The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that on April 23, 2026, it facilitated the voluntary return of the first group of 462 Congolese refugees who had been living in Busuma refugee camp in Ruyigi Commune.
The repatriation follows discussions between representatives of Burundi, the DRC, and UNHCR. These talks came after Burundi reopened the Gatumba border in March, which had remained closed for nearly four months due to security concerns.
According to UNHCR, clashes that took place in the Ruzizi Plain late last year forced more than 100,000 Congolese civilians to seek refuge in Burundi, where they were hosted in camps located across different parts of the country.
Jean-Jacques Elakano, the Deputy Governor of South Kivu Province appointed by the DRC government, said the refugees had been living in extremely difficult and inhumane conditions.
He stated, “Our fellow citizens were living in conditions unfit for human beings, almost like hell. The return of this first group will certainly encourage others to come back as well. They need to feel safe and be welcomed by their families so they can reintegrate smoothly into their communities of origin.”
Refugees in the camps in Burundi also faced serious shortages of food and clean water. More than 40 Congolese refugees died in December 2025 from diseases linked to poor sanitation, while others attempted to flee by crossing the Ruzizi River because the border was still closed at the time.
Congolese refugees in Burundi begin repatriation after nearly four months of hardship.Congolese refugees crossing through the Gatumba border.They were welcomed by leaders from various institutions in South Kivu.
The visit, which took place on April 21, 2026, offered employees an in-depth understanding of Rwanda’s history, particularly the planning and execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During the tour, they explored different sections of the memorial and gained insight into the events that led to one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history.
The Genocide against the Tutsi claimed the lives of more than one million people in just 100 days before it was halted by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA).
As part of the visit, the employees also learned about Rwanda’s journey of recovery and reconstruction in the years that followed.
They paid tribute to the victims by laying wreaths at mass graves where over 250,000 victims are laid to rest at the memorial.
The Executive Chairman of Primate Safaris, Joseph Birori, emphasized that the company’s role goes beyond showcasing Rwanda’s natural attractions such as wildlife and lakes. He noted that educating visitors about the country’s history is equally essential.
“When we guide tourists, we also teach them about our country’s history and show them where it is preserved,” he said. “This helps them understand that although Rwanda went through extremely difficult times, the country chose resilience and progress.”
Birori further encouraged employees, particularly young people, to deepen their understanding of Rwanda’s history and remain committed to ensuring that such tragedies never happen again.
One of the employees, Phiona Umutesi, highlighted the importance of such visits for young people, noting that they provide a valuable opportunity to learn and reflect.
“The knowledge we gain from places like the Genocide Memorial strengthens our determination to ensure that what happened never occurs again,” she said. “As young people, it is our responsibility to understand our history deeply so that we can pass it on to future generations, rather than leaving it to outsiders to tell our story.”
Founded in 2000, Primate Safaris operates in Rwanda, where it is headquartered, as well as in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company currently employs 110 people.
Employees of Primate Safaris laid wreaths at mass graves where over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are laid to rest.Employees of Primate Safaris, particularly the youth, were encouraged to deepen their understanding of history and remain curious to learn more, as many of them were born after the Genocide.The Executive Chairman of Primate Safaris, Joseph Birori, said that receiving tourists provides a valuable opportunity to show them and educate them about Rwanda’s history.Employees of Primate Safaris visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and pledged to educate tourists about Rwanda’s history.
The ministry further indicates that between 1994 and 2025, a total of 3,503,173 Rwandans had already returned from various countries, mainly those neighbouring Rwanda.
In 2025 alone, Rwanda received 6,043 returnees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since January 2026, an additional 2,153 Rwandans had returned before the latest group of returnees.
The latter comprises 317 Rwandans including 15 men, 76 women, and 226 children who returned home on April 24, 2026. They were received and transported to Kijote Transit Camp in Nyabihu District for temporary support and processing.
The returnees had been staying at a temporary camp in Goma after leaving different areas in eastern DRC, where they say they had been held captive by FDLR.
