During the visit, Wadagni toured parts of the memorial and was briefed on the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi and Rwanda’s reconstruction journey.
On the same evening, Wadagni and President Paul Kagame joined Kigali residents for a walk along the Nyarutarama Green Carpet, a green corridor designed to provide safe and accessible spaces for walking, running and other outdoor sports activities.
Wadagni is in Rwanda for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kagame received Wadagni at Village Urugwiro, where the two leaders held talks on expanding bilateral cooperation.
Rwanda and Benin cooperate in areas including trade and investment, agriculture, technology, urban planning, public service delivery, transport and security.
In 2023, Rwanda and Benin signed 10 cooperation agreements and other instruments during Kagame’s visit to Benin, including agreements related to taxation.
Wadagni, 50, became President of Benin in May 2026, succeeding Patrice Talon after two terms in office.
He previously served as Benin’s Minister of Economy and Finance for 10 years and visited Rwanda in 2023 as Talon’s special envoy.
Benin President Romuald Wadagni pays tribute to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.Benin President Romuald Wadagni toured the Kigali Genocide Memorial where he learnt about history of the Genocide against the Tutsi.President Wadagni visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial during his two-day official visit to Rwanda.President Romuald Wadagni joins President Paul Kagame and Kigali residents for a walk along the Nyarutarama Green Carpet.President Wadagni and President Kagame take a walk along Kigali’s Nyarutarama Green Carpet.
Ingabire is accused of forming or joining a criminal organisation, causing unrest or disturbances, undermining the established government, and disseminating false information or propaganda intended to turn foreign countries against Rwanda, among other charges.
She was detained on June 19, 2025, after the court was not satisfied with her explanations regarding her alleged involvement in training sessions attended by former DALFA-Umurinzi members. She had been summoned to their trial to provide information.
The prosecution told the court that the training sessions were intended to overthrow the government by encouraging people to oppose it. Ingabire, however, said the training had not been organised by DALFA-Umurinzi and that she was not aware of it.
The preliminary hearing was scheduled to begin in June 2026, but Ingabire raised several concerns, including restrictions on her communication with her family, which she said was important because her family would help facilitate the payment of her lawyers.
Ingabire told the court that she was not ready to stand trial because she was struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually as a result of the difficulties she had experienced. She also said she needed to meet her co-accused before she could properly prepare her defence.
She requested three months to prepare her case. The court instructed her to have her defence submissions ready by the end of July and informed the parties that the preliminary hearing would resume in September 2026.
The proceedings were then adjourned for nearly three months, partly because of the judiciary’s annual recess, which ended in September.
Ingabire returned to court on September 8, 2026, where she challenged the panel of judges hearing her case. Her objection would have required the proceedings to be postponed while another panel was constituted.
The President of the High Court found that Ingabire’s request was intended to delay the proceedings and fined her Rwf500,000.
The case is scheduled to resume on September 18, 2026.
Victoire Ingabire was detained on June 19, 2025, after the court was not satisfied with her explanations about her alleged involvement in training attended by former DALFA-Umurinzi members.
The boat was handed over on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. It can carry up to 51 passengers in seated positions and up to five tonnes of cargo.
Alfred Habimana, the Vice Mayor of Rusizi District in charge of economic development, said the boat is valued at nearly Rwf500 million.
He said the new boat is intended to address challenges residents have faced when travelling to and from the island.
“Today, we handed over to Nkombo Island residents a boat provided by the President of the Republic. It is intended to address the difficulties they used to face. Even when it rains or the sun is shining, they will now be able to travel because the boat is covered and in good condition,” Habimana said.
He said the boat was procured through a tender issued by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), adding that its services would be provided at an affordable cost.
The fare previously paid by residents travelling to Kamembe town has been reduced by Rwf500.
Habimana urged residents to take care of the new boat and other infrastructure provided to them.
“We ask residents to protect the facilities they have received, including this boat and other infrastructure that will be provided to them,” he said.
The boat is expected to improve mobility for Nkombo residents, facilitate trade and enable traders to transport goods to the island more safely.
One Nkombo resident said they previously relied on wooden boats, which made travel particularly difficult during the rainy season.
“It was not easy because we used wooden boats. During the rainy season, traders would go to buy goods, but their merchandise would get wet, or they would be unable to transport it back to the island. This boat is therefore a solution,” the resident said.
