The project, located in Musanze District in the Northern Province, is part of a broader national effort to tap into the lucrative global medical cannabis market and drive economic diversification.
An official from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) confirmed during a parliamentary budget hearing on Tuesday that the project is 83 percent complete.
Joseph Cedrick Nsengiyumva, RDB’s Chief Financial Officer, informed lawmakers that remaining tasks include the installation of a double-layered security fence—an international requirement for medical cannabis infrastructure.
“The works related to drainage layout were completed but are yet to be invoiced,” said Nsengiyumva.
For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Rwf2.2 billion has been earmarked for the project, with over Rwf1 billion already spent, representing a 46 percent financial execution rate.
The medical cannabis initiative marks Rwanda’s foray into the pharmaceutical and health research industries, with the long-term goal of becoming a key exporter of cannabis-derived therapeutic products.
Based on ministerial orders issued in June 2021 concerning cannabis and its derivatives, King Kong Organics (KKOG) was granted a five-year license to cultivate the plant.
The firm, a subsidiary of KKOG Global, has already invested $10 million into facility construction, advanced machinery, land acquisition, and the importation of genetically modified cannabis seeds.
Initially, construction of the production site was expected to be completed by May 2024, but delays linked to infrastructure access pushed the timeline to September of the same year.
KKOG CEO Rene Joseph said the plant will be used to extract cannabis oils for export to international markets.
Rwanda has allocated 134 hectares for medical cannabis cultivation, targeting a yield of 5,000 kilograms per hectare for export.
The fifth-generation network is now live at Kigali Heights and the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC)—signaling the beginning of a broader rollout.
“We have the first 5G site in Rwanda at the Kigali Heights/KCC area—a proud and exciting step for us as we kick off this journey. As we move forward with our 5G rollout, we can’t wait for our customers to experience the full extent of what 5G has to offer,” MTN Rwanda shared in a post on X.
MTN Rwanda CEO Ali Monzer also posted on X, revealing that additional 5G sites will be activated soon.
“In the coming weeks, we will activate more 5G sites across high-demand zones in Kigali. We are committed to expanding coverage swiftly and strategically,” he stated.
The company began upgrading its network infrastructure back in 2020, starting in Kigali, to prepare for the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and even 6G in the future.
These upgrades aimed to lay a strong foundation for faster, more reliable digital services across the country.
In 2023, Rwanda and China initiated discussions to enhance their collaboration in the technology sector, with a specific focus on the establishment of 5G infrastructure and mitigating cyber threats.
Talks about new areas of cooperation began during a two-day visit to Rwanda by Zhuang Rongwen, the Chinese Minister responsible for Cybersecurity.
Speaking to the press at the time, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Ingabire Paula, informed the press that the talks with China aimed to explore how both countries could further collaborate in various technological sectors, including the implementation of 5G networks.
She emphasized, “We discussed in detail how to strengthen this relationship, not only in terms of training but also in research and development, especially regarding 5G.”
The Minister also highlighted the necessity for Rwanda to have a 5G connection, underscoring the opportunities it presents, particularly in the medical sector.
5G technology is considered a significant advancement, offering connection speeds up to a hundred times faster than 4G.
Ingabire expressed that medical services are one of the areas where Rwanda sees outstanding potential for the adoption of 5G.
{{What makes 5G a game-changer?}}
5G is more than just a faster internet connection. It enables transformative innovations, such as remote surgeries, autonomous vehicles, and smart home systems—like a fridge that alerts you if food is spoiling, or the ability to switch off an appliance remotely.
Technically, 5G is 10 to 100 times faster than 4G. In the U.S., for instance, telecom giant Verizon recorded download speeds of up to 1.0 Gbps (gigabits per second) in recent tests—allowing users to download entire movies or large files in seconds.
But speed isn’t everything. 5G drastically reduces latency—the delay between clicking something and seeing it respond. On 4G networks, this delay is around 20 milliseconds. With 5G, it drops to less than 1 millisecond, making real-time applications smoother and more responsive.
Another key benefit is 5G’s ability to connect thousands of devices simultaneously, making it ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT)—where everything from cars to household appliances can be connected to the internet and communicate with each other.
Rwanda now ranks third in Africa for internet speed and is among top countries worldwide. As of now, the number of people with 5G-compatible smartphones is growing rapidly—increasing by 10% to 15% each year—suggesting that Rwanda is well on its way to embracing this new digital era.
