According to a statement issued by the AEC on Thursday, the Shanghai office will be led by Bieni Da, chief representative of the AEC in China, who is tasked with ensuring that the chamber plays a pivotal role in connecting Chinese businesses and government entities with African stakeholders.
“The objective is clear: to drive impactful, long-term collaboration across strategic sectors of the economy, enabling investments that are mutually beneficial and aligned with both continents’ development goals,” it said.
The AEC, an energy advocacy group based in South Africa, was founded in 2018 with the mandate to promote sustainable investment and best practices within the energy sector in Africa.
In the statement, the AEC noted that despite the continent’s high energy demand, many African energy firms struggle to access the capital needed to scale operations and boost production.
The chamber added that its Shanghai office will play an instrumental part in connecting Chinese companies with African projects, facilitating partnerships, and bringing African opportunities to the Chinese market.
“The AEC wants to see greater Chinese investment across the entire African oil and gas value chain — from upstream projects to downstream infrastructure to manufacturing, power, and technology. China offers significant expertise in these areas, and the Shanghai office will unlock new collaborative opportunities in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and more,” NJ Ayuk, executive chairman of the AEC, said in the statement.
The AEC will also organize high-level investment forums in Shanghai to foster continued dialogue and engagement.
“Africa and China have a common goal: to eradicate energy poverty. It is time to walk the walk and bring Chinese expertise and capital to African projects… This office is a testament to making sure we leave our footprint,” Ayuk added.
The Senegalese Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, in a statement, confirmed that Mame Mandiaye Niang was among those targeted by the sanctions, describing the move as a “serious infringement” on the independence of international justice.
In a statement released Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Nicolas Guillou (France), Nazhat Shameem Khan (Fiji), Mame Mandiaye Niang (Senegal), and Kimberly Prost (Canada) of having “directly participated in efforts undertaken by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. or Israeli nationals without the consent of either country.”
“Senegal calls on the U.S. authorities to lift these sanctions, which constitute a serious violation of the principle of judicial independence and of the right of ICC judges to freely and calmly carry out the mandate entrusted to them by the 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute,” the Senegalese ministry said.
The Rome Statute, which defines the jurisdiction of the ICC, was first ratified by Senegal.
The statement added that Senegal reaffirmed its “full solidarity with Judge Niang” and the other magistrates targeted by the U.S. sanctions, while the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs assured the ICC of its “steadfast support.”
The closure, which followed customer complaints about poor service and negligence during a wedding ceremony in early July, surprised many, who questioned how a hotel that had been in operation for years could continue without proper authorisation.
At the time of the announcement, RDB warned that if the hotel continued operating beyond July 22, 2025, it would be in violation of national laws, a breach that could attract heavy penalties. The agency further explained that reopening would only be considered once the hotel had fulfilled all requirements to obtain an operating license in the tourism sector and complied fully with the relevant laws.
The revelation that such a prominent establishment lacked a valid operating license shocked the public, given that the hotel was well-known and had been welcoming guests for some time.
Speaking to IGIHE, Irène Murerwa, Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, explained that the situation was not unusual, pointing out that Rwanda’s 2014 Tourism Law allows investors to begin their projects while still working toward fulfilling conditions for an operating license, depending on the type of investment.
She clarified that beginning operations does not automatically mean an establishment is licensed in the tourism sector.
“In this case, the issue is not complicated. Registering an investment is simple and can be done online within six hours. But the key question is: what type of investment is it? A hotel, a restaurant, a nightclub, or apartments? The license granted depends on the category, and in their case, they were operating without ever applying for the proper license,” Murerwa said.
She added that although RDB was aware of the hotel’s investment activities, the owners had not completed all requirements needed to secure a tourism license.
“Anyone could see their doors open and assume they were licensed. Of course, RDB knew about them, just as we know many investors. We don’t close businesses the moment they open. We first conduct visits, hold discussions, and agree on timelines. Some investors fulfil requirements quickly, while others encounter delays. That was the case here,” she explained.
