The indictment was announced on June 23 as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a nationwide enforcement operation that resulted in charges against 455 defendants accused of participating in healthcare fraud and opioid-related schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims.
Muyumbu, 38, faces charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Muyumbu owned and operated Motherland Counseling LLC, an outpatient treatment center in Phoenix that provided addiction treatment services to individuals struggling with alcohol and drug dependency.
Prosecutors allege that Muyumbu enrolled the company as a provider with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency, and targeted patients enrolled in the American Indian Health Program, a fee-for-service healthcare program serving Native American beneficiaries.
The indictment alleges that between the operation of the business and the submission of claims, Muyumbu and his co-conspirators exploited vulnerable patients by billing AHCCCS for services that were never provided, improperly billed, medically unnecessary, or so substandard that they failed to serve any legitimate treatment purpose.
Federal authorities claim that approximately $44.9 million in false and fraudulent claims were submitted to AHCCCS, which subsequently paid out about $36.7 million based on those claims.
The Justice Department further alleges that some of the claims were linked to illegal kickbacks and bribes and that patients were used primarily to generate Medicaid reimbursements rather than receive meaningful treatment.
Investigators also accuse Muyumbu of laundering proceeds from the alleged scheme through the purchase of real estate in the greater Phoenix area. Authorities said they have seized approximately $104,463 believed to be proceeds of the alleged fraud.
The case is among four major Arizona prosecutions announced as part of the national crackdown. Other defendants include medical biller Susie Kamien, sales representative Sandra Peters, and pharmaceutical executive Brian Rowan, whose separate cases involve alleged healthcare fraud schemes ranging from tens of millions to more than $1 billion.
Announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said the scale of fraud uncovered nationwide should concern American taxpayers.
“The billions of dollars of fraud highlighted in today’s announcement should shock and anger every American,” Courchaine said. “We must protect our valuable federal health care programs from exploitation by criminals.”
The nationwide operation involved federal and state law enforcement agencies across 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories. Authorities reported the seizure of more than $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets connected to healthcare fraud investigations.
Muyumbu is said to have entered the United States through refugee resettlement after spending time at Nyabiheke Refugee Camp in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, which for many years hosted refugees who had fled conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Court documents indicate that after settling in Arizona, Muyumbu established Motherland Counseling LLC and expanded its operations in the Phoenix area. Prosecutors now allege that the business became central to one of the largest individual Medicaid fraud cases announced in Arizona during this year’s national healthcare fraud enforcement action.
Muyumbu is also known within Rwanda’s entertainment circles and among members of the Rwandan diaspora in the United States. He gained wider public recognition after serving as the best man at singer The Ben’s wedding and has on various occasions been seen supporting Rwandan artists, including Kevin Kade. His visibility within entertainment and diaspora communities made him a familiar figure to many Rwandans long before the allegations announced by U.S. prosecutors this week.
Muyumbu’s case is being prosecuted by attorneys from the Justice Department’s National Rapid Response Strike Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Federal authorities emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that Muyumbu, like all defendants charged in the operation, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. No trial date has been announced.
Muyumbu, 38, faces charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering.Muyumbu is said to have entered the United States through refugee resettlement after spending time at Nyabiheke Refugee Camp in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, which for many years hosted refugees who had fled conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the Office of the President, discussions focused on The Wood Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Rwanda, including its investments in the tea sector, as well as the work of Kids Operating Room, the global health charity co-founded by Garreth and Nicola Wood to expand access to safe pediatric surgery.
The Wood Foundation is a venture philanthropy organization established in 2007 by Scottish businessman Sir Ian Wood and his family. Through its Africa-focused initiatives, the Foundation works to support sustainable economic development by combining financial investment with business expertise.
In Rwanda, the Foundation has played a significant role in the development of the tea industry through its Imbarutso programme, which partners with more than 17,000 smallholder tea farmers. The initiative seeks to improve tea quality and productivity, enhance factory efficiency, and promote farmer ownership in tea processing factories, helping growers build more sustainable and profitable agricultural enterprises.
The Foundation’s work extends across several East African countries, where it supports smallholder farmers and agricultural value chains as part of broader efforts to strengthen rural livelihoods.
President Kagame’s meeting with the Foundation’s leadership also highlighted the work of Kids Operating Room, an international health charity dedicated to improving access to safe pediatric surgical care in low-resource settings.
The Wood Foundation has maintained a longstanding presence in Rwanda, supporting initiatives aimed at advancing agricultural productivity and creating opportunities for inclusive economic growth.
President Paul Kagame held talks with Garreth Wood, Chairman of The Wood Foundation, at Urugwiro Village on Wednesday.According to the Office of the President, discussions focused on The Wood Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Rwanda, including its investments in the tea sector, as well as the work of Kids Operating Room, the global health charity co-founded by Garreth and Nicola Wood to expand access to safe pediatric surgery.