The Vice Mayor of Rubavu District in charge of economic development, Déogratias Nzabonimpa, told IGIHE that the returnees represent a valuable addition of human resources to the country.
“The country has gained back the people it had lost. Their continued return weakens the enemy that had held them captive, as these are productive citizens. We also continue working with them to encourage those still in the forests to return home,” he said.
He also urged the returnees to remain committed to Rwanda and to encourage others still abroad or in hiding to come back and contribute to national development.
He assured them of government support to help them reintegrate into normal life, including basic assistance. Returnees aged 18 and above will receive $188, while those below 18 will receive $113, in addition to basic food support valued at 45,000 Rwandan francs per person.
Rwanda received 6,043 returnees from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2025.
At just 12 years old, Geraldine’s life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires constant insulin therapy and careful monitoring. Living in the UK, she faced not only the physical demands of managing her condition but also the emotional challenges of being misunderstood by teachers and coaches.
Dropped from her netball team and labeled a “burden,” she struggled with her self-confidence and fell into depression. Her mother, Tracy Mutesi, a caregiver to Geraldine’s grandfather who lived with Type 2 diabetes, became her unwavering support, encouraging her to see beyond her diagnosis.
During a trip to Rwanda in 2019, Geraldine visited Muhima Hospital in Kigali, where she met young Rwandans also living with Type 1 diabetes. The stark contrast between their healthcare access and hers in the UK deeply impacted Geraldine.
Recognizing the disparity in opportunities, she decided to use her story to create change.
“I could turn this pain into purpose,” she realized, aspiring to be a role model and show others that they were not alone.
In 2019, Geraldine co-founded the Geraldine Trada Foundation (GT Foundation) with her mother. The foundation aims to educate, support, and empower young people with Type 1 diabetes in Rwanda, breaking the stigma surrounding the condition.
The foundation runs programs like school awareness campaigns, outreach to rural areas, and empowering camps for youth and caregivers.
It started with modest funding from family and friends but has since expanded with multi-year funding in 2024, growing through local partnerships and media storytelling.
Geraldine is passionate about educating the public on the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. She aims to challenge harmful myths that suggest diabetes is caused by poor lifestyle choices, especially in relation to sugar consumption.
As an award-winning Economics graduate pursuing an MSc in International Development, she advocates for better access to diabetes care, having served as a Campaign Champion with Diabetes UK.
Looking forward, Geraldine envisions a future where no young person feels limited by diabetes.
She dreams of creating a hub that offers education, support, and a community for youth and caregivers, with the goal of empowering young people to live without barriers.
Geraldine also encourages anyone newly diagnosed to remember, they are not alone.
“The challenges you face today are ones I once faced too, but you can overcome them.”
Today, at 23, Geraldine balances her studies in the UK with her work in Rwanda, proving that personal adversity can spark a global movement of hope, education, and empowerment.
The Geraldine Trada Foundation continues to make a lasting impact, standing as a reminder that resilience, family love, and purposeful action can transform challenges into platforms for progress.
Geraldine Trada decided to use her story to create change recognizing the disparity in opportunities. Members of the Geraldine Trada Foundation community gathering, uniting to share strength, support, and hope in their journey with diabetes. Participants at the Ikizere Camp engaging in educational sessions, learning effective strategies for managing and living with diabetes.
The Government of Rwanda launched the nationwide program in 2019 to streamline Genocide memorials, with the aim of better preserving the history and evidence of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Vedaste Ngarambe, President of Ibuka and also Chairperson of the District Advisory Council in Karongi, said the process is underway in the district.
Among the memorials already consolidated are Murangara, whose remains were transferred to Mubuga, and Bukiro, which was merged into Nyange Memorial in Ngororero District.
“The process is ongoing. The Gahunduguru memorial in Ruganda Sector will be relocated to Birambo Memorial in Gashali Sector. Mukimba memorial in Rugabano Sector will also be moved to Birambo,” he said.
District officials explained that the remaining consolidations have been delayed due to the need to upgrade Birambo Memorial, which is set to receive additional remains. However, feasibility studies have been completed, and construction is expected to begin next year.
