Dr. Nsengiyumva met members of the Rwandan community during his visit to Benin, where he attended the inauguration ceremony of President Romuald Wadagni on Sunday in the city of Cotonou.
As confirmed by Rwanda’s office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Nsengiyumva also commended the community for its contribution to relations between Rwanda and Benin.
The inauguration ceremony of President Romuald Wadagni took place at the Congress Palace in Cotonou and brought together more than 6,000 guests, including former presidents, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
Wadagni secured victory in the April 12, 2026 presidential election with more than 94% of the vote and officially began his seven-year constitutional term on Sunday.
Before Dorothe Sossa, president of the Constitutional Court, Wadagni pledged to serve and defend Benin, respect the Constitution and promote peace, national unity and the common good.
He also committed to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and serving the people faithfully.
Rwanda and Benin maintain cordial bilateral relations, with cooperation spanning sectors such as security, trade promotion and other areas of development.
Dr. Nsengiyumva met members of the Rwandan community during his visit to Benin.Dr. Nsengiyumva also commended the community for its contribution to relations between Rwanda and Benin.
West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery dropped as much as 5.35 U.S. dollars, or 5.53 percent, to 91.25 dollars per barrel at one point. Brent crude for July delivery sank 5.57 dollars, or 5.38 percent, to 97.97 dollars a barrel at the low point.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated,” subject to finalization between the United States, Iran and other relevant countries in the Middle East.
A proposed agreement the United States and Iran are close to signing involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely sell oil, and negotiations would be held on curbing Iran’s nuclear program, Axios quoted a U.S. official as saying on Saturday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was prepared to enter “into very serious talks” about Iran’s nuclear program if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday said 33 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours in coordination with and after obtaining permission from its forces.
Regional pump prices
Despite the sudden drop in global futures, the economic shockwaves of the Middle East energy crisis continue to hit consumers across the East African Community (EAC), where local regulated pump prices reflect weeks of severe supply constraints. Because local pricing cycles lag behind the wholesale market, the immediate relief on global exchanges has yet to trickle down to regional consumers.
In Rwanda, regulated fuel prices remain at historic highs following mid-April tariff revisions by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA). Petrol currently retails at Rwf 2,938 per litre, a steep climb from the Rwf 2,303 per litre seen earlier in the first quarter, while diesel stands at Rwf 2,205 per litre.
In Kenya, the fiscal strain of funding fuel subsidies forced the government to pass a 23.5% diesel price hike on to consumers in the May pricing cycle. This triggered a massive nationwide public transport strike led by matatu operators and widespread protests that paralysed Nairobi and major trade corridors. The unrest resulted in four deaths and more than 700 arrests before the Ministry of Interior secured a temporary one-week pause on the strike to initiate stakeholder negotiations.
Still, Hamad Hussain, a commodities economist at Capital Economics, warned that it would be hard for energy supplies to go back quickly to the level prior to the start of the war on Iran due to damage to facilities, halted oil production and broader obstacles to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices will stay elevated for some time and would only start to trend lower as and when the supply-demand balance in the oil market materially improves, which is likely to be well into 2027, said Hussain. For oil-import dependent nations across East Africa, this points to a prolonged period of high inflation and intense pressure on national foreign exchange reserves.
A proposed agreement the United States and Iran are close to signing involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely sell oil, and negotiations would be held on curbing Iran’s nuclear program, Axios quoted a U.S. official as saying on Saturday.
Prosecutors accused Kabuga of using his wealth and business network to support the planning and execution of the genocide, including financing and supplying weapons used during the killings.
In November 1993, one of Kabuga’s companies imported 25 tonnes of machetes from China, before reportedly purchasing another 50,000 in March 1994. The weapons were later used during the Genocide against the Tutsi, alongside other crude weapons, which he is accused of distributing.
Kabuga was arrested in France in May 2020 after spending 26 years evading justice over allegations linked to the genocide. During his years in hiding, he reportedly benefited from protection networks in several Western countries.
After a $5 million reward was announced for information leading to his arrest, Kabuga took extensive measures to silence anyone suspected of revealing his whereabouts.
Following his death, genocide survivors’ umbrella organisation IBUKA said the crimes attributed to Kabuga had not died with him, stressing that survivors should still receive justice, particularly through compensation claims.
Born in what is now Mukarange Sector in Gicumbi District, Kabuga began as a small-scale trader before building a vast business empire through cross-border trade and smuggling goods from Uganda into Rwanda. He later relocated to Kigali, where he became one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.
