The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the existing defence cooperation between the Gambia Armed Forces and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
As part of his visit, Lieutenant General Cham visited RDF Headquarters on Monday, October 13, where he held meetings with the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the RDF, General MK Mubarakh.
During the meeting, Lieutenant General Cham was briefed on regional security dynamics and Rwanda’s contributions to peace and security in Africa.
He also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he paid respect to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Additionally, he toured the Campaign against Genocide Museum.
Throughout his visit, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces will also visit institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Defence and the Rwanda Defence Force.
Gathering leaders from more than 20 countries as well as regional and international organizations, the summit is co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump.
The summit will discuss ending the war in the Gaza Strip, enhancing efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and ushering in a new phase of regional security and stability, according to the Egyptian presidency.
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas entered into effect on Friday, following three days of intensive negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh between the two sides mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States.
The first phase of the plan includes Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and the north, and the opening of five crossings for aid, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
Hamas announced earlier in the day that it had handed over all 20 of the remaining live hostages, who were captured during the attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange deal.
More than two years of Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza, killing over 67,000 people and triggering famine, according to Gaza’s health authorities and UN-backed food experts.
Sarkozy was notified of the conditions of his incarceration at the request of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). For reasons of security and discretion, details regarding the arrangements will not be made public.
According to a source close to the case cited by BFMTV, Sarkozy is expected to serve his sentence at La Sante Prison in Paris. The interval before Oct. 21 will allow him time to organize his personal and professional affairs.
Once in custody, his defense team will be able to file a request for release before the Court of Appeals, which will have two months to issue a ruling.
On Sept. 25, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 campaign. Although he has appealed, the judges ordered that the sentence be enforced immediately, citing the “exceptional seriousness” of the offenses.
Sarkozy will become the first former French president in contemporary history to serve a prison sentence.
“The impeachment of President Andry Rajoelina has been voted. Among the 131 members of parliament present during the vote, 130 voted in favor of the impeachment, while one abstained,” said the assembly’s Vice President, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, following the session.
The decision came just hours after Rajoelina announced the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Local media quoted Randrianasoloniaiko as saying that the dissolution decree was “devoid of legal validity due to the absence of formal validation.”
On the same day, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, announced that state power in Madagascar has been taken over by a military council comprising members of the army, gendarmerie and national police.
Randrianirina said the constitution has been suspended and new national structures established “to meet the aspirations of the Malagasy people.”
He also announced the dissolution of key public institutions, including the Senate, the High Constitutional Court and the National Independent Electoral Commission.
The fair, which ran from October 10 to 12, was officially inaugurated by the Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwandan companies joined global participants in showcasing the country’s diverse tourism offerings.
Godfrey Rurangwa, Business Operations Manager at Makario Safaris, expressed that the fair provided an invaluable opportunity to build connections and learn from industry peers.
“We were able to engage with counterparts in the sector, exchange ideas about potential collaborations, and discuss ways to mutually promote our platforms in both Rwanda and Poland. This is a great starting point to attract tourists from Poland and the region,” he said.
Rurangwa also expressed his gratitude to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Rwandan Embassy in Poland for their logistical and institutional support.
Similarly, Walter Marcel, representing Mapendano Voyages, also thanked the RDB for facilitating participation.
He noted that the fair was an excellent platform to highlight Rwanda’s attractions, including Nyungwe, Akagera National Park (home to the Big Five), and the gorillas in Virunga National Park.
“It is a privilege for us to be present at TT Warsaw 2025. Rwanda is a country of remarkable beauty, with stunning landscapes, safety, and cleanliness, it deserves to be visited more,” he said.
For Marcel, the fair provided a unique opportunity to directly engage with visitors and Polish tourism professionals, dispelling misconceptions and offering concrete reasons for future travelers to choose Rwanda.
Both Rurangwa and Marcel stressed shared goals, such as strengthening commercial ties between agencies, exchanging digital promotion tools, and creating offers tailored to the European market.
Participants from Rwanda believe TT Warsaw 2025 has laid the foundation for the sustainable development of tourism between Rwanda and Poland.
Aimable Rutagarama, Chairman of the Chamber of Tourism, explained that the fair provided a valuable opportunity to tap into new markets and showcase Rwanda’s attractions to the world, positioning the country as a gateway to the region.
In Rwanda, this message could not be more relevant. The country’s steep hills and intense rainfall make it particularly prone to natural hazards. In 2023, two forces of nature stood out as Rwanda’s deadliest disasters — landslides and lightning. One crept silently through soaked hillsides; the other struck suddenly from the sky. Together, they claimed more lives than any other disasters that year, underscoring how geography and climate continue to shape risk across the nation.
Data from the Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Risks in Rwanda (2024) show that landslides and lightning have been the most frequent and fatal hazards over time. Between 2016 and 2023, landslides killed 449 people, while lightning strikes claimed 379 lives. Over the same period, floods caused 259 deaths and rainstorms 237, revealing a consistent and worrying pattern in Rwanda’s disaster history.