The budget law was passed during a plenary sitting attended by 63 lawmakers on June 24, following the initial presentation by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa.
The approved budget represents a 12% increase from the revised 2025/26 budget approved in February, which stood at Rwf 6,952.1 billion. Total government spending is set to rise by roughly Rwf 844.2 billion to hit the new Rwf 7.796 trillion ceiling.
According to Parliament’s Budget Committee Chairperson, Odette Uwamariya, the financing structure reflects Rwanda’s solid path toward economic self-reliance. Total domestic resources, consisting of tax and non-tax revenues, will cover 64.3% of the entire budget envelope. When combined with domestic borrowing, internal financing funds 67.7% of national expenditure, meaning that roughly 68% of the budget is self-funded, while external loans and grants cover the remaining 32%.
In the finalized financing breakdown, tax revenues will contribute 56.8% of the total budget, while non-tax revenues will account for 7.5%. External borrowing through foreign loans is projected to provide 25.3% of the funding, while foreign grants will cover 7.0%. The remaining 3.4% of the budget will be financed through domestic borrowing.
Unlike earlier draft iterations, the finalized budget prioritizes robust operational and strategic execution across public institutions by dividing expenditure clearly between day-to-day costs and capital investments.
The recurrent budget, which covers operational costs and civil service salaries, has been set at Rwf 4,785.5 billion, representing 61.4% of total expenditure. The development budget, which is dedicated to public and capital infrastructure projects, stands at Rwf 3,010.8 billion, equivalent to 38.6% of the total envelope.
The spending structure closely aligns with the strategic pillars of the Second National Strategy for Transformation. The Economic Transformation Pillar receives the largest share, totaling Rwf 4,900.9 billion, or 63% of the entire budget. Under this pillar, priorities include boosting inclusive growth in agriculture and livestock production, promoting local industrialization, expanding electricity and clean water access, strengthening climate resilience, and creating decent jobs.
The Social Transformation Pillar has been allocated Rwf 1,711.3 billion, representing 22% of the budget. Funding in this segment will focus on improving education quality, upgrading healthcare infrastructure, expanding early childhood development centers to combat malnutrition, and supporting social protection programs to lift vulnerable households out of poverty.
The Transformational Governance Pillar has been allocated Rwf 1,184.0 billion, which accounts for the remaining 15% of the spending. This allocation will prioritize improving public service delivery, strengthening public financial management, promoting justice and the rule of law, and safeguarding national peace and security.
Committee Chairperson Uwamariya noted that while Rwanda’s budget expands annually, public development needs are growing rapidly as the country pursues ambitious socioeconomic targets. Following rigorous institutional consultations, Parliament reallocated approximately Rwf 400 billion from lower-priority operational areas to urgent public programs.
As part of these parliamentary adjustments, agriculture and livestock support received a crucial supplementary boost of Rwf 3.08 billion to finalize its core footprint. A major win in this sector allocation is the substantial expansion of agricultural fertilizer subsidies, which nearly doubled from Rwf 39 billion in the previous fiscal year to Rwf 64 billion to counter rising costs on international markets. Funding for social protection safety nets targeting vulnerable populations was also increased by Rwf 4.3 billion to secure a stronger social support floor.
The transport sector’s immediate development allocation for the 2026/27 fiscal year adjusted to Rwf 305.3 billion. This localized reduction reflects the successful completion of several major infrastructure projects alongside strategic transitions toward new investments. Despite this short-term consolidation, medium-term expenditure projections indicate aggressive growth in infrastructure spending.
Transport networks are slated to scale up with planned increases of Rwf 83.8 billion in the 2027/28 fiscal year and Rwf 92.6 billion in the 2028/29 fiscal year to fund key arterial links, feeder roads, and logistics infrastructure supporting the new Bugesera International Airport.
The budget law was passed during a plenary sitting attended by 63 lawmakers on June 24, following the initial presentation by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa.
Several European Union (EU) member states are actively exploring agreements to send asylum seekers and undocumented migrants to third countries in Africa and Asia, including Rwanda and Uzbekistan.
The move highlights a major policy shift within the bloc toward externalizing migration management and asylum processing beyond European borders.
The strategy gained significant momentum last week when the European Parliament approved a sweeping new EU return regulation by a 418-to-218 vote. The legislation grants member states the legal framework to establish extraterritorial centers, commonly referred to as “return hubs.”
Under the approved rules, transfers to non-EU nations can only occur after rigorous individual assessments ensure the host countries uphold human rights, comply with international law, and respect the principle of non-refoulement (not returning individuals to danger).