Rwanda Central Bank Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye made the revelation during a press conference on Thursday, May 15, following a recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
Addressing growing interest in gold among central banks in the East African Community (EAC) region, Governor Hakuziyaremye said Rwanda’s central bank conducted a detailed study on incorporating gold as an additional reserve asset.
The move follows a trend observed by the EAC Central Bank Monetary Affairs Committee, which noted several regional central banks considering gold to diversify and strengthen their reserves.
“Given gold’s ability to counter shocks in the financial market and serve as a hedge against external uncertainties, we have decided to explore it as a new asset class,” Governor Hakuziyaremye explained.
The central bank boss emphasised that capital preservation, liquidity, and reasonable returns remain the primary objectives for the central bank’s foreign reserves investments.
“The good news is that gold meets these criteria at this time, which makes our consideration positive,” she said.
The central bank has already secured board approval to include gold investments in its portfolio.
However, Governor Hakuziyaremye highlighted that gold is a new asset for the bank, and further updates on acquisition volumes and expected returns will be communicated by the end of the current financial year.
“This is a learning process, and as we continue benchmarking with our peers, we plan to start adding gold to our reserves from July 2025,” she said.
Meanwhile, the bank maintained the lending rate at 6.5 percent, a level Governor Soraya noted is aimed at keeping inflation within the targeted 2 to 8 percent range.
Commenting on the economic outlook, she said headline inflation rose to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter, largely driven by increases in core and fresh food prices. Core inflation climbed to 6.1 percent, while fresh food inflation surged to 11.2 percent, mainly due to a base effect from unusually low prices in early 2024 and rising meat prices.
Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the medium-term target range and is expected to average 6.5 percent in 2025 before easing to 3.9 percent in 2026.
“Inflationary risks remain, particularly from global geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies,” the central bank governor warned, but emphasized that the current rate should continue to anchor inflation expectations.
The recent MPC meeting also noted Rwanda’s ongoing economic resilience, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) registering a 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in Q1 2025, supported by robust industrial and services performance. The economy grew by an impressive 8.9 percent in 2024, buoyed by a rebound in agriculture and strong domestic demand.
However, Rwanda’s trade deficit widened by 10.8 percent in Q1 2025, as merchandise exports fell by 3.0 percent—mainly due to declining re-exports—while imports rose 5.8 percent, driven by increased demand for machinery and raw materials. This put pressure on the Rwandan franc, which depreciated by 2.46 percent against the U.S. dollar by the end of April.
NBR Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye announced the decision on Thursday, May 15, a day after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets the rate quarterly to guide the cost of borrowing and maintain macroeconomic stability.
This marks the fourth consecutive time the MPC has held the rate at 6.5 percent, following its initial reduction from 7.0 percent in August 2024.
Addressing members of the press, Governor Soraya said the current rate remains appropriate to keep inflation within the targeted 2–8 percent band.
Headline inflation rose to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter, largely driven by increases in core and fresh food prices. Core inflation climbed to 6.1 percent, while fresh food inflation surged to 11.2 percent, largely due to a base effect from unusually low prices in early 2024 and rising meat prices.
Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the medium-term target range and is expected to average 6.5 percent in 2025 before easing to 3.9 percent in 2026.
“Inflationary risks remain, particularly from global geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies,” the central bank boss warned, but emphasised that the current rate should continue to anchor inflation expectations.
The MPC also noted Rwanda’s ongoing economic resilience, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) registering a 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in Q1 2025, supported by robust industrial and services performance. The economy grew by an impressive 8.9 percent in 2024, buoyed by a rebound in agriculture and strong domestic demand.
However, Rwanda’s trade deficit widened by 10.8 percent in Q1 2025, as merchandise exports fell by 3.0 percent—mainly due to declining re-exports—while imports rose 5.8 percent, driven by increased demand for machinery and raw materials. This put pressure on the Rwandan franc, which depreciated by 2.46 percent against the U.S. dollar by the end of April.
Money market trends have followed suit. The interbank rate declined to an average of 6.78 percent in Q1 2025, down from 8.29 percent a year earlier, reflecting the impact of earlier rate cuts. Deposit and lending rates also fell, with the average lending rate dropping to 15.89 percent from 16.35 percent.
Going forward, the central bank reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring both global and domestic economic trends and to adjusting policy as needed to maintain price stability and support growth.
