This operation began on April 29, 2025, following a decision by the Heads of State of SADC on March 13 to conclude their mission in the region.
Late on Thursday, June 26, 2025, a long convoy of trucks was observed on the Rubavu-Musanze-Kigali road, transporting SAMIDRC equipment that had previously been used in the fight against the AFC/M23 alliance.
A total of 64 trucks, divided into two groups, were used for the transfer. The first convoy departed from Rugerero Sector at 8 p.m., while the second convoy left at 9:30 p.m. It is reported that 25 soldiers accompanied the convoys.
The additional batch follows the recent repatriation of 461 soldiers deployed under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), who returned home on Sunday, June 22, 2025, passing through Rwanda.
The troops included 317 soldiers from South Africa and 144 from Malawi. They traveled in 11 RITCO buses, escorted by Rwandan security personnel.
[Related article: Over 400 SAMIDRC troops withdraw from Goma, transit through Rwanda (Photos)->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/over-400-samidrc-troops-withdraw-from-goma-transit-through-rwanda-photos]
In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi said the possibility of restarting talks was under consideration but would depend on whether Tehran’s national interests were protected.
“Our decisions will be based solely on Iran’s interests,” he said. “If our interests require a return to negotiations, we will consider it. But at this stage, no agreement or promise has been made and no talks have taken place.”
Araghchi accused Washington of betraying Iran during previous rounds of negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and lifting U.S. sanctions.
The Iranian diplomat also confirmed that a law suspending cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog had become binding after being passed by parliament and approved by the Guardian Council, a top constitutional oversight body.
“The law is now obligatory and will be implemented. Our cooperation with the IAEA will take a new shape,” he said.
Araghchi also said the damage caused by the 12-day war with Israel was “serious” and that experts from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were conducting a detailed assessment. He said the question of demanding reparations was high on the government’s agenda.
The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple targets across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. The attacks came just days before Iran and the United States were expected to resume indirect nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman, on June 15.
In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone strikes on Israel, causing casualties and damage.
On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force struck three key Iranian nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday.
The 12-day conflict ended with a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on Tuesday.
The initiative aimed to improve the residents’ health by bringing much-needed healthcare services to the community.
The outreach included screening and treatment for a variety of illnesses. Community members were tested and treated for malaria. In addition to general healthcare, the team conducted hepatitis screening and treated eye conditions, offering support to individuals suffering from vision-related issues.
Speaking at the event, Col Leodomir Uwizeyimana, Rwanbatt3 Contingent Commander who represented the Rwandan contingents in UNMISS, commended the collaborative spirit between the peacekeepers and the local community, stating: “This outreach reflects our commitment not only to peace and security, but also to the well-being of the people we serve. Health is the foundation of lasting peace.”
Laat Gatluak, Chief of Amadi Village, applauded the positive relationship between the Rwandan peacekeepers and the local community, particularly highlighting their support for various community service initiatives.
Located in a prime area near key services such as Chillax Lounge in Nyarutarama, King Faisal Hospital, Kigali Heights, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, various embassies, government offices, and the Kigali Golf Club, the hotel will be an integral part of the city’s urban fabric. The development will also include commercial spaces, 60 hotel rooms, restaurants, and modern fitness facilities, with a completion date set for June 2026.
The apartments will come in five types, including one-bedroom units spanning 96 square meters, which will have a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and balcony. These units, located from the ground floor to the fourth floor, will be priced at $144,000 for the lower floors and $148,800 for the upper floors.
Additionally, the development includes 30 two-bedroom apartments ranging from 130 to 140 square meters. Prices for these units will start at $195,000 for lower-floor apartments, and $201,500 for those on the third and fourth floors.
There will also be two-bedroom apartments with 140 square meters, each offering private bathrooms, a living room, and a modern balcony. These will be priced at $246,400 for lower-floor apartments, and $254,100 for the upper floors.
