The group had withdrawn from these areas over a year ago without engaging in combat, in order to reinforce its positions in the Virunga National Park, as well as in Rugari and Kibumba.
Sources in North Kivu report that AFC/M23 recaptured Bambo and Kishishe following clashes with Wazalendo militias on May 14, 2025.
According to Radio Okapi, a few residents fled during the fighting, while others remained in their homes. As of May 16, the situation was reported to be relatively calm.
On May 15, further clashes broke out in the Buabo and Banyungu areas of Masisi Territory between AFC/M23 and Wazalendo forces, leading to more civilian displacement.
These renewed hostilities come amid ongoing peace talks between AFC/M23 and the Congolese government, which have been taking place in Qatar since March.
In April, both parties announced a ceasefire agreement; however, the Wazalendo militias—who receive backing from the government—appear to be ignoring the truce.
In an interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Cardinal Kambanda—who made history as the first Rwandan Cardinal to vote in a papal conclave—highlighted the significant progress Pope Francis had made in fostering closer ties between the Church and the Rwandan government.
He expressed confidence that Pope Leo XIV will continue along the same path.
“We expect him to enhance the relationship between the Church and the Government of Rwanda. Pope Francis had made great strides in improving ties, and agreements between the Vatican and the Rwandan government were nearing completion,” said Cardinal Kambanda. “The journey we are on—particularly in terms of unity, reconciliation, and resilience—is understood and supported by the global Church.”
He noted that these efforts align with the broader mission of promoting peace, development, and social harmony in Rwanda and beyond.
The election of Pope Leo XIV coincides with the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the Gospel in Rwanda. When asked whether the Pope would be invited to the Jubilee celebrations, Cardinal Kambanda explained that the Pope’s tight schedule may make such a visit unlikely.
“The year is already halfway through, and the Jubilee coincides with the 2025 global celebration of the Gospel’s spread. It would be difficult for him to fit Rwanda into his schedule, but we will certainly extend an invitation for another time,” he said.
Reflecting on his own participation in the conclave, Cardinal Kambanda described the election of Pope Leo XIV as a historic moment and a profound blessing. He emphasized the global unity of the Catholic faithful during the election.
“It was a great joy to elect a Pope for the first time. Even more so because he is a person the world truly needs at this moment,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue the legacy of Pope Francis, who established a uniquely strong relationship with Rwanda during his papacy.
One of the most significant gestures came in 2017, when Pope Francis publicly asked for forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
On May 20, 2017, President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame visited the Vatican and held talks with Pope Francis. The meeting marked a turning point in Rwanda–Vatican relations.
During the visit, the Pope asked God for forgiveness for the Church’s failings, including the actions of clergy and other Church members who had been complicit in hatred and violence, betraying their missionary responsibilities.
Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow—on his behalf, the Holy See, and the Catholic Church—for the horrors of the genocide, and offered solidarity with the victims and survivors.
On May 8, 2025, American-born Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the new Pope, taking the name Leo XIV.
He became the 267th pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, and the first American to hold the position. He secured over 89 out of 133 votes from the Cardinals participating in the conclave.
U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday night, following what he described as “constructive conversations” with President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi.
The conversation followed the submission of the respective draft agreement versions by DRC and Rwanda earlier this month.
“We have provided the first draft of a peace agreement to both sides and will work with the parties to iterate on the agreement to reach consensus,” Boulos said.
“Resolving long-standing differences is hard work, and we are committed to seeing this through. We look forward to further engagement to come to a resolution,” he added.
The draft agreement comes ahead of a landmark ceremony scheduled for June at the White House, where Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to formally sign the peace accord in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.
On the same occasion, additional agreements on economic cooperation between the United States and the two African nations are expected to be concluded.
If all proceeds as planned, the deal could pave the way for significant American investments in both Rwanda and the DRC, marking a major step forward in regional development and bilateral relations.
The U.S. has emphasised that before the agreement can be finalised, both parties must meet a series of preconditions.
For the DRC, this includes addressing internal security issues such as the disbanding of the FDLR militia—a group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda—and implementing governance reforms to ensure a more equitable distribution of national resources.
The peace process has gained momentum in recent months, with notable diplomatic progress made during a series of negotiations held in Doha, Qatar.
Delegations from Rwanda, the DRC, the United States, and Qatar participated in the talks. Rwanda was represented by Brig Gen Jean Paul Nyirubutama, Deputy Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), and Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Head of International Military Cooperation.
Talks initially mediated under the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) frameworks are now being facilitated by the African Union, with Togo taking a lead role in guiding the final stages of the process.