“The MPC stands ready to take appropriate measures if inflationary pressures intensify,” Soraya stated.
The commitment was reiterated on May 13, 2025, as the RUGC staff visited the Bisesero Genocide Memorial, one of four memorial sites recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the extraordinary resistance shown by the Tutsi community there during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During the visit, they were taken through the divisive policies introduced by Belgian colonialists, which led to the persecution and displacement of Tutsis across Rwanda beginning in 1959.
Aaron Gakoko, a genocide survivor from Bisesero, recounted his experience, revealing that the Tutsi in the region began resisting as early as 1959.
He shared how, in 1994, he personally disarmed three gendarmes and a military officer holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Despite the trauma they endured, Gakoko emphasized that survivors now live peacefully alongside those who once targeted them and even cooperate in daily activities.
He said, “It pains us that those who were killed are not here to witness how we, the survivors of Bisesero, have rebuilt our lives.”
By the end of April 1994, the Tutsi in Bisesero had withstood waves of attacks by Interahamwe militias.
As a result, on May 3, 1994, a so-called “security meeting” was held where a decision was made to deploy more soldiers and Interahamwemilitia to eliminate the Tutsi in Bisesero.
This led to massive, organized assaults, including the particularly deadly attack on May 13, 1994, in which over 30,000 Tutsis were massacred in a single day.
Vedaste Ngarambe, President of the Karongi District Council and head of IBUKA (the umbrella association of Genocide survivor organizations) in the district, commended the RUGC staff for visiting the memorial, noting the importance of youth involvement.
He said, “We urge you to help us fight against genocide ideology and denial. Bisesero is unique because the Tutsi here chose to resist the Interahamwe militias together. Their guiding principle was, ‘It is better to die fighting than to die fleeing.’”
The CEO of RUGC Gaston Gasore highlighted how those who wanted Rwanda to vanish from the world map sowed hatred among Rwandans—people who once shared food, intermarried, and lived as one. He stressed that the country is now striving to reverse that painful history.
“Our tragic past is teaching us the value of unity,” Gasore said. “We believe that the values we’ve learned here will help us, as we still face a long journey. Genocide ideology remains present among both older generations and the youth. That’s why we, as young people, must rise up and use social media platforms to fight it.”
Out of over 60,000 Tutsis who lived in Bisesero before the genocide, only 1,300 survived. These survivors later rebuilt their lives, and repopulated the area. Today, the Bisesero Genocide Memorial is the final resting place of more than 50,000 genocide victims.
The award recognises Africa Re’s significant strides in expanding its footprint across the continent and positioning itself as a global player in the reinsurance sector.
Organised by the Africa CEO Forum, the Pan-African Champion Award is presented to an African company that has most increased its presence across the continent while implementing a consistent and coherent regional growth strategy.
Eligible companies must operate in more than five African countries and record annual revenues of at least €50 million.
In 2024, the award was bestowed upon the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for its instrumental role in developing infrastructure and industrial value chains throughout Africa.
In a statement following Africa Re’s victory, Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director of the corporation, welcomed the recognition as a reflection of its achievements over the past year.
“I thank God for this continental recognition, which comes on top of an exceptional 2024 year in all performance metrics. We are the largest and most financially rated reinsurance company in Africa and the Middle East. With 31% of our 2024 turnover ($1.2 billion) coming from outside Africa, we export African excellence in overseas markets such as China, the Middle East, Brazil, Israel, and India,” Dr. Karekezi said.
Africa Re’s cross-border operations and growing share of business from international markets were key factors in its selection. The company’s performance in 2024 and continued expansion have strengthened its position as a driver of African excellence in global financial services.
The Africa CEO Forum Awards, organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Forvis Mazars, celebrate leadership, innovation, and excellence within Africa’s private sector.
In addition to Africa Re’s recognition, this year’s awards honoured several other standout performers. Danone received the Local Impact Champion award for its contributions to community development and sustainability, while Rawbank was named Family Business of the Year, reflecting its strong governance and generational leadership.
The Gender Leader award went to Schneider Electric, recognising its commitment to gender equity in the workplace. Nala, a fintech company driving digital disruption, earned a place in the Disrupters Club.
Finally, Idrissa Nassa, CEO of Coris Bank, was honoured as CEO of the Year for his transformative leadership in the banking sector.
The awards ceremony is a key feature of the Africa CEO Forum, which gathers more than 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss strategies for driving economic transformation across the continent.
