The rise in prices was primarily driven by increases in transport, food, and hospitality costs.
The report highlights that urban inflation, which is the headline index for monetary policy, saw a notable uptick, reflecting the ongoing economic dynamics.
“Urban CPI increased by 6.3 percent on an annual basis (February 2025 compared to February 2024) and by 0.7 percent on a monthly basis (February 2025 to January 2025),” the report states.
Among the key contributors to the inflation surge were transport costs, which rose by 17.4% year-on-year, and restaurant and hotel prices, which climbed by 11.6%.
The price of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 4.5%, while housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels saw a 2.9% rise.
Rural areas, however, experienced a milder price increase, with rural CPI rising by 2.2% annually and 1% on a monthly basis. This resulted in an overall national inflation rate of 3.8% year-on-year.
The NISR compiles Rwanda’s CPI using price data from over 1,622 products across the country, tracking inflation trends that impact households and businesses.
With inflationary pressures persisting, policymakers and businesses will be closely monitoring economic trends in the coming months.
Now settled in Kigali, Rwanda, with his family, the former wide receiver is gearing up to open SZY, a high-end vegan restaurant, in May. His journey, from earning $8 million in America’s most bruising sport to crafting crispy mushroom sandwiches in East Africa, is as radical as it is inspiring.
Doctson opened up about his journey in a recent episode of The Long Form Podcast, recorded in his airy Kigali home.
Over a vegan meal of battered oyster mushrooms and eggplant “fish sticks,” he traced a path shaped by ambition, injury, and reinvention.
“This is my new team,” he said, nodding to his chef Jackson and staff. “I’m repeating my NFL drive—leadership, success, but with food.”
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Doctson grew up in a modest single-parent household, raised by a mother who stretched food stamps to feed him and his brother. A move to Texas in 1999 planted the seeds for his football ascent.
At Texas Christian University (TCU), his talent as a wide receiver caught the NFL’s eye, landing him a 22nd overall pick by the Redskins in 2016.
At 22, he signed a $8 million contract—$6 million after taxes—a windfall he barely understood.
“I texted my agent, ‘How much?’” he recalled. “I thought, ‘I can get fast food and a haircut!’”
But wealth brought complexity. With no financial literacy training, Doctson navigated requests from family—once lending $15,000 he never recouped—and a league culture that often leaves players broke post-career.
He invested in real estate, a move that spared him that fate, but the NFL’s physical toll was harder to dodge.
A rare Achilles arthritis sidelined him in his rookie year, followed by a 2019 concussion that still triggers migraines, forcing him to wear sunglasses indoors.
“I was a lab rat,” he said of the grueling treatments. “I wasn’t enjoying the money or life.”
Retirement came abruptly in 2021 when the Arizona Cardinals cut him mid-meeting. At 29, with a fiancé, Haley, and a son to anchor him, Doctson walked away.
“I switched it off, cold turkey,” he said. “I’d done enough.” It was Haley, met in 2018 during his darkest days, who helped him heal through travel—including trips to Rwanda that changed his life.
Rwanda first captivated Doctson in 2018. After George Floyd’s death and Covid’s chaos, America felt “unsafe” to him as a Black man. “Stepping off the plane here, I smelled clean air, saw my people, felt home,” he said.
By 2024, he’d relocated his family permanently, trading Doritos for a quieter, freer life. “Police don’t scare me here,” he added.
Veganism emerged as his next frontier. A meat-eater in the NFL—where he was fined for losing weight—Doctson turned plant-based in 2020, seeking health and recovery.
“My body rejects meat now,” he explained, likening its smell to tobacco smoke.
Self-taught via YouTube and inspired by vegan chef Todd Anderson, he mastered dishes like cashew cream-slathered slaw and seaweed-spiced eggplant. His kids, raised vegan, thrive on mushrooms and beans, though he’s open to them exploring meat later.
“I’m giving them tools for their path,” he said.