The country’s iconic landscape — steep, green, and breathtaking — is also what makes it fragile. Western and northern districts such as Gakenke, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Rubavu sit on hilly terrain that receives some of the heaviest rainfall in Rwanda.
According to the Disaster Risk Hotspots Assessment Report (2024), Rwanda has 326 identified hazard hotspots, with 134 rated as high or very high risk. Most lie in highland regions where rainfall often exceeds 1,800 millimetres per year, loosening soil and triggering deadly slope failures.
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Human activities such as deforestation and cultivation on steep slopes have magnified these natural vulnerabilities. As trees are cleared for farming or construction, soil stability weakens. When heavy rains fall, water quickly turns into runoff, destroying homes, crops, and roads.
The May 2023 floods and landslides demonstrated this danger vividly. In just two days, torrential rains killed 131 people, displaced over 51,000, and destroyed thousands of homes, mostly in the same western districts repeatedly flagged in national risk assessments.
Lightning, though less visible in its destruction, remains equally deadly. Rwanda’s equatorial location and high elevation make it one of Africa’s most lightning-prone countries. The same storms that sustain agriculture can, in moments, turn lethal. Victims are often caught in open spaces such as farms, playgrounds, or church grounds.
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Experts warn that changing rainfall patterns, longer dry spells followed by intense downpours, are increasing disaster risks. Soils become more saturated, landslides more frequent, and thunderstorms more violent. In fast-urbanising areas like Musanze and Rubavu, metal roofing and hillside construction further heighten lightning exposure.
Recognising these threats, the Government of Rwanda has strengthened disaster preparedness through relocation, infrastructure upgrades, and community awareness. Under the National Relocation and Mitigation Plan, more than 6,000 households living on high-risk slopes are being moved to safer zones. Engineers are reinforcing bridges and roads, planting trees, and building terraces to stabilise hillsides.
The Ministry of Education has installed lightning rods in schools, while local authorities extend protection to churches and community centres. Public campaigns now teach residents how to stay safe during storms and recognise warning signs of slope failure.
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These interventions align with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation II (NST2), which treats disaster risk reduction as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The focus is shifting from response to prevention, integrating resilience into agriculture, urban planning, and education.
Rwanda’s geography cannot be changed, but its management can. Through reforestation, stronger building standards, and continuous community engagement, the country is building resilience step by step.
On this International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Rwanda’s story stands as both a warning and an inspiration, a reminder that resilience is not built after disaster strikes, but every day through preparation.
Each landslide that scars a hillside and each flash of lightning in the sky reminds Rwanda that survival depends on readiness. The challenge now is not just to recover from disasters, but to stay ahead of the next one.
The fair, which brought together key players from the global travel and tourism industry, proved to be an ideal platform for showcasing Rwanda’s tourism offerings.
This marked Rwanda’s first appearance as a main partner of the event, and the country’s stand generated significant interest.
Represented by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda had a prominent space where engaging visuals highlighted the diverse tourist attractions the country has to offer.
The opening ceremony, which was presided over by the Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports, was attended by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Poland, Prof. Anastase Shyaka.
Amb. Shyaka praised the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed his gratitude to the organizers for the unprecedented partnership.
He also emphasized the significance of the Visit Rwanda brand, noting its powerful appeal to tourists from around the globe.
Taking advantage of this visibility, Amb. Shyaka invited TT Warsaw 2025 attendees and visitors to plan a trip to Rwanda and experience the country’s rich cultural and natural offerings firsthand.
The closing ceremony of the fair was marked by a celebration of Rwanda’s cultural heritage, with a spotlight on the Visit Rwanda brand and lively Rwandan dance performances.
In an interview with IGIHE, Amb. Shyaka thanked organizers, and all tourism sector players, including eight Rwandan companies present at the fair.
Kazimierz Cwikla, vice‑president of Ptak Warsaw Expo, largest exhibition center in Poland, hailed Rwanda for an exemplary collaboration and promised continued collaboration.
Throughout the event, Itorero Icyeza ballet captivated attendees with performances showcasing Rwanda’s cultural beauty through songs and traditional dance.
Rwanda was specially recognized as one of the event’s main partners and for its excellence at the trade show. The country was also awarded a certificate and medal of recognition for quality and innovation by PTAK Warsaw Expo.
The launch took place at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology (CST-UR) on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the devices, designed to be mounted on both motor vehicles and motorcycles, continuously gather and transmit air quality data in real time. They monitor key indicators such as temperature, humidity, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and gases including ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
Data will be analysed in real time, enabling city administrators and researchers to identify high-risk pollution areas and take early preventive action.
Representing the university, Professor Richard Musabe said the initiative will be highly beneficial to Kigali and its surrounding areas.
Dr. Eric Nizeyimana, the researcher behind the project, explained that the idea began in 2020 as a response to rising global air pollution. The research was conducted at the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT).