Kabuga died on May 16, 2026, in a hospital in The Hague, Netherlands, while in United Nations custody.
‘Interahamwe trained at Kabuga’s residence’
Pierre Zukuriza, 68, a longtime resident of Kimironko and current president of IBUKA in Gasabo District, said he was once Kabuga’s neighbour before the genocide.
Speaking to IGIHE, Zukuriza said Kabuga initially appeared to be an ordinary businessman but later became deeply involved in extremist activities.
“His compound covered more than a hectare,” Zukuriza said. “It was there that Interahamwe militias from Kimironko and surrounding areas were trained on how to kill Tutsi. They conducted drills and meetings there, and they openly spoke about it.”
According to him, militia members received items such as cooking oil and soap as payment, which they sold to buy alcohol.
Zukuriza said many Interahamwe members in Kimironko were poor and initially lacked even the means to buy machetes. However, after President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane crash on April 6, 1994, militias trained at Kabuga’s home appeared in the streets armed with machetes, axes and clubs while openly declaring plans to kill Tutsi.
Another former Kimironko resident, Pierre Celestin Sinderibuye, described Kabuga’s residence as a feared location guarded by groups of young men brought from Byumba.
He said the men intimidated residents passing near the property and were often paid with goods that they sold to purchase alcohol before publicly boasting about killing Tutsi.
Sinderibuye added that many of the men living at Kabuga’s residence used aliases, making it difficult to identify and prosecute them today for their alleged role in the genocide.
‘We held meetings at Kabuga’s home’
Kabuga’s role in the genocide was also reinforced by testimony from Grégoire Nyirimanzi, who is serving a sentence at Nyarugenge Prison in Mageragere for genocide-related crimes.
Nyirimanzi, a former councillor in Nyakabanda Sector, admitted to mobilising youth for weapons training and distributing arms used during the killings.
Kabuga’s role in the genocide was also reinforced by testimony from Grégoire Nyirimanzi, who is serving a sentence at Nyarugenge Prison in Mageragere for genocide-related crimes.
In an interview with IGIHE in April 2026, before Kabuga’s death, Nyirimanzi said several meetings were held at Kabuga’s properties and that Kabuga actively supported Interahamwe militias.
“It is not true that accusations against Kabuga were fabricated,” Nyirimanzi said. “We held meetings at his home in Muhima, and he personally attended those meetings. We also met in Rebero, where he assured us of any support we would need.”
Nyirimanzi said those speaking about Kabuga were motivated by the need for truth and accountability rather than personal disputes.
He further alleged that Kabuga pledged logistical and financial support for the campaign against Tutsi.
“At one of the meetings, Mathieu Ngirumpatse was present,” he said. “Kabuga assured us that he would support us in every possible way.”
Nyirimanzi also claimed Kabuga financed food supplies for Interahamwe groups, particularly those operating within the Nyamirambo Brigade.
Close ties with President Habyarimana
Zukuriza said Kabuga maintained exceptionally close relations with former President Juvénal Habyarimana, arguing that the relationship helped facilitate coordination among key figures involved in the genocide.
“He was closely connected to President Habyarimana because they became family,” he said. “Habyarimana’s son Jean Pierre married Kabuga’s daughter.”
He added that another son of Habyarimana also married another of Kabuga’s daughters, which he described as evidence of a deep alliance between the two families.
This house was the rural home of Félicien Kabuga in Mukarange Sector, Gicumbi District, where he was visited by people including President Habyarimana.
Zukuriza further argued that despite Kabuga’s death, survivors should still receive compensation from properties linked to him in areas including Kimironko, Muhima, Kimihurura and Byumba.
Kabuga among RTLM founders
Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), established on July 8, 1993, played a central role in spreading hate propaganda and inciting violence during the Genocide against the Tutsi between April and July 1994.
The station operated from premises located in what is now Kigali’s Car-Free Zone and reportedly benefited from electricity supplied directly from the presidential office, ensuring uninterrupted broadcasts.
RTLM was founded by a group led by Dr Ferdinand Nahimana, one of Rwanda’s prominent intellectuals at the time.
Nahimana drafted the initial proposal for the station, while Kabuga chaired RTLM’s founding committee.
Other members included Joseph Serugendo, Ephrem Ntezabera and Jean
Bosco Barayagwiza, while President Habyarimana was reportedly among the station’s principal shareholders.
Additional shareholders included Kabuga, Philippe Basabose and several senior government officials of the time.