SZY vegan restaurant aims to bring that vision to Rwanda. Set behind KABC in Kigali, the restaurant will blend high-end dining with plant-based innovation—think honey mustard from Rwandan honey and coleslaw sans dairy.
“Food was a prison in the NFL,” Doctson reflected. “Veganism’s my challenge now—failure, then reward.”
Partnered with Anderson, he’s betting on Rwanda’s growing expat and health-conscious scene, despite its meat-rich traditions.
For Doctson, Rwanda is more than a business venture; it’s a legacy for his children.
“We chose here for safety—no shootings, no fear like in America,” he told the podcast, addressing his kids 20 years from now.
From NFL stardom to vegan visionary, Josh Doctson’s reinvention proves some plays are bigger than the field.
Watch the full interview on The Long Form Podcast below.
According to reports, the suspect, Collins Leitich, alias Chepkulei, a resident of Asis Village in Ndugulu location, took it upon himself to establish a police patrol base at a building, and went as far as painting the structure in official police colors, creating the impression of a legitimate security post.
The discovery of the unauthorized base was made by local authorities, who promptly commenced investigations.
Officers from Kamuyu Police Post, under Kondoo Police Station, were alerted and recorded the incident under OB04/08/03/2025.
Residents expressed shock at the revelation. “We were surprised to learn that the police patrol base was not official. Many of us thought it was a genuine initiative to improve security in the area,” said one of the residents.
Authorities have yet to establish the suspect’s motive for setting up the unauthorized patrol base. Police have assured residents that appropriate action will be taken as they continue with their investigations.
According to reports given by most Kenyans, the man did this due to lack of jobs. Taking to his different social media platforms to speak on this, the former Governor of Nairobi, Honorable Mike Sonko stated that nothing is impossible in Kenya.
In a candid interview with content creator Mario Nawfal on his 69 X Minutes show, President Kagame maintained that despite the UN’s 26-year presence in the DRC, it has failed to achieve any meaningful accomplishments, as the region continues to grapple with constant conflict, making much-needed peace and stability elusive.
“What did they actually come to do? To keep peace? What peace? To bring peace? What peace have they brought? Did they come to solve the security problem caused by the FDLR, which has been in Congo for 30 years? Nothing. So why are they still there?” President Kagame posed.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), initially established as MONUC, has been stationed in the country since 1999. Despite its mandate to stabilize the country, protect civilians, and support the Congolese government, the mission has failed to curb violence.
With an annual budget exceeding $1.13 billion and a contingent of approximately 23,000 peacekeepers, MONUSCO remains the most expensive UN peacekeeping mission.
In the interview, Kagame reiterated that the conflict in the DRC stems from the arbitrary borders drawn by colonial powers, with the Congolese government failing to recognize Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, who found themselves within DRC territory, as its citizens.
“It was just an open space. They drew a line, left Rwanda on this side, and called the other side Congo. But this line divided families. These are the ones who are fighting—the ones the government is uprooting and telling to go back to Rwanda. They are M23,” Kagame explained.
The president pointed out that Rwanda currently hosts 130,000 refugees from DRC, some of whom have been in the country for over 23 years.
At the same time, the Rwandan Head of State denied claims that Rwanda is behind the conflict in eastern Congo to plunder its neighbor’s mineral resources.
“If you look at a list of 100 entities—China, Europe, the US, Canada, and so on, including all of us in the region—who are interested in Congo’s minerals, Rwanda would come 100th, at the very bottom. But the situation has been framed in a way that makes it seem as though the ones least concerned about minerals are the ones responsible for the entire problem. Meanwhile, these 100 entities are the ones making billions and leaving nothing behind, yet Rwanda is made to absorb the blame,” he stated.
Kagame maintained that Rwanda’s primary concern in the region is the presence of the FDLR in Congo, a group composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which continues to pose a threat with its mission for regime change in Rwanda.
