The Rwandan delegation, consisting of representatives from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwandan High Commission in the United Kingdom, RwandAir, and various travel and tourism companies, is engaging with international travel buyers and media to build collaborations aimed at attracting more visitors for business, adventure, and leisure travel.
Participating companies include RwandAir, Primates Safaris, Hermosa Life Tours, Wilderness, Blue Monkey Rep, Triple Legacy Travels, Kings Safaris, and Wildlife Tours.
At the travel and tourism trade show, Rwandan representatives are holding meetings and media engagements to promote the country’s offerings and forge strategic partnerships.
The goal is to raise Rwanda’s profile on the global tourism stage and transform connections into tangible travel opportunities.
WTM London, described as “the birthplace of the global travel trade,” serves as a powerful platform for connection, collaboration, and change. It is the world’s most influential international travel and tourism show, bringing together key players in the leisure industry to inspire, train, and create opportunities.
From networking and partner-seeking to training and presentations, WTM enables the industry to grow collectively and more effectively.
Rwanda’s combined public- and private-sector presence at the event highlights its commitment to strengthening ties with international markets and positioning its tourism offerings before a professional and media audience.
This special event is set to take place on November 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM, at the SKOL Stadium in Nzove, where fans will come together to celebrate the achievements and passion of the players who have stood out this month.
The event will be an unforgettable afternoon of recognition, entertainment, and celebration, bringing players, fans, and supporters of Gikundiro into one lively gathering.
The nominees for the October Player of the Month award include notable players from both the men’s and women’s categories.
In the men’s category, the nominees are Tambwe Ngongo Gloire, Aziz Bassane Koulagna, and Ndayishimiye Richard. For the women’s category, the nominees are Umwari Wase, Coralie Odette Elsie, and Gikundiro Scholastique.
Fans attending the event can expect a day filled with excitement, with thrilling prizes and giveaways, exclusive fan engagement activities, and vibrant music and entertainment that celebrate the unbreakable spirit of Rayon Sports.
It promises to be a unique occasion where supporters can unite in their passion for the game, cheer for their favorite players, and revel in the joy of football.
This is an event not to be missed, offering a celebration of excellence and passion in Rwandan football with Skol Lager and Rayon Sports.
In a video shared by MONUSCO, soldiers are seen being trained in the use of drones, handling heavy artillery, and managing casualties and injuries. The training took place in Bunia, Ituri province, under the supervision of General Saiful Alam Bhuiyan, Commander of MONUSCO’s North Sector.
“As you know, our mandate is to eventually transition responsibilities to the local security forces so they can maintain law and order,” General Bhuiyan says in the social media video shared on Tuesday.
“We are trying to train the maximum number of FARDC soldiers. They are also being trained on human rights, and other sectors will continue this work until local forces have sufficient capacity to govern their own people.”
However, Minister Nduhungirehe questioned the wisdom of the training, noting that FARDC’s alliance with the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, raises serious concerns. He argued that arming and training forces associated with such groups undermines civilian protection and perpetuates insecurity in the region, where the Congolese forces are battling M23 rebels.
“If I understand correctly, MONUSCO, which is a UN peacekeeping mission whose main mandate is the protection of civilians, is training the Congolese army, allied with the genocidal FDLR militia, to handle heavy weapons and attack drones, the very same weapons currently being used by FARDC in ongoing ceasefire violations and daily bombardments of densely populated areas,” Nduhungirehe said.
“Thus, 26 years after its deployment, during which nearly 20 billion dollars have been spent, the FDLR has strengthened, armed groups have multiplied, and hate speech and persecution of Rwandophone communities have become normalized, MONUSCO continues to demonstrate, if any further proof was needed, that it is one of the greatest failures in the history of the United Nations.”
Si j'ai bien compris, la @MONUSCO, qui est une mission onusienne de maintien de la paix, dont le mandat principal est la protection des civils, est entrain de former l'armée congolaise (alliée à la milice génocidaire FDLR) à manier des armes lourdes et des drônes d'attaque,… https://t.co/ztjh5JAarJ
Rwanda has often questioned MONUSCO’s mandate in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid growing insecurity, displacement, and the deaths of scores of civilians.
The concerns have been echoed repeatedly by President Paul Kagame, who has in the past sharply criticised MONUSCO over its decades-long presence in eastern DRC. Kagame argues that the mission has failed to stabilise the region, curb violence, or address the root causes of conflict, despite a multibillion-dollar budget.