RTLM also worked closely with Rwanda’s former state information office, ORINFOR, with many of its journalists coming from the state broadcaster.
Jean Baptiste Munyaneza, Kabuga’s cousin who also worked as a domestic employee in his household, said the businessman frequently hosted influential visitors because of his wealth and status.Pierre Zukuriza, who lived near Kabuga in Kimironko, said Interahamwe militias trained at Kabuga’s residence on how to kill Tutsi. He said they were paid for the training and, after getting drunk, would openly boast about their plans.Pierre Celestin Sinderibuye, who lived near Kabuga in Kimironko, said Kabuga’s residence was widely feared because of groups of young men from the Abakiga community who were brought there and routinely intimidated residents who approached the property.
Ndiaye announced his resignation on Sunday, less than 48 hours after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye fired Sonko amid escalating tensions between the two longtime political allies.
In a message posted on social media, Ndiaye said his decision came “after deep reflection” and was driven by “a personal choice, guided above all by my understanding of institutions, public responsibility and the supreme interest of the Nation.”
The resignation is widely seen as a move by Sonko’s camp as divisions widen within the ruling Pastef party, which swept to power in the 2024 elections on promises of sweeping reforms, anti-corruption measures and economic recovery.
Ndiaye, a close ally of Sonko, leaves behind a powerful position that could now pave the way for the ousted prime minister to seek leadership of parliament, where Pastef holds an overwhelming majority with 130 of the National Assembly’s 165 seats.
Senegal’s National Assembly is expected to examine Sonko’s possible return to parliament on Tuesday, when lawmakers are also due to appoint Ndiaye’s successor. If elected speaker, Sonko would become the country’s second-highest state official, potentially intensifying tensions between the legislative and executive branches.
The fallout marks a dramatic turn for Faye and Sonko, whose alliance dominated Senegalese politics over the past two years. Faye’s rise to the presidency in 2024 was largely credited to Sonko’s backing after the former prime minister was barred from contesting the election because of a defamation conviction.
Both men, former tax inspectors turned opposition figures, were jailed ahead of the election under the administration of former President Macky Sall before being released days before the vote. Faye later won the presidency with 54 percent of the vote.
The political uncertainty comes at a delicate time for Senegal’s economy, as the government seeks to revive negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the lender suspended a $1.8 billion support programme following revelations of hidden debt under the previous administration.
Before Sonko’s dismissal on Friday, Finance Minister Cheikh Diba had told parliament that Senegal hoped to resume talks with the IMF in June and secure an agreement on key issues by the end of the month.
Sonko, who has largely remained silent since his dismissal, is expected to address supporters during Pastef’s national congress scheduled for June 6, where he could outline his next political move.
Malick Ndiaye announced his resignation on Sunday, less than 48 hours after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye fired Sonko amid escalating tensions between the two longtime political allies.
“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” he said in a post on Truth Social. He added: “Both sides must take their time and get it right.”
The president reiterated that Iran will not be allowed to develop or procure a nuclear weapon.
He also said the “negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner.”
An Israeli government source said on Sunday that Trump has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would not sign a final deal with Iran unless Tehran dismantled its nuclear program and removed all enriched uranium from its territory.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Saturday that Iran and the United States are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding on ending the war.
Trump has reiterated that Iran will not be allowed to develop or procure a nuclear weapon.
Backed by a vibrant home crowd at the BK Arena, the Tigers, who are participating in the BAL for the first time, leaned on their stellar 95-72 victory from the first leg to protect their aggregate advantage and keep their continental championship dreams very much alive.
Rabat mounts an early charge
Entering Sunday’s highly anticipated return fixture with a 23-point cushion, the Tigers knew the Moroccan powerhouse would throw everything at them. FUS Rabat received a major boost with the return of star playmaker William Perry, who sat out the first leg. Perry catalysed an aggressive start for the visitors, hitting crucial perimeter shots on his way to 29 points and 11 assists, helping Rabat command a 32-14 lead by the end of the opening quarter.
Showing the heart of champions, the Tigers adjusted quickly in the second period. Spearheaded by the offensive brilliance of Craig Randall, the hosts responded with a 30-19 run to steady the ship and trim Rabat’s halftime lead to a manageable 51-44.
Weathering the storm
The third quarter tested the Tigers’ resolve. FUS Rabat unleashed an explosive run, finding spaces in the paint and building an imposing 79-58 lead at one stage. With their aggregate advantage temporarily narrowed, the local crowd rallied behind the team, and the Tigers never panicked, maintaining focus heading into the final frame.
