The launch took place on September 3, 2025, just hours before the ninth edition of the Aviation Africa summit, a two-day conference bringing together over 80 aviation companies from across the continent.
The drones, known as eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicles), are manufactured by Chinese company EHang and run entirely on electricity.
Each drone costs approximately $400,000 (approximately Frw 579 million), can carry two passengers, transport over 620 kilograms of cargo, cover 30 kilometres, and fly for up to 25 minutes on a full charge. They operate at an altitude of 100 metres, feature 12 rotors mounted on four arms, and are equipped with technology to detect obstacles mid-air.
Melissa Rusanganwa, International Affairs Manager at the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), was the first to experience the aircraft in flight.
“I felt safe throughout the flight,” she said. “The crew conducted thorough checks and gave us instructions to follow. This technology will connect people across different regions and support tourism while being environmentally friendly, as the drones are fully electric.”
Rwanda has previously used drones mainly for medical deliveries. Zipline Rwanda, operational since October 2016, has delivered blood, vaccines, and medical supplies to over 650 health facilities, including more than 100 small clinics. Their drones carry 2–3 kilograms, travel up to 160 kilometres at speeds of 130 km/h, and complete long-distance trips in under 40 minutes.
The country is also developing a state-of-the-art Drone Operation Centre in Huye District, Southern Province, on the site of a former airfield. The 13.4 billion Rwandan franc facility will accommodate drones of all sizes, including large models comparable to helicopters with wingspans of 18–20 metres. It will host up to 3,000 drones at once and include areas for assembly and testing of new drones.
“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60 and the casualty figure is rising,” said Abdullahi Baba Ara, chair of Borgu local government area, adding that 10 people were in serious condition and many others still missing.
Emergency personnel and local divers were searching for the victims, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
The accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) on Tuesday when the overloaded vessel collided with a tree stump and capsized near the Gausawa community in the Borgu local government area.
The boat carried more than 100 people, with women and children being the majority of the fatal victims, said Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi.
Boat accidents, often caused by overloading, adverse weather, and operational errors, are common in Nigeria.
In a report released earlier this week, the Federal Ministry of Health said field tests, medical reports, and surveillance data showed no signs of toxic substances. “There is no evidence of chemical or radiological contamination in Khartoum State,” it said in a detailed report.
The ministry said no abnormal deaths, mass illnesses, or symptoms of poisoning had been recorded, and that forensic reports had not identified any unusual causes of death. It added that radiation levels were normal, no radioactive material had moved, and no suspicious munitions or residues had been found.
The report said the findings were based on field tests conducted since April, when the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) retook control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
It said measurements were carried out with equipment accredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The United States in June imposed sanctions on Sudan, accusing it of using chemical weapons in 2024. Khartoum dismissed the allegations at the time as “political blackmail” and a distortion of facts.
Sudan has been in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the SAF and the RSF. The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, worsening a humanitarian crisis in one of the world’s poorest countries.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, the two discussed ASECNA’s central role in advancing aviation across the continent as well as Rwanda’s leadership in the use of drones to deliver economic and health benefits. Rwanda is widely recognised for pioneering drone technology, particularly in the delivery of medical supplies to remote areas.
Zo’o Minto’o is in Kigali for the 9th edition of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major gathering of global and continental stakeholders in the aviation industry. Rwanda last hosted the summit in 2022.
The two-day event, hosted by the Government of Rwanda alongside the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, and Rwanda Airports Company, opens on September 4 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre.
With the theme “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s aviation growth,” the summit will provide a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and the showcasing of aviation innovations.
The summit’s agenda focuses on key issues shaping the sector, including sustainability through the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the future of advanced air mobility (AAM) with drones and eVTOL aircraft, and infrastructure development such as airport expansion and enhanced air traffic management systems.
The summit also highlights Rwanda’s growing position as a hub for aviation excellence. The country is investing heavily in infrastructure, notably the new Kigali International Airport at Bugesera, and positioning itself as a leader in technological innovation within the industry.
The previous edition of the Aviation Africa Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2024.
This year’s Kigali summit is expected to draw senior government officials, industry leaders, and professionals from across Africa and beyond to transform policy discussions into practical steps for the sector’s growth.