A leaked document obtained by Politico revealed that more than half of the EU’s 27 member states recently called for urgent, coordinated action to set up these offshore reception facilities. A coalition led by Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Greece is driving the initiative.
Timelines and diplomatic targets
While specific partner nations have not been finalized, the political wheels are already turning. Speaking on the strategy, Greece’s Migration and Asylum Ministry confirmed that active contacts are underway to secure bilateral partnerships. The overarching goal among the coalition is to conclude the first external agreements before the end of this year so that the hubs can become fully operational next year.
Defenders of the law argue it is a necessary step to restore order to Europe’s strained migration system.
“Today Europe delivered. People rightly expect that those with no right to stay return to their countries of origin,” said Malik Azmani, the European Parliament’s lead rapporteur for the legislation. “Return is the final piece in Europe’s migration system.”
Nicholas Ioannides, the Deputy Migration Minister for Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, echoed the sentiment, noting that the legislative shift is focused on practical enforcement.
“The new regulation will speed up the return process and increase returns of persons who have no legal right to stay in the EU,” Ioannides stated.
Deep fault lines remain
Despite passing the parliamentary threshold, the plan faces fierce resistance from other countries like France and Spain, who argue that offshoring migration is both ineffective and ethically compromised.
French President Emmanuel Macron directly attacked the concept following a tense EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, explicitly stating that Paris would oppose any attempts to use EU funds to build or maintain these centers.
“France does not support that policy,” Macron told reporters. “I’m not sure that’s the Europe we want. I’m not sure those are the fundamental principles on which our Europe was built. And I don’t believe, for that matter, that it’s effective. The proof is that, so far, I haven’t seen anyone make it work.”
Though individual member states are legally permitted to negotiate their own independent third-country agreements under the new regulation, the European Commission remained notably absent from the preliminary talks regarding potential host destinations. However, the law mandates that any nation intending to implement a transfer must formally notify the Commission and fellow member states before execution.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Uganda is also on the table as a potential African partner, while North African neighbors like Egypt and Libya were dropped from initial shortlists due to acute human trafficking risks.
To mitigate humanitarian concerns, European officials are pushing for deep involvement from global bodies. The EU intends to have both the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) embedded in the framework to monitor these external hubs and ensure international human rights benchmarks are strictly met.
The EU’s pivot toward structured “return hubs” reflects a global evolution of migration management, heavily drawing on blueprints pioneered across the English Channel. The landmark “UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership” served as the world’s first major experiment in state-to-state relocation frameworks.
While that bilateral initiative was ultimately paused due to shifts in British domestic politics before full implementation, it fundamentally proved the concept of external partnership, establishing Rwanda as a forward-looking pioneer in hosting and co-managing complex global migration solutions.
Now, the European Union is attempting to scale this concept, transitioning from the UK’s single-nation approach toward a highly formalized, multi-state system backed by broader institutional and humanitarian guardrails.
This strategic shift comes amidst seismic political transitions in London. On Monday, June 22, 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation outside 10 Downing Street, yielding to intense pressure from within his own parliamentary party following a turbulent two years in office.
Starmer’s administration struggled to find its footing against a backdrop of persistent economic stagnation and intense domestic pressure surrounding immigration policy, a domestic crisis that ultimately triggered a transition of power within the Labour Party.
The move highlights a major policy shift within the bloc toward externalising migration management and asylum processing beyond European borders.
The strategy gained significant momentum last week when the European Parliament approved a sweeping new EU return regulation by a 418-to-218 vote. The legislation grants member states the legal framework to establish extraterritorial centres, commonly referred to as “return hubs.”
Under the approved rules, transfers to non-EU nations can only occur after rigorous individual assessments ensure the host countries uphold human rights, comply with international law, and respect the principle of non-refoulement (not returning individuals to danger).
A leaked document obtained by Politico revealed that more than half of the EU’s 27 member states recently called for urgent, coordinated action to set up these offshore reception facilities. A coalition led by Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Greece is driving the initiative.
Timelines and diplomatic targets
While specific partner nations have not been finalised, the political wheels are already turning. Speaking on the strategy, Greece’s Migration and Asylum Ministry confirmed that active contacts are underway to secure bilateral partnerships.
The overarching goal among the coalition is to conclude the first external agreements before the end of this year so that the hubs can become fully operational next year.
Defenders of the law argue it is a necessary step to restore order to Europe’s strained migration system.
“Today, Europe delivered. People rightly expect that those with no right to stay return to their countries of origin,” said Malik Azmani, the European Parliament’s lead rapporteur for the legislation. “Return is the final piece in Europe’s migration system.”
Nicholas Ioannides, the Deputy Migration Minister for Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, echoed the sentiment, noting that the legislative shift is focused on practical enforcement.
“The new regulation will speed up the return process and increase returns of persons who have no legal right to stay in the EU,” Ioannides stated.