The next edition of the annual Africa CEO Forum will be held in Kigali.
The Terminator hitmaker arrived in Kigali on Wednesday night, May 14, and is set to headline the BAL halftime show during the opening clash between APR Basketball Club and Nairobi City Thunder at BK Arena on Saturday, May 17.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, King Promise reflected on his first visit to Rwanda during the Qatar-Africa Business Forum in November 2023, where he also performed.
This time, the Afrobeats star is eager to soak in more of Kigali’s culture and connect with the local music scene.
“I had a good time. I went to see the gorillas, ate at some nice restaurants, met amazing people, and performed,” he recalled. “This time I’m looking forward to doing even more… especially the BAL experience and performing for you guys at BK Arena. That should be sick.”
The singer, whose continental hits Tokyo (with Wizkid) and Terminator have made waves in East Africa, noted the growing support from Rwandan fans and teased new collaborative projects with African acts, including Element.
“I’ve worked with Rayvanny, Harmonize, Joshua Baraka, and even Sauti Sol in Kenya,” he revealed. “I met Element in Tanzania, and we said we’d link up when I came here. Hopefully, something comes out of that. I’m down for collaborations.”
Element Eleéeh, born Fred Robinson Mugisha, is famed for producing hit songs for both local and international artists, including Bruce Melodie and The Ben.
Though King Promise admitted he’s still getting familiar with Rwandan music, he expressed keen interest in discovering local talent.
“There’s so much more across our borders,” he said. “We should push our craft and collaborate more. The vibe and energy in music—that’s what connects us.”
During the Nile Conference, King Promise will share the stage with Rwandan stars Ariel Wayz, Kivumbi King, and emerging Kigali rapper Kid, further strengthening the bridge between West and East African music scenes.
The BAL Nile Conference sees APR Basketball Club competing for one of two playoff spots, alongside Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), and Made In Ball Basketball (South Africa). The playoffs are scheduled for June in Pretoria, South Africa.
Launched in 2019 through a partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Basketball Africa League continues to merge elite sports and entertainment, drawing international stars like King Promise to its growing platform.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), through its tourism initiative Visit Rwanda, is a Founding and Host Partner of the BAL, adding to Rwanda’s growing reputation as a hub for sports and entertainment on the continent.
A promising development took place on April 25, 2025, when Rwanda and the DRC—facilitated by the United States—signed a framework agreement aimed at restoring peace in the region.
This seemed to signal a potential end to the DRC’s recurring pattern of blaming Rwanda for its internal problems, a narrative that had produced no real solutions or peace for the region.
Optimism grew further when the U.S. announced that both Rwanda and the DRC would sign a peace agreement in Washington D.C. in June 2025, an accord expected to spark renewed development cooperation among the three countries.
In the DRC’s official communication channels, key officials like Minister Kayikwamba and Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya had noticeably toned down their rhetoric against Rwanda, particularly after both sides agreed in April to avoid any form of provocation.
However, after a long silence, Minister Kayikwamba recently resurfaced in an interview with Germany’s Deutsche Welle, once again accusing Rwanda of destabilising eastern DRC and of mistreating UN peacekeepers from MONUSCO.
“We have a very large peacekeeping mission, but one of our neighbouring countries — namely Rwanda — is one of the biggest contributors to peacekeeping operations. At the same time, this country violates our territorial integrity and has also been linked to violence against peacekeepers,” she said.
When asked whether the DRC recognises Rwanda’s security concerns, Kayikwamba responded dismissively: “Are the tens of thousands of people who have died Congolese or Rwandan? They are Congolese. Are the women who have been raped Congolese or Rwandan? They are Congolese,” she said.
The Rwandan government has consistently rejected these allegations, maintaining that the DRC is using Rwanda as a scapegoat to distract the international community from the root causes of its insecurity, including poor governance and persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese citizens.
Reacting to Kayikwamba’s comments, the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo, strongly dismissed the accusations and directly challenged the DRC’s narrative, highlighting the failure of the Congolese government to take responsibility for internal atrocities.
“The Congolese foreign minister’s outrage is misplaced, and it cannot cover up the failure of the Congolese government to protect Congolese citizens, not from Rwanda, but from the Congolese government itself,” Makolo stated.
She pointedly questioned the source of the ongoing violence in eastern DRC, clarifying that the violence is homegrown, not imported.