Nkombo residents had previously received another modern boat in October 2020. It was also provided in response to calls to improve transport for people living on the island and had a capacity of 30 passengers and three tonnes of cargo.
The boat later developed technical problems and stopped operating, prompting the authorities to initiate a new project to provide a replacement.
The new covered boat is expected to improve travel for Nkombo residents, particularly during the rainy season.The new boat can carry up to 51 passengers and five tonnes of cargo, easing transport for Nkombo Island residents.Residents of Nkombo Island have received a new boat valued at nearly Rwf500 million to facilitate passenger and cargo transport.
Ingabire Joselyne, Senior State Attorney in charge of International Justice and Judicial Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, disclosed the figures in Rubavu on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking.
“Recent figures on human trafficking show that 297 people had been repatriated between July 2025 and June 2026. This remains a serious and concerning crime globally, as many people are lured through technology,” Ingabire said.
She added that 11 cases involving 12 people accused of human trafficking had been tried, demonstrating that the crime also occurs in Rwanda.
Speaking to IGIHE, Ingabire said the 297 people had been trafficked to four countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Oman. Most of those repatriated were young people.
She said repatriated victims receive different forms of support, including medical care for six months before they are reintegrated into their families.
Residents also said human trafficking remains a growing concern, including in neighbouring countries.
Rwanda has ratified several international agreements aimed at combating human trafficking and continues to implement their provisions, although challenges remain.
Measures include prosecuting people involved in trafficking, preventing the crime through awareness campaigns, protecting victims and strengthening cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
In the past three years, 54 people in Rwanda have been convicted and sentenced for human trafficking offences. They include 12 convicted in 2025, 18 in 2024 and 24 in 2023.
The campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking was held in Rubavu on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.Ingabire Joselyne, Senior State Attorney in charge of International Justice and Judicial Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, disclosed the figures on Tuesday.
At 27, Teckno has established himself as one of Rwanda’s recognised male models, building a career that has taken him from university pageants to major fashion events in Rwanda and international stages.
Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and raised in Rwanda, Teckno completed his studies in Uganda, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from East African University in Kansanga, graduating at the top of his class.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Techno said his modelling journey gained momentum when he was crowned Mr University 2018–2019.
The title came with opportunities including free tuition, a stipend, an office and television appearances on Ugandan stations such as NTV and NBS to promote the university.
It also opened doors to modelling opportunities through Black Models Kenya, allowing him to participate in fashion events across the region.
After returning to Rwanda in August 2019, Teckno continued pursuing modelling. In 2023, he won Rwanda Global Top Model and became Rwanda Top Model for 2023–2024.
The achievement took him to Dubai on an all-expenses-paid trip, where he experienced a different level of compensation for modelling work.
He says he received $500 for an hour on stage, which made him reflect on the difference between international and local modelling markets.
“I was so shocked to see the money they are paying us. When I compared it with the money I’m getting from my country, I was like, ‘No good,’” Teckno told IGIHE.
Rwandan model Jean Teckno has built a modelling career that has taken him from university pageants to international fashion stages
His career has since been marked by several awards. He won the Karisimbi Award for Best Male Model of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he was also named Best Stylish of the Year, while he won Best Male Summer Model of the Year from Supra Company for 2024–2025.
Teckno has worked with major fashion and entertainment events including Kigali Fashion Week, Karisimbi Awards, Supra Awards, Rwanda Global Top Model, Agaciro Fashion Gala, Kigali Festival, Video Vixen Awards and Rimba Fashion Show.
He has also appeared in music videos featuring artists such as Eazy, Marina, Bushali, Kevin Kade, Ishi Kevin and Phil Peter. His credits include “Basi Sori,” “Eden,” “Jugumira,” and “Vanilla.”
His international experience extends to Dubai, Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.
The hidden cost of modelling
Behind the glamour of the runway, Teckno says models face challenges that are rarely visible to the public.
In the interview, he identified low pay and unfair casting practices among the biggest problems affecting models in Rwanda.
He says models can sometimes travel from outside Kigali, spend money on transport and accommodation and attend castings only to discover that the final choices had already been made.
Jean Teckno says his experience in international markets has shown him the opportunities and challenges facing models in Rwanda
Teckno also believes models deserve greater recognition because they are central to fashion events.
“Without a model, I don’t think that any event would be an event,” he said.
He argues that the financial value of models is sometimes overlooked despite the significant investments made in fashion events, including spending on venues, production, photography and other services.
