In his speech on Thursday, October 9, 2025, President Tshisekedi claimed that since his election in 2019, he had visited all nine of DRC’s neighbouring countries, including Rwanda and Uganda, to foster cooperation and development. He further stated that he had never shown any belligerent attitude toward Rwanda or Uganda, and called for joint efforts to stop escalations in the Great Lakes region.
Rwanda’s Government countered these claims, noting that more than ten peace agreements between Rwanda and the DRC have been signed since 1999 but were never implemented due to a lack of political will on the part of the DRC government.
Rwanda highlighted repeated instances where the DRC, under Tshisekedi, promoted hostile rhetoric and scapegoated Rwanda at international forums, including calls for sanctions at the UN General Assembly, while also engaging in persecution of Rwandan citizens and Congolese Tutsi communities.
The statement outlined a long history of belligerent actions by the DRC, including threats of war during President Tshisekedi’s re-election campaign, boasting about DRC drones and attacks on Kigali, pledges to support actors seeking to overthrow the Rwandan government, and repeated calls for hardline measures against Rwanda.
Locally, DRC officials have fomented hatred against Rwanda, including indoctrination in schools, targeted campaigns to international governments, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture of Rwandan citizens, and at least two confirmed deaths in Kinshasa prisons. The DRC also closed its airspace to civilian flights from Rwanda and filed numerous frivolous cases against Rwanda in international fora.
Security incidents were also highlighted. Since 2019, more than 20 cross-border attacks and violations of Rwandan airspace have occurred, including the shelling of Rubavu in January 2025, which killed 16 Rwandan civilians.
Rwanda emphasised that attempts to resolve the security threats bilaterally, particularly from the DRC-backed FDLR militia, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, were repeatedly rejected by the DRC, which instead pursued a military solution, including recruiting foreign troops and mercenaries.
Rwanda criticised President Tshisekedi’s claims that he and Rwanda alone could stop escalations. According to Kigali, de-escalation is entirely within the DRC president’s hands and requires implementing existing peace mechanisms, dismantling and neutralising armed groups such as the FDLR, disarming militia groups like Wazalendo, and stopping the influx of hostile Burundian army troops into South Kivu. Peace will also require sincere participation in ongoing negotiations with the AFC/M23 Congolese rebel movement through the Doha process.
Regarding regional diplomatic efforts, Rwanda explained its decision to abstain from an “empty photo opportunity” in Luanda, as the DRC refused to act on its pledge to negotiate with internal rebellions that threaten Rwandan security. The spokesperson also clarified that the Regional Economic Integration Framework and the Washington Peace Agreement have been frustrated by the DRC, undermining regional stability.
Rwanda further addressed claims about troop contributions and casualties, noting that SADC forces were drawn unnecessarily into the DRC’s internal conflict and suffered casualties. These forces, along with 300 European mercenaries hired by the DRC, were later granted safe passage through Rwanda after being defeated, highlighting Rwanda’s commitment to humanitarian treatment even amid belligerence.
President Tshisekedi also cited “millions” of victims and called for sanctions, which Rwanda refuted as exaggerated or historically inaccurate. Kigali emphasised that endless appeals for sanctions or mediation-shopping would not achieve peace. True stability requires political will, respect for agreements, and concrete action by the DRC.
In conclusion, Rwanda stated that while President Tshisekedi’s speech contained calls for dialogue, the path to peace is clear: the DRC must implement agreements it has signed, neutralise destabilising armed groups, and genuinely engage in bilateral and regional peace processes.
“Empty words, lies, and distortions will not result in the peace that all the countries of the Great Lakes region need,” the Office of the Government Spokesperson stated.
“President Tshisekedi must keep his word, respect and implement agreements the DRC has signed, and not take for granted regional and international partners that are investing in ongoing peace processes.”
A staff-level agreement was reached between IMF officials and the Government of Rwanda on Friday after a mission held in Kigali from September 29 to October 10, 2025.
The program, launched in 2022, was designed to help Rwanda safeguard macroeconomic stability, strengthen policy credibility, and advance structural reforms without involving direct financial assistance.