“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 during an interview with Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur and citizen journalist Mario Nawfal.
These households spread across 10 districts, were provided with electricity in partnership with the German Development Agency, GIZ.
The households that received electricity include 182 from Rwamagana District, 339 from Musanze, 273 from Rubavu, 419 from Nyaruguru, 142 from Nyamagabe, 200 from Kayonza, 163 from Bugesera, 483 from Muhanga, 413 from Ruhango, and 136 from Kamonyi District. Among these, 1,654 are headed by women.
Households that received electricity also included those in the model village of Kamamana, located in the Kaduha Cell, Munyaga Sector, in Rwamagana District.
Beatrice Muhimakazi, a resident of the village, said, “I felt so happy when I was connected to electricity. That night, I thought about getting a television, and by morning I went to buy one. Before receiving electricity, we were isolated and sad, but today we are happy, we have light as we can use televisions and phones easily. We owe all of this to the president. We have progressed.”
Her neighbor, Béatrice Musabwamana, mentioned, “Before we had electricity, we lived poorly, but after we got it, we were very happy because we saw many changes. We can listen to the radio and know the country’s progress. We plan to use the electricity to run businesses like selling milk, among other things.”
Ayubusa Turikumana Olivier, the Project Manager at REG’s EDCL branch, stated that the project aimed to increase the number of households with access to electricity, particularly focusing on low-income households.
Another aspect considered in this project was that these households were located in areas already covered by the electricity grid but had been left out due to their low economic capabilities.
“The uniqueness of this project is that we provided them with cash power and also helped with the installation of electricity in their homes for free. This is because these households couldn’t afford the Frw 50,000 or 100,000 required to bring electricity into their homes, along with necessary electrical equipment such as lights. We did it for free to help them improve their livelihoods,” he added.
Regarding the households that did not yet receive electricity, the official mentioned that discussions are ongoing to ensure they are connected soon.
Dorothée Merkl, Project Coordinator and Energy Advisor at GIZ, said they are in talks with REG to secure additional funding aimed at increasing the number of households connected to electricity, especially for the underprivileged.
She stated, “We are in discussions with REG to secure an additional 100,000 Euros, which will help us increase the number of households with electricity, bringing the total to at least 6,700.”
This low-income electricity project is valued at over 350,000 Euros (approximately Frw 585 million).
Currently, 85% of the population has access to electricity, with a goal to achieve 100% coverage within the next five years. This will be supported by an investment of over 1 billion dollars aimed at generating 1,000 megawatts of electricity. At present, Rwanda generates 406.4 megawatts of electricity.
The Senate’s latest attempt to pass a “clean” continuing resolution failed Tuesday by a 54–44 vote, six short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.
The shutdown stems from a prolonged standoff in Congress over a new funding deal. Lawmakers in both chambers have failed to reach agreement despite 14 separate votes on temporary funding measures.
The deadlock has pitted Democrats, who are demanding an extension of healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, against Republicans, who accuse them of tying unrelated policy priorities to the government funding bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed cautious optimism this week that a resolution might be nearing, saying his “gut” suggested “an off-ramp” could be close. But for now, there are few signs of concrete progress.
The previous record for the longest government shutdown was 35 days, set during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2019. Like the current crisis, that shutdown was driven by a bitter partisan dispute, then over border wall funding.
{{Mounting impacts nationwide
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The effects of the ongoing closure are spreading across critical sectors. More than 800,000 federal employees have already missed multiple paychecks, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week that the nation’s air travel system could face major disruptions if the shutdown continues. He said about 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay.
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy told Fox News. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”
The shutdown is also taking a toll on low-income families who depend on government assistance. Funding interruptions have affected the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to about 42 million Americans, roughly one in eight people nationwide.
A federal court recently ordered the Trump administration to release contingency funds to partially sustain SNAP payments, but President Trump has indicated on social media that full benefits will only resume when “Radical Left Democrats open up government.” The White House later stated that it would comply with the court’s directive.
{{Economic consequences and public frustration
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According to the Congressional Budget Office, the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy an estimated $14 billion if it extends to eight weeks. Analysts warn that disruptions in sectors such as aviation, healthcare, and food assistance could worsen if no deal is reached soon.
The political fallout is also deepening. A Gallup poll released this week shows public approval of Congress has fallen to 15 percent, down 11 points from last month, with 79 percent of Americans expressing disapproval of how lawmakers are handling the standoff.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans for “surging healthcare costs” tied to stalled subsidy extensions, while Thune accused Democrats of worsening the shutdown’s toll on American families.
