private sector investments aligned with the country’s green growth agenda.
Additionally, in the previous month, the World Bank committed $200 million to enhance skills training for over 200,000 young people. These funds are part of the Priority Skills for Growth and Youth Empowerment (PSGYE) program, which aims to equip youth with the necessary skills to compete in the job market.
In October 2024, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente also met with Qimiao Fan during his first official visit to Rwanda since assuming his current role. Their discussions centered on ongoing development projects under Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).
Speaking about the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Rwanda’s development agenda, Qimiao Fan emphasized the institution’s focus on environmental sustainability, long-term infrastructure investment, education, healthcare, social welfare, job creation, and agriculture.
This follows the 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance recently announced by President Donald Trump. However, Malawi’s government says it is working to ensure that students can continue their education.
USAID has provided financial support to thousands of students in several Malawi universities, including the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and the Malawi University of Science and Technology or MUST.
James Mphande, the communications manager at MUST, said the U.S. foreign aid freeze is a big blow to several USAID-funded projects the school was implementing.
“And what it means now is that everything has been suspended,” he said. “So, if we were developing a curriculum, we can’t proceed. If we had some outreach activities, we can’t proceed. If we were in the process of making some procurements, we can’t proceed.”
He said some sponsored students may face the impact next semester. “Fortunately, we are in the middle of a semester. So, probably fees or support for this semester was already sorted out. But for the upcoming semesters or years, it means the students will have to look elsewhere for support or they risk withdrawing,” Mphande said.
However, Patience Yamikani Chakwana, a beneficiary of USAID at MUST, told VOA that she is already feeling the impact. Chakwana, a first-year student in business information technology, said the foreign aid suspension was imposed before students received money for their daily upkeep.
“It was really unexpected. It was, like, we have just started school after a week, then we are getting the news,” she said. “At the time, we didn’t have the money, and the pocket money had not been given. … I heard the news while I was in class. I didn’t know what to do. That was the only hope I had.”
Chakwana said USAID was paying for her tuition and accommodation, as well as giving her money for groceries and the internet connection for her mobile phone. She said she now survives on money she borrows from friends.
Jessie Kabwila, Malawi’s minister of higher education, said the aid suspension is discouraging, but the Malawi government is working to find other sources to help students.
“We have engaged local partnerships that are in the private sector to see how they can help us. We have also engaged international partners. For example, we have got a standing agreement with the Republic of Morocco. We have also engaged the Czech Republic, and we will be engaging others, too,” Kabwila said.
Alexander Kude, deputy director for the Commonwealth Students Association, said that the US foreign aid suspension should be a wake-up call for developing countries to start investing more in education and reduce overdependence on foreign aid.
“Look, the budget that the United States of America uses to fund us through USAID, it’s just a per cent of their money and budget. If you look how much that is and where they get it from, why not stand alone and do it ourselves?” Kude said.
The Trump administration says it imposed the 90-day freeze to review USAID spending and make sure it aligns with U.S. policy and interests. The freeze will extend through April 20.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said Milimani anti-corruption court chief magistrate Thomas Nzioki issued the verdict after he found Waititu guilty of fraud and conflict of interest in a Ksh588 million graft case.
The second sentencing comes a day after the politician was found guilty of irregularly awarding tenders in Kiambu County in February 2018 during his tenure as the County boss.
In a related judgement, Waititu’s wife Susan Wangari Ndungu was handed a 1 year jail term or fine of Ksh. 500,000.
The other convicts in this case namely Luka Mwangi Wahinya (former Kiambu Chief Officer, Roads, Transport, Public Works and Utilities) will also serve 2 years in prison or pay a fine of 1 million shillings alongside a mandatory fine of Ksh.20 million or serve 5 years in prison in default.
Also, the Directors of Testimony Enterprises Limited namely Charles Chege Mbuthia and Beth Wangeci were jailed for 4 years if they failed to pay a fine of Ksh.2 million shillings plus a mandatory fine of Ksh.294 million.
This is after the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully proved to the court that the ex-county boss and his co-accused were guilty of conflict of interest, abuse of office, engaging in fraudulent practices in procurement, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and dealing with suspected property.
Justice Nzyoki also directed that Waititu and his co-accused not be appointed or hold any public office for a period of 10 years.