His international experiences have further highlighted these differences. He says he encountered stronger professional structures, greater respect for fashion professionals and better financial compensation in some foreign markets.
Nevertheless, he remains proud of representing Rwanda and says international opportunities have helped him gain exposure and build professional connections.
A call for change in Rwanda’s fashion industry
Teckno believes Rwanda’s modelling industry has significant potential but requires greater collaboration between models, organisers and the media.
He says fashion receives less media attention than sectors such as sports, which limits the visibility of models, designers and other fashion professionals.
He wants journalists to cover fashion events more consistently and organisers to recognise the contribution of models and other creative professionals.
He also believes models themselves must create a stronger sense of community instead of allowing competition to divide them.
“We need to love each other. Which generation are we building?” he asked.
Looking ahead, Teckno has ambitions that extend beyond becoming a successful model. He hopes to walk on major runways in fashion capitals such as Milan and Paris, launch his own fashion line and contribute to building a stronger modelling industry in Rwanda.
He also wants to mentor young models and create opportunities for people entering the industry.
“I want to see myself changing what people have failed to change. At least I put a milestone,” he told IGIHE.
For aspiring models, his advice is straightforward: remain authentic, build discipline and believe in yourself.
He also encourages parents to support their children’s talents while ensuring they receive an education. His own experience, he says, demonstrates that academic education and a creative career can complement each other.
The Rwandan model has worked with several major fashion and entertainment events in Rwanda and across the regionBeyond modelling, Jean Teckno wants to mentor young talents and contribute to building a stronger fashion industry in Rwanda
During their tête-à-tête, the two leaders reviewed existing bilateral initiatives and tasked their respective delegations with advancing strategic cooperation across key sectors.
“Following their talks, President Kagame and President Romuald Wadagni of Benin tasked their respective delegations with strengthening existing bilateral cooperation and advancing new areas of collaboration, with a focus on translating shared priorities into concrete outcomes,” stated the Office of the President.
President Kagame also hosted President Wadagni for an official lunch following their meeting.
Wadagni, 49, assumed office on May 24, 2026, succeeding Patrice Talon following his victory in the April 12 presidential election. His trip to Kigali marks his first official visit to Rwanda since taking office.
Cooperation between Rwanda and Benin has expanded significantly in recent years, underpinned by key agreements signed during President Kagame’s state visit to Benin in April 2023. Most notably, the security and defence agreement was established to help Benin secure its northern borders against the southward spillover of Sahel-based jihadist insurgencies, drawing on the Rwandan Defence Forces’ operational experience through joint training, strategic coaching, and potential security deployments.
Beyond defense, these bilateral frameworks encompass trade and investment, agriculture, digital transformation, tourism, taxation, and institutional development.
The two-day visit serves as an opportunity for both governments to evaluate ongoing progress, streamline the cross-border movement of people and goods, and map out new avenues for economic integration between East and West Africa.
During their tête-à-tête, the two leaders reviewed existing bilateral initiatives and tasked their respective delegations with advancing strategic cooperation across key sectors.Wadagni, 49, assumed office on May 24, 2026, succeeding Patrice Talon following his victory in the April 12 presidential election. His trip to Kigali marks his first official visit to Rwanda since taking office.
Makinen made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, at the opening of the Africa Patient Safety Summit in Kigali, which brought together regulators, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, patient organisations and pharmaceutical industry representatives to discuss ways of strengthening medicine safety across the continent.
The two-day summit, running from September 16-17 at the African Medicines Agency headquarters and the Kigali Convention Centre, is organised by Medicines for Africa in partnership with the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
Makinen explained that the summit was created to address gaps in patient safety by bringing together stakeholders from across the medicines ecosystem instead of addressing issues such as pharmacovigilance, falsified medicines and regulatory oversight in isolation.
“Medication-related harm remains the biggest patient safety challenge on the African continent today,” he noted.
He added that the forum was intended to promote a more integrated approach to patient safety and put patients at the centre of discussions involving medicines regulation, manufacturing, supply chains and healthcare delivery.
Dr Kimmo Makinen, co-founder of Medicines for Africa, said one in 20 African patients experience medicine-related harm, calling for stronger, coordinated patient safety systems across the continent.
Rwanda among countries strengthening regulation
Makinen highlighted progress in African medicines regulation, noting that the continent has gone from zero to 10 national regulatory authorities at Maturity Level 3 under the WHO’s Global Benchmarking Tool in nine years.