“Who is killing? The victims are Congolese, so are the perpetrators. It is not Rwandans killing in Beni, Ituri, Kwamouth, Goma, Minembwe or Uvira. It is Congolese armed groups, VDP/Wazalendo and their allies, FARDC/FDLR, that are supported and financed by the DRC government,” she said.
Addressing the minister’s claims about sexual violence, Makolo continued: “Who is raping? Reports consistently point to Congolese armed groups, FARDC/FDLR, VDP/Wazalendo and predatory state forces. Do not distort this truth.”
She also denied accusations of Rwandan military aggression, including bombing of Congolese territories, and instead turned the spotlight on DRC’s own military conduct: “Bombs? There are no Rwandan bombs. The DRC army has bombed civilians indiscriminately, including in Rwanda. Who is bombing Minembwe? It is FARDC and VDP/Wazalendo targeting Banyamulenge, those same Congolese who you refuse to acknowledge by name.”
Makolo further criticised Kinshasa’s lack of commitment to peace agreements and accused the DRC of consistently undermining regional peace efforts.
“Who is violating peace agreements? The DRC government signs commitments they don’t uphold: Nairobi, Luanda, Addis Ababa… At every turn, it is the DRC that undermines peace efforts – refusing dialogue, reigniting hostilities, instrumentalising armed groups, repeatedly recruiting mercenaries,” she asserted.
While the DRC accuses Rwanda of breaching its sovereignty, Rwanda counters that the DRC harbours and supports the FDLR, a terrorist group committed to destabilising Rwanda.
Rwanda has also reminded the world of statements by DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, in which he openly expressed a desire to overthrow the Rwandan government.
As a result, Rwanda has strengthened its border security. These measures enabled the country to defend itself against attacks launched by FARDC forces on January 27, as the M23/AFC coalition took control of Goma.
These attacks killed 16 civilians in Rwanda’s Rubavu District, injured 161 others, and damaged 200 homes.
The flight departed from Ramon Airport in Israel, transiting through the Karam Abu Salem crossing, and transported 101 injured individuals, accompanied by 87 family members.
To date, 2,630 patients and their relatives have arrived in the UAE—an effort that reflects the country’s commitment to delivering essential medical care to Palestinians.
Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organisations and Vice Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, emphasized that the initiative reflects the UAE’s long-standing support for the Palestinian people and its solidarity with Gaza during the ongoing crisis.
“The UAE humanitarian initiatives contribute to alleviating the disastrous impacts endured by residents of the Strip, particularly children, women, and the elderly,” he noted.
Al Shamsi added, “During this critical time, the UAE will spare no effort to extend help to the Palestinians and launch initiatives for their aid whether by land, sea, or air. We will continue to closely work – through our leading and pioneering role – with the United Nations and our international partners to intensify the necessary efforts to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and ensure the urgent, safe, unhindered, and sustainable delivery of aid at a wide scale and through all possible means.”
The UAE remains one of the leading countries in providing aid to the people of Gaza. Since the onset of the crisis in October 2023, the country has delivered more than 40% of the total aid reaching the region.
Al Shamsi reaffirmed that the UAE’s ongoing medical evacuation efforts underscore the nation’s dedication to offering advanced healthcare to injured Palestinians and contributing meaningfully to broader humanitarian relief efforts in these critical times.
He also reiterated the UAE’s commitment to taking all necessary measures to support the people of Gaza amid these challenging conditions.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE has made significant strides in providing high-level healthcare to those affected, including services at its field hospital in southern Gaza and through a hospital ship anchored at Al-Arish Port.
In addition, the UAE has mounted a large-scale relief response for the Palestinian people, delivering over 65,000 tonnes of food, medical supplies, and other essential aid.
Speaking on BFMTV, Barrot said, “Our response is immediate, it is firm.”
Algeria summoned the French charge d’affaires in Algiers on Sunday and demanded the immediate expulsion of several French embassy employees over “serious breaches” of diplomatic protocol, Algerian media reported.
The move follows what Algerian authorities called “serious and repeated violations” by the French side, including the appointment of diplomatic and consular staff without prior notification or formal accreditation, in violation of international norms and bilateral agreements.
The diplomatic rift between Algiers and Paris has deepened in recent months due to disagreements over immigration issues and policies, and historical grievances, among others.
In April, Algeria ordered the removal of 12 French embassy employees following the detention of an Algerian consular officer in France — a move that prompted reciprocal action from Paris.