“The FDLR—those who committed genocide—went to Congo 30 years ago. They have since worked with politicians and become part of the political landscape. They cause problems for the Congolese, but their ultimate goal is to destabilize Rwanda,” he said.
Kagame also criticized Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi’s approach to the crisis, accusing him of harboring extremist views while refusing to engage in dialogue with the M23 rebels to resolve the escalating conflict in eastern Congo.
Kagame also questioned Tshisekedi’s legitimacy, saying the said the Congolese President has never been elected.
“By the way, I don’t mind how he became president. He was not elected either time. The first time, Joseph [Kabila] handed power over to him—there’s no question about that. The second time, he simply declared himself the winner, and everyone was told to keep quiet. But that’s not my problem.”
Meanwhile, in eastern Congo, M23 rebels continue to battle government forces and their allies—including the FDLR, SADC troops, the Burundian army, and various militia groups—over longstanding grievances related to the marginalization of Congolese Tutsis.
Recent territorial gains by M23 have led to the capture of strategic towns in North and South Kivu, including Goma and Bukavu.
According to media reports, the capture of Nyabiondo came after intense fighting with the APCLS militia, which is aligned with the DRC government forces. The clashes began on the morning of March 9, 2025.
Kipanda Biiri, a local leader from the Osso-Banyungu Sector where Nyabiondo is located, told Reuters, that M23 took Nyabiondo at around 3 p.m. after the fighting.
Many residents of Nyabiondo fled the violence, seeking refuge in safer areas in the western part of the province, including Kashebere.
Nyabiondo, located at the entrance of the Walikale Territory, is a strategic area and has been a stronghold for armed groups allied with the DRC government, including NDC-R led by Guidon Shimiray Mwissa.
In recent weeks, countries such as Canada, Belgium, and Germany have imposed sanctions on Rwanda, accusing it of supporting the M23 rebel group and fueling insecurity in eastern DRC. Rwanda refutes the claims, and instead blame DRC for collaboration with FDLR terrorist group to threaten the country’s security. These countries claim that Rwanda is exploiting the conflict for access to the DRC’s mineral wealth.
In a message shared on Monday, March 10, 2025, Amb. Rwamucyo pointed out that despite its vast natural resources, the DRC remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
“DR Congo is a development paradox. Although it boasts being endowed with vast natural resources, it is the poorest nation on earth. The UN Human Development Index [HDI] ranks DRC 180th out of the 193 countries listed,” he posted on X.
Amb. Rwamucyo argued that the real beneficiaries of the DRC’s mineral wealth are foreign interests and corrupt Congolese officials.
“Talk of who exploits DRC’s mineral wealth: The corrupt GoDRC and powerful political elites have for decades mortgaged the country’s mineral resources to any powerful exploiter who will line their pockets. Perpetuating the narrative that illegal exploitation of mineral resources is the root cause of conflict in DRC is cynical, hypocritical and disingenuous. The painful fact is that this narrative is perpetuated by corrupt DRC officials and the very culprit exploiters,” he stated.
He emphasized that blaming Rwanda for the DRC’s problems is a distraction from the real issue—endemic corruption and bad governance.
According to him, Rwanda’s main security concern is the DRC’s preservation and support to the genocidal FDLR which is responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and is a security threat to Rwanda; and the ethnic cleansing and persecution of Congolese Tutsi.
Amb. Rwamucyo also highlighted that major western european actors deliberately perpetuate the narrative of illegal exploitation of mineral resources to cover-up their brute and greedy decades of exploitation of DRC.
“Kamituga is a large gold mining town. Gold was first discovered in the 1920s. These are the cheapest to mine high quality alluvial gold deposits in Lualaba, Mobale, Kahushimira, Kamakundu, and Idoka rivers. Belgium Company Miniere des Grands Lacs Africain (MGL) – Greatlakes Mining Company owned and started commercial mining of Gold in Kamituga in the 1930s until 1997,” he explained.
