The legislation, comprising 111 articles, was passed on August 4, 2025, following a thorough article-by-article review that lasted several hours. According to the Chamber’s Committee on Social Affairs, which scrutinised the draft, 20 articles were added for clarity while 29 were removed.
Committee chairperson Uwamariya Veneranda noted that one of the most debated provisions concerns assisted reproduction, which will be available to married couples where a qualified medical professional confirms that natural conception is not possible.
Lawmakers also agreed to lower the minimum age for independent consent to some healthcare services from 18 to 15. MP Izere Ingrid Marie Parfaite supported the move but stressed the need for education and preventive measures, including condom distribution.
“Why don’t we put more effort into giving them condoms, which can also prevent diseases such as HIV?” she said.
Several MPs proposed that parents be informed when minors seek certain services, including family planning.
The law also permits the preservation of gametes and embryos for future reproductive use, as well as surrogacy for individuals with medically confirmed infertility, in line with legal and regulatory requirements.
State Minister for Health Dr. Yvan Butera clarified that the provisions do not grant unrestricted access to all family planning services for 15-year-olds.
“The services for adolescents will be clearly defined in the regulations. For instance, permanent sterilisation will not be allowed,” he said.
The bill was first tabled before Parliament on November 5, 2024, before undergoing review by the Committee on Social Affairs.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Indian goods imported into the United States will be subject to a 25 percent tariff starting August 7, according to an executive order signed by Trump on July 31.
Besides the 25 percent tariff, Trump had earlier said he would impose a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil, without elaborating on details.
In early April, Trump announced 26 percent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods in addition to the 10 percent baseline tariffs, but he then paused the imposition of such tariffs.
In response to Trump’s new threat, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that “the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” and that India’s oil imports are meant to “ensure predictable and affordable energy costs” for Indian consumers.
“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” according to the statement on the ministry’s website.
The U.S. goods trade deficit with India was 45.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up 5.9 percent from 2023, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Many countries have voiced strong opposition to the recent U.S. tariff measures.
According to Reuters, the United States has already submitted a list of 10 potential migrants to be relocated to Rwanda. This initiative is part of the U.S. government’s broader strategy to manage the influx of undocumented immigrants.
Discussions between Rwanda and the United States suggest that the number of migrants could exceed the initial 250, depending on future negotiations. Importantly, migrants will not be required to stay in Rwanda against their will; they will have the option to relocate to third countries.
Rwanda will not accept any individuals currently serving prison sentences in the U.S., as there is no legal framework between the two countries allowing inmates to complete their sentences abroad. The individuals eligible for relocation include those who have completed their sentences, those with no pending criminal charges, and individuals with no history of child abuse-related offenses.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, emphasized the country’s historical understanding of the hardships faced by displaced populations.
“Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” she said.
“Under the agreement, Rwanda has the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. Those approved will be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade,” Makolo added.
The United States will also provide financial assistance to Rwanda as part of the agreement, although the specific details regarding the amount and structure of that support have not been disclosed.
This development comes as the U.S. intensifies efforts to address undocumented immigration, a policy focus that gained momentum under President Donald Trump, who prioritized reducing the number of unauthorized migrants entering the country.
During the hearing, Ingabire presented grounds on which she is seeking the annulment of the decision by the Kicukiro Primary Court, requesting to be prosecuted while not in detention.
The Prosecution, however, argued that there are substantial reasons justifying her continued detention, as previously determined by the lower court.
Ingabire is charged with creating a criminal group, inciting public disorder, endangering the existing government, disseminating false information or propaganda intended to discredit the Rwandan government abroad, spreading rumours, conspiring to commit offences against the state, and organising illegal demonstrations.
The appeal hearing began with Ingabire expressing concerns about her legal representation. Although she is represented by Me Gatera Gashabana, she told the court that she had initially requested legal assistance from a lawyer based in Kenya. However, the lawyer was unable to obtain authorisation to practice in Rwanda, and thus, her current representation was not entirely of her choosing.
Ingabire, dressed in prison uniform and wearing her natural hair, appeared alongside her lawyer to challenge a procedural matter. They objected to the late submission of the Prosecution’s response to their appeal, which was filed in the electronic case management system at 21:06 on the eve of the hearing. They argued that this denied them sufficient time to review and respond to the submission.
Me Gashabana cited Articles 75 and 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which pertain to the timely notification of provisional detention decisions and the deadlines for appeals. He argued that the Prosecution should have filed its response at least five days in advance and asked the court to disregard the late filing.