The project is the result of a creative partnership between Belgian painter Paul De Gobert and Rwandan writer Joseph Ndwaniye, who set out to capture the nation’s landscapes, people and stories through two distinct yet complementary lenses: watercolour and prose.
The idea was born after the two met at a literary event. Inspired by their shared fascination with Rwanda, they embarked on a journey to document the country in real time.
De Gobert worked with portable formats, using watercolours to capture the fleeting play of light, speed and effort, while Ndwaniye translated those impressions into words, crafting a sensitive, nuanced narrative.
The result is a book that reads like a travel journal where image and text stand side by side, each offering its own way of understanding the country.
Rather than one medium overshadowing the other, painting and prose work in harmony, giving the reader a layered experience.
At the heart of the book lies the bicycle, a deliberate choice by the authors. For Ndwaniye, it represents more than just a means of transport; it is a social connector and a symbol of resilience.
The bicycle in Rwanda carries goods, brings families together, transports the sick and, in recent years, has placed the country firmly on the international sporting map.
From daily survival to elite competition, the bicycle becomes a metaphor for Rwanda’s capacity to move forward.
{{Memory and resilience}}
The narrative also touches on Rwanda’s past, particularly through visits to memorials. These moments are acknowledged with sensitivity, but the book resists reducing the nation to a single chapter of history.
Instead, it highlights a broader picture: traditions, biodiversity, everyday life and the determination of a society rebuilding itself while hosting international cycling events.
The publication of Les Mille Collines à Coups de Pédale coincided with Rwanda’s growing role in international cycling. Original works by De Gobert will be exhibited at the Institut français in Kigali from September 18 to October 6, while a dedicated stand will be set up during the week of the world cycling championships.
Visitors will have the chance to meet the authors, attend signings and engage in discussions.
But the project goes beyond the book launch. It aims to inspire young Rwandans to embrace cycling, celebrate those shaping the sport, and showcase local artistic talent.
Both authors have signalled their commitment to continuing the collaboration: De Gobert has already created hundreds of works on Rwanda, and Ndwaniye continues to expand his literary exploration.
Ultimately, Les Mille Collines à Coups de Pédale is more than a book, it is an invitation to rediscover Rwanda—through the rhythm of pedalling, the stroke of a brush, and the cadence of carefully chosen words. It shows how sport and art can come together to tell the story of a nation in motion.
Joseph Ndwaniye, hailing from Murambi in Rwanda, has lived in Belgium since 1986. Alongside his career as a specialist oncology nurse, he has built a strong literary reputation with works such as La Promesse faite à ma sœur (2007; reissued 2018), Le Muzungu mangeur d’hommes (2018), and En quête de nos ancêtres (2021), as well as numerous short stories.
Paul De Gobert, a Belgian painter, printmaker and watercolourist, is widely recognised for his public commissions and exhibitions, including murals like the Vandervelde metro station in Brussels.
Author of illustrated works such as Visages de Mongolie, Ma traversée de Bruxelles and Le Jardin sauvage, he has also produced hundreds of artworks dedicated to Rwanda.
{{Preface: David Lappartient, President of the UCI. }}
Residents of Kaburantwa in Buganda zone reported that late last week, they saw at least 30 trucks transporting Burundian troops and members of the Imbonerakure youth wing, affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party, crossing a bridge currently being rehabilitated by a Chinese company.
The Imbonerakure deployed to the DRC are said to have been trained jointly by Burundian soldiers. Observers of Burundi’s security dynamics confirm that among their trainers was the FDLR, a terrorist militia founded by individuals who took part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The forces are heading towards mountainous areas such as Minembwe, where they operate alongside the Congolese army, the FDLR and the Wazalendo militia in launching attacks against the Banyamulenge community and fighting rival groups such as MRDP-Twirwaneho.
On September 1, Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the AFC/M23 coalition, told journalists that more than 12,000 fighters—including Burundian troops, Imbonerakure, FDLR, and Wazalendo—had been deployed in the mountains of South Kivu in preparation for major offensives.
Congolese politician Moïse Nyarugabo, a former Member of Parliament, explained that Burundian troops stationed in the mountains number over 10,000.
“They have established camps, dug trenches… they are fighting, but I don’t know exactly whom they are waiting to confront,” he said.
Burundian forces have been openly operating in South Kivu Province since 2022, after Burundi and the DRC signed a military cooperation agreement.
