The presidential race was triggered by the removal of former conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol from office over his botched martial law bid.
Recent surveys showed that Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party continued to have around 50 percent of support, holding a big lead over Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with about 30 percent.
Lee lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon, then candidate of the People Power Party, by the country’s narrowest margin of 0.73 percentage points.
An early voting was carried out between May 29 and May 30. Among over 44 million eligible voters, 34.74 percent cast preliminary votes.
Maize production was estimated at 481,246 metric tons, a 5% decrease compared to Season A of 2024. The area cultivated also declined slightly to 244,095 hectares, down by 2%. Similarly, beans were grown on 327,147 hectares, a 0.6% decrease, resulting in a total production of 230,456 metric tons, which is 1% lower than the previous year.
In contrast, Irish potato output rose by 3%, reaching 475,785 metric tons, with a stable cultivated area of 54,485 hectares. Cassava production increased by 5% to 542,874 metric tons, despite a small drop in cultivated area. Both crops also recorded higher yields compared to cereals and pulses, 13.5 tons per hectare for cassava and 8.7 tons per hectare for Irish potatoes.
While the report does not offer direct explanations for changes in crop performance, it highlights significant differences in yields between small-scale and large-scale farmers. For instance, large-scale maize producers harvested an average of 4.1 tons per hectare, more than double the 1.9 tons recorded by smallholders. Similar yield gaps were observed across other major crops, suggesting structural differences in productivity that may help explain broader production trends.
Input use varied across the farming population. Only 37.3% of farmers used improved seeds, and 63.2% applied inorganic fertilisers. The report notes that the use of inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and irrigation systems was much more common among large-scale farmers, contributing to their higher productivity.
Overall, agricultural land use remained stable, with 59% of Rwanda’s total land area dedicated to agriculture. Seasonal crops occupied the majority, followed by permanent crops and pasture. The Eastern and Northern provinces continued to lead in production of maize, cassava, and Irish potatoes.
The SAS 2025A report provides detailed crop estimates, input usage rates, and land use trends to support data-driven planning and policy decisions in Rwanda’s agriculture sector.
The update was shared during a June 2, 2025 press briefing on the state of human trafficking in Rwanda. It follows a recent operation on April 23, 2025, when 10 Rwandans were returned home after being trafficked to Myanmar. Efforts are ongoing to rescue five more individuals from the same country.
According to RIB spokesperson Dr. Thierry Murangira, 52 of the 57 individuals intercepted before being trafficked were women, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women, who are often targeted for forced prostitution.
The number of intercepted cases has risen significantly; between July 2019 and June 2024, Rwanda prevented 39 people from being trafficked, a figure that has been surpassed in just the past eight months.
Dr. Thierry Murangira stressed that even a single case of human trafficking deserves great attention.
“The gravity of human trafficking should not be measured by numbers. Even if it’s one person out of a thousand, it remains a serious human rights violation. No one should ever be treated as a commodity,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration in combating trafficking, noting that some victims are unknowingly aided by family members or relatives during the process.
“The fight is complicated by the fact that some victims believe those intervening are blocking their chance, be it a relationship with a foreign partner or a job opportunity abroad,” he added.
Dr. Murangira clarified that while most interceptions occur at Kigali International Airport, Rwanda is not a source of internal trafficking. However, traffickers from neighboring countries can sometimes use Rwanda as a transit point.
“Human trafficking does not occur within Rwanda, although traffickers may use the country as a transit point,” he said. “When such cases are identified, the victims are intercepted. Moreover, Rwanda is among the few nations that actively invest significant effort in repatriating its trafficked citizens,” he said.
He also highlighted links between trafficking and other crimes, citing the 2024 discovery of a strip club in Kigali where women were reportedly exploited for profit through forced nudity and sexual acts. He urged both the government and the public to reject such activities.
RIB advises the public to remain cautious when presented with suspicious overseas opportunities, especially when there are no known contacts or clear reasons for the offer.
Dr. Murangira also noted that other crimes in Rwanda may be linked to human trafficking. He cited the discovery of a strip club in Kigali in 2024, where dancers performed naked and were reportedly involved in sexual exploitation for someone else’s benefit. He urged the government and public to strongly oppose such activities.
RIB advises the public to remain vigilant when approached with suspicious offers of opportunities abroad, especially when they have no known contacts or legitimate reason to be selected for such offers.