Deep fault lines remain
Despite passing the parliamentary threshold, the plan faces fierce resistance from other countries like France and Spain, who argue that offshoring migration is both ineffective and ethically compromised.
French President Emmanuel Macron directly attacked the concept following a tense EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, explicitly stating that Paris would oppose any attempts to use EU funds to build or maintain these centers.
“France does not support that policy,” Macron told reporters. “I’m not sure that’s the Europe we want. I’m not sure those are the fundamental principles on which our Europe was built. And I don’t believe, for that matter, that it’s effective. The proof is that, so far, I haven’t seen anyone make it work.”
Though individual member states are legally permitted to negotiate their own independent third-country agreements under the new regulation, the European Commission remained notably absent from the preliminary talks regarding potential host destinations. However, the law mandates that any nation intending to implement a transfer must formally notify the Commission and fellow member states before execution.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Uganda is also on the table as a potential African partner, while North African neighbors like Egypt and Libya were dropped from initial shortlists due to acute human trafficking risks.
To mitigate humanitarian concerns, European officials are pushing for deep involvement from global bodies. The EU intends to have both the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) embedded in the framework to monitor these external hubs and ensure international human rights benchmarks are strictly met.
The EU’s pivot toward structured “return hubs” reflects a global evolution of migration management, heavily drawing on blueprints pioneered across the English Channel. The landmark “UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership” served as the world’s first major experiment in state-to-state relocation frameworks.
While that bilateral initiative was ultimately paused due to shifts in British domestic politics before full implementation, it fundamentally proved the concept of external partnership, establishing Rwanda as a forward-looking pioneer in hosting and co-managing complex global migration solutions.
Now, the European Union is attempting to scale this concept, transitioning from the UK’s single-nation approach toward a highly formalised, multi-state system backed by broader institutional and humanitarian guardrails.
This strategic shift comes amidst seismic political transitions in London. On Monday, June 22, 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation outside 10 Downing Street, yielding to intense pressure from within his own parliamentary party following a turbulent two years in office.
Starmer’s administration struggled to find its footing against a backdrop of persistent economic stagnation and intense domestic pressure surrounding immigration policy, a domestic crisis that ultimately triggered a transition of power within the Labour Party.
Several European Union (EU) member states are actively exploring agreements to send asylum seekers and undocumented migrants to third countries in Africa and Asia, including Rwanda and Uzbekistan.
Under the initiative launched on Monday, shareholders can trade shares at a price ranging between RWF 2,371 and RWF 2,906 per share, subject to a 10% tax deduction.
Shareholders interested in buying or selling shares are required to complete the relevant application forms available through BPR Bank Rwanda’s share trading portal and submit them, together with identification documents, either via email or through any BPR branch. Following verification, applications will be forwarded to BK Capital, which will act as an intermediary matching buyers and sellers.
Participants may specify a preferred trading price within the approved range or authorize BK Capital to execute transactions at the most competitive price available.
Addressing longstanding shareholder needs
Speaking during the launch, BPR Bank Rwanda Managing Director Patience Mutesi said the initiative responds to requests received from shareholders over the past several years.
“We have spent nearly three years engaging with shareholders and their representatives to better understand their concerns,” she said. “During this period, we also conducted a shareholder registration exercise to update shareholder records and contact information. Many shareholders expressed interest in selling their shares, but there was previously no formal mechanism to facilitate such transactions.”
According to Mutesi, the absence of an organized share-trading framework and the bank’s non-listing on the stock market had previously limited opportunities for shareholders wishing to trade their holdings.
Majority shareholder holds 87.56%
BPR Bank Rwanda’s shareholding structure consists of two principal shareholder groups. KCB Group remains the majority shareholder with a stake of 87.56%, while Rwandan shareholders collectively own the remaining 12.44%.
Although individual holdings among local shareholders are generally small, their numbers remain significant. Mutesi noted that the bank continues efforts to identify and register shareholders whose records remain incomplete.
Pascal Nyiringango, a member of BPR Bank Rwanda’s Board of Directors, said that many individuals remain unaware that they are shareholders in the bank.
According to Nyiringango, when the former People’s Banks were transformed into a commercial banking institution, all members automatically became shareholders. As a result, many beneficiaries never realized they held shares, while others have shown limited interest in registration due to the relatively small size of their holdings.
Despite this, he emphasized that local shareholders have played a vital role in the bank’s development both as investors and customers and should actively seek to benefit from the institution’s growth.
He encouraged anyone who held an account with a former People’s Bank before July 31, 2007 to visit their nearest BPR branch with proof of account ownership in order to verify and register their shareholding status.
Dividend payments strengthen investment appeal
Romuald Mukwiye, President of the Association of Rwandan Shareholders, said the bank’s improved performance has strengthened the value proposition for shareholders.