The Prosecution countered by citing Article 184 of the same law, which governs the submission of responses in appellate matters. It argued that the provision does not specify a mandatory deadline and that its actions were consistent with legal procedure. The court indicated it would examine the objection and render a decision in due course.
{{Grounds presented by Ingabire Victoire
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{{1. Jurisdictional irregularity
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Ingabire’s primary argument was that her arrest was ordered contrary to the Constitution. She contended that the basis for her detention, Article 106, was applied in violation of constitutional provisions, as the court, not the Prosecution, ordered her investigation.
Ingabire and her counsel claimed they had petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify Article 106 for being unconstitutional and had requested that the Kicukiro court suspend proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s ruling. Nevertheless, the lower court proceeded and ordered her 30-day detention.
The Prosecution responded that the lower court was not barred from ruling, noting that the defence did not formally raise the constitutional matter during the initial proceedings and that the case was already heard and closed by the time the constitutional challenge was submitted on July 17, 2025.
{{2. Expiry of certain charges
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Ingabire argued that some charges, such as spreading rumours and conspiracy to protest, are time-barred. She stated that the rumour-related offence, which carries a maximum sentence of six months, is classified as minor and should have expired after one year. She referenced an October 12, 2021, interview with a journalist as the basis for the charge.
Similarly, she said the alleged conspiracy to protest dates back to 2021, and the three-year limitation period had already passed. Her lawyer also contested the trial court’s comment suggesting that she might still harbour intentions to commit such acts, arguing that this was speculative and lacked evidentiary basis.
In response, the Prosecution argued that the statute of limitations begins from the date of the last action related to the offence. Since the content allegedly remains available online (e.g., on YouTube), the offences have not expired.
{{3. Lack of substantiation for certain charges
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Ingabire submitted that some charges, namely, inciting unrest and threatening state security, were brought without the Prosecution presenting any substantive evidence. She said that testimony from Gaston Munyabugingo, a fugitive with pending charges, lacked credibility and should not be relied upon.
She also contested the legality and relevance of certain audio recordings cited by the Prosecution, alleging they were either obtained unlawfully or did not involve her.
The Prosecution responded that it had presented serious grounds for each charge and that testimony from individuals involved in the alleged crimes is admissible under the law. It argued that recordings obtained for the purpose of exposing threats to national security are permissible, citing Article 20 of the Penal Code.
{{4. No direct involvement in alleged activities
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Ingabire denied any role in forming or joining a criminal group. She claimed she did not attend any of the so-called coup-planning workshops and that the presence of her friends or members of her unregistered political party, DALFA-Umurinzi, does not implicate her.
The Prosecution, however, maintained that there is a clear connection between her and the participants, including testimony from a former employee who claimed he was recruited by Ingabire to attend what he believed were English classes but turned out to be strategy meetings aimed at overthrowing the government.
{{5. Insufficient grounds for the conspiracy charge
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Regarding the charge of conspiring to commit crimes against the government, Ingabire stated that the only evidence cited was an exchange of messages with Sylvain Sibomana, in which she was referred to as “Mukecuru.”
The Prosecution noted that it would present more evidence during the trial and reiterated that the lower court had already found sufficient grounds to support the charge.
{{6. Illegally obtained evidence
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Ingabire challenged the admissibility of certain recordings, arguing that they were obtained in violation of the law. However, the Prosecution countered that Ingabire had not denied the authenticity of the recordings nor explained precisely how their acquisition violated legal procedures. It accused the defence of attempting to shift the focus to the substance of the trial prematurely, while the current hearing only concerns pre-trial detention.
{{7. Low risk of flight
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Ingabire argued that she poses no flight risk. She cited her compliance with court appearances following her presidential pardon and her respect for a travel ban, even after her request to visit family abroad was denied. She described herself as a principled political actor committed to peaceful engagement.
The Prosecution questioned whether any reliable standard exists by which a suspect can prove they will not flee. It asserted that due to the seriousness of the charges, which carry sentences exceeding five years, Ingabire should remain in custody.
{{8. Potential to obstruct the investigation
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Finally, the Prosecution argued that releasing Ingabire could compromise the ongoing investigation. She had acknowledged that 26 individuals attended the alleged workshops, of whom only a few had been arrested. The Prosecution argued that if she were truly cooperative, she would identify the remaining participants, including those still at large.
The Prosecution stated: “If she were at liberty, she could interfere with the investigation. We believe continued detention is essential to ensure the integrity of the inquiry.”