“Air pollution is a major challenge in Kigali and beyond. It is crucial to develop sustainable solutions to protect both current and future generations,” Dr. Nizeyimana said. The project will initially focus on Kigali, with plans to expand to other provinces.
Eddah Barasa, Research Grants Officer at the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) under PASET, praised the initiative for its innovative use of technology and potential impact. RSIF/PASET also financially supported the research.
The Clean City IoT Device project not only collects and analyses real-time air quality data to guide preventive measures but also aims to raise public awareness, foster scientific collaboration, and engage communities in protecting urban environments.
Key partners in the project include the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Meteo Rwanda, the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and RSIF/PASET.
Between 2016 and 2023, disasters destroyed 451 bridges across Rwanda, according to the Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Risks in Rwanda (2024). Gakenke District alone lost 54 bridges, while Rubavu, Rutsiro, and Nyabihu recorded dozens more. Each replacement costs between Frw 80 million and Frw 300 million, depending on terrain, pushing the total bill into tens of billions of francs.
Every collapsed bridge means more than broken infrastructure. It means interrupted trade routes, delayed medical care, and food supplies stranded on the wrong side of rivers. For a landlocked nation that relies heavily on road networks to connect rural producers to markets, the cost of such destruction ripples through the national economy.
Over the past seven years, extreme weather has wiped out more than 46,000 hectares of farmland nationwide. Of this, about 23,400 hectares were lost to rainstorms, 11,100 hectares to floods, 6,400 hectares to landslides, and 5,400 hectares to hailstorms.
The western districts of Gakenke, Ngororero, Rubavu, and Nyabihu suffered the worst losses, sometimes losing entire harvests in a single event. Beyond the immediate food shortages, these disasters threaten Rwanda’s key export crops, including coffee and tea largely grown in the highlands, most vulnerable to erosion and flooding.
The Disaster Risk Hotspots Assessment Report (2024) identified more than 70 critical public facilities, including schools, health centres, and power lines, built in high-risk zones.
Between 2016 and 2023, 104 water systems were damaged, nearly half of them in Gakenke District. Each repair can cost up to Frw 500 million, and when these systems fail, entire communities are left without access to clean water.
According to the Ministry of Finance, climate-related disasters reduce Rwanda’s annual GDP growth by about one percent, primarily through losses in infrastructure and agriculture. Local economies bear the brunt: farmers lose income, traders face higher transport costs, and small businesses suspend operations as roads and bridges are rebuilt.
As the world marks the International Day for Disaster Reduction this Monday, October 13, Rwanda’s experience offers a sobering case study in why resilience matters. The day, celebrated annually, highlights global efforts to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards and reminds countries of the cost of inaction. For Rwanda, it reinforces an urgent message: preparedness and prevention are far more affordable than recovery.
To curb future losses, the government is investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, including the relocation of 6,000 households from high-risk zones, slope reinforcement projects, and stronger bridge designs. New construction standards now require improved drainage systems and higher clearances to withstand heavier rainfall.
Through partnerships with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, Rwanda is also piloting anticipatory financing mechanisms, systems that unlock funds for repairs and mitigation before disasters escalate.
During his remarks at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Tshisekedi stated that ending the conflict in eastern DRC rests between him and President Kagame. He also called on the Rwandan President to order AFC/M23 to cease hostilities.
Rwanda strongly rejected Tshisekedi’s remarks reminding him that the issue of AFC/M23 is under his jurisdiction.
Speaking to RBA on Sunday, Minister Nduhungirehe condemned Tshisekedi’s actions as political theatre.
“Tshisekedi should stop playing this game and instead sit down, read and implement signed agreements. There are the Washington agreements regarding the elimination of FDLR [terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi] and removal of defensive measures. This was discussed in Washington recently, and we agreed that October 1st was the starting date for the 90-day plan,” he said.
He emphasized that the issue of AFC/M23 must be addressed through the Doha talks, where the group has been engaged in dialogue with the DRC government.
“On the other hand, there are the Doha talks where AFC/M23 engage with the DRC government to discuss the underlying reasons for the situation in Eastern Congo between the Congolese people. They are seeking a long-term solution. This means all the issues concerning M23 must be addressed in Doha.”
Regarding Tshisekedi’s comments asking President Kagame to instruct AFC/M23 to cease hostilities, Amb. Nduhungirehe said, “President Tshisekedi should not come to Brussels and stir things up, telling President Kagame to instruct M23 to withdraw its troops. That is an attempt to mislead the public. He should sit down and implement the Washington agreements and expedite the Doha agreements, as he is the one delaying them due to issues he does not accept or act upon.”
Last week, Bertrand Bisimwa, the deputy coordinator of AFC/M23 responsible for political affairs, told President Tshisekedi that President Paul Kagame has no connection to the group and suggested that President Tshisekedi should reconcile with the group by fulfilling his promises.
M23 fighters resumed fighting in 2021 in response to Kinshasa’s failure to address grievances, including the marginalization of the Congolese and Tutsi communities.