According to the police statement, Roman Lavrynovych faces three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
The charges, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, relate to three incidents: a vehicle fire in NW5 on May 8, a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on May 11, and a fire at a residential address in NW5 in the early hours of May 12.
The suspect was arrested early Tuesday in connection with a series of suspected arson attacks, including the fire at a property owned by Starmer.
The project, located in Musanze District in the Northern Province, is part of a broader national effort to tap into the lucrative global medical cannabis market and drive economic diversification.
An official from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) confirmed during a parliamentary budget hearing on Tuesday that the project is 83 percent complete.
Joseph Cedrick Nsengiyumva, RDB’s Chief Financial Officer, informed lawmakers that remaining tasks include the installation of a double-layered security fence—an international requirement for medical cannabis infrastructure.
“The works related to drainage layout were completed but are yet to be invoiced,” said Nsengiyumva.
For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Rwf2.2 billion has been earmarked for the project, with over Rwf1 billion already spent, representing a 46 percent financial execution rate.
The medical cannabis initiative marks Rwanda’s foray into the pharmaceutical and health research industries, with the long-term goal of becoming a key exporter of cannabis-derived therapeutic products.
Based on ministerial orders issued in June 2021 concerning cannabis and its derivatives, King Kong Organics (KKOG) was granted a five-year license to cultivate the plant.
The firm, a subsidiary of KKOG Global, has already invested $10 million into facility construction, advanced machinery, land acquisition, and the importation of genetically modified cannabis seeds.
Initially, construction of the production site was expected to be completed by May 2024, but delays linked to infrastructure access pushed the timeline to September of the same year.
KKOG CEO Rene Joseph said the plant will be used to extract cannabis oils for export to international markets.
Rwanda has allocated 134 hectares for medical cannabis cultivation, targeting a yield of 5,000 kilograms per hectare for export.
The fifth-generation network is now live at Kigali Heights and the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC)—signaling the beginning of a broader rollout.
“We have the first 5G site in Rwanda at the Kigali Heights/KCC area—a proud and exciting step for us as we kick off this journey. As we move forward with our 5G rollout, we can’t wait for our customers to experience the full extent of what 5G has to offer,” MTN Rwanda shared in a post on X.
MTN Rwanda CEO Ali Monzer also posted on X, revealing that additional 5G sites will be activated soon.
“In the coming weeks, we will activate more 5G sites across high-demand zones in Kigali. We are committed to expanding coverage swiftly and strategically,” he stated.
The company began upgrading its network infrastructure back in 2020, starting in Kigali, to prepare for the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and even 6G in the future.
These upgrades aimed to lay a strong foundation for faster, more reliable digital services across the country.
In 2023, Rwanda and China initiated discussions to enhance their collaboration in the technology sector, with a specific focus on the establishment of 5G infrastructure and mitigating cyber threats.
Talks about new areas of cooperation began during a two-day visit to Rwanda by Zhuang Rongwen, the Chinese Minister responsible for Cybersecurity.
Speaking to the press at the time, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Ingabire Paula, informed the press that the talks with China aimed to explore how both countries could further collaborate in various technological sectors, including the implementation of 5G networks.
She emphasized, “We discussed in detail how to strengthen this relationship, not only in terms of training but also in research and development, especially regarding 5G.”
The Minister also highlighted the necessity for Rwanda to have a 5G connection, underscoring the opportunities it presents, particularly in the medical sector.
5G technology is considered a significant advancement, offering connection speeds up to a hundred times faster than 4G.
Ingabire expressed that medical services are one of the areas where Rwanda sees outstanding potential for the adoption of 5G.
{{What makes 5G a game-changer?}}
5G is more than just a faster internet connection. It enables transformative innovations, such as remote surgeries, autonomous vehicles, and smart home systems—like a fridge that alerts you if food is spoiling, or the ability to switch off an appliance remotely.
Technically, 5G is 10 to 100 times faster than 4G. In the U.S., for instance, telecom giant Verizon recorded download speeds of up to 1.0 Gbps (gigabits per second) in recent tests—allowing users to download entire movies or large files in seconds.
But speed isn’t everything. 5G drastically reduces latency—the delay between clicking something and seeing it respond. On 4G networks, this delay is around 20 milliseconds. With 5G, it drops to less than 1 millisecond, making real-time applications smoother and more responsive.
Another key benefit is 5G’s ability to connect thousands of devices simultaneously, making it ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT)—where everything from cars to household appliances can be connected to the internet and communicate with each other.