Despite rising frustration across the country, efforts to end the shutdown remain gridlocked.
Moderate lawmakers from both parties have indicated a willingness to broker a compromise ahead of Thanksgiving on November 27, but as of now, Washington remains at a standstill, and millions of Americans are bearing the cost of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
In Jamaica, infrastructure has been severely damaged, with more than 130 roads blocked and power and communication networks disrupted, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a daily briefing.
Health services are under heavy strain, since several hospitals and clinics were damaged or destroyed, prompting the deployment of an emergency medical team from the Pan American Health Organization, he said.
Haq said the World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that up to 360,000 people may require food assistance in Jamaica.
A UN disaster assessment and coordination team is coordinating assistance teams and aid arriving, in support of the Jamaican government, he said.
In Haiti, Haq said that the United Nations and its partners continue to carry out assessments of the damage wreaked by Hurricane Melissa and are ramping up efforts to reach people in need.
The Food and Agriculture Organization indicated losses in beans, corn and fruit crops, as well as damage to fishing infrastructure, which is expected to increase hunger in a country where half of the population is already food insecure, said the spokesperson.
Speaking to reporters via video link, WFP’s Country Director in Cuba Etienne Labande said the hurricane left behind widespread flooding, power outages and heavy damage, with crops lost and many buildings partially or fully destroyed in the eastern part of Cuba.
One particularity in the response to the hurricane is the anticipatory action framework adopted by Cuba, coupled with a pre-approved UN allocation, which enabled UN agencies to preposition key supplies in vulnerable areas ahead of the hurricane’s landfall, Labande said.
Ingabire stated that Rwanda plans to build between 720 and 800 new towers to increase internet access to 97%, up from the current 83%. She explained that this initiative would require over $300 million in funding.
She made these comments while presenting solutions to issues raised by Members of Parliament regarding the use of technology and the delivery of services to the public.
The Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, highlighted nine major challenges faced by citizens, including areas where internet access is unavailable and others where the signal strength is weak. Some systems, such as those in agriculture, education, health, and tax payment, struggle with low capacity to handle user requests.
Additionally, there is a need for fast internet for land data systems, but many rural areas lack access. Other issues include system failures that hinder the delivery of services, inaccurate civil registration data, and communication infrastructure gaps in border areas.
Minister Ingabire explained that internet access currently covers 83% of the country, leaving 17%, mostly sparsely populated and rural areas, without internet. Rwanda has 1,781 communication towers and 24,949 kilometers of fiber optic cables.
She noted, “We are looking into the gap we have in terms of coverage. To achieve nationwide, high-quality internet, it’s clear that we need to build more towers. Our country’s geography, with many mountainous areas, poses a challenge where some towers exist but are situated on high altitudes, making it difficult for the internet to reach lower areas.”
The Minister mentioned that for full nationwide coverage, Rwanda needs to add 2,500 more towers. However, the country aims to first reach a 97% coverage, which requires between 720 and 800 additional towers.
Telecommunication companies in Rwanda are currently required to contribute to the construction of towers over a 10-15 year period. This will result in at least 220 towers being built by telecom companies, with the government aiming to add 500 more.
The Ministry has also established a fund where telecom companies contribute 4% of their annual revenue to support investments in underserved areas where investors are hesitant due to low profitability.
This funding has already led to the construction of 233 towers in the past five years, with plans for continued growth. The cost of building one tower is approximately $150,000, meaning the country will require $300 million to construct 500 towers.
Minister Ingabire noted that if everything goes according to plan, the required funds could be raised within three years, depending on the country’s financial situation.
Rwanda has also started using satellite technology to provide internet access to schools where it is challenging to build towers or deploy fiber optic cables.
{{Systems failures and solutions}}
Minister Ingabire mentioned that a monitoring system has been put in place to assess and resolve issues causing system failures. The “Mbaza” project was introduced, allowing citizens to report any problems they encounter with government systems or services.
The Irembo platform, in partnership with service providers, has also introduced a system to resolve issues quickly, ensuring that problems are addressed within an hour.
Regarding civil registration data, the launch of digital ID cards is expected to address many of these challenges. The integration of identity information into a Single Source of Truth (SDID) will streamline services, making them faster and more accessible for the public.
Currently, the Irembo platform offers over 240 government services, with more than 3,000 employees and daily transactions exceeding $300,000. Around 45% of users now pay for services online, reducing service processing time by 80%.