Karongi District Mayor Gelard Muzungu said that once the process is complete, nine memorial sites will remain. These include Birambo, Mubuga, Ngoma, Bisesero, Gitesi, Rubengera, Gatwaro, Home Saint Jean, Saint Pierre, and Nyamishaba.
“We still have memorials that require construction or rehabilitation. As a priority, we plan to begin with Birambo next year, where we will relocate remains currently buried in inadequate conditions at Mukimba and Gahunduguru,” he said. “Gitesi memorial has not yet been built and is in worse condition than Home Saint Jean and Saint Pierre.”
Muzungu added that the district plans to construct or upgrade at least one memorial each year to ensure that all sites properly preserve the remains of victims, as well as the history and evidence of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
In 2022, Karongi District had initially planned to retain five memorial sites under the consolidation program. However, additional sites—Home Saint Jean, Saint Pierre, Nyamishaba, and Gitesi—were later included, bringing the total to nine.
This adjustment followed further assessment of the specific circumstances and historical significance of different locations during the Genocide.
Nyamishaba Memorial, for instance, was retained because it holds many remains recovered from Lake Kivu and will serve as a key site for commemorating victims who were thrown into the lake during the Genocide.
In 2022, Karongi District had initially planned to retain five memorial sites under the consolidation program. However, additional sites—Home Saint Jean, Saint Pierre, Nyamishaba, and Gitesi—were later included, bringing the total to nine.
The meeting, held under the framework of the Joint Oversight Committee, marked its fifth session since the agreement was signed on June 27, 2025, in Washington, DC.
According to the joint statement released by the U.S. State Department, the Committee reviewed progress made since the March 17–18, 2026 meeting, with both Rwanda and the DRC providing updates on efforts to ease tensions and advance implementation of agreed measures on the ground.
The State of Qatar also briefed the meeting on ongoing negotiations between the DRC and AFC/M23. The Committee expressed strong support for these talks and welcomed Switzerland’s role in hosting the latest round of discussions in Doha, stressing the importance of this track in reinforcing the broader peace process.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining momentum in the implementation of the agreement and building on the progress already achieved.
Rwanda and the DRC also expressed appreciation to the United States, Qatar, the African Union Commission, and Togo for their continued support in promoting peace and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
The Washington Peace Agreement outlines key measures, including efforts to dismantle the FDLR terrorist group, address security concerns, and contribute to long-term regional stability.
Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, said both sides had reiterated their commitment to de-escalation and continued implementation of the agreement.
“The State Department hosted a productive meeting with our partners on the Joint Oversight Committee to review progress on the DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement signed last June.
“Both the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to de-escalation and continued implementation of the Peace Agreement, building on progress from our March meetings in Washington. Grateful to the African Union, Togo, and Qatar for their contributions as we work to support a lasting peace in the Great Lakes,” he wrote on X.
The peace agreement signed in June last year had set a 90-day timeline for dismantling the FDLR and lifting Rwanda’s defensive measures. However, nearly a year later, little progress has been achieved.
Although on March 29, the Congolese army announced plans to launch operations against the FDLR, Rwanda maintains that the group continues to operate freely.
Massad Boulos, senior advisor to President Donald Trump, addresses the media at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Nearly a year after signing Washington peace agreement, little progress has been achieved.
Data from the Rwanda National Police Fire and Rescue Brigade shows that between 2020 and March 2025, the country recorded 1,118 fire incidents linked to various causes. The number of cases has generally increased over the years, rising from 136 in 2020 to 362 in 2024.
Fire response largely depends on specialized equipment such as fire extinguishers, most of which are currently sourced from abroad.
Habimana, who owns Cyusa Technology Africa, a company dealing in fire safety equipment, now plans to shift toward local production.
Construction of the factory is expected to begin in 2027, with operations projected to start by late 2028. The project, valued at Rwf 5 billion, is set to create around 400 jobs. It will be located in Jabana Industrial Zone in Gasabo District.
Speaking to IGIHE, Habimana said preparations are already underway, including land acquisition and design planning.
