Before the war, traders, who spoke to the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, reported that exports to the Middle East were thriving, with large volumes of fruits and vegetables being shipped abroad. However, the onset of the conflict has disrupted trade, particularly to Dubai, one of the region’s main markets.
Marie Ange Claudine Ingabire, a leading exporter, said, “Most of our fruits were destined for Dubai, while vegetables were primarily sent to European markets. With flights now suspended, markets for avocados, bananas, and other fruits have collapsed, creating unprecedented challenges for exporters.”
Ingabire added that she currently has 40 tons of avocados awaiting shipment to Dubai. “We had hoped the market would reopen quickly, but now these products are no longer suitable for export, even if transport routes become available,” she said.
Similarly, Zainabu Abdul, another fruit exporter, reported losing Rwf 15 million.
“The war began just as we were harvesting. We intended to pack the produce and send it immediately to the airport, but with flights halted, we incurred unexpected losses. Now our produce continues to deteriorate in cold storage,” Zainabu explained.
Traders say the current situation highlights the importance of diversifying export markets rather than relying on a single destination.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Sebahizi Prudence, said the government is assessing the conflict’s impact on national trade to identify alternative markets.
“We have multiple markets for our products, including some in countries affected by conflict. We need to evaluate the potential effects and explore other export destinations,” he said.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (NAEB) confirmed that the conflict has already cost vegetable and fruit exporters more than Rwf 100 million.
The war in Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, is expected to have broader economic implications if prolonged. Experts warn that disruptions in the Middle East, a key hub for global trade, particularly oil, could significantly affect international markets.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (NAEB) confirmed that the conflict has already cost vegetable and fruit exporters more than Rwf 100 million.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure commended the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) for the initiative during an inspection visit to the Pugu railway workshop in Dar es Salaam, where the locomotive assembly project is underway.
Committee Chairman Selemani Kakoso urged the TRC to continue building the capacity of Tanzanian youth involved in assembling and maintaining the locomotives by providing advanced training both domestically and abroad.
He said strengthening technical knowledge, skills and innovation among young technicians would enhance efficiency and sustainability in the railway sector.
According to TRC Director General Machibya Shiwa, the decision to assemble the locomotives locally followed delays in the delivery of spare parts from suppliers due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Two locomotives assembled in Malaysia were shipped to Tanzania, while parts for the remaining six units were transported to the Pugu workshop for local assembly.
Shiwa said the project has opened business opportunities for local suppliers providing machinery services, construction materials, electrical equipment and other components.
Tanzania has begun assembling mainline gauge railway locomotives locally.
In a statement released on March 13, the global credit rating agency said the outlook revision reflects reduced uncertainty over Rwanda’s access to external funding and growing confidence that public debt levels will stabilise in the coming years.
Fitch noted that strong donor support has helped ease near-term fiscal and external financing risks. External disbursements from multilateral and bilateral partners reached about $1 billion, equivalent to 6.1% of GDP, in the fiscal year ending June 2025. The agency expects official external loan commitments to remain close to $1 billion annually between 2026 and 2027, supporting government financing needs.
The agency also pointed to recent diplomatic engagement and de-escalation of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as helping reduce uncertainty over Rwanda’s access to concessional financing, although it cautioned that the regional security environment remains fragile.
Rwanda’s public debt is expected to rise in the short term as the government continues to finance major infrastructure and development projects. According to Fitch, government debt could reach around 79% of GDP by 2027, up from 75% in 2025, before gradually stabilising as growth and fiscal adjustments take effect.
The increase in borrowing is partly linked to large-scale investments, including the construction of Bugesera International Airport and the expansion of the national carrier RwandAir. However, Fitch noted that most of Rwanda’s external debt remains highly concessional, helping maintain manageable debt servicing costs.
Economic growth remains a key strength supporting the rating. Fitch estimates that Rwanda’s real GDP growth reached 8% in 2025 and expects it to remain above 7% through 2027, significantly higher than the median growth rate for countries with similar credit ratings.
Recent data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda also showed strong economic momentum, with the economy expanding 11.8% in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by the services and industrial sectors.
As Rwanda continues investing in major infrastructure projects, Fitch projects the current account deficit to widen to around 15% of GDP in 2026, reflecting strong import demand linked to ongoing economic development.
Fitch said improvements in export performance, stronger foreign reserve levels and sustained fiscal consolidation could support a future upgrade of Rwanda’s credit rating.
Fitch Ratings is an American-British credit rating agency. It is one of the three nationally recognised statistical rating organisations designated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is considered as being one of the “Big Three credit rating agencies”, along with Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings.
Fitch Ratings is an American-British credit rating agency and one of the “Big Three” global rating agencies alongside Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings.
Speaking to IGIHE, Jackiline Hansen explained her efforts to raise awareness among students about the genocide ahead of the 32nd commemoration period.
Hansen said her commitment to this work began within the Rwandan community in the Jylland-Fyn region through Kwibuka activities organized to honor victims of the genocide.
“My commitment began with our early initiatives within the Rwandan community in Jylland-Fyn, particularly through Kwibuka activities dedicated to commemorating the victims of the genocide,” she said.