For those seeking more space, five three-bedroom apartments will be available, measuring 175 square meters. These will feature multiple bathrooms, a living room, and a balcony. These units will be priced at $308,000 for lower-floor apartments and $317,625 for those on the third and fourth floors.
At the top of the building, four penthouse apartments measuring 400 square meters each will offer five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. These luxurious units will be priced at $748,000 (over 1 billion Rwandan Francs) and will come with modern amenities.
In addition to residential units, the Royal Golf View Apartment Hotel will offer a commercial area and over 100 parking spaces. Buyers will be able to pay in installments, with 30% due at the start of construction, 30% by September 2015, and the remaining balance by January 2026, ahead of the grand opening in June 2026.
Developed by DND Triangle Real Estate Developers Ltd, founded in 2025, this project aims to provide high-end, accessible housing in Kigali. It is supported by BWH Hotels, a prominent global hotel brand with over 4,700 properties across 100+ countries.
{{Photos showing the artistic impression of Royal Golf View Apartment Hotel}}
Speaking with evident scepticism, Tshisekedi said that Trump, as the leader of one of the world’s most powerful nations, could potentially bring an end to the conflict that has lasted for over 30 years in eastern DRC.
“If this senseless war ends — a war that has killed hundreds of thousands, possibly more than those lost in World War II — and if Trump can bring it to an end through mediation, then he would truly deserve the Nobel Prize. I would be the first to vote for him,” he stated.
Tshisekedi’s administration is at war with the M23 rebel group, and its collaboration with the FDLR militia, which is linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has heightened tensions with Rwanda. The upcoming agreement in Washington is seen as a step toward lasting peace.
Pakistan recently made a public nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in halting the conflict between Pakistan and India in April and May 2025.
U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter has also submitted Trump’s nomination, based on his involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran in the war, which lasted from June 13 to 24.
The swap involved soldiers under the age of 25, as well as ill and wounded servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service, the agency said in a statement.
Most of those released had been in captivity for more than three years, with some having taken part in the battles for Mariupol, the statement said.
All returning soldiers will undergo medical examination, receive psychological support and physical rehabilitation, it said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in his post on Telegram the importance of bringing all Ukrainians home from Russian captivity.
Emelyine Mutoni, a farmer from Kayonza District in eastern Rwanda, said that ever since she learnt mushroom farming with Juncao technology in 2020, it has been an exciting moment in her family’s fight against poverty.
She was taught the technique by Leonidas Mushimiyimana, one of the early adopters of Juncao technology and the owner of DEYI Ltd. in Kigali’s Gasabo District.
After a three-month training, Mutoni can now produce mushroom tubes, which she sells to other farmers for cultivation. Her company has increased production capacity from about 500 tubes per month to 5,000.
“I observed high levels of malnutrition among children in my area and felt I should play a role in helping address the problem,” Mutoni told Xinhua.
“Mushroom farming is the best thing to do. I look forward to expanding my business to produce mushrooms and other mushroom products for export,” she added.
Originally developed and used for mushroom farming in China, Juncao is a hybrid grass and a valuable multifunctional agricultural resource. The innovation, invented by Lin Zhanxi from China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in the 1980s, has benefited over 100 countries, including Rwanda.
Christine Uwimanihaye, another exhibitor, said their company, Omer Shop Ltd., makes mushroom tubes and grows mushrooms as well.
“We are in horticulture, but our main focus is mushroom production because of their unique nutritional content. From mushrooms, we produce several byproducts, including flour and biscuits,” she said.
Like Mutoni, Uwimanihaye was also introduced to mushroom farming by some early adopters of the Juncao technology.
According to the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, over 4,000 Rwandan farmers have benefited from Juncao technology, which has created more than 30,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain.
Since 2006, experts from China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University have been collaborating with the Rwandan government on Juncao technology, teaching and promoting it alongside other agricultural innovations through the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center.