After hearing arguments from both parties, the presiding judge announced that the decision on Ingabire’s appeal against her provisional detention would be delivered on August 7 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau said that no agreement had yet been reached, despite South Africa submitting its trade framework proposal in May.
“South Africa seeks to conclude deals that promote value addition and industrialisation, rather than extractive relations that deprive the country of the ability to beneficiate our mineral wealth by mimicking extractive colonial era trade relations,” Lamola said, noting that geopolitical tensions have complicated negotiations with the United States.
Lamola warned that the proposed tariff could reduce South Africa’s gross domestic product by 0.2 percentage points. The United States is South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, making up 7.5 percent of total trade, with agricultural exports most vulnerable to the looming tariff.
“South African exports do not compete with U.S. producers and do not pose a threat to the U.S. industry. On the contrary, our exports are crucial inputs that support America’s industrial base,” Lamola said, adding that agricultural goods from South Africa to the United States are seasonal and are not “replacing” U.S. agricultural products.
He also highlighted South Africa’s efforts to diversify its export markets, particularly in agriculture. Local producers have started exporting lemons, avocados, and apples to China following the signing of bilateral protocol agreements. Similar efforts are underway to expand access to markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The hotels are seeking compensation for policies they say restricted competition and cut into their revenues. The legal action is backed by HOTREC, the umbrella organization representing the European hospitality industry, along with more than 30 national hotel associations.
“European hoteliers have long suffered from unfair conditions and excessive costs. Now is the time to stand together and demand redress,” HOTREC Chairman Alexandros Vassilikos said in a statement on the organization’s official website. “This joint initiative sends a clear message: abusive practices in the digital market will not be tolerated by the hospitality industry in Europe.”
Central to the dispute are the “best price” or parity clauses, which Booking.com enforced for years. These clauses barred hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or through other booking platforms.
According to HOTREC, the legal action remains open to all eligible hotels. “Following overwhelming demand from hoteliers across Europe, the deadline to register for the collective action against Booking.com has been extended until Aug. 29, 2025,” the statement said, adding that the lawsuit is expected to be filed in a Dutch court.
This collective claim follows a similar initiative by the Dutch consumer advocacy group Consumentenbond, which announced in June that it was preparing a mass lawsuit on behalf of Booking.com customers. The group accuses the platform of inflating prices through “illegal agreements and deceptive practices.”
Booking.com has rejected the allegations of price manipulation, saying it is reviewing the claims and will respond formally in due course.
The company is already facing legal scrutiny in Europe. In July last year, a Spanish court fined Booking.com 413 million euros (478 million U.S. dollars) for similar practices. The European Court of Justice later ruled that such parity clauses violate EU competition laws.
In her opening remarks, Yvette Umutangana, the event’s main organizer, expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the celebration and those who showed up early to participate in Umuganda.
“When we engage in Umuganda, some people may wonder why we do it,” she said. “But this is an act that reflects who we are, our core values, and our origins. It’s a way to promote our culture and our country, and to show that Rwanda is among the cleanest nations in Africa.”
Umutangana noted that this year’s Umuganura was particularly unique, taking place amid tense diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Belgium, which have led to a pause in official cooperation.
“Despite these challenges, we are here as Rwandans to uphold unity and continue being good ambassadors of our country, both here in Belgium and beyond,” she said.
She encouraged the Rwandan community to strive for progress and not just come together for the sake of celebration or to enjoy familiar food and traditional dress.
“Let’s aim to gather again next year, but this time to celebrate tangible achievements,” she urged.
Ernest Gakuba, president of DRB-Rugari-Belgique, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme: “Umuganura: A Source of Unity and Foundation for Self-Reliance.” He reminded attendees that unity is the foundation of national strength.
“It’s also a day to thank Rwanda’s God for the harvest, to reflect on areas where we’ve fallen short, and to correct them. It’s a time to appreciate every Rwandan who has contributed to their own development and the growth of our nation as a whole,” Gakuba said.
He added that Rwandans in the diaspora, particularly in Belgium, must come together in these challenging diplomatic times and combine their efforts without reservation.
Gakuba warned that if Rwandans abroad fail to work in unity, they risk losing their collective value and progress. He urged the community to focus on self-empowerment and resilience, calling on all Rwandans to embrace the traditional belief that “work is the foundation of life.”
“Umuganura should push us to ask ourselves: ‘What am I doing for my country?’ This day should not only be about celebrating achievements, but also about safeguarding them, reinforcing our unity, and always remembering our homeland in everything we do,” he added.