According to Murerwa, after an establishment begins operations, RDB reviews whether it meets the standards required for its specific category of tourism business.
“When challenges are communicated, we listen and allow time to address them, because our role is both regulatory and developmental. But once the grace period expires and compliance is still lacking, then closure becomes necessary,” she said.
Murerwa confirmed that Château le Marara had been inspected several times and was repeatedly reminded of what it needed to comply with. However, despite discussions, the hotel continued to report difficulties in meeting the legal requirements.
“We visited them and held discussions. But at some point, it became clear they were not treating the requirements with the seriousness of legal obligations. People wondered how such a well-known hotel, recognised by the community and local authorities, could lack RDB approval. The truth is that while they had the right to invest, they did not have the license to operate in the tourism sector,” she said.
Currently, investors registering in the tourism industry are required to fulfil up to 22 conditions, in addition to specific requirements depending on the category of business. These include registering the investment, employing qualified staff, and adhering to hygiene, safety, and environmental standards, among others.
While she did not disclose which specific requirements Château le Marara had failed to meet, Murerwa emphasised that any failure to comply constitutes a violation of the law.
“In tourism, there are many conditions to meet. If out of more than 20, you have fulfilled only five, you are still violating the law. While much attention is on Château le Marara, many other establishments have not met all conditions, and these cases must equally be reported to the authorities,” she concluded.
According to RDB officials, an establishment may be suspended for several reasons, such as employing workers without contracts—which is prohibited by law—or when clients suffer health complications due to non-compliance with required standards.
By law, RDB may grant an establishment a grace period during which it continues to operate while working to meet the required conditions. However, if follow-up inspections reveal ongoing non-compliance and no valid justification is provided, the institution risks suspension.
Murerwa explained: “There are instances where, for example, an employee mistreats a guest. That alone does not immediately warrant closure. In such cases, we conduct visits, issue warnings, and give time for correction. But if a client suffers health complications because the establishment failed to meet hygiene or safety requirements, then it becomes a serious matter, and closure is enforced immediately.”
She emphasised that closure is not necessarily permanent. Once the owner fixes the violations and meets all required conditions, they may request reopening. The application is reviewed through an inspection by a joint team from RDB, the Police, and other relevant agencies. If the team confirms compliance, the establishment is granted a license to resume operations.
Currently, a tourism operating license issued by RDB costs 80,000 Rwandan francs, although the fee may change in the future as part of an ongoing legal review process.
Château le Marara is located in Karongi District, on the shores of Lake Kivu.
RDB clarifies the reasons behind the closure of Château le Marara.
A month has now passed since Château le Marara was ordered to close its doors
Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR’s representative in South Sudan, told Xinhua in an interview that the agency is struggling to provide basic needs such as health and education for more than 550,000 Sudanese refugees, as dwindling funds have already led to food ration cuts.
“We have witnessed ongoing reductions in the capacity of UN agencies to support refugees in South Sudan. Food rations, for example, are lower than before, while UNHCR has managed to maintain essential services such as health and education; indeed, the standards are not as high as they once were,” Verney said in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Verney noted that despite the financial constraints, UN agencies are engaging with other institutions to sustain refugee support.
“So it is a difficult situation, but there are also some very positive developments, very strong engagement of the banks, World Bank, African Development Bank, on displacement issues and refugees in South Sudan, which gives us some confidence that we can be optimistic,” she said.
The UNHCR official said the greater challenge was the loss of flexible resources that previously allowed UNHCR to respond swiftly to multiple crises in South Sudan.
Since the conflict broke out in Sudan in April 2023, more than 1 million people, including both South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees, have entered South Sudan, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan, caused by conflict, climate shocks like flooding and heatwaves.
According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, over half of South Sudan’s population is experiencing severe food insecurity.