The WTO’s latest Goods Trade Barometer, a composite leading indicator for global merchandise trade, rose to 103.5 from 102.8 in March. The rise was driven by importers frontloading purchases ahead of anticipated higher tariffs, the WTO said.
Barometer values above 100 indicate above-trend trade volumes, while values below 100 suggest that goods trade has either fallen below trend or is likely to decline in the near future.
However, the forward-looking new export orders index fell to 97.9, pointing to weaker trade growth later in the year, the WTO said.
The WTO has forecast a basically flat growth in global merchandise trade at 0.1 percent, after the U.S. tariff policy uncertainty and subsequent developments had caused fluctuations in the forecast.
The WTO warned of possible trade contraction if U.S. “reciprocal tariffs” are reinstated or if trade policy uncertainty spreads globally.
The project, led by award-winning architecture studio NLÉ in partnership with Masai Ujiri, president of the Toronto Raptors and founder of Giants of Africa, is scheduled for a grand opening next month.
Originally built in the 20th century as government housing, the building’s historical significance is deeply intertwined with Rwanda’s past.
Situated in Remera and adjacent to the recently renovated state-of-the-art Amahoro Stadium, it once served as the temporary United Nations headquarters during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, providing refuge in one of the country’s darkest chapters. More recently, it housed the Rwandan Health Authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, further embedding it in the nation’s collective memory.
Now reimagined by NLÉ, a firm founded by Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi and co-led by Berend Strijland, Zaria Court has been transformed from a dormant modernist relic into a thriving centre for sports, hospitality, culture, and entrepreneurship.
“What excited me about Zaria Court was the opportunity to transform a historic site into a vibrant catalyst within Rwanda’s emerging sports ecosystem,” said Adeyemi, known for the Floating Music Hub in Cape Verde.
“Through this development partnership, we demonstrate how architecture can positively impact communities and provide a replicable model of innovative infrastructure, empowering African youth and accelerating sustainable urban development.”
The newly activated Zaria Court offers a diverse range of facilities designed to meet the needs of Kigali’s youth and the wider community. At its heart is a multifunctional event court that hosts sports, music, fashion, and cultural programs, providing a vibrant space for various activities.
The site also includes an 80-room hotel, equipped with a gym, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a conference hall, a swimming pool, and a rooftop bar, blending comfort with versatility.
Outdoors, visitors can enjoy five-a-side soccer pitches, a dedicated callisthenics training area, and a children’s play zone surrounded by lush native landscaping and open green spaces that encourage safe and informal social interaction.
Adding to its innovative spirit, Zaria Court features a modular retail park constructed from stacked shipping containers, creating affordable commercial spaces for Kigali’s emerging designers, food vendors, and entrepreneurs.
The construction of Zaria Court began in August 2023, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by President Paul Kagame and Masai Ujiri.
With its completion, it now stands not only as a model of adaptive reuse architecture but also as a powerful symbol of urban regeneration and youth empowerment. As the first development of its kind in Rwanda, Zaria Court embodies a forward-looking vision for community-focused infrastructure across Africa.
The five-paragraph statement outlined that the new spending target will be split between two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for related areas, including critical infrastructure, networks, and defense industrial capabilities.
The plan will undergo a review in 2029, taking into account the strategic environment and revised capability targets, the document added.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement at a press conference after the summit, asserting that Washington had long carried more than its fair share of the alliance’s defense burden.
However, he singled out Spain, criticising Madrid as the only country refusing to meet its full commitment.
Trump said the United States is negotiating a trade deal with Spain and warned that Madrid could be made to “pay twice as much” through trade measures.
Spain has agreed with NATO to limit its military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday, ahead of the NATO summit.
In his Sunday statement, Sanchez warned that “rushing toward 5 percent” would lead to rising prices and public spending, and reduce investment in key sectors such as education and digital development.
Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, Sanchez emphasized that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the most troops deployed worldwide.” He also stressed that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies.