The countries include Rwanda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
WHO’s Maturity Level 3 classification refers to a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system. Rwanda achieved the designation in December 2024, when it became the eighth African country to reach the level.
Makinen observed that African regulatory capacity has continued to mature, with the number of WHO-recognised regulatory authorities reaching ML3 increasing substantially in recent years.
He stressed, however, that stronger regulatory systems need to be matched by greater cooperation and information sharing between countries.
“If something happens in one country, it will be then known by other countries straightaway, and they can take action,” he explained.
He also pointed to the need for regulators to look beyond individual areas such as pharmacovigilance or counterfeit medicines and consider patient safety across the entire medicines ecosystem.
The two-day summit brings together regulators, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, patient organisations and pharmaceutical industry representatives to discuss ways of strengthening medicine safety across the continent.
AMA calls for faster safety information sharing
Opening the summit, African Medicines Agency Director General Dr Delese Mimi Darko underlined the importance of keeping patients at the centre of medicine regulation.
She explained that patient safety covers the entire journey of a medical product, from regulatory assessment and manufacturing to distribution, use and monitoring after it reaches the market.
Darko stressed that regulators must ensure that medicines, vaccines and medical devices available to patients meet required quality and safety standards, while also maintaining systems capable of detecting and responding to problems after products enter the market.
“Regulation is invisible until it fails,” she remarked, noting that patients rarely see the systems behind the products they use, including manufacturing oversight, quality surveillance, pharmacovigilance and laboratory testing.
She called for safety information to move across African borders as quickly as medicines and medical products themselves.
A safety concern identified in one country can affect patients elsewhere because medicines move rapidly across the continent, including through porous borders, Darko noted.
“Strong regulatory authorities are the foundation of medicine safety in Africa,” she emphasised, adding that AMA’s role is not to replace national regulators but to connect and strengthen them.
Darko urged countries to establish systems through which a safety finding in one African country can quickly alert regulators and patients in others.
“A safety finding in one country should be able to be a warning for patients in several others,” she stated.
She called on the summit to produce a small number of concrete actions, with clear responsibilities and practical arrangements for communication and information sharing.
Darko also proposed a 90-day timeframe for reviewing progress on commitments made at the summit, rather than waiting until the next annual meeting.
Rwanda urges stakeholders to move from information to action
Dr Raymond Muganga, Acting Director General of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), who represented Minister of State for Health Dr Yvan Butera, called for greater involvement from every stakeholder in protecting patients.
Muganga stressed that patients themselves have a role to play by reporting suspected adverse reactions and other medicine-related problems.
“We are all patients,” he remarked. “We are all concerned. It’s all about our lives.”
Dr Raymond Muganga, Acting Director General of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), called for greater involvement from every stakeholder in protecting patients.
He urged participants to move beyond exchanging information and translate safety data into concrete action.
“It means that starting by just information but ending also by action,” Muganga told journalists.
He explained that regulators have responsibilities throughout a medicine’s lifecycle, beginning with assessment of applications and laboratory testing before registration and continuing with inspections and monitoring once products enter the market.
The Rwanda FDA also relies on information from patients and other medicine users to identify potential safety concerns, he added.
“You cannot control every corner in the country. It’s also important to get information and feedback from users and the people,” Muganga explained.
He also highlighted the role of the supply chain in medicine safety, noting that risks can arise from raw materials, manufacturing processes, storage conditions and other stages before a product reaches the patient.
Muganga referred to Rwanda’s recent action against illicit alcoholic beverages as an example of the need to act when products pose risks to public health.
He noted that the issue extends beyond the finished product to the substances and materials used to produce it, as well as storage and handling conditions.
Muganga also backed greater cooperation between African regulators to make medicine registration and monitoring more efficient, while maintaining the due diligence needed to protect patients.
Regulators urged to put patients first
Prof Papa Madieye Gueye, chair of the Regulatory Council of Senegal’s Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, described patient safety as an ethical and collective responsibility.
He stressed that every African patient has a right to safe, quality and effective healthcare and medicines.
Gueye observed that increased trade, new health technologies and continuing challenges involving falsified and substandard medicines have made cooperation between African countries increasingly important.
“No country can act alone,” he stated.
Prof Papa Madieye Gueye, chair of Senegal’s Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency Council, called patient safety a collective responsibility.