According to the IMF mission, Rwanda has met all quantitative targets under the PCI despite facing consecutive global and domestic shocks. According to the IMF, the revised economic growth averaged 7.2 percent in both 2024 and the first half of 2025, supported by strong performance in services, construction, and coffee exports.
Additionally, inflation remained within the National Bank of Rwanda’s (NBR) target range of 2 to 8 percent, while international reserves provided coverage for 4.8 months of imports.
Albert Touna Mama, IMF Mission Chief, commended Rwanda’s achievements, affirming continued partnership with Rwanda.
“Rwanda’s economy has proven to be remarkably strong, even in the face of global challenges. The government’s consistent and well-planned policies have been key to this success. This partnership has helped lay a solid foundation for continued stability and growth, and the IMF remains a committed partner to Rwanda.”
The final review highlighted continued progress in fiscal and monetary policy reforms. A newly adopted tax package is expected to place the tax-to-GDP ratio on an upward trajectory, enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation and reinforcing debt sustainability.
While borrowing for the construction of the New Kigali International Airport in Bugesera is projected to raise debt levels in the near term, the project is considered a strategic investment with long-term benefits.
Minister of State for National Treasury Godfrey Kabera emphasised the importance of the program, noting that the partnership has provided a valuable roadmap for Rwanda’s economic policy.
“By focusing on raising our own revenues, spending wisely, and strengthening our institutions, we have built a more resilient economy. As we complete this program, our focus remains on ensuring that our growth is strong and inclusive,” Kabera stated.
The IMF also emphasised the importance of continued fiscal consolidation, prudent expenditure management, and proactive, data-driven monetary policy to maintain stability. Draft amendments to strengthen the NBR’s mandate are expected to be submitted to Cabinet as part of ongoing institutional reforms.
The IMF Executive Board is scheduled to consider the review in December 2025, marking the official completion of Rwanda’s three-year PCI.
The visit was confirmed through a cabinet communiqué on Thursday.
According to local news outlets in Senegal, the President will continue his East African tour with a visit to Nairobi, scheduled from October 19 to 21, at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto.
The leaders of both countries have continued to strengthen the relationship between Rwanda and Senegal.
President Kagame became the first Head of State to visit his Senegalese counterpart in May 2024, just a month after assuming office in April that year.
President Kagame has made several visits to Senegal, with the most recent one taking place from August 31 to September 1, 2025, when he attended the Africa Food Systems Forum.
The three roads, covering a total of 151 kilometers, are located in different districts across the country.
The official launch took place along the 73-kilometer Nyagatare–Rukomo road, which has already been in use for some time.
The other two are the Huye–Kitabi road (53 km) and the Rubengera–Gisiza road (25 km).
According to officials, the funds initially allocated for these road projects were efficiently managed, leading to a surplus that allowed the government to extend construction to other road sections and install street lighting along the 23-kilometer Rubengera–Gisiza stretch.
The inauguration event was attended by government officials, residents, and representatives of development partners who financed the projects, including the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and other institutions such as The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
Nyagatare District Mayor Stephen Gasana said the Rukomo–Nyagatare road has been a game changer for trade and transportation, especially by reducing travel time.
Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, the Minister of State for Infrastructure, highlighted that the newly inaugurated roads are already contributing to economic growth by facilitating the movement of goods and people.
Uwihanganye also announced that plans are underway to install streetlights along the Nyagatare–Rukomo road, ensuring safer and more efficient transport.
He added that the total cost of constructing the three roads, together with other works financed from the remaining budget, exceeded Frw 200 billion.
Fahad Abdullah Aldossari, BADEA Board Chairman, said the bank remains committed to supporting Rwanda’s transport infrastructure, noting that out of the $300 million already provided to Rwanda, about $132 million has been directed toward road projects.
Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde emphasized that the newly opened roads will serve as key drivers of tourism and trade, pledging that the provincial leadership will continue investing in complementary infrastructure to maximize their economic potential.
His Royal Highness Oheneba Yaw Otchere, a prominent global entrepreneur and the Royal Ambassador to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene (King of the Ashanti Kingdom), leads the Ashanti Kingdom Trust, which oversees the kingdom’s investments, business development projects, and diplomatic initiatives on behalf of the King.