The celebration also featured cultural games and storytelling for children in both Dutch and Kinyarwanda, aiming to foster love for both languages in a way that respects Rwandan heritage.
Oscar Gahutu delivered a special presentation on the historical significance of Umuganura in pre-colonial Rwanda, highlighting how the tradition was disrupted by colonial powers but later restored by Rwanda’s current leadership.
“The road ahead is still long, but what we’ve achieved is worth preserving,” he said. “We must teach and pass it on to our youth.”
The day also included practical activities for children, such as sweeping and cleaning, to introduce them to traditional household roles and responsibilities.
As the event continued, children were served milk, attendees enjoyed traditional Rwandan dishes, and the atmosphere was filled with traditional songs, dances, and shared joy — all in true Rwandan spirit.
The decision, announced by the U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura, follows broader immigration restrictions signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, targeting immigrants and non-immigrants holding tourist, student, and business visas.
According to the Trump administration, the move followed repeated warnings about high visa overstay rates and individual noncompliance with the conditions of legal entry into the United States.
In a public advisory on Monday, August 4, the U.S. Embassy in Burundi emphasised that each Burundian traveller carries not only their personal ambitions but also the hopes of their families and communities.
The embassy urged Burundians to uphold U.S. immigration laws and protect future opportunities by ensuring full compliance with visa terms.
“Respecting visa rules isn’t just a personal matter, it’s national,” the statement shared on social media platform X reads. “Let us uphold the rules, because one person’s actions can close doors for an entire nation.”
Trump has, in recent months, maintained that the visa bans are part of wider efforts to tighten immigration controls. In Executive Order 14161, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” the United States imposed full travel bans on seven African countries and partial restrictions on three others, including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
President Trump defended the policy in a televised address, stating that the bans were not blanket prohibitions but targeted measures designed to encourage foreign governments to improve screening systems and immigration cooperation.
On the morning of July 27, Burundian security forces arrested Laurent Ruboneka Musabwa, an embassy employee and leader of the Banyamulenge community, whose members survived the 2004 Gatumba refugee camp massacre.
The following night, on July 28, another embassy staff member, Félix Mweza—originally from the Bashi ethnic group in South Kivu—was also arrested by Burundian security forces.
According to SOS, both individuals were swiftly flown to Kinshasa on a government-chartered plane. Upon arrival, they were taken into custody by agents from the National Intelligence Agency and the military intelligence service, where they remain under interrogation.
Ambassador Mulumba was also summoned to Kinshasa on July 30 to provide clarification regarding the conduct of his subordinates. Sources indicate that after giving his statement, the ambassador sought to return to his post in Bujumbura.
However, the DRC government denied the request, instructing him to remain in Kinshasa while investigations continue.
While the DRC government has not issued an official statement regarding the ambassador’s recall, reports suggest that he is also under scrutiny for possible links to the AFC coalition.
Speaking in Kigali on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during a panel titled “Beyond the Stage: A Creative Café”, DJ Etania said women must shift away from dependency and build confidence in their own abilities.
“In Uganda, I started a program to show young girls that they should not depend on men to make a living,” she said. “You shouldn’t keep thinking about what men will do for you or expect them to rescue you. That needs to stop.”
The event, held at the VIP Lounge of Amahoro Stadium, was organised by SEEV Africa in collaboration with MTN Rwanda, Intore Entertainment, and KONTENT. It was part of the Giants of Africa Festival, which brought together creatives from across East Africa, including musicians, arts entrepreneurs, government officials, and development partners.
Etania, 24, said she often encourages young women to take initiative rather than waiting for external support.
“You have to take your hands out of your pockets and work,” she said. “Don’t sit at home thinking a man is going to take care of your life. Women should be more present in industries like entertainment, which are still heavily dominated by men.”
She also emphasised that coming from a disadvantaged background should not be a limitation. Sharing her personal story, she noted that she was raised in a financially challenged household and had to push through difficult circumstances, including her mother’s severe illness.
“Being born in poverty should not define your future,” she said. “We should aim to create better lives for the generations that come after us.”
Paul Atwine, Executive Director of SEEV Africa, described the forum as a valuable space for collaboration between the creative sector and development stakeholders.
“The goal is to help Rwandan artists connect with international creatives, learn from their experience, and adopt successful business practices,” he said.
This was the second edition of Beyond the Stage, following a December 2024 session at Norrsken Kigali that featured Nigerian artists Ruger and Victony.