{{Language and accessibility challenges}}
While there are 264.7 government websites, only 3% provide content in Kinyarwanda. Those that do offer Kinyarwanda have collaborated with RISA to ensure information is available in the local language.
{{Cross-border connectivity issues}}
Every year, Rwanda conducts a national assessment of the quality of mobile network services to identify areas where improvements are needed.
Additionally, coordination between Rwanda and its neighboring countries helps resolve cross-border communication issues.
In June 2025, a joint assessment was conducted at border areas, involving the Ministry of ICT, RURA, RISA, and telecom service providers. Measures were taken to strengthen existing towers and build new ones to improve connectivity.
Minister Ingabire emphasized the need for continuous infrastructure development to ensure that internet access reaches all parts of the country, based on available resources.
She also stressed the importance of not just increasing internet coverage but ensuring that citizens are able to use it effectively.
Developed and hosted by RSwitch, Rwanda’s national e-payments switch, eKash links banks, SACCOs, mobile money operators, and fintechs under a single interoperable system. The platform allows users to send, receive, and pay instantly, regardless of the bank or mobile wallet they use.
At its core, eKash is about convenience and inclusivity. Transactions are settled in under 15 seconds, enabling individuals and businesses to move money anytime, anywhere, and across any platform. Beyond speed, the platform carries a broader national purpose, which is to strengthen Rwanda’s financial sovereignty and ensure full control over its payment infrastructure.
To accelerate this vision, the platform, which has been rolled out in phases, is set for its official launch on December 5, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC).
{{A platform built for Rwanda’s digital ambitions
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The rollout of eKash comes at a time when Rwanda is deepening its digital transformation agenda. Under the government’s Vision 2050 and the Smart Rwanda Master Plan, the country aims to build an innovation-led economy where cashless transactions become the norm rather than the exception.
In this vision, eKash plays a critical role. The platform represents a national digital payment infrastructure capable of operating even in times of external disruptions or sanctions. By reducing dependence on foreign payment systems, it ensures continuity, security, and local ownership of financial data.
eKash is not just a payment platform; it’s Rwanda’s national financial unifier. By bringing all players together under one system, eKash levels the playing field; banks, SACCOs, mobile money operators, and fintechs no longer have to integrate individually. One endpoint opens a plethora of market opportunities, giving every participant equal footing.
{{Financial inclusion at the centre
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A defining feature of eKash is its focus on financial inclusion. The platform enables credit scoring and financial history portability, allowing previously unbanked Rwandans to access loans and other financial services for the first time.
Through seamless interoperability, money can move effortlessly between formal banks and mobile money accounts. For small traders and ordinary citizens, this reduces barriers to participation in the digital economy. For businesses, eKash offers a single collection point for payments, reducing reconciliation costs and improving cash flow management.
{{Enabling person-to-business (P2B) payments
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Beyond person-to-person transfers, eKash also supports person-to-business (P2B) payments, enabling users to pay merchants, service providers, and utility bills directly from any bank or mobile wallet. This interoperability removes the friction traditionally associated with digital payments, where consumers and businesses often had to rely on multiple platforms or manual reconciliation.
For consumers, this means faster, simpler, and more convenient transactions. Whether paying for groceries, school fees, electricity, or mobile services, users can transact in real time without worrying about which bank or mobile money provider the merchant uses.
For businesses, P2B payments provide instant settlement and a single point of collection, reducing administrative overhead and improving cash flow management. Small traders and informal businesses can now accept digital payments, expand their customer base, and build a credible financial history that may unlock future credit and services.
This functionality goes beyond convenience; it helps formalise Rwanda’s cash-based economy, strengthens financial inclusion, and encourages reliable, data-driven operations across sectors. By simplifying and securing transactions, eKash ensures that every Rwandan, whether in Kigali’s commercial centres or rural districts, can engage confidently in the digital economy.
{{Driving the cashless economy vision
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With Rwanda steadily establishing itself as one of Africa’s leaders in digital innovation, eKash is poised to play a pivotal role. The platform promises a future where money moves freely within the national financial ecosystem, securely, instantly, and without intermediaries.
Its success could also provide a model for other African economies seeking to localise payment infrastructure and reduce reliance on global systems.
Choosing eKash means embracing instant, inclusive, and intelligent payments, a system that empowers individuals, strengthens businesses, and drives Rwanda toward a fully cashless economy. The official launch of eKash on December 5th at KCC is set to connect the nation and accelerate Rwanda’s transition to a cashless, digitally empowered economy.