“That is 67 years of plundering cheap high quality gold with no benefits to congolese citizens. In 1997, MGL sold the Gold mine concession to Banro, a Canadian company. Banro owns the mines to this day. Belgians still maintain a key stake,” added Amb. Rwamucyo.
Despite its mineral wealth, Kamituga remains underdeveloped, with its residents living in extreme poverty and lacking basic infrastructure such as roads.
Amb. Rwamucyo argued that Western nations do not support the DRC out of goodwill, democracy, or human rights concerns but rather to protect their economic interests in the region.
“When Belgium and Canada and their neo-colonial european allies, who are at the historical root of this conflict, side with DRC, ganging against Rwanda and refuse to condemn DRC’s ethnic cleansing and persecution of Congolese; they are consumed by protection of brute and greedy national mining and economic interests in places like desolate and sleepy Kamituga and the rest of DRC. It is an action aimed at appeasing desperate DRC elites. This is not about values of good governance, democracy or human rights. It is about protecting greed and brutal national interests,” he said.
Amb. Rwamucyo’s remarks come just days after President Paul Kagame reiterated that Rwanda’s primary concern is its own security, not the mineral wealth of the DRC, as some have falsely claimed.
Jacquemot claimed that the Tutsi population in eastern DRC was not indigenous to the area but was relocated there from various regions in the 1930s while Rwanda was under German and Belgian colonial rule. Nduhungirehe categorically dismissed this assertion as false.
Speaking to Radio France Internationale (RFI), Jacquemot alleged that the majority of people living in eastern Congo were Tutsi, who had supposedly been moved there during the 1930s.
In response, Nduhungirehe, writing on X (formerly Twitter), refuted the claim, clarifying that by 1930, Germany had long ceased its colonial rule over Rwanda and Burundi, having lost control after its defeat in World War I. He emphasized that Rwanda and Burundi were placed under Belgian administration in 1920.
He further emphasized that the Tutsi people in the DRC were not brought from various regions in the 1930s, as Jacquemot suggested, but were native to the land they had inhabited long before that time.
The minister explained that the Tutsi in the DRC are indigenous to the territory that was taken from Rwanda in 1910 during a meeting between Belgium, Germany, and Britain, which drew borders and decided the fate of the region.
He pointed out that the people in the eastern DRC share the Kinyarwanda language, culture, and traditions, with many place names, mountains, and rivers also bearing Kinyarwanda names. The native people in the area have long been connected to Rwanda through history, he added.
Amb. Nduhungirehe noted that while some Rwandans were forcibly taken by Belgian colonists between 1920 and 1950 for labor in the mining sector, it did not change the fact that there were many indigenous Rwandans living in the DRC who were deeply connected to their ancestral lands.
The minister also addressed another falsehood spread by Jacquemot, who claimed that the M23 group was seeking to control the coltan mines in Rubaya, a region in the DRC that reportedly produces 20% of the world’s coltan. Jacquemot alleged that the minerals are processed in Rwanda before being exported to Asia, Europe, and North America with different labels.
Nduhungirehe countered these claims, referencing research by Bojana Coulibaly, who found that the mines in Rubaya were still being worked with traditional methods, with no roads connecting the area to Goma. He questioned how the mines could possibly produce 20% of the world’s coltan without the use of modern mining technology.
He reaffirmed that the coltan mining in Rubaya is conducted by local communities who speak Kinyarwanda, and while the area was once controlled by militia including, no such military presence currently reported there.
Turning to Rwanda’s own mining sector, Nduhungirehe noted that Rwanda has been rich in precious minerals for decades, a fact uncovered during colonial times and continued after independence. Research conducted during both colonial and post-colonial periods has revealed that 52 areas in Rwanda contain valuable minerals, with mining already underway in some of these regions.
The minister stated that Rwanda is one of the world’s leading producers of coltan, with the country accounting for 22.4% of global sales in 2024, second only to the DRC, which contributed 40.2%. Rwanda’s mining industry follows both national and international laws, ensuring that minerals meet the required standards for international trade.