Rwanda now ranks third in Africa for internet speed and is among top countries worldwide. As of now, the number of people with 5G-compatible smartphones is growing rapidly—increasing by 10% to 15% each year—suggesting that Rwanda is well on its way to embracing this new digital era.
Rwanda Central Bank Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye made the revelation during a press conference on Thursday, May 15, following a recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
Addressing growing interest in gold among central banks in the East African Community (EAC) region, Governor Hakuziyaremye said Rwanda’s central bank conducted a detailed study on incorporating gold as an additional reserve asset.
The move follows a trend observed by the EAC Central Bank Monetary Affairs Committee, which noted several regional central banks considering gold to diversify and strengthen their reserves.
“Given gold’s ability to counter shocks in the financial market and serve as a hedge against external uncertainties, we have decided to explore it as a new asset class,” Governor Hakuziyaremye explained.
The central bank boss emphasised that capital preservation, liquidity, and reasonable returns remain the primary objectives for the central bank’s foreign reserves investments.
“The good news is that gold meets these criteria at this time, which makes our consideration positive,” she said.
The central bank has already secured board approval to include gold investments in its portfolio.
However, Governor Hakuziyaremye highlighted that gold is a new asset for the bank, and further updates on acquisition volumes and expected returns will be communicated by the end of the current financial year.
“This is a learning process, and as we continue benchmarking with our peers, we plan to start adding gold to our reserves from July 2025,” she said.
Meanwhile, the bank maintained the lending rate at 6.5 percent, a level Governor Soraya noted is aimed at keeping inflation within the targeted 2 to 8 percent range.
Commenting on the economic outlook, she said headline inflation rose to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter, largely driven by increases in core and fresh food prices. Core inflation climbed to 6.1 percent, while fresh food inflation surged to 11.2 percent, mainly due to a base effect from unusually low prices in early 2024 and rising meat prices.
Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the medium-term target range and is expected to average 6.5 percent in 2025 before easing to 3.9 percent in 2026.
“Inflationary risks remain, particularly from global geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies,” the central bank governor warned, but emphasized that the current rate should continue to anchor inflation expectations.
The recent MPC meeting also noted Rwanda’s ongoing economic resilience, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) registering a 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in Q1 2025, supported by robust industrial and services performance. The economy grew by an impressive 8.9 percent in 2024, buoyed by a rebound in agriculture and strong domestic demand.
However, Rwanda’s trade deficit widened by 10.8 percent in Q1 2025, as merchandise exports fell by 3.0 percent—mainly due to declining re-exports—while imports rose 5.8 percent, driven by increased demand for machinery and raw materials. This put pressure on the Rwandan franc, which depreciated by 2.46 percent against the U.S. dollar by the end of April.
NBR Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye announced the decision on Thursday, May 15, a day after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets the rate quarterly to guide the cost of borrowing and maintain macroeconomic stability.
This marks the fourth consecutive time the MPC has held the rate at 6.5 percent, following its initial reduction from 7.0 percent in August 2024.
Addressing members of the press, Governor Soraya said the current rate remains appropriate to keep inflation within the targeted 2–8 percent band.
Headline inflation rose to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter, largely driven by increases in core and fresh food prices. Core inflation climbed to 6.1 percent, while fresh food inflation surged to 11.2 percent, largely due to a base effect from unusually low prices in early 2024 and rising meat prices.
Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the medium-term target range and is expected to average 6.5 percent in 2025 before easing to 3.9 percent in 2026.
“Inflationary risks remain, particularly from global geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies,” the central bank boss warned, but emphasised that the current rate should continue to anchor inflation expectations.
The MPC also noted Rwanda’s ongoing economic resilience, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) registering a 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in Q1 2025, supported by robust industrial and services performance. The economy grew by an impressive 8.9 percent in 2024, buoyed by a rebound in agriculture and strong domestic demand.
However, Rwanda’s trade deficit widened by 10.8 percent in Q1 2025, as merchandise exports fell by 3.0 percent—mainly due to declining re-exports—while imports rose 5.8 percent, driven by increased demand for machinery and raw materials. This put pressure on the Rwandan franc, which depreciated by 2.46 percent against the U.S. dollar by the end of April.
Money market trends have followed suit. The interbank rate declined to an average of 6.78 percent in Q1 2025, down from 8.29 percent a year earlier, reflecting the impact of earlier rate cuts. Deposit and lending rates also fell, with the average lending rate dropping to 15.89 percent from 16.35 percent.
Going forward, the central bank reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring both global and domestic economic trends and to adjusting policy as needed to maintain price stability and support growth.