She noted that from a young age, she felt a personal responsibility to share Rwanda’s history and ensure that the truth about the genocide is preserved.
“From a young age, I made it my mission to convey the truth about Rwanda’s history, guided by my convictions and the lessons I have received,” she explained. “I strongly believe that every Rwandan has a responsibility to defend the memory of our history, especially in the face of those who distort, downplay, or even deny it.”
As part of her awareness efforts, Hansen recently led educational sessions in six schools across Copenhagen, where she engaged more than 400 students in discussions about the genocide and its lasting impact.
The sessions created a space for dialogue and reflection, focusing on themes such as collective responsibility, justice, the reconstruction of Rwandan society after the genocide, and the country’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable development and strengthen resilience among its population.
Hansen recalled one particularly memorable moment during the sessions.
“During one session, some students invited their parents to join the discussion, showing that passing on memory can go beyond school walls and reach the wider community,” she said.
According to Hansen, the strong engagement from students highlighted the importance of educating younger generations through consistent initiatives that preserve historical memory and promote understanding.
“Speaking about our history as Rwandans is a true responsibility,” she concluded.
Earth’s day is not always exactly 24 hours. It changes naturally because of the moon’s pull and processes inside the planet. But recent climate change adds a new factor. As ice melts, water moves from land to oceans, shifting Earth’s mass. This slows rotation, like a figure skater spinning more slowly when stretching their arms.
To study how unusual this is, researchers looked at tiny marine fossils called benthic foraminifera. The chemical makeup of these fossils shows old sea levels. Using this data and a special computer model, scientists could estimate how day length changed over millions of years.
During past ice ages, growing and melting ice sheets changed day length, but none as fast as today. Only around 2 million years ago was the change somewhat similar, but still slower.
This shows that today’s climate change is faster than anything in the last 3.6 million years, according to said Benedikt Soja of ETH Zurich. By the end of this century, human-driven climate change could affect day length even more than the moon does.
Even though the change is only a few milliseconds, it can affect precise tasks like space travel.
Scientists from the University of Vienna and ETH Zurich say climate change is slowing Earth’s spin, making our days slightly longer.
The visit centred on two of HSMD’s most pressing needs: economic empowerment and access to menstrual hygiene. In response, Zaria Court Hotel donated a two-year supply of reusable sanitary pads for 100 girls, each recipient receiving a complete pack sufficient to cover their full monthly cycle.
The choice of reusable pads was intentional and thoughtful: a sustainable, dignified solution that addresses a recurring need without placing an ongoing financial burden on women who already face significant economic hardship.
“There is a special kind of warmth you feel when you witness pure determination and hope, and we experienced that today at HSMD. Stepping away from the day to day of Zaria Court Hotel to spend time with these mothers and their children was a grounding experience.
“Their courage in the face of daily challenges is a lesson in humanity , and we are proud to stand beside them, not just as a hotel, but as neighbours and advocates,” said Walid Choubana, General Manager, Zaria Court Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Beyond the material donation, Zaria Court Hotel presented HSMD with a Certificate of Recognition, a formal acknowledgment of the organisation’s tireless work in championing the rights and wellbeing of single mothers and girls with disabilities in Rwanda. HSMD’s vision of “a society where single mothers and girls with disabilities are self-reliant, live a dignified life free from violence” resonates deeply with Zaria Court Hotel’s own belief that prosperity in a community cannot be selective.
“We appreciate Zaria Court Hotel from our hearts for choosing to come and celebrate Women’s Month with us. You have seen our mothers and heard their testimonies . Now go and be our ambassadors. Advocate for the rights of single mothers with disabilities, be their voice, and help carry their stories far enough to change their lives,” said Ms. Tumwine Winnie, Executive Director, Hope for Single Mothers with Disabilities.
Perhaps the most quietly powerful moment of the visit was when the hotel’s team sat down to listen- Truly listen, to the stories shared by HSMD beneficiaries. Women who have navigated poverty, disability, social exclusion, and gender-based violence while raising children alone and willing to share their journeys with openness and grace. It was a moment that, as the Zaria team described it, “truly reinforced the importance of why we want to contribute impact into the community around us.”
“Living with visual impairment while raising a child alone is a challenge the world rarely stops to acknowledge. Too often, we are invisible. When Zaria Court Hotel walked through our doors, they brought more than gifts , they brought dignity. They sat with us, they listened, and they made us feel that our lives and our struggles matter. That kind of recognition gives you the strength to keep going. It reminded us that we are not alone,” noted Chantal Juru, Member, Hope for Single Mothers with Disabilities.
HSMD has been operational in Rwanda since 2018. The organisation works through an intersectional approach, recognising that single mothers and girls with disabilities face compounded barriers rooted in gender, disability, poverty, and geography.
Its programs span economic empowerment through skills training and microfinance support, protection from gender-based violence, access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), legal literacy, mental health services, and feminist leadership development. At its core, HSMD advocates for a Rwanda where no woman’s potential is capped by her circumstances.