The agreement was renewed in August 2023, with both governments agreeing that their armies would jointly fight the AFC/M23 coalition in North Kivu Province. However, the deployment there ended unfavourably for the Burundians, who were driven out of all the areas they once controlled in Masisi territory.
The pair were reportedly arrested early February 2025 at the crossroads connecting Ngozi, Gitega and Muyinga. Police pulled them out of a taxi and took them to the station, where they spent the night before being transferred to Gitega Central Prison.
In June, they appeared before the Gitega Intermediate Court, telling judges that they had travelled to Burundi simply to attend a wedding. Prosecutors insisted they were intelligence operatives.
On August 22, the court ruled the women innocent. IGIHE has learnt that their release was delayed while prosecutors were given time to appeal. When no appeal was filed, the Ministry of Justice on August 29 ordered their release, which was immediately carried out.
After their release, Nyirahabineza and Nzeyimana stayed with friends in Gitega, though their travel documents remained confiscated. Their lawyer continued to press for their return. On September 3, Burundian authorities returned the documents, clearing the way for their journey back to Rwanda.
The case comes amid strained relations between Kigali and Bujumbura. Rwandans travelling to Burundi face heavy scrutiny, as Burundian authorities accuse Rwanda of trying to destabilise its security, allegations Rwanda has consistently denied, stressing its commitment to peaceful coexistence with neighbours.
Every day, many people working in Kigali commute back to Bishenyi, Ruyenzi, and Gihara, enjoying the convenience of public transport linking them directly to Nyabugogo bus station.
Some who once dreamed of living in Kigali but built modern homes in Kamonyi have since decided to stay, convinced by the district’s rapid pace of development and its promising future that increasingly mirrors Kigali’s urban growth.
Looking ahead, Kamonyi’s development vision focuses on projects that will strengthen its connection with Kigali, while also integrating surrounding districts such as Muhanga, Bugesera, Ruhango, and Gakenke.
According to the 2023–2050 Master Plan for Settlement and Land Use, Kamonyi is expected to evolve over the next 25 years into a hub for agro-business, sports, entertainment, and modern housing, reinforcing its role as a true secondary city complementing the capital.
{{Nyabarongo wetlands}}
The Government of Rwanda plans to transform the Nyabarongo wetlands, particularly the Kamuhanda area, into a major tourism attraction. It will serve as a modern gateway into Kamonyi for visitors arriving from Kigali.
The site will be developed into a beautiful recreational zone with designated spaces for relaxation, social activities, and an information center to guide tourists.
The Nyabarongo Bridge will also be upgraded, redesigned with towering skyward pillars that will make it a striking architectural landmark. According to the master plan, its new design will symbolize the strong link between Kigali and Kamonyi.
In addition, the area will feature a cable car line connecting to Kamonyi’s town center, offering tourists an aerial view of the district’s natural beauty, especially the Nyabarongo wetlands.
{{Ruyenzi modernized}}
Ruyenzi, considered the urban core of Kamonyi, is undergoing a steady transformation as new infrastructure, commercial buildings, and residential developments continue to reshape its image.
The center is set to feature modern road interchanges to improve transport services, alongside the redevelopment of its existing small industrial zone.
With the establishment of a new industrial park in Muhanga, traffic along the main highway passing through Kamonyi is expected to increase significantly. To ease congestion, plans include the construction of a 44-meter-wide underground road to serve as a bypass.
Ruyenzi will also host a modern football stadium on the current Runda pitch, along with entertainment facilities designed to accommodate major district and national events that bring large crowds together.
{{Bishenyi elevated to urban status}}
Bishenyi, home to Kamonyi’s main bus terminal that connects passengers traveling between Kigali and the Southern Province, is set for a major transformation. Although the current terminal is poorly developed, plans are underway to modernize it, turning it into a showcase of the district’s progress.
The future Bishenyi will serve as a hub for modern shopping centers, upgraded residential areas, and an agro-processing and livestock industrial zone. It will also host Kamonyi’s largest market.
A signature monument will be built in the center, artistically crafted to symbolize unity, culture, and development, while serving as a welcoming landmark for visitors and prospective residents.