The unveiling of the egg-free product took place at Bicu Lounge in Kimihurura and was attended by Masaka Farms management, staff, and various partners.
The mayonnaise comes in two varieties: Eggless Lemon Mayonnaise and Eggless Cocktail Mayonnaise.
Tumusiime Peace, Masaka Farms’ Marketing Manager, said the launch marks a significant milestone for the company as it ventures beyond dairy products.
“For the past 10 years, Masaka Farms has been primarily known for dairy processing, but we are now entering a new journey of going beyond that. These new mayonnaise products symbolise the direction we want to take,” she stated.
Luke Lundberg, the CEO of Masaka Farms, described the new mayonnaise as the beginning of an expansion journey beyond dairy processing.
“Being able to release a mayonnaise is a sign of the new path we are taking. Masaka Farms is going beyond dairy – we’re stepping into producing other essential consumer goods,” the CEO stated.
He added that, in collaboration with institutions like the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (RFDA) and with support from Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), the company will continue to innovate and improve their offerings to meet consumer needs.
Masaka Farms was founded in 2015 and is known for its dairy products. The company has now expanded into non-dairy processing, with products available in various parts of the country.
The move is part of broader efforts to tighten control over foreign exchange operations and reinforce the role of the Rwandan franc as the country’s legal tender, following a rise in cases such as tenants being asked to pay in dollars for business or residential premises.
Under the new directive, individuals or businesses not authorised by the Central Bank are prohibited from quoting, advertising, or receiving payments in foreign currency for goods or services within Rwanda.
Violators face steep penalties, with fines of Frw 5 million for a first offence and Frw 10 million for repeat violations.
The revised regulation, inserted as Article 20 bis into Regulation No. 42/2022, clarifies that only payments linked to exports or imports are permitted to be made in foreign currencies.
All other domestic transactions must be priced and conducted in Rwandan francs, unless the Central Bank grants special authorisation.
The term “pricing in foreign currency” is broadly defined to include not only charging clients in foreign currencies, but also displaying prices in foreign currency, verbal or written communication of such pricing, advertising, invoicing, or including foreign currency amounts in contracts.
Additionally, unauthorised foreign currency transactions, such as accepting payment in foreign currency, are penalised more severely. First-time offenders may be fined 50% of the transacted amount, while repeat offenders risk fines of up to 100% of the foreign currency involved.
The regulation applies to both residents and non-residents operating in Rwanda. Licensed financial intermediaries and authorised dealers are also subject to penalties if they breach the foreign currency pricing rules when dealing with residents.
To ensure compliance, the Central Bank will collaborate with other relevant institutions and has been granted the authority to impose sanctions. Defaulters who fail to pay imposed penalties within 15 days will be reported to the Credit Bureau and charged an additional 1% of the unpaid amount per day of delay.
Furthermore, the regulation introduces whistleblower provisions under Article 37 bis, obligating every person to report any unauthorised foreign currency operations to the Central Bank. Whistleblowers will be protected in line with applicable laws.
The Central Bank reforms aim to promote financial stability, protect the integrity of the local currency, and combat unofficial foreign exchange activities that could distort Rwanda’s monetary policy.
IATA projects airline profits will reach $36 billion in 2025—$600 million less than previously expected—while total revenues are set to hit $979 billion, falling short of the earlier $1 trillion estimate.
Speaking at IATA’s annual meeting in New Delhi, Director General Willie Walsh warned of mounting economic headwinds, including rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions.
“It’s still a thin buffer and any new tax, increase in airport or navigation charge, demand shock or costly regulation will quickly put the industry’s resilience to the test,” he said.
Air cargo is also expected to slow, with 69 million tonnes forecast this year—down from 72.5 million. Trade tensions, including recent U.S. tariff moves, are partly to blame.
On the bright side, lower oil prices could ease pressure on airlines. Jet fuel is expected to average $86 a barrel, significantly below the $99 average in 2024, helping to reduce the sector’s fuel bill by $25 billion.
IATA urged policymakers to consider aviation’s vital role in global employment and economic activity, warning that increased regulation or taxes could hinder recovery.
Addressing a press conference, Fico said the plan would threaten the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia.
The European Commission last month unveiled a new roadmap to end EU’s reliance on Russian energy. The REPowerEU Roadmap sets out a phased and coordinated plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear materials across the 27-member bloc, according to the Commission.