With clear signs of famine risk in specific areas and widespread crisis elsewhere, the UN has urged urgent, multi-sector humanitarian intervention to prevent further deterioration and loss of life.
Speaking during an interview with conservative radio host Todd Starnes on Thursday, Trump said he would be “going out tonight with the police and with the military” and pledged that “we’re going to do a job.”
The statement comes less than two weeks after Trump declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., and invoked provisions of the Home Rule Act to assume federal control of the city’s law enforcement.
On August 11, his administration transferred authority over the Metropolitan Police Department to federal command and deployed National Guard troops across the city. Since then, Washington has seen a significant increase in the presence of federal agents and military personnel, with checkpoints and joint patrols established in several neighbourhoods.
The move has generated mixed reactions. Supporters argue that the deployment demonstrates a firm commitment to restoring order, while critics, including local officials, have expressed concern that the takeover undermines the city’s autonomy and risks politicising public safety.
In Congress, lawmakers are already debating legislation that could extend federal control of Washington’s police force beyond the initial emergency period, signalling that the measure could have lasting political implications.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, August 21, 2025, U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said Washington was “encouraged by continued negotiations between the DRC and M23, facilitated by the State of Qatar.”
He described this week’s talks as a “critical step” following the signing of a Declaration of Principles last month, which laid out a roadmap for ending decades of conflict in eastern Congo.
Boulos reaffirmed the U.S. call for “an immediate end to violence against civilians” and stressed the importance of “concrete actions to uphold commitments to peace and stability.”
The comments come as both Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 announced this week that they would send delegations to Qatar.
The meetings are, among others, intended to evaluate progress on commitments made in the July 19 Declaration of Principles, including a permanent ceasefire and the release of prisoners.
AFC/M23 deputy coordinator Bertrand Bisimwa confirmed that his group’s technical team would focus on “the practical arrangements for the application of the ceasefire and the release of prisoners.”
The Congolese government also confirmed its participation, while emphasising that its negotiators would prioritise protecting national interests.
Despite the July agreement, mistrust between the two parties remains high. The sides had initially pledged to meet key commitments by July 29, paving the way for formal peace talks by August 8. Instead, accusations of ceasefire violations and disputes over detainees stalled progress.
The question of prisoners remains particularly contentious. AFC/M23 claims Kinshasa is holding around 700 members and supporters, while the government insists any releases can only follow the signing of a final peace deal. The impasse derailed efforts to conclude a broader agreement by August 18.
Qatar, which has been mediating since July, has acknowledged the setbacks but says it continues to work closely with both sides to encourage compromise.
This comes as a staunch Trump ally alleged that the top U.S. Fed official committed mortgage fraud, which is “appropriate for referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for consideration of criminal prosecution,” according to media reports.
Taking to social media, Trump on Wednesday wrote: “Cook must resign, now!!!”
In the letter posted on X, Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte claimed Cook “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.”
Pulte was referring to mortgages in the U.S. state of Michigan and Georgia that Cook took out in June and July 2021 respectively. The letter, dated Aug. 15 and addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, said Cook stipulated that the two residences would be her principal addresses for at least a year, a move that could enable her to get a more favorable mortgage rate.
While no investigation has been disclosed so far, Cook said on Wednesday she had “no intention of being bullied to step down.”
“I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve, and so I am gathering the accurate information to answer any legitimate questions and provide the facts,” Cook said in a media statement.
Pulte, an outspoken ally of the U.S. president, has been a vocal critic of the Fed, as well as Fed Chair Jerome Powell, for failing to heed the White House’s calls to lower interest rates, CNN reported.
According to Quartz, an American business news website, Pulte “in the months after his Senate confirmation … added to his job description helping orchestrate a fiery campaign against Powell and demanding the central bank chief to step down.”
“The new focus on Cook is an expansion of the Trump administration’s intense pressure campaign against the Fed, specifically central bankers who aren’t perceived as allies of the president,” CNN opined.