During the visit, Prince Otchere, together with Ghana’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ernest Yaw Amporful, and the Ashanti delegation, engaged with several key Rwandan institutions, including the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda Mining Board (RMB), Bank of Kigali, Kigali International Financial Center (KIFC), and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR).
Prince Oheneba and his delegation also visited the Campaign Against the Genocide Museum, where they were inspired by the bravery of the Rwanda Patriotic Army and the nation’s remarkable post-genocide transformation, driven by the vision and transformational leadership of President Paul Kagame.
The delegation committed to continuing to advocate for investment and collaboration with Rwanda, noting that the country’s 30-year journey of resilience, reconciliation, and restoration is unmatched in Africa. Prince Oheneba described Rwanda’s success as an inspiring story that makes Ghana proud and sets an example for the continent.
Prince Oheneba also invited Rwandans to visit, invest, and collaborate with the Ashanti Kingdom and Ghana at large, promoting intra-African trade and exchange.
The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ashanti Kingdom Trust and RDB, outlining areas of common interest to guide collaboration.
The agreement aims to unlock business opportunities and explore private sector partnerships in mining, gold trading, and the construction of Africa’s Gold City in the Ashanti Kingdom, in collaboration with Rwandan-based companies and investors.
The two-day visit focused on exploring business opportunities in mineral trading, mining investments, and socio-economic development initiatives between Rwanda and the Ashanti Kingdom.
Both parties agreed to pursue a strategic long-term partnership to harness untapped resources in both countries and promote intra-African trade through innovative solutions, including AFREXIM Bank’s Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) for exchanged goods and services.
Prince Oheneba also highlighted the existing collaboration with their host, EPC Africa Group, guided by its vision of “Building a Prosperous and Self-Sustained African Community.”
Combined with the Ashanti Kingdom’s enduring legacy of unity, resilience, continuous innovation, and empowerment, this partnership aims to champion a new model of African cooperation and shared prosperity, rooted in self-reliance, mutual respect, and a collective drive toward continental transformation.
Before departing Rwanda, His Royal Highness and his delegation experienced the country’s remarkable progress in eco-tourism, visiting Nyandungu Eco Park and various key sites in Kigali.
The visit marks a significant step toward strengthening economic and cultural ties between Ghana and Rwanda, reflecting a shared vision for African-led partnerships and sustainable development.
Dr. Gasore made the remarks on Thursday, 9 October 2025, following a meeting with senators from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, where strategies to reduce road accidents were also discussed.
“The construction is progressing well. Our target is to complete the airport by 2027 and have it operational by mid-2028,” Dr. Gasore said.
He added that once operational, the new airport will serve all major domestic and international flights, while Kanombe airport will be repurposed for other uses.
“Large passenger and cargo aircraft will no longer use the Kanombe facility. We will explore alternative ways to utilise it productively,” he said.
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Dr. Gasore also highlighted plans to build roads connecting the new airport to Kigali and other parts of the country, noting that at least three main routes are envisaged.
“These include a road linking Masaka to the airport, another connecting the southern part of Bugesera, and a major route from the Kicukiro bridge to the airport,” he said. While feasibility studies are complete, the minister did not disclose the construction budget, though he confirmed works are expected to begin in early 2026.
The new airport being constructed in a partnership with Qatar Airways, is designed to handle seven million passengers per year, with plans for a second phase to expand this to 14 million passengers annually by 2032.
According to the report released on Thursday, October 9, several categories recorded notable price increases during the month.
The “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” category rose by 4.2 percent on an annual basis and 1.3 percent month-on-month.
Prices for “Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics” increased by 15 percent year-on-year and 1.6 percent compared to August.
Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels rose by 4.1 percent year-on-year and 1.9 percent month-on-month, while transport prices increased by 8.6 percent annually and 1.7 percent monthly.
A sharp rise was also recorded in health, which surged by 71.1 percent year-on-year, remaining stable compared to the previous month.
Meanwhile, “Restaurants and hotels” saw a 17.7 percent annual increase, though prices slightly declined by 0.1 percent on a monthly basis.