“The MPC stands ready to take appropriate measures if inflationary pressures intensify,” Soraya stated.
The commitment was reiterated on May 13, 2025, as the RUGC staff visited the Bisesero Genocide Memorial, one of four memorial sites recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the extraordinary resistance shown by the Tutsi community there during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During the visit, they were taken through the divisive policies introduced by Belgian colonialists, which led to the persecution and displacement of Tutsis across Rwanda beginning in 1959.
Aaron Gakoko, a genocide survivor from Bisesero, recounted his experience, revealing that the Tutsi in the region began resisting as early as 1959.
He shared how, in 1994, he personally disarmed three gendarmes and a military officer holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Despite the trauma they endured, Gakoko emphasized that survivors now live peacefully alongside those who once targeted them and even cooperate in daily activities.
He said, “It pains us that those who were killed are not here to witness how we, the survivors of Bisesero, have rebuilt our lives.”
By the end of April 1994, the Tutsi in Bisesero had withstood waves of attacks by Interahamwe militias.
As a result, on May 3, 1994, a so-called “security meeting” was held where a decision was made to deploy more soldiers and Interahamwemilitia to eliminate the Tutsi in Bisesero.
This led to massive, organized assaults, including the particularly deadly attack on May 13, 1994, in which over 30,000 Tutsis were massacred in a single day.
Vedaste Ngarambe, President of the Karongi District Council and head of IBUKA (the umbrella association of Genocide survivor organizations) in the district, commended the RUGC staff for visiting the memorial, noting the importance of youth involvement.
He said, “We urge you to help us fight against genocide ideology and denial. Bisesero is unique because the Tutsi here chose to resist the Interahamwe militias together. Their guiding principle was, ‘It is better to die fighting than to die fleeing.’”
The CEO of RUGC Gaston Gasore highlighted how those who wanted Rwanda to vanish from the world map sowed hatred among Rwandans—people who once shared food, intermarried, and lived as one. He stressed that the country is now striving to reverse that painful history.
“Our tragic past is teaching us the value of unity,” Gasore said. “We believe that the values we’ve learned here will help us, as we still face a long journey. Genocide ideology remains present among both older generations and the youth. That’s why we, as young people, must rise up and use social media platforms to fight it.”
Out of over 60,000 Tutsis who lived in Bisesero before the genocide, only 1,300 survived. These survivors later rebuilt their lives, and repopulated the area. Today, the Bisesero Genocide Memorial is the final resting place of more than 50,000 genocide victims.
The award recognises Africa Re’s significant strides in expanding its footprint across the continent and positioning itself as a global player in the reinsurance sector.
Organised by the Africa CEO Forum, the Pan-African Champion Award is presented to an African company that has most increased its presence across the continent while implementing a consistent and coherent regional growth strategy.
Eligible companies must operate in more than five African countries and record annual revenues of at least €50 million.
In 2024, the award was bestowed upon the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for its instrumental role in developing infrastructure and industrial value chains throughout Africa.
In a statement following Africa Re’s victory, Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director of the corporation, welcomed the recognition as a reflection of its achievements over the past year.
“I thank God for this continental recognition, which comes on top of an exceptional 2024 year in all performance metrics. We are the largest and most financially rated reinsurance company in Africa and the Middle East. With 31% of our 2024 turnover ($1.2 billion) coming from outside Africa, we export African excellence in overseas markets such as China, the Middle East, Brazil, Israel, and India,” Dr. Karekezi said.
Africa Re’s cross-border operations and growing share of business from international markets were key factors in its selection. The company’s performance in 2024 and continued expansion have strengthened its position as a driver of African excellence in global financial services.
The Africa CEO Forum Awards, organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Forvis Mazars, celebrate leadership, innovation, and excellence within Africa’s private sector.
In addition to Africa Re’s recognition, this year’s awards honoured several other standout performers. Danone received the Local Impact Champion award for its contributions to community development and sustainability, while Rawbank was named Family Business of the Year, reflecting its strong governance and generational leadership.
The Gender Leader award went to Schneider Electric, recognising its commitment to gender equity in the workplace. Nala, a fintech company driving digital disruption, earned a place in the Disrupters Club.
Finally, Idrissa Nassa, CEO of Coris Bank, was honoured as CEO of the Year for his transformative leadership in the banking sector.
The awards ceremony is a key feature of the Africa CEO Forum, which gathers more than 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss strategies for driving economic transformation across the continent.
The next edition of the annual Africa CEO Forum will be held in Kigali.