He noted that since returning to profitability and distributing dividends beginning in 2024, BPR Bank Rwanda has delivered shareholder returns that compare favorably with those offered by many listed companies in Rwanda.
Mukwiye described BPR shares as an attractive long-term investment opportunity and observed that when shareholders choose to sell, existing shareholders frequently purchase the shares to increase their stakes.
Anyone seeking further information about buying or selling shares can contact BK Capital by phone at 0788143434 or 0788143141, send an SMS or WhatsApp message to 0798284430, or email registrar@bk.rw.
Speaking during the launch, BPR Bank Rwanda Managing Director Patience Mutesi said the initiative responds to requests received from shareholders over the past several years.Pascal Nyiringango, a member of BPR Bank Rwanda’s Board of Directors, said many individuals remain unaware that they are shareholders in BPR Bank Rwanda.Representing minority shareholders, Romuard Mukwiye said the platform addresses a challenge that shareholders had faced for years. BPR Bank Rwanda has launched an internal share trading platform that enables its shareholders to buy and sell shares among themselves, establishing a structured mechanism for minority investors to trade their stakes.
The 19-year-old rising star was initially selected as the 13th overall pick by the Miami Heat before his draft rights were immediately routed to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The selection was part of a historic, pre-arranged blockbuster trade sequence that sent multi-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami in exchange for a package of players and multiple draft assets, making Ament a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s new rebuilding era.
"I'm super excited to play for you guys, compete for you guys."
Ament turned heads at the draft venue not just with his basketball pedigree, but by proudly showcasing his heritage on the draft red carpet, appearing in a custom jacket featuring the “Visit Rwanda” branding.
The 2026 NBA Draft marks the third consecutive year using a two-night format, featuring 60 total selections across two rounds. With the first-round selections concluded on Tuesday night, the second round is scheduled to take place on Wednesday evening.
Ament enters the NBA following a dominant 2025/26 freshman season with the University of Tennessee in the NCAA, where he helped lead the Volunteers to the Elite Eight tournament stage. As a true freshman, he appeared and started in all 35 games he played, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while earning Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman honors.
His standout scoring performance came on February 18, 2026, when he dropped 29 points against Oklahoma. The versatile forward also recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against Vanderbilt on March 13 and a personal-best five assists against Mississippi on February 11.
Tennessee, coached by veteran mastermind Rick Barnes, has now produced 58 NBA players in its program history. Ament represents the 11th player from the university, and the fifth first-round selection, to be drafted into the NBA under Coach Barnes’ tenure.
Ament has been vocal about his deep-rooted ties to Rwanda. His mother, Godelive, was born and raised in Rwanda, and Ament has actively sought out ways to strengthen his relationship with his maternal homeland.
Under FIBA eligibility rules, Ament remains an incredibly high-profile dual-national prospect for the local basketball federation, having previously hinted to regional media that he would strongly consider representing the Rwanda national team in future international competitions.
“I would entertain it [the offer] for sure, for sure. I mean, basketball is huge in that country and it means so much to their fans and their community. So I would definitely entertain it.”
Before making his mark in the collegiate ranks, Ament represented the United States at the 2024 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Argentina, where he secured a gold medal. Coming out of the Highland School in Virginia, he was a consensus five-star recruit, ranked fourth overall among the top 100 high school basketball prospects in the United States for the class of 2025.
He last visited Kigali in August 2025, where he toured local developmental facilities, met with young athletes, and witnessed firsthand the country’s rapidly growing basketball infrastructure and youth development academies.
Nate Ament shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected with the 13th overall pick in the NBA Draft.The 19-year-old rising star was initially selected as the 13th overall pick by the Miami Heat before his draft rights were immediately routed to the Milwaukee Bucks.The selection was part of a historic, pre-arranged blockbuster trade sequence.Ament enters the NBA following a dominant 2025/26 freshman season with the University of Tennessee in the NCAA, where he helped lead the Volunteers to the Elite Eight tournament stage.Ament enters the NBA following a dominant 2025/26 freshman season with the University of Tennessee in the NCAA, where he helped lead the Volunteers to the Elite Eight tournament stage.
Official data released Tuesday showed 387 cases were under quarantine or receiving treatment, and 115 recoveries. DRC authorities have also reported 131 suspected cases, including 44 suspected deaths.
In its daily epidemiological report, the health ministry noticed an increase in confirmed cases on a weekly basis, consistent with ongoing community transmissions.
It said intensified public health measures, including stronger epidemiological and laboratory surveillance as well as the decentralization of diagnostic capacity, have contributed to earlier detection, confirming expanded community transmission.