The report shows that local products rose by 6.5 percent year-on-year and 1.3 percent month-on-month, while imported products increased by 9.5 percent annually and 1.5 percent monthly.
Prices of fresh products rose by 3.3 percent year-on-year and 1.8 percent month-on-month, while energy prices increased by 4.5 percent annually and 0.4 percent on a monthly basis.
The general index excluding fresh products and energy, often used to gauge underlying inflation trends, rose by 8.9 percent year-on-year and 1.3 percent month-on-month, reflecting persistent price pressures in non-volatile goods and services.
The deal on the “first phase” of a U.S.-backed peace plan, coming after intense negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States, outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal, while establishing mechanisms for prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid delivery.
While both Gazans and Israelis are experiencing moments of emotional release, political divisions within Israel’s coalition government and Hamas’s demand for international guarantees have somehow threatened to undermine the implementation process.
Besides, the enormous task of rebuilding Gaza and determining its political future looms large, testing whether the deal can evolve from temporary ceasefire to lasting peace.
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Both Israeli and Hamas’s officials have indicated that the ceasefire deal is set for Israeli government ratification. The Israeli side said the ceasefire will take effect within 24 hours after its security cabinet votes Thursday afternoon on the agreement in a meeting, whereas Hamas said the ceasefire will take effect immediately upon Israeli government approval.
According to Israel’s state-owned Kan TV, political resistance within Netanyahu’s coalition, including from far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatens to complicate the voting process, but the deal will still secure majority support.
The deal establishes detailed reciprocal obligations. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Qatar’s Alaraby Television Network in an interview on Thursday that Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza City, northern Gaza, as well as southern Gaza’s Rafah and Khan Younis, while five border crossings will reopen for humanitarian aid.
“Drone operations in the Gaza Strip’s airspace will cease during the prisoner release process,” which will involve “250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 other prisoners,” he added.
Informed Palestinian sources told Xinhua that Hamas has provided mediators with prisoner lists “according to agreed criteria,” awaiting final approval, and has begun relocating Israeli detainees to safe locations ahead of handover to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that three Israeli army divisions have started pulling out of Gaza City since Wednesday night in preparation for redeployment around Khan Younis.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Thursday that it has “begun operational preparations” for the first of a three-phase withdrawal from Gaza, adding that “preparations and combat protocols are underway to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon.”
However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also ordered the military to respond with “great force” to any potential threat or attack by Hamas in Gaza against Israeli forces.
According to an Israeli government spokeswoman, hostages would probably begin being released on Saturday or Sunday.
Hospitals in the Tel Aviv area, where the hostages are expected to arrive for medical checks and recovery, also said they are making preparations.
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In central Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, family members of Israeli hostages embraced as reports spread of their loved ones’ imminent return. Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, and Anat and Haggai Angrest, parents of soldier Matan Angrest, burst into tears of excitement in a video shared online.
“Matan and Matan are on their way home,” Zangauker said. “From now on, this square will be called the Square of Hope!”
In Gaza, news of the ceasefire triggered spontaneous celebrations amid the ruins. “I want to cry and dance at the same time,” Hussein al-Hindi, a 45-year-old displaced carpenter and father of three from the town of al-Zawaida in central Gaza, told Xinhua.
“For two years, we lived without sleep, listening only to explosions and the screams of the wounded,” said al-Hindi, who now lives in a makeshift tent. “I still can’t believe the war has truly stopped … I wake up every morning expecting the airstrikes to begin again. All we want now is to rebuild our homes, send our children back to school, and live normal lives.”
Yet for the many more Gazans traumatized by the devastating conflict, the joy hearing the news is just a flash in the pan. Abdul Majeed Haniyeh, a 52-year-old man from Deir al-Balah, who lost his teenage son in an Israeli airstrike last year, wept as he told Xinhua: “Nothing can compensate for the loss of my child, but at least no other fathers will bury their sons tonight.”
Many Gazans have expressed cautious optimism, aware that previous truces have collapsed and that rebuilding their shattered lives will take years.
“The Gaza we knew no longer exists,” Abed Dahman, a displaced father of five from Khan Younis, told Xinhua outside his tent. “We have to start from zero … What we need now is not just promises but real reconstruction and a future for our children.”