He called for stronger monitoring systems, effective governance, reliable safety information-sharing mechanisms and closer cooperation among African states.
Gueye noted that the establishment of AMA, strengthening of national regulatory authorities, continental pharmacovigilance initiatives and growing involvement of patient organisations have created opportunities to build a stronger patient safety system.
The challenge now, he added, is to turn that progress into measurable improvements for patients.
He called for a shift from systems that primarily react to adverse events towards approaches capable of anticipating risks, preventing harm and continuously learning from patients’ experiences.
The summit is expected to focus on identifying vulnerabilities in medicine safety systems, sharing experiences and defining practical actions to strengthen coordination between national regulators, healthcare providers, manufacturers and patients across Africa.
Dr Raymond Muganga, Acting Director General of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) represented Minister of State for Health Dr Yvan Butera at the summit.The two-day summit brings together key stakeholders to strengthen medicine safety across Africa.
The summit is organised by Medicines for Africa in partnership with the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
Wadagni was welcomed by President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village in Kigali on Wednesday, September 16, where he was received with an official welcome ceremony.
The visit comes as Rwanda and Benin continue to strengthen bilateral ties in areas including security, trade, investment, agriculture, technology and governance.
Wadagni, 49, was sworn in as Benin’s president on May 24, succeeding Patrice Talon after winning the April 12 presidential election with 94.27% of the vote. His running mate, Mariam Chabi Talata, became vice president.
According to Benin’s Constitutional Court, Wadagni received 4,575,449 votes, while his main challenger, Paul Hounkpè, received 278,297 votes. Voter turnout was 63.57%.
Before becoming president, Wadagni served as Benin’s minister of economy and finance from 2016 and was later promoted to senior minister. He previously worked at Deloitte before joining government.
The visit provides an opportunity for the two countries to review and deepen their existing cooperation.
Rwanda and Benin have expanded their partnership in recent years, with cooperation covering security and defence, economic and commercial affairs, agriculture, digital transformation, tourism and institutional development.
During President Kagame’s state visit to Benin in April 2023, the two countries signed agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in several areas. The partnership included security and defence cooperation, with the two sides agreeing to work together to address security threats affecting Benin’s northern borders.
The countries have also pursued cooperation in trade, investment promotion, taxation, information and communications technology and other areas. Rwanda and Benin have previously described their relationship as a strategic partnership and have sought to facilitate the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Wadagni’s visit comes less than four months after he assumed office and marks his first official trip to Rwanda as Benin’s president.
The two-day programme is expected to include discussions between the two presidents and their delegations on bilateral and regional issues.
Wadagni was welcomed by President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village in Kigali on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.He was received with an official welcome ceremony.The visit provides an opportunity for the two countries to review and deepen their existing cooperation.
Amb. Nduhungirehe made the remarks in an interview with Mama Urwagasabo TV published on September 15, 2026, in which he discussed what he described as the DRC government’s failure to implement the peace commitments agreed with Rwanda under the Washington Accords.
The Washington peace agreement, signed on June 27, 2025, and reaffirmed in the December 4, 2025 Washington Accords, includes commitments on the neutralisation of the FDLR and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures.
The implementation process is being monitored through the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), involving Rwanda, the DRC and international partners.
Amb. Nduhungirehe said the DRC government lacked the political will to implement its commitments, but argued that Rwanda was also concerned about what he described as a lack of impartiality by the mediator.
“There is an issue we have with the Government of Congo. But there is also another issue we have with the political will of the mediator.
“It does not make sense that the Government of Congo does whatever it wants, continues to provide weapons to the FDLR, even goes as far as organising politicians intended to give the FDLR a political face, and continues firing shells and drones at civilians in Masisi, Minembwe, Mushaki and everywhere, while the mediator does nothing about it,” he said.
Amb. Nduhungirehe said Rwanda had repeatedly informed the mediator about what it considers violations of the Washington Accords by the DRC, including alleged attacks by Congolese forces on civilians, but that the concerns had not resulted in a change of course.
“What they tell us is that they are talking to Kinshasa, that they understand what we are saying and that they are sending messages to Kinshasa. If those messages exist, they are not producing results because the attacks continue. We have never seen the Government of Congo change its policy of continuing the war,” he said.
He also questioned what he described as the mediator’s approach of communicating privately with the DRC about Rwanda’s concerns while publicly addressing allegations against Rwanda.