“This is the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of an Ebola disease outbreak in Africa,” Abdirahman Mahamud, director of Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations at the WHO, told a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
Mahamud pointed to encouraging signs that the response was expanding to keep pace with the spread. Treatment capacity has increased over the past two weeks, “going from a handful to over 500 beds across 19 health zones,” he said.
Laboratory capacity has also been sharply expanded, from around 30 tests per day in the capital Kinshasa at the start of the outbreak to more than 2,000 tests per day through a network of eight decentralized laboratories across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, he said.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said Tuesday that he would soon travel to Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, to follow up on response operations on the ground.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference in Kinshasa with visiting Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union.
Prior to the press conference, the two leaders were briefed on the DRC’s epidemiological situation and response measures at a meeting with the Central African country’s national Ebola response task force.
To contain the Ebola outbreak, Tshisekedi also called for stronger regional cooperation based on prevention, epidemiological surveillance and rapid information-sharing.
Ndayishimiye urged African countries and the wider international community not to close borders.
Uganda, which borders the DRC’s Ituri province that has accounted for about 90 percent of the infections, has confirmed one more Ebola case, bringing its total number of confirmed cases to 20, including 14 recoveries and two deaths, showed the latest data from its health ministry.
Fifteen of the reported cases were imported, it said.
Also on Tuesday, Uganda and the DRC launched cross-border collaboration to fight the Ebola outbreak, covering shared surveillance and joint deployment of rapid response teams, mobile laboratories, and Ebola treatment centers.
According to a WHO update released on Friday last week, the Ebola-related health risk in the DRC remained very high because of ongoing transmissions and continued expansion of the outbreak into new health zones, increasing the potential for further national and regional spread.
Meanwhile, the risk in Uganda remained high due to confirmed cross-border spread through imported cases and the epidemiological links along the eastern DRC-western Uganda corridor.
Official data released Tuesday showed 387 cases were under quarantine or receiving treatment, and 115 recoveries. DRC authorities have also reported 131 suspected cases, including 44 suspected deaths.
The graduation ceremony for Intake 08 was presided over on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General MK Mubarakh, at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in Nasho, Kirehe District.
Addressing the graduates, Gen Mubarakh congratulated them on completing the demanding course and delivered a message from President Paul Kagame, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the RDF.
In his message, President Kagame commended the dedication of the RDF and other security organs, extending special appreciation to the graduating troops. He underscored that continuous professional training remains the foundation of the RDF’s excellence and effectiveness.
Gen Mubarakh said the advanced training equips soldiers with the skills required to carry out their duties and respond effectively to evolving security threats. He noted that the programme not only strengthened the troops’ operational and tactical competencies but also reinforced the discipline and values that underpin the professionalism of the Rwanda Defence Force.
He further highlighted that beyond technical and tactical skills, the course instilled a strong sense of military discipline and fundamental values that guide soldiers in upholding RDF standards, maintaining professionalism, and performing duties with integrity.
The CDS urged the troops to apply both their newly acquired operational knowledge and the strict discipline developed throughout the training in the execution of their daily responsibilities.
Troops were urged to apply both their newly acquired operational knowledge and the strict discipline developed throughout the training in the execution of their daily responsibilities.Addressing the graduates, RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General MK Mubarakh, congratulated them on completing the demanding course and delivered a message from President Paul Kagame, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the RDF.Gen Mubarakh said the advanced training equips soldiers with the skills required to carry out their duties and respond effectively to evolving security threats.The graduation ceremony for Intake 08 was held at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in Nasho, Kirehe District.
Recognised as Europe’s largest speciality coffee event, the exhibition will bring together thousands of industry professionals, including producers, exporters, roasters, importers, buyers, investors, and experts from around the world.
This edition holds particular significance as it will be the first time in the history of World of Coffee that the event is hosted in Belgium. The choice of Brussels is both strategic and symbolic. As the de facto capital of the European Union, the city stands at the crossroads of Europe’s economic, diplomatic, and commercial activities, making it a key gateway to international markets.
The event rotates annually across major European capitals. Last year, it was hosted in Geneva, Switzerland, and this year it moves to Brussels, further reinforcing its status as a truly continental platform for the global coffee industry.
Thanks to its exceptional connectivity, with direct flights to more than 200 destinations worldwide, Brussels is one of the most accessible European cities for delegations from major coffee-producing countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Hosted at Brussels Expo, one of Europe’s most prestigious and modern exhibition venues, the event will feature hundreds of exhibitors and a rich programme of professional activities over three days, including business meetings, conferences, cupping sessions, international competitions, and networking opportunities.
For Rwanda, this participation goes far beyond attending an international trade exhibition. It is part of a broader strategic vision to strengthen the country’s position among the world’s leading specialty coffee origins.