Despite the deal, 11 people were killed and 49 others injured by Israeli assaults across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including 13 wounded while seeking aid, Gaza-based health authorities said Thursday.
The conflict, erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 when a large-scale Hamas attack on southern Israel killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, has destroyed about 80 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced nearly 2 million residents, apart from creating human casualties, according to UN estimates.
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The ceasefire deal has drawn widespread support from regional countries and organizations, which see it as a potential opening for broader political progress.
Hamdan described the deal as “the fruit of the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Palestinian people over two years of ongoing Israeli aggression,” while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the deal to become “a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution.”
In a press statement, Abbas emphasized the need to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, stressing that “sovereignty over Gaza belongs to the State of Palestine.” He also outlined key requirements for the deal’s success: immediate implementation, release of all hostages and prisoners, unrestricted humanitarian access, and a clear reconstruction process.
Jordan and Iraq emphasized the importance of full commitment to the deal and the urgency of addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to “closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement,” and continue contributing to the process as well as advocating for Palestinian statehood.
Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Oman also endorsed the deal. Egypt called it “a pivotal moment in the war of Gaza,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hoped the agreement “will serve as a first step towards a permanent ceasefire,” whereas the latter two highlighted the deal’s potential to facilitate aid delivery and regional stability.
The Arab League also welcomed the breakthrough, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit calling it “good news for the people in Gaza after two years of bloodshed.”
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini on Thursday called the deal “a respite” for Gaza’s traumatized population.
The UNRWA has three months of supplies ready for immediate distribution, Lazzarini said in a press statement, urging the international community to support the agency in carrying out its work and assisting those in need during this critical period ahead.
However, analysts have cautioned that the deal represents only a first step. Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst Hussam al-Dajani told Xinhua that the deal, although marking an important step toward ending the war, “does not mean the conflict is over.”
“Implementing the deal on the ground requires concrete international guarantees to ensure both sides’ commitment,” al-Dajani said. “Past experiences show that without monitoring, truces collapse quickly.”
Gaza now faces two simultaneous challenges: rebuilding its devastated infrastructure and reorganizing its internal political situation, he said. “Ending the war does not end the suffering … Gaza needs more than words; it needs a sustained international effort to ensure this tragedy is not repeated.”
Yemeni political analyst Yasin Al-Tamimi said while the deal marks a diplomatic breakthrough, “the possibility of continued confrontation remains … as the political and security dynamics that fueled this conflict are far from resolved.”
“A genuine peace process requires a just solution to the Palestinian issue … Without this, any U.S. initiative is bound to fail,” Al-Tamimi told Xinhua.
Nabil al-Bukiri, director of the Arab Forum for Studies and Development, offered a more skeptical view, describing the U.S. role in the deal as more of political posturing and lacking sincerity and substance.
“Without addressing the root of the conflict — the occupation and denial of Palestinian rights,” he said, “talk of comprehensive peace remains an illusion.”
The commitment was made on Thursday, October 9, in Brussels, Belgium, following bilateral talks between President Paul Kagame and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum 2025.
President Kagame and von der Leyen were also joined by Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin to unveil the new funding package, which will support the next phase of vaccine production and innovation.
The EU’s Global Gateway strategy aims to build sustainable partnerships through investments in digital, energy, transport, and health infrastructure.
The new funding builds on earlier EU support of over €93 million towards BioNTech’s Kigali facility, which was inaugurated in 2023 as the company’s first mRNA manufacturing site in Africa.
The project has been hailed as a major step towards ensuring equitable access to vaccines and strengthening Africa’s capacity to respond to future health emergencies.
With the additional €95 million support, Rwanda is poised to scale up vaccine manufacturing and accelerate progress towards its goal of becoming a regional centre for pharmaceutical research, production, and distribution.
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Meanwhile, following her meeting with President Kagame, von der Leyen took to X to welcome the Washington-brokered pact between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aimed at easing tensions in the eastern region of the DRC.
She noted that the deal, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump, represents an important step towards lasting stability, adding that the EU stands ready to support the peace process “because it will pave the way for regional integration and investment.”