The soldiers, who were found armed, were taken into custody by Ugandan authorities on February 12, 2025 before being handed over to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Nebbi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Robert Abak confirmed the development, stating that the Ugandan government followed the proper channels to ensure the soldiers were safely returned. “We handled the matter diplomatically and ensured they were repatriated without conflict,” Abak said.
However, sources close to the soldiers claim they were not in Uganda illegally. “We were not trespassing! This is our land,” one of them reportedly said while being escorted back to the DRC.
Lake Albert, which sits between Uganda and the DRC, has been a source of tension between the two countries for years and the Congolese soldiers may have believed they were operating within their territory.
Fishermen and security forces from both sides have clashed multiple times, with accusations of illegal activities and territorial violations.
The number of fraudulent online financial businesses scamming citizens continues to rise. Last year, a company named Super Free to Trade Ltd (STT) left many in financial ruin after luring them with promises of quick wealth.
BNR’s Director of Market Conduct Supervision, Nsabimana Gerard, revealed that the companies exploit digital financial trading, particularly cryptocurrency, to defraud individuals.
He identified four companies recently flagged by BNR and urged the public to stop investing in them, warning that they are scams.
“We have identified four such entities. One of them, Die Equipment, falsely claims to be an American-based company providing agricultural machinery, but in reality, it is a scam. It has no affiliation with the American firm it claims to represent,” he stated.
“Pi Network operates an online cryptocurrency trading scheme that is not legally recognized. Dynace presents itself as a medical supply company, while FlexFunds is another fraudulent entity. All these companies are designed to defraud citizens.”
Nsabimana stressed that these businesses operate outside Rwanda’s legal framework, meaning investors risk losing their money without legal protection.
“Many people have already lost money. For example, Billionaire Traders reportedly caused citizens to lose Rwf 10 billion.”
BNR highlighted multiple risks associated with cryptoassets, including lack of legal protection, high susceptibility to fraud, extreme price volatility, and lack of transparency.
Until regulations are established, the bank warns that neither investors nor buyers of such digital assets will have any legal recourse.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the country would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas fails to meet the deadline, without specifying the number of hostages to be released.
The Israeli military also confirmed that it was deploying additional troops to the southern region near Gaza, including the mobilization of reservists.
Under the ceasefire deal with Hamas that took effect on Jan. 19, Hamas is to set free three more hostages on Saturday. Earlier this week, the group said that it was suspending the handover, citing what it claimed were Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
Hamas’ decision prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to suggest that Israel cancel the agreement entirely, saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would “let hell break out.”
Concerns over the ceasefire’s collapse grow as there is increasing outrage in the Arab world over Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Jordanian King Abdullah II discussed “dangerous developments” in Gaza and the West Bank in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The phone call came one day after the Jordanian king met with Trump in Washington, where he reiterated his country’s “steadfast position” against Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.
This follows the arrival of two military aircraft carrying South African soldiers at Bujumbura International Airport last Wednesday.
Reports from Bujumbura indicate that these troops are reinforcing South African forces already deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern DRC.
The use of Bujumbura airport is said to be a contingency measure after M23 closed Goma International Airport upon capturing the city on January 27, 2025.
Burundian security officials told SOS Burundi that the South African troops moved from the airport to Gakumbu military base before reportedly heading towards the Gatumba-Uvira route into South Kivu, DRC.
A Burundian military officer stated, “Yes, the aircraft carried South African soldiers. We learned that they may pass through the Gatumba-Uvira road to reinforce SADC troops’ positions in South Kivu.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously suggested withdrawing troops from the DRC following the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in clashes with M23 around Sake and Goma.
His remarks came as South African forces remained stationed at a military base in Goma, under protection from M23 fighters.
However, recent movements suggest South Africa may be escalating its involvement. The deployment of troops to Burundi, an ally of the Congolese government against M23, adds to speculation.
Between January 30 and February 7, 2025, South Africa reportedly sent between 700 and 800 soldiers to Lubumbashi in southern DRC, with plans to reinforce troops in the east. This deployment was confirmed by diplomats and South African lawmaker Chris Hattingh.
Despite warnings from politicians like Julius Malema, urging the government to withdraw troops to prevent further casualties, South African authorities continue their military engagement.
Critics argue that M23 possesses superior battlefield experience and advanced weaponry, potentially putting South African forces at risk.