Covering 945,087 square kilometers, it has a population of around 68 million. The country is known for its stunning natural attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar Archipelago among others, that continue to draw tourists and feature prominently in global media.
Recently, however, the focus has shifted to new developments, particularly surrounding Tanzania’s 2025 elections held on October 29.
These elections, marred by protests, allegations of electoral irregularities, have brought significant political attention to the country, raising questions about its future direction.
Opposition groups argue that these protests led to hundreds of deaths and property damage.
Despite the unrest, Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the presidential election on Saturday, November 1, 2025, securing a landslide victory with 97.66% of the vote and more than 31.9 million ballots. Supported by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, her victory marked a new chapter for Tanzania.
She was sworn in on November 3 in a ceremony closed to the public, at a military base in Dodoma, a departure from the usual public inauguration.
This choice reflected the tense political climate and the government’s desire to avoid further unrest. But what does this new phase under Suluhu’s leadership mean for Tanzania’s future?
In her address, she made an appeal for national unity, acknowledging the pain caused by the protests but urging Tanzanians to set aside their differences.
“We are saddened by the events of instability, loss of life, and destruction of public and private property… What happened does not reflect the Tanzanian identity,” she remarked.
Suluhu emphasized that her election, despite its controversies, had a legal mandate backed by the Constitution of Tanzania.
“Assuming the responsibility of the presidency is a constitutional requirement,” she said.
According to Article 41(7) of Tanzania’s 1977 Constitution, once the Electoral Commission announces the election results, they are final, and no court is allowed to challenge the outcome.
This clause has been the subject of much debate, especially given the widespread protests and allegations of electoral fraud.
Critics argue that the clause limits the freedom of Tanzanians to contest the election results, undermining their democratic rights.
However, Suluhu emphasized that the Constitution is not just a framework for governance but also a binding document that her government respects.
Suluhu also directly addressed the arrests of youths involved in the protests, signaling the government’s resolve to maintain law and order.
“Our security forces continue to investigate and thoroughly examine what happened, and they will restore the country to the normal state we are accustomed to as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I also take this opportunity to give a warning to all those who encourage unrest. I urge those who instigate violence and unrest to cease, as it only leads to confrontation,” Suluhu added.
Suluhu also slammed foreign interference, noting that while Tanzania welcomes international observers, the country would not bow to external pressures on its internal matters.
“We thank all the organizations that sent election observers… but we have rejected directives to guide us on what to do,” she declared.
Despite the challenges, Suluhu called on Tanzanians to move beyond the election’s divisive aftermath, saying, “Our collective duty is to continue building our nation and making tomorrow better than today.”
The Constitution’s strict stipulation that election results cannot be challenged, despite allegations of irregularities, is a central issue that could shape Suluhu’s tenure.
While her victory may be constitutionally valid, many Tanzanians, particularly those who participated in the protests, may feel that their grievances were dismissed by the legal system’s inability to challenge the results.
This tension between constitutional law and the will of the people presents a significant challenge to Suluhu’s efforts to build unity and trust.
As Tanzania moves forward, Suluhu’s presidency will be defined by how she navigates these divisions.
Her call for peace and unity is a crucial step in rebuilding the country’s fractured political landscape. Yet, as she embarks on her first full term, the nation remains at a crossroads.
Will the desire for stability give way to deeper reforms, or will the political fissures that led to the protests continue to haunt her leadership?
Suluhu’s leadership, though constitutionally secured, will be tested not just by the laws she upholds, but by the nation’s ability to reconcile its differences.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, where both leaders explored avenues to enhance collaboration between Rwanda and Qatar.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, the talks reviewed the strong ties between the two countries and identified opportunities for further cooperation.
“This morning in Doha, President Kagame met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development. Their discussions focused on the excellent relations between Rwanda and the State of Qatar, and the multiple areas of fruitful bilateral collaboration,” the statement read.
The leaders last met on September 12, 2025, during President Kagame’s official visit to Qatar.
Rwanda and Qatar share strong cooperation in areas including investment, tourism, and transport, reflecting Rwanda’s strategy of fostering diplomacy based on mutual respect, peace, and development.
In the aviation sector, Qatar Airways has agreed to acquire a 60 % stake in Rwanda’s Bugesera International Airport project and is also seeking a 49 % stake in the national carrier, RwandAir, as part of a broader aviation and transport partnership.