“We came here to be with you today, to be part of this community and to show you that there are people out there who think of you every day. We promise to treat people with equality, regardless of their disabilities, including when it comes to employment,” stated Walid Choubana, General Manager, Zaria Court Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Zaria Court Hotel’s CSR initiative this Women’s Month reflects a growing conviction within the hospitality industry that businesses are not islands. As part of the Hilton family and one of Kigali’s premier establishments, Zaria Court Hotel recognises that the communities in which it operates are not just contexts, they are responsibilities. This visit to HSMD was not a one-time campaign; as it is the beginning of a conscious, ongoing relationship with the women and organisations shaping a more equitable Rwanda.
Zaria Court Hotel has celebrated Women’s Month with single mothers with disabilitiesThe visit centred on two of HSMD’s most pressing needs. The delegation also listened to the stories shared by HSMD beneficiaries. A delegation from the hotel visited Hope for Single Mothers with Disabilities on March 11, 2026. Beyond the material donation, Zaria Court Hotel presented HSMD with a Certificate of Recognition, a formal acknowledgment of the organisation’s tireless work in championing the rights and wellbeing of single mothers and girls with disabilities in Rwanda.
Heavy elements like gold and platinum are not formed on Earth. They are created during powerful cosmic events such as exploding stars or collisions between neutron stars.
During these extreme moments, a process known as the Rapid neutron capture process occurs. In this process, atomic nuclei quickly absorb neutrons, becoming heavier and unstable before breaking into more stable elements.
To better understand this transformation, scientists carried out experiments at the CERN using its ISOLDE Facility. The team studied a rare atomic form called indium-134 and tracked how it decays into different tin isotopes.
Their research revealed three major discoveries. The most important was the first measurement of energy released when unstable nuclei emit two neutrons during decay. This rare reaction helps scientists understand how heavy elements form during violent stellar events.
The researchers also identified a long-predicted nuclear state in tin-133 that had remained hidden for two decades. This discovery shows that the atomic nucleus still “remembers” how it was formed, challenging earlier theories that suggested the process erased such information.
Finally, scientists observed behavior that does not match existing nuclear models, suggesting that current theories may need to be revised.
The findings provide new clues about how elements like gold are created in the universe and could help scientists improve models that explain the origins of matter in space.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how precious metals such as gold are created in the universe.
The Republic of Maldives has nominated Virginia Gamba, former UN under-secretary-general, for the position, according to a joint letter signed by UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Annalena Baerbock and Michael Waltz, president of the UN Security Council for March.
According to her curriculum vitae, Gamba is an Argentine scholar, practitioner and recognized authority on war and peace studies with over 40 years relevant experience on all themes related to peace and security, including crisis management.
At the United Nations, she served as under-secretary-general in two dockets: Children and Armed Conflict (2017-2025), and the Prevention of Genocide (2024-2025).
The four other candidates are former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, nominated by Chile, Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nominated by Argentina; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, nominated by Burundi; and Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former vice president of Costa Rica, nominated by Costa Rica.
The UNGA is scheduled to conduct interactive dialogues with the candidates in the week of April 20.
Virginia Gamba served as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Barrot made the announcement during a two-day trip to the country.
“This is the first time in eight years that a French foreign minister is present in Bangui and my presence marks the complete restoration of relations between our two countries after a period of strain and tension,” Barrot told reporters.
He said France was looking forward to “reinforcing our relations in all sectors”.
In 2024, Faustin-Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic, met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of efforts to resume ties.
FUFA announced the punitive measures following an investigation into a match played on December 21, 2024, in which Kitara FC defeated Express FC 7–0.
The suspended individuals include Mike Mutyaba, a former player for Uganda Cranes, Ivan Katende, a former FUFA staff member, Ashiraf Miiro, the Chief Executive Officer of Express FC, and two players —Emmanuel Kalyowa and Ashiraf Mbaziira.
FUFA’s Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee revealed that the match was reportedly fixed for betting purposes.
“After the match, FUFA was informed by FIFA via a betting report that the game had been fixed for betting purposes, with prior knowledge that Express FC would lose and concede at least five goals,” FUFA said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Mutyaba coordinated the fix with Katende, who has previously been implicated in match-fixing cases. Mutyaba reportedly introduced Katende to Express FC CEO Miiro, and the three conspired to manipulate the match outcome.
Evidence shows that Ugandan betting accounts linked to Katende won millions of shillings at a Tanzanian-based betting company, which later blocked the payments after detecting fraud.
The inquiry also points to the involvement of players Kalyowa and Mbazira, who were allegedly recruited by Mutyaba to execute the fix on the field. Mutyaba assumed technical responsibilities for the team during the match due to the absence of head coach Kaddu Badru.
FUFA has formally engaged the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the process remains ongoing.
“FUFA remains committed to protecting the integrity of football in Uganda by fighting all forms of match manipulation,” the federation said in a statement.
The suspended individuals include Mike Mutyaba, a former player for Uganda Cranes.Preliminary investigations suggest that Mutyaba coordinated the fix with Katende, who has previously been implicated in match-fixing cases.