The Bishenyi wetland, currently loaned to local farmers for cultivation, will also be rehabilitated to enhance its natural beauty and conserve the rich biodiversity that exists within it.
{{Remera-Rukoma}}
Remera-Rukoma, Musambira, and Mugina are identified as emerging urban service centers, expected to continue expanding and attracting a growing population.
The Remera-Rukoma Hospital is set to be upgraded to provincial level, with a multi-storey facility bringing together a wide range of specialized medical services to improve healthcare delivery in the Southern Province.
In line with the country’s broader vision, a new district hospital will be built in Mugina to complement Remera-Rukoma, while each sector across Kamonyi will be equipped with at least two health centers.
Mugina will also host a modern bus terminal, featuring a passenger waiting area, ticketing offices, and information services. The project will be implemented with a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
According to the 2022 census, Kamonyi had a population of 450,849. Projections suggest that by 2035 the population will exceed 600,000, and by 2050 it will surpass 850,000, underscoring the need for these ambitious urban developments.
Family-related disputes, particularly divorces, continue to dominate the court docket, followed by cases involving immovable property, breach of agreements, and civil registry documents. Specifically, courts recorded 2,674 divorce cases, 2,259 cases concerning immovable property, 1,176 breach-of-agreement cases, and 1,059 cases related to civil registry documentation.
Supreme Court President Domitille Mukantaganzwa emphasised that this year, the Judiciary will prioritise dispute resolution outside of court, particularly through mediation.
She stated: “In this judicial year, the Judiciary will intensify efforts to encourage parties to resolve disputes amicably, particularly in family, labour, administrative, and commercial cases, using mediation.”
For criminal cases, the focus will be on victim-offender mediation and plea bargaining, which allows for agreements based on admission of guilt.
Historical trends show a sharp increase in divorce filings over the past decade. In 2016, only 21 cases were registered; this rose to 69 in 2017 and 1,311 in 2018. In 2019, 8,941 families were granted divorces, while in 2020, courts received 3,213 cases. The 2021-2022 judicial activity report recorded 3,322 cases, followed by 3,075 the next year. Although recent figures suggest a slight decline, divorce rates remain high.
Legal Framework and Reforms
The recently revised Law Governing Persons and Family identifies rising divorce rates as a key concern. Property-sharing agreements have often influenced divorces, with many couples agreeing to a 50/50 split of assets if separation occurs.
Article 156 provides that if the common property regime is dissolved due to divorce, and spouses have been married for less than five years, a judge may order an unequal division of property and debts. The law states:
“When the common property regime is dissolved due to cohabitation issues or changes in property management, spouses shall divide property and debts equally or as mutually agreed. However, if requested by a spouse married for less than five years, the court may order a division proportionate to each party’s contribution.”
The law also allows the court to consider property destroyed or debts incurred by a spouse, whether before or during the marriage, if not disclosed to the other spouse.
Grounds for divorce include adultery, conviction of a serious crime, refusal to provide household necessities, physical or psychological abuse, egregious misconduct, disputes over children, or other intolerable reasons. It also allows either spouse to seek divorce if cohabitation becomes impossible for any other valid reason.
The delegations arrived in mid-August 2025 amid continued accusations from both sides of failing to respect the agreement, particularly on enforcing a permanent ceasefire and releasing prisoners.
Freddy Kaniki Rukema, deputy coordinator of AFC/M23 in charge of Economy and Finance, confirmed on 22 August that “two representatives travelled to Doha with a mandate to address prisoner release and the cessation of hostilities.”
On 2 September, DRC’s Minister of Internal Security, Jacquemain Shabani, who heads the government delegation, said discussions remain active: “The process is ongoing. The government’s team is still in Doha and works daily with Qatar as mediator. Talks covered declaration of principles, starting with confidence-building measures, including the release of prisoners.”
He noted that dialogue on prisoner releases had concluded and attention had shifted to the ceasefire, though he did not confirm whether consensus had been reached on the first issue.
“Negotiations are now focused on the principle of halting hostilities, and discussions continue,” he added.
On September 1, AFC/M23 accused the DRC government of failing to release around 700 detainees, including its members and suspected supporters, while also alleging continued military provocations.
The group claimed President Félix Tshisekedi is unwilling to pursue peace, warning it would respond firmly if government forces persist in targeting civilians or its positions.