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) reported that Trump “appears to be rallying for another open seat on the board, which would allow him to appoint someone more aligned with his views.”
Analysts have also expressed concerns as the Trump administration made the new move in its bid to take control of the Federal Reserve and crimp its independence. In the past months, Trump has bashed Powell over the Fed’s monetary policy decisions and pressured the central bank to cut interest rates.
“This is part of a process to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve,” Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua.
Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that “Trump wants his people on the Federal Reserve so the bank lowers interest rates. It is all about wanting to control all the major levers of power. He needs people who are loyal to him and follow his instructions.”
Similarly, Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, told Xinhua that “Trump views the entire federal government as something that works for him and to advance his political agenda.”
“Anybody who’s not on board with that is, in his view, corrupt and needs to be replaced, regardless of facts and regardless of what the law says,” Galdieri said.
Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Xinhua that “I think it will make it less likely the Fed will lower rates … Since they won’t want to be seen buckling to (White House) pressure.”
“The effort to oust Cook will likely lead to higher long-term rates and less investment in the United States,” Baker added.
The decision was taken by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) during its quarterly meeting on Wednesday. The CBR, which serves as the benchmark rate guiding commercial banks in setting lending and deposit rates, is the main tool used by BNR to manage inflation.
May had marked the fourth consecutive time the MPC maintained the rate at 6.5 percent, following its initial reduction from 7.0 percent in August 2024.
Addressing the press on Thursday, Central Bank Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye revealed that inflation remained within the expected range of 2 to 8 percent in the second quarter of 2025. It is now projected to average 7.1 percent this year before easing to about 5.6 percent in 2026.
The outlook, however, has been revised upward from the initial forecast of 6.5 percent due to risks such as adverse weather conditions that could affect agricultural output and uncertainties in global trade and commodity markets.
“The Monetary Policy Committee has decided to increase the central bank rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 percent, a level considered adequate to keep inflation within the target range with forecasts averaging 7.1 percent in 2025 and 5.6 percent in 2026,” the Central Bank boss said.
Despite global trade headwinds, Rwanda’s economy has shown resilience. Real GDP expanded by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025, driven by strong performance in services and industry. High-frequency indicators point to continued growth in the second quarter, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) up 12.5 percent year-on-year, supported by strong credit growth.
External trade also improved, with merchandise exports rising 15.5 percent in Q2, boosted by higher coffee and mineral exports, alongside a 31.1 percent surge in non-traditional exports such as cooking oil and wheat flour. Imports grew modestly by 3.3 percent, helping narrow the trade deficit by 2.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
The foreign exchange market showed signs of stability, with the Rwandan franc depreciating by 2.96 percent against the US dollar by end-June, a slower pace than the 3.73 percent seen in the same period in 2024. This moderation was attributed to an improved trade balance, domestic foreign exchange reforms, and a weaker dollar globally.
Looking ahead, BNR expects inflation to remain within its target band, though risks remain from both domestic and external shocks. The MPC reaffirmed its readiness to adjust policy further if needed to ensure price stability.
The inaugural tournament will bring together 80 young players aged 4 to 16 to compete across four categories — from beginners playing 3 holes to advanced juniors tackling the full 18 holes.
The event marks the beginning of a new chapter where Rwanda’s junior golfers will now be part of a regional circuit that links them to peers across East Africa. NCBA’s Junior Golf Series has already grown significantly in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania- attracting over one thousand juniors across the region.
This tournament marks NCBA’s second regional golf expansion to Rwanda, following the launch of the adult series in the country last year. The youth tournament will be followed by three subsequent adult golf tournaments under the same “NCBA Golf Series” banner.
For the Rwanda Golf Union, a key stakeholder in golf development, the priority is clear.
“Developing juniors today means we secure the future of the sport tomorrow. This is a critical step in that direction,” said Amb. Bill Kayonga, Chairman, Rwanda Golf Union.
The title sponsor, NCBA, sees golf as part of a wider investment in sustainability from a human perspective.