Randall’s heroics spark fourth-quarter rally
What followed in the fourth quarter was a display of pure elite execution. The Tigers clamped down defensively, slowing the tempo and reclaiming control of the glass. Antino Jackson Jr. organised the offence beautifully, while big man Mangok Mathiang fortified the paint with crucial rebounds, allowing Rwanda to completely turn the tide.
The final quarter belonged to Craig Randall, who put on a spectacular masterclass to finish with a staggering 43 points. Randall capped off his legendary night by sinking his ninth three-pointer of the game from the corner, briefly giving the Tigers a 98-97 lead in the dying moments.
While FUS Rabat’s Mouhamadou Diagne knocked down two late free throws to hand the Moroccans the 99-98 match victory, the Tigers won the ultimate battle. By outscoring Rabat 28-15 in the final frame, the Rwandan giants triumphantly defended their aggregate lead to seal a historic semi-final berth.
Earlier in the evening at the BK Arena, defending giants Al Ahly of Egypt produced a disciplined performance to defeat Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar 87-76, successfully overturning a narrow first-leg deficit.
The stage is now set for an epic continental showdown. The RSSB Tigers will rely on their electric home support when they face Al Ahly in the semi-finals on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with a spot in the BAL Finals on the line.
Spearheaded by the offensive brilliance of Craig Randall, the hosts responded with a 30-19 run to steady the ship and trim Rabat’s halftime lead to a manageable 51-44.Backed by a vibrant home crowd at the BK Arena, the Tigers, who are participating in the BAL for the first time, leaned on their stellar 95-72 victory from the first leg to protect their aggregate advantage and keep their continental championship dreams very much alive.Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire was present to cheer on the Rwandan team.
The competition, one of the major karting events organized by the FIA as part of its 2026 calendar, was held in Genk, Belgium, from May 21 to 24, 2026.
The championship brings together some of the world’s most promising young karting talents, particularly drivers training through professional development academies. Rwanda was among only three African nations represented at the event, which featured competitors from 51 countries.
Kabera secured qualification after emerging as one of the top young karting drivers in Rwanda through competitions organized by the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC).
The 2026 edition marked both Kabera’s debut in the championship and Rwanda’s first-ever participation in the competition.
Still adapting to the international stage, the young driver competed in the opening phase of the championship held on May 21 and 22.
Speaking to IGIHE, Kabera encouraged more young people to pursue karting despite its challenges.
“If you want to join kart racing, never lose hope. Sometimes it is difficult, and it takes persistence to reach the top,” he said. “I want to become a strong and disciplined driver, both physically and mentally, with clear goals.”
Kabera added that the experience in Belgium highlighted the importance of continuous training and dedication.
“I learned that I need much more practice and exposure because success is not only about talent. It also depends on the effort you put in and how hard you work to achieve your goals,” he said.
Kabera’s participation in the championship was sponsored by MUA and Inyange.
His coach, Gakwaya Eric, said the competition provided valuable lessons that will help shape the driver’s future development.
“He gained important international experience and saw the level at which the sport is played globally,” Gakwaya said. “We still need more training opportunities and better infrastructure because Rwanda does not yet have a circuit comparable to the one in Genk. At the moment, he trains in parking areas.”
Gakwaya revealed that plans are underway to secure additional training opportunities for Kabera in South Africa or Kenya, where karting infrastructure is more advanced.
“We are also looking at opportunities in Italy so that he can progress beyond qualifying rounds and eventually compete in final stages. Our long-term target is to help Rwanda break into the top 15 nations in the sport,” he added.
The coach also noted that Kabera’s performance was particularly impressive considering he had trained for only two months before competing against drivers with up to five years of experience.
RAC emphasized that participation in international karting competitions requires significant financial investment and thanked sponsors who supported Kabera’s journey.
The federation also called on additional partners and sponsors to support the growth of motorsport in Rwanda.
Kabera is expected to continue his international campaign in July 2026 at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Italy.
Addressing an online press briefing on Saturday evening, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said a total of 745 cases, including both suspected and confirmed infections, and 176 probable deaths have been reported since the DRC declared its 17th outbreak on May 15.
“We have two affected countries and 10 countries at high risk. All other African countries, because they are not bordering the two affected countries, we are not calling them at risk for now, but depending on the way the outbreak is moving, we can reconsider this,” Kaseya said.