Amb. Nduhungirehe said Rwanda had lifted some defensive measures under the Washington process, although the United States has said Rwanda’s steps were insufficient.
“Rwanda is the country implementing what it committed to, while Congo has not started doing anything, and the mediator is watching. Congo must understand that a peace agreement is an agreement between two parties.
It has not started doing anything. On our side, there are defensive measures that we removed this year, and the Americans themselves have said so,” he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that although Rwanda had taken steps to lift some defensive measures, those steps were not sufficient.
Amb. Nduhungirehe argued that if Rwanda’s measures were considered insufficient, the mediator should also assess the DRC’s implementation of its own commitments.
The Washington peace agreement provides for implementation of the agreed security arrangements, including the neutralisation of the FDLR terrorist group and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures.
Amb. Nduhungirehe said Rwanda would continue using defensive measures if the DRC failed to neutralise the FDLR and the mediator continued, in his view, to act without impartiality.
“What we do as Rwanda, as a country, is that we will continue to defend ourselves. That is something that cannot be reversed. The Genocide against the Tutsi that happened in this country in 1994 will never happen again. We will put in place defensive measures that enable us to protect ourselves and our security, while continuing to demonstrate our willingness to implement the Washington Accords,” he said.
The Washington peace process set out a framework for the neutralisation of the FDLR and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures, with the parties working through the JSCM to coordinate implementation and monitoring.
At the sixth JSCM meeting in August, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to advance two initiatives aimed at strengthening monitoring and verification of implementation on the ground.
Rwanda and DRC officials are scheduled to meet in Geneva on September 16–17 for the seventh JSCM meeting to review progress in implementing the Washington Accords.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe says Rwanda will continue taking defensive measures to protect its security amid concerns over the DRC’s collaboration with the FDLR.
The increase amounts to $22.5 million, or nearly 643%, in one year. Spending also rose sharply from the previous quarter, when residents spent $3.9 million in Europe.
The figures are contained in the Travel Expenditure Survey 2026 published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
According to the report, residents of Rwanda travelling abroad by air spent a total of $76.2 million during the second quarter of 2026. Business and professional travel accounted for the largest share, at $32.8 million.
By destination region, Europe recorded the highest expenditure, with residents spending $26 million there. Asia followed with $17.3 million, EAC countries with $13.1 million, North America with $10.3 million and other African countries with $9.1 million.
NISR estimates that travel expenditure covers money spent by residents while staying in the countries they visit, including accommodation, food and drinks, transport, shopping, entertainment, education and health services, among others. The estimate excludes the cost of international transportation.
The $26 million is an estimate rather than a figure obtained by collecting travellers’ receipts or checking their bank accounts.
NISR calculates travel expenditure by combining the number of residents returning to Rwanda from abroad, based on data from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE), with the average length of their stay and the estimated average amount spent per person per day.
In the second quarter of 2026, a total of 12,669 residents of Rwanda returned by air from Europe.
Of these, 5,330 had travelled for business and professional purposes, 4,735 to visit friends and relatives, 1,859 for holidays, 708 for education and 37 for medical reasons.
NISR estimates that residents travelling to Europe for business stayed for an average of 11 days. Those travelling for education stayed for 238 days, those seeking medical services for 22 days, holidaymakers for 16 days and those visiting friends and relatives for 17 days.
Daily expenditure also varied according to the purpose of travel. Business travellers spent an estimated average of $127 per day, those travelling for education $48, medical travellers $106, holidaymakers $130 and those visiting friends and relatives $78.
Using these estimates, the 5,330 business travellers who stayed for an average of 11 days and spent $127 per day accounted for approximately $7.45 million.
The 708 residents who travelled for education, stayed for an average of 238 days and spent $48 per day accounted for approximately $8.09 million.
Those travelling for medical reasons accounted for about $86,000, while holidaymakers accounted for approximately $3.87 million and those visiting friends and relatives about $6.28 million.
Combined, these estimates amount to approximately $25.8 million, which rounds to the reported $26 million.
The NISR report also shows that residents travelling abroad by land spent $23.5 million during the second quarter of 2026.
Business was the main purpose of these trips, accounting for $16.2 million in expenditure.
Together, the figures show that residents’ spending abroad varied considerably according to both their destination and the purpose of their travel during the quarter.
For many Rwandans travelling to Europe for holidays, visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris offers an experience they do not want to miss.