“By supporting junior golf, we give youth the chance to build discipline, confidence, and a foundation for a lucrative sports career should they choose. This is part of our sustainability agenda to invest where it truly matters,” said Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Bank Rwanda.
The host and co-sponsor, Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, emphasizes the need to open doors for the next generation.
“Our golf resort was built to open the door for the world of golf to come into Rwanda, and to open its doors to Rwandans of all ages to come, experience, and excel in golf,” said Gaston Gasore, Ag. CEO.
“The juniors are ready because they have been here every day preparing with support from our academy, so this is like a graduation — a milestone celebration of efforts we are making on a daily basis,” he added.
As for the juniors themselves, the moment carries deeper meaning. “I’ve been practicing for this tournament, and I can’t wait to compete. Golf has taught me to be patient and keep going even when I miss a shot,” said seven-year-old Joey Mutaboba, a rising golf star competing in the Intermediate Category.
By creating opportunities for children to learn and compete early, the tournament is nurturing tomorrow’s professionals while ensuring the game takes deep root for generations to come.
Over Frw 10 million spread over 6 categories is up for grabs. Dubbed Tangira StartUp TV Contest, the pre-recorded show scheduled to go on air by early November 2025 on Igihe TV seeks to offer a platform for start-up founders to access critical resources they need in their enterprise journey such as mentorship, networking and funds to boost their businesses.
Remmygious Lubega the Executive producer of the show and the CEO at RG-Consult Inc behind the innovation stated that submissions are open up from 20th August 2025 until 8th September 2025.
“Tangira is an opportunity for all Rwandan StartUp Entrepreneurs with ideas and startup businesses to showcase what they have to offer as they race to gain business mentorship, reach wider market of customers/ buyers or investors and access to capital in the form of top prizes” he noted.
Submission is through visiting the website [tangira.rw ->https://tangira.rw/] and uploading a short 90 secs video pitch of your business or idea to the contest portal.
Upon submission contestants will be screened and the top 50 will be shortlisted to give the general public room to vote/ participate on who they think deserves to be on the show.
The Top 12 ranking participants will then get the opportunity to go live on the big screen through a mentorship in Kigali, facing a panel of experienced Judges leading to the elimination stages where Six out of the 12 will be rewarded.
Alex Ntare president of ICT chamber at Private sector Federation(PSF) and a sponsor/ partners of the show expressed optimism at what the show offered Rwanda’s start up ecosystem.
“Am truly humbled for ICT chamber to come through to offer support to this innovation which is designed as a public good, a source of information on platforms where young people are to access while they innovate and comfortably so in Kinyarwanda. We believe this project will support the start-up ecosystem.
“We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to support the next generation of Rwandan start-up founders from this show courtesy of such projects like Tangira StartUp TV Contest,” he said.
Ms. Ines Umurerwa, speaking on behalf of IGIHE Media House, commended the project for its transformative impact.
“We are excited to add valuable content on our channel that is geared to educating our young audience on how to create jobs and how to grow those ideas to big businesses. Through Tangira we see our journey as a media house and how we have now grown because we transmitted our content in Kinyarwanda and stayed with our audience and grew. If we could come this far, we believe that many other local ideas can,” she said.
{{About Tangira start up TV contest}}
Tangira is a Start Up TV contest whose first season is scheduled for airing on Igihe TV (Youtube Channel) by November 2025.
Several key stakeholders have come together to support its creation. This includes Rwanda Development Bank (BRD), Start Up 250, The ICT chamber, The Kigali Universe, RG consult Inc, Igihe, 103.5 Capital FM, ATV, BTN, Itara Production among others.
The contest seeks to enable local entrepreneurs to acquire different business skill sets, visibility, and access to finance and leakage to stakeholders to support growth of the enterprise sector by supporting them.
The project’s goal is also to create a Free source of entrepreneurship content/ Information in the local language that can be helpful for many startups across the country.