The official highlighted major operational challenges, including a four-week detection gap of silent transmission before official confirmation, a lack of available medical countermeasures, high population mobility, weak health infrastructure, insecurity and limited access, as well as misinformation and mistrust.
“In terms of detection, there is a strong recommendation to increase the diagnostic capacity,” he said. “We are talking about a region where we have high mobility and insecurity. The combination of these two is what we are experiencing today with the spread of this outbreak beyond what we are expecting.”
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said a total of 745 cases, including both suspected and confirmed infections, and 176 probable deaths have been reported since the DRC declared its 17th outbreak on May 15.
He further noted challenges with medical countermeasures, saying the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no strain-specific vaccine is currently available.
According to Kaseya, the African continent currently needs about 319 million U.S. dollars to respond to the outbreak, of which 265 million dollars is to support response efforts in the DRC and Uganda, while 54 million dollars is to build preparedness across the 10 high-risk countries.
He stressed that the Africa CDC is considering activating a holistic way to respond to the outbreak by “putting in place one team, one plan, one budget, and one implementation model” under the continental incident management support team.
Expressing concern over a higher risk of regional spread, he said the latest outbreak, initially reported in Ituri Province in eastern DRC, now constitutes a public health emergency of continental security.
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can cause symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola fatality rates vary, depending on the viral subtype.
A health worker screens travellers at the Kanyaruchinya checkpoint in Goma, DRC, amid Cefforts to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak on May 20, 2026.
Nduhungirehe reacted on May 24, 2026, following comments by Ambassador Ntahiraja that justified possible attacks on Rwanda.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, Ntahiraja suggested that he would see nothing unusual about Rwanda being attacked.
The remarks come amid growing allegations that Burundi is involved in plans to destabilize Rwanda alongside armed groups including the FDLR, a militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
When asked about reports of Burundi’s cooperation with opponents of the Rwandan government, the diplomat dismissed the concerns, suggesting that even if such cooperation existed, it would not pose a problem.
“Would it really be surprising if Rwanda were attacked by those opposed to the problems it is causing in the region?” Ntahiraja said.
He also referred to Rwandans who fled the country in 1996, claiming they would continue fighting for their country indefinitely.
However, his remarks overlooked the fact that refugee status for Rwandans who fled between 1959 and 1998 officially ceased on December 31, 2017. The comments appeared to indirectly reference individuals accused of involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi who fled justice and are reported to be regrouping with intentions of destabilising Kigali.
“Rwandans, because of the many wrongs committed by their government, should expect they could be attacked by fellow Rwandans they expelled,” he added.
Reacting on X, Nduhungirehe said the statements warrant serious concern, particularly because they were made by a senior diplomat expected to uphold diplomatic norms.
“That a Burundian ambassador accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium, despite being fully aware of diplomatic ethics, allows himself to make such inflammatory remarks against a neighboring state with complete impunity, while promising to support an attack by the genocidal FDLR against Rwanda, should raise serious concern,” Nduhungirehe wrote on Sunday.
Allegations involving Burundian leaders in plans targeting Rwanda are not new. In January 2024, President Évariste Ndayishimiye said in Kinshasa that he would support young Rwandans seeking to remove Rwanda’s government from power.
Rwanda strongly condemned the remarks at the time, describing them as a serious provocation.
Qu’un ambassadeur burundais accrédité au Royaume de Belgique se permette, malgré l’éthique diplomatique dont il est bien conscient, de faire impunément une telle déclaration incendiaire contre un État voisin, promettant de soutenir une attaque des génocidaires FDLR contre le… https://t.co/HLejPnT4yupic.twitter.com/uXLOKOE44A— Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe (@onduhungirehe) May 24, 2026
According to the ministry, the strike was in retaliation for Ukraine’s “attacks against civilian targets on Russian territory.” Russia’s attacks involved Oreshnik ballistic missiles, Iskander air-launched ballistic missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, Tsirkon cruise missiles, as well as air-, sea-, and ground-based cruise missiles and attack drones. It hit command sites, airbases and defense-industrial enterprises.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry said 21 people died in a Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in the Luhansk region on Friday. Kiev denied responsibility, saying its forces strike only military facilities and objects used for military purposes in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Russia launched 600 drones and 90 missiles in the overnight attack, primarily targeting Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post on Sunday.
Ukrainian authorities said four people were killed and at least 83 people were injured in the attack, while residential buildings, shops, educational institutions and medical facilities were damaged. However, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram later that no strikes were planned or carried out against civilian infrastructure.
A man carries a box from a burning trade center after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