“We’ve repeatedly declared this idea of the European Commission to be harmful, ideological and damaging to the competitiveness of the European Union,” said Fico, adding that Slovakia will intervene in the EU to fight for its national interests in the preparation of legislative changes concerning oil, gas and nuclear fuel.
As of April 2025, Slovakia has five nuclear reactors generating half of its electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Hadi Rahmat Hardjasasmita, a spokesperson for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of West Java province, said that two more bodies were found by rescuers on Sunday in Gunung Kuda mine situated in Bobos village of Cirebon Regency.
He said that to ensure smooth search operations and relief efforts, a state of emergency has been imposed since May 30 and will end on June 6.
The search and rescue operation has been halted due to further landslides at the quarry, said Mamang Fatmono, acting head of the operational unit of the provincial search and rescue office.
“We face a challenge today. Further landslides occurred at 11:10 a.m., so the search operation was temporarily suspended. The search operation will resume tomorrow,” he told Xinhua.
The ceremony brought together Rwandans from across Belgium to honor the over one million lives lost during the genocide, and to reaffirm a collective commitment to remembrance, justice, and peace.
In her keynote address, Mayor Marie-Christine Marghem of Tournai paid tribute to the victims and reflected on the universal importance of remembrance.
“Memory is not limited to recording events in the course of history,” she said.
“This long history, in which we have always been involved, has undoubtedly been marked by mistakes. However, over time, thanks to the beings of light who are capable of reaching out and recognizing human dignity, we have learned that such injustices are fundamentally unspeakable, culpable, and condemnable,” Marghem added.
Claire Kayirangwa, representing Ibuka Belgique, emphasized the duty of remembrance and the importance of transmitting truth to future generations.
“We do not come merely to mourn the dead; we come to carry their memory through the generations,” she said.
“Even today, there are voices that dare to relativize or distort the truth of what happened. To those voices, we respond with dignity and determination: to remember is not to seek pity—it is a moral duty and a commitment to justice,” Kayirangwa added.
Ernest Gakuba, President of the Rwandan Community in Belgium (DRB-Rugari), delivered a stirring address highlighting the role of youth in preserving memory.
“One hundred days of darkness. One hundred days when humanity failed. Today, we remember—but more than that, we act. We must pass on the memory not just to Rwandan youth, but to youth everywhere. Because today’s silence can nurture tomorrow’s violence,” he noted.
Gakuba also paid tribute to Corporal Bruno Méaux and the nine other Belgian peacekeepers killed in 1994, calling them “symbols of the price paid for the silence of powerful nations.”
Gakuba praised the Rwandan Patriotic Front for its decisive role in ending the genocide when the world chose to look away.
“These young Rwandans acted—not for revenge, but to save what could still be saved,” he stated.
Speakers also addressed the painful reality that, even today, some genocide suspects continue to live freely in Europe, particularly in Belgium and France.
Arnold Turagara, President of the Rwandan Community in Mons and Tournai, called attention to this ongoing injustice.
“These individuals live settled and protected, while survivors wait for justice,” he said. “Despite these challenges, Rwanda rises—not through foreign aid, but through the will and unity of its people.”
Turagara also urged Rwandan youth to carry forward the torch of truth, resilience, and national unity.
“You inherit a difficult past, but also a bright future. Let your generation be the one that defeats the silence of forgetting.”
The ceremony included the powerful testimony of Lyamukuru Félicité, a genocide survivor who also served as the master of ceremonies. Her story served as a reminder of the personal loss and resilience that shape the Rwandan identity today.
Mourners laid wreaths at two memorial sites: one honoring the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi, and the other commemorating Corporal Bruno Méaux.
The event concluded with moving performances by Suzanne Nyiranyamibwa, whose songs of remembrance echoed the collective sorrow and hope of a people determined never to forget.
The agreements were signed in Kigali on Sunday, June 1, during the official visit of Lieutenant General Ahmed Fathi Ibrahim Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, who met with his Rwandan counterpart, General MK Mubarakh, at RDF Headquarters.
The three-day visit marks a significant step in deepening bilateral defence relations, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to a long-term and sustainable partnership.
Discussions between the two military chiefs focused on enhancing joint military initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration.
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant General Khalifa paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