A key driver of this strategy is Europe’s importance as Rwanda’s main coffee market, accounting for around 60% of the country’s coffee exports. This strong trade link makes the Brussels platform particularly relevant, as it provides an opportunity to further consolidate Rwanda’s footprint in its most important destination market while expanding into new premium segments.
On this occasion, Rwanda will showcase the excellence of its coffee, internationally recognised for its exceptional quality, complex fruity flavour profiles, bright acidity, and high-altitude production.
This push into premium markets comes at a time when Rwanda’s coffee sector is enjoying a historic boom, having generated an all-time high of $148.6 million in export revenues in 2025, a massive 65% surge from the prior year.
Backed by an average export price of $6.20 per kilo, this economic momentum directly flows back to the country’s 400,000 smallholder farm families, who saw minimum farm-gate cherry prices raised to Rwf 750 per kilogram for the 2026 season.
In addition, Rwandan exporters will use the exhibition as a learning and compliance platform, with a strong focus on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). A series of conferences, technical sessions, and workshops running alongside the exhibition will help exporters better understand new compliance requirements shaping access to the European market.
The Rwanda pavilion will also serve as a platform to highlight the expertise of local producers, washing stations, cooperatives, and exporting companies that contribute daily to the development of this key sector of the national economy.
The Rwandan delegation will consist of a representative from National Agricultural Export Development Board, responsible for coordinating Rwanda’s institutional participation, alongside Rwandan coffee exporters representing washing stations, cooperatives, and private export companies.
Throughout the event, the delegation will engage in B2B meetings, coffee tasting sessions, and strategic discussions with major players from the global coffee industry.
The objectives are clear: to increase the visibility of Rwandan coffee, build long-term business relationships, expand into new markets, and further strengthen the Rwanda brand internationally.
Through this participation, Rwanda aims to promote its specialty coffee in premium international markets, facilitate direct trade connections between Rwandan exporters and global buyers, and reinforce its position as one of the world’s most promising origins for high-quality specialty coffee.
Under the theme “Discover the World of Coffee in the Capital of Europe,” Brussels will become, for three days, a global meeting point for innovation, knowledge sharing, and the celebration of exceptional coffee.
For Rwanda, this event represents a major opportunity to boost trade and deepen its presence in the European specialty coffee market.
Rwanda, through the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), will participate in the 2026 edition of the prestigious World of Coffee international exhibition, which will take place from 25 to 27 June 2026 at Brussels Expo in the Belgian capital.Through this participation, Rwanda aims to promote its specialty coffee in premium international markets, facilitate direct trade connections between Rwandan exporters and global buyers, and reinforce its position as one of the world’s most promising origins for high-quality specialty coffee.A key driver of this strategy is Europe’s importance as Rwanda’s main coffee market, accounting for around 60% of the country’s coffee exports. The Rwanda pavilion will also serve as a platform to highlight the expertise of local producers, washing stations, cooperatives, and exporting companies that contribute daily to the development of this key sector of the national economy.
Since tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda escalated in 2022, the two leaders have drawn closer politically and militarily. However, observers note that their cooperation appears to prioritise security and battlefield coordination over development initiatives such as infrastructure or economic integration.
At the centre of this alignment is the war in eastern DRC, where Burundian forces have become one of Kinshasa’s key allies in operations against AFC/M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho.
It is in this context that President Ndayishimiye arrived in Kinshasa for a two-day official visit beginning June 22, 2026, accompanied by his wife.
Official agenda versus underlying priorities
Publicly, discussions are said to focus on security in eastern DRC, bilateral cooperation, Ebola response, and broader regional issues. However, analysts argue that the real agenda extends far beyond these stated priorities.
The visit takes place as Burundian troops have remained deployed in the DRC for nearly three years, and as fighting in South Kivu, particularly in the Minembwe highlands, has intensified.
Tshisekedi personally received Ndayishimiye at N’djili International Airport, where the two leaders walked on a red carpet, national anthems were played, and military honours were rendered.
Later, they held closed-door talks at the Cité de l’Union Africaine. The ceremony projected strong bilateral ties, but also underscored deeper strategic alignments behind the scenes.
“Kinshasa views Bujumbura as its closest partner in both the military campaign and the political confrontation with Kigali. Burundi has effectively become a key operational instrument,” one analyst noted.
Congolese media similarly reported that the visit reflects coordination between two governments aligned around the objective of defending DRC sovereignty and countering Rwanda and AFC/M23.
A partnership defined by war rather than development
Since 2022, when relations between Rwanda and the DRC sharply deteriorated, high-level exchanges between Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye have significantly increased.
Ndayishimiye has visited Kinshasa eight times, while Tshisekedi has made five visits to Burundi.
Military cooperation between the Burundian army and the FARDC began in South Kivu in 2022 and later expanded into operations in North Kivu against M23.