Nduhungirehe further pointed out that there are currently 136 licenses issued to 99 mining companies in Rwanda, as well as licenses for 18 companies engaged in mineral research and 76 companies involved in trading and processing. The minister stressed that Rwanda’s mining sector operates within the boundaries of the law, with proper documentation and traceability for international markets.
In response to Jacquemot’s misleading statements, Nduhungirehe emphasized that individuals like him who use international media to spread lies about the Great Lakes region are attempting to cover up the true beneficiaries of the valuable minerals in the DRC.
Under the new rules, any religious group applying for official status must provide a list of at least 1,000 members from the district where it intends to operate and pay a non-refundable registration fee of Frw2 million.
These requirements apply to churches, religious organizations, and affiliated institutions.
Recent inspections have already led to the closure of over 50 churches in 2024 due to non-compliance with existing regulations. Additionally, more than 900 places of worship were shut down for failing to meet legal and safety standards.
The new guidelines, issued on March 6, 2025, further emphasize compliance, making it mandatory for faith-based organizations to provide official certification from local authorities proving that their place of worship adheres to construction laws and is used exclusively for religious purposes.
Beyond financial and structural requirements, the regulations introduce stricter criteria for religious leadership. Leaders and their deputies must hold a degree in theology from a recognized institution.
If the degree was obtained abroad, an equivalency certificate must be provided. In cases where a leader holds a degree in another field, they must demonstrate completion of at least 1,200 hours of theological studies from an accredited institution.
The registration process for religious organizations has also become more rigorous. In the 2023/2024 period, 116 organizations applied for legal status, but only 19 were approved, while 97 were rejected for failing to meet requirements.
Religious groups wishing to expand by establishing new branches must now submit a formal request to the district and notify RGB, provide a notarized resolution from their governing body approving the expansion, and ensure that their activities align with the district’s development agenda.
In addition to administrative and structural requirements, the new regulations impose strict ethical standards on religious leaders.
Individuals convicted of genocide, genocide ideology, discrimination, or sectarianism are barred from holding leadership positions within faith-based organizations.
Leaders must also be at least 21 years old and have no criminal record involving imprisonment of six months or more, unless officially pardoned.
Financial transparency is another major focus of the new regulations. Religious organizations are required to conduct annual audits performed by professional experts, ensure that donor funds come from legal sources, and prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism by identifying and reporting suspicious transactions.
All financial activities must be conducted through banks or legally recognized financial institutions.
Violations of these regulations will result in severe penalties. Unauthorized branches will face immediate closure, and the organization responsible will be fined Frw5 million.
Individuals managing multiple religious organizations without proper authorization will lose the right to represent them.
Faith-based organizations already operating in Rwanda must comply with these new regulations within 12 months.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:18 p.m. Eastern Time (2018 GMT) in the parking lot of Brethren Village in Manheim Township, just south of Lancaster Airport.
Officials stated that the plane had just taken off and was en route to Springfield, Ohio, before going down.
Emergency responders transported all five people onboard the plane to local hospitals. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among people on the ground.
The crash also resulted in significant property damage, with around a dozen vehicles in the parking lot affected. Footage from the scene showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as flames engulfed several cars.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.
Israeli authorities stated on Sunday that the measure is part of broader efforts to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. According to official figures, 59 hostages remain in captivity, with approximately 24 believed to be alive.
Officials emphasized that all available means would be used to ensure their return and to prevent Hamas from maintaining control in Gaza once the conflict ends.
Since March 2, Israel has also blocked aid shipments, including food, following the expiration of the initial 42-day ceasefire phase.
Negotiations to implement the next phase of the truce continue, with Hamas representatives engaging in talks with Egyptian and U.S. officials, while an Israeli delegation is expected to travel to Doha for further discussions.
Israel had previously cut off electricity, food, medicine, and fuel to Gaza at the start of its military campaign in October 2023, leading to what the United Nations has described as a famine and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