“We have secured two hectares in Jabana for the factory. We are also working with our partners in China, where we currently source some equipment, and we are finalizing the plant’s design,” he said.
He explained that the factory will initially focus on assembling fire extinguishers using imported components, with plans to build a strong local supply chain over time. With an already established client base, he believes the factory will provide a reliable local alternative to imported equipment.
In addition to supplying fire safety equipment, Cyusa Technology Africa offers services such as designing fire prevention systems, installing equipment, and assessing safety needs for institutions.
The company has previously worked with several prominent establishments, including the National Bank of Rwanda, Rwanda Airports Company, Kigali Heights, Marriott Hotel, and Four Points by Sheraton.
Habimana’s planned factory aims to cut reliance on imported fire safety equipment.The new plant could improve access to fire-fighting equipment across Rwanda.Habimana eyes local market with Rwf 5bn fire equipment investment.Cyusa Technology Africa offers services such as designing fire prevention systems, installing equipment, and assessing safety needs for institutions.
“We’ve currently provided exceptions for some countries, but I don’t know what will happen in the future. However, our foreign ministry is currently trying to implement the exceptions envisioned for friendly countries, such as Russia,” the ambassador said.
Iran has announced plans to charge fees on passage through the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli attacks against the country, citing costs associated with ensuring the security of the key waterway. It said it has closed the strait and will reopen it once the U.S. naval blockade is fully lifted.
First Deputy Speaker of the Iranian parliament Hamid Reza Haji Babaei said Thursday that Iran has received fees for transit through the strait for the first time, with funds transferred to the country’s central bank.
The strait, a narrow checkpoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is the only maritime outlet to the open ocean, with about 20 million barrels of oil passing through it daily before the war — about a fifth of global consumption.
Iran has granted exemptions to some countries, including Russia, in transit fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz,
The United States is going to work with the government of Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump said he met with representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office, along with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon.
“The Meeting went very well!” Trump claimed, providing no details.
“I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun,” Trump added.
Trump said last week he was expecting to meet Netanyahu and Aoun at the White House “over the next week or two” in hopes that the two sides could broker a peace deal, which will also address Hezbollah.
The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on April 16, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations, and Hezbollah has long been viewed by Israel as a “proxy” of Iran. The negotiating party with Israel is the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah.
The truce has remained fragile as tensions along Lebanon’s southern border have continued during the current ceasefire.
Trump said he met with representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office, along with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon.
According to a communique from the office of the president, the proposed investment aligns with the “country’s industrialisation and e-mobility priorities.”
Chery Holding is one of China’s largest automotive manufacturing groups and a globally expanding mobility player. Founded in 1997 in Wuhu, Anhui Province, the company has grown into a Fortune Global 500 enterprise, producing more than 2.6 million vehicles annually and exporting to markets across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
The group operates a multi-brand portfolio spanning conventional vehicles, hybrid models, and electric mobility solutions, including Chery New Energy, Exeed, Jetour, Omoda, and other emerging EV-focused brands. It has also developed joint ventures and technology partnerships in advanced driver assistance systems and electrification, reflecting its growing emphasis on smart and low-carbon mobility.
Chery has been among the earlier Chinese automakers to invest in electric vehicle development, launching EV programs as early as the late 2000s and gradually scaling up its new energy vehicle platforms and battery-electric technologies. In recent years, the company has accelerated its global EV strategy, including partnerships and investments aimed at expanding production capacity and strengthening its technological footprint.
The discussions in Kigali also come as Rwanda intensifies its push toward green mobility and industrial transformation. The government has recently directed public institutions to ensure that at least 30 percent of newly procured vehicles are electric, a policy aimed at reducing emissions and accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.
The potential establishment of an electric vehicle assembly plant aligns with Rwanda’s broader ambition to position itself as a regional hub for e-mobility manufacturing, assembly, and innovation, while supporting job creation and technology transfer in the automotive sector.
President Paul Kagame meets Xu Hui, Chairman of Rich Resource International Investments (RRII), Vice President and Board Secretary of Chery Holding.The office of the president said discussions focused on potential investment opportunities.