This shift followed Kinshasa’s criticism of the East African Community (EAC) regional force, which it accused of failing to take an offensive stance against M23, instead focusing on separation of forces and ceasefire monitoring.
Since then, Tshisekedi has increasingly relied on partners willing to engage directly in combat operations, with Burundi emerging as a central ally.
Visit coincides with intensified fighting in Minembwe
The visit comes amid ongoing and intense fighting in Minembwe, in South Kivu’s highlands. Forces aligned with the DRC government have launched operations aimed at capturing Minembwe, engaging MRDP-Twirwaneho positions.
Between June 6 and 12, government forces reported capturing several villages around Minembwe. On June 13 and 14, reports indicated continued airstrikes on at least four surrounding villages.
Heavy artillery, aircraft, and drones were reportedly used. On June 15, Kinshasa announced that Minembwe had been taken, a claim rejected by MRDP-Twirwaneho.
On June 17, FARDC spokesperson in South Kivu, Lt. Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji, stated that government forces had seized villages including Ilundu, Kitavi, and Bidegu, and were advancing toward Minembwe airport.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a DRC coalition aircraft, possibly an L-39, had been shot down, indicating escalation to a higher-intensity phase of combat.
Allegations of multi-force alignment in Minembwe
The situation in Minembwe highlights reported coordination among FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo militias, and the FDLR. This reinforces long-standing accusations by Rwanda that the FDLR continues to operate alongside state and allied forces in eastern DRC.
Rwanda maintains that the FDLR, linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, poses an ongoing security threat and should not be integrated into any legitimate security framework in the region.
On June 18 and 19, fighting continued. Reports from Kinshasa indicated that government forces carried out drone strikes using Turkish-made TB2 drones targeting Minembwe and surrounding areas.
However, MRDP-Twirwaneho maintained that it still controlled Minembwe, arguing that government forces had failed to secure full control over the strategically located territory linking Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga.
FARDC recently claimed it had captured Minembwe, but Twirwaneho says this is not true.
Ndayishimiye’s framing of the conflict
In an interview with Jeune Afrique, President Ndayishimiye described the conflict in eastern DRC as a direct security concern for Burundi.
He referred to Uvira, a city close to Bujumbura, that was captured by AFC/M23 on December 10, 2025, shortly after the Washington peace agreement was signed between Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame.
According to Ndayishimiye, M23’s proximity to Burundi’s border increases the risk of activation of the RED-Tabara rebel group against Burundi.
“As long as M23 fighters are near our border, it remains a problem, and we must remain vigilant,” he stated.
The city remained under AFC/M23 control for nearly a month before the group withdrew to allow renewed peace negotiations.
Wazalendo and other armed groups were reported in the areas of Buhimba, Kibati, Lwibo, and other locations.
Burundian forces and questions over operational control
“We are not in the DRC to protect Burundi; we are there to support the Congolese army in its fight against its enemy,” Ndayishimiye stated.
He further noted that Burundian troops operate under FARDC command and are deployed according to Congolese military needs. He also emphasised that their withdrawal is solely the decision of the Congolese government.
“It is the Congolese government that must decide. If it finds their presence no longer useful, Burundi will withdraw its soldiers.”
While military cooperation between states is common, analysts note that the current arrangement raises questions about command structure and operational independence, with some describing it as unusually dependent on the host government’s direction.
FDLR as a persistent regional fault line
Rwanda maintains that sustainable peace in eastern DRC is impossible as long as the FDLR remains active, tolerated, or insufficiently dismantled.
President Paul Kagame has repeatedly argued that Rwanda cannot be portrayed as the central security problem while armed groups hostile to Rwanda remain operational near its borders.
FDLR continues to be cited by Kigali as a key destabilising force in the region and as part of the broader conflict dynamics involving M23.
In broader geopolitical terms, the Tshisekedi–Ndayishimiye partnership increasingly appears anchored in a shared adversarial stance toward Rwanda.
For Kinshasa, the objective has been to build alliances with actors willing to support its military strategy against armed groups it associates with Rwanda. Tshisekedi has publicly signalled such intent since late 2023.
This position was further reinforced during Ndayishimiye’s visit to Kinshasa in January 2024, when he was reported to have expressed support for mobilising Rwandan youth against their government.
“Every state has the right to choose its partners. The DRC can cooperate with Burundi, just as Burundi can cooperate with the DRC. However, when such cooperation involves armed groups, inflammatory rhetoric, and the neglect of the FDLR issue, it becomes a serious concern,” a regional analyst told IGIHE.
Ndayishimiye and Tshisekedi have for some time been promoting rhetoric in the region that Rwanda says targets Tutsi communities.
Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye have long converged on a shared narrative that their main adversary in the region is Rwanda.
