Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi recently told the national broadcaster, RBA, that he and other African trade ministers met last week and agreed on a common strategy to address the impact of the U.S. trade policies.
“We agreed on four key actions that will help us tackle the consequences of this ongoing trade war. First, we need to unite and establish a solid, unified African trade policy. Second, we must accelerate intra-African trade.”
Sebahizi added that the remaining two points of consensus among African trade ministers were the need to seek alternative markets for African products, especially in other developing countries, and to increase the value-added processing of Africa’s mineral resources before export.
This would help ensure that African nations benefit more substantially from their natural resources. The Minister further noted that although Rwanda is among the countries listed in the U.S. tariff hikes, it has not suffered immediate negative consequences due to the relatively lower rates applied.
“Rwanda is not among the countries heavily affected by the U.S. decision, because it was subjected to a 10% customs duty, among the lowest compared to other nations that seem to have been deliberately targeted by the United States,” he stated.
Early this month, President Donald Trump announced a series of increased tariffs on goods from several countries around the world.
In Africa, countries such as Botswana, Angola, Libya, South Africa, and Algeria saw tariffs ranging from 30% to 37% on their exports to the U.S. Rwanda and Burundi faced a 10% tariff, and Lesotho was hit with the highest in Africa at 50%.
Outside of Africa, the European Union faced a 20% tariff on exports to the U.S., while China was subjected to the highest rate globally, a staggering 54%.
Bishop Samuel Kayinamura, first Vice president of RIC and Head of the Free Methodist Church in Rwanda, noted that one of the major challenges facing religious institutions today is the continued spread of misleading teachings and false prophecies.
He addressed the issue in response to questions from Members of Parliament regarding measures to prevent preachers from exploiting false doctrines and prophecies.
Gloriose Sibobugingo, a Member of Parliament, urged religious leaders to act against those who use prophecy as a commercial tool, misleading the public.
Lydia Mushimiyimana, another MP pointed out that many of those spreading false doctrines often promote views that contradict government policies and national principles, thereby confusing the population.
“Often, these individuals oppose the nation’s direction. For instance, someone might say, ‘Commemorating the Genocide is reviving the dead; God sent me to tell you that commemorating is forbidden.’ Shouldn’t such individuals be held accountable by the church or the law? Because people seem to fear churches more than legal institutions,” she stated.
Bishop Kayinamura confirmed that the spread of false teachings and failed prophecies started within prayer groups.
“Indeed, these deceptive teachings and false prophecies exist. They began in prayer rooms, and religious leaders took a firm stance against them. When sanctions were enforced, some individuals left the churches entirely, claiming to ‘go into the wilderness’ after being disciplined by church authorities,” he said.
He explained that after leaving church oversight, many of these individuals turned to social media, where religious institutions no longer have authority over them.
“Now, they’ve migrated to social media. It’s difficult for us as religious institutions to regulate them. We ask, can’t there be another way to track and prosecute those who misuse these platforms? When someone posts shocking content, shouldn’t they face legal consequences?” he questioned.
He emphasized that religious institutions do not support the spread of such teachings by people falsely claiming to be God’s messengers. “We do not support this at all. We denounce it and will continue to do so publicly.”
Kayinamura added that collaboration with state institutions is essential in combating these actions, as some individuals may also be engaging in criminal activities.
“God does not speak deception. Because we no longer have jurisdiction over these individuals once they leave our congregations, and since the state has power we don’t, cooperation is necessary. Where we identify these individuals, we will report them so we can collectively fight this scourge.”
Rev. Julie Kandema, Deputy Leader of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, stated that one of RIC’s resolutions was for churches to dissociate from such preachers while also playing an active role in opposing them.
On his part, Rwanda’s Mufti Sheikh Mussa Sindayigaya highlighted the need for stronger efforts to educate the youth in order to combat both false teachings and the lingering effects of genocide ideology that persist among young people.
The launch is being hailed as a pivotal moment for the continent’s collective ambitions in space, offering renewed hope for African youth and aspiring space professionals.
The event marked the culmination of nearly a decade of strategic groundwork that began in January 2016, when the African Union Assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy during its Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session, establishing the framework for a coordinated continental approach to space activities.
The ceremony, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt, brought together high-level delegations from African Union Member States, global space agencies, and international stakeholders.
The event underscored a growing commitment to collaborative space exploration and self-reliance in space capabilities across the continent.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AfSA and the European Space Agency (ESA), laying the foundation for future collaboration in Earth observation, satellite development, data sharing, and capacity building.
The agreement is expected to accelerate Africa’s integration into the global space community and strengthen technical exchange and innovation.
Established under the auspices of the African Union Commission, the Africa Space Agency is tasked with coordinating space activities across the continent, supporting member states in leveraging space applications for sustainable development, and promoting homegrown technologies. Its mandate aligns with Africa’s broader goals to address challenges in climate monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, and connectivity through space-based solutions.
The inauguration also sets the stage for the upcoming New Space Africa Conference (April 21–24, 2025), where space experts, investors, and policymakers will gather in Cairo to shape the future of the African space industry.
Rwanda’s Space Agency CEO Gaspard Twagirayezu, who attended the launch, acknowledged the importance of the milestone.
“The establishment of the African Space Agency provides a continental drive in the development and utilization of space technology,” he remarked.
The CEO also emphasised Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to the continental agenda: “Rwanda, through the Rwanda Space Agency, looks forward to playing a part in the success of the continental efforts that the African Space Agency will be spearheading.”
As Africa charts its course into space, Rwanda is already making strategic strides. The Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), established in 2020, has been actively engaging in both regional and international partnerships to advance the use of space technologies for development.
From its pioneering Earth observation satellite, RwaSat-1—launched in 2019 and still providing vital data for precision agriculture—to its ongoing collaboration with TRL Space to build Rwanda’s first hyperspectral satellite, the country is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s space ambitions.
The hyperspectral satellite, currently under development and slated for launch in 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will provide high-resolution data for agricultural monitoring, environmental protection, and resource management.
Beyond satellite development, RSA has also signed agreements with global partners such as the Polish Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and UNOSAT, and is investing in national awareness campaigns and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) engagement initiatives to cultivate a future-ready space workforce.
For African youth with aspirations beyond the atmosphere, the launch of AfSA stands as a powerful symbol; it signals a continental commitment to shaping the future not just on Earth, but in orbit.
Speaking on the Long Form podcast hosted by Sanny Ntayombya, Murenzi defended the recent findings from the 7th Integrated Household and Living Conditions Survey (EICV7), highlighting a remarkable 12.4% reduction in poverty, while also rubbishing past accusations of data manipulation against Rwanda.
The EICV7 survey, released on Wednesday, April 16, revealed that Rwanda’s poverty rate dropped from 39.8% in 2017 to 27.4% in 2024, lifting approximately 1.5 million people out of poverty over seven years.
“That’s equivalent to 1.5 million people coming out of poverty within a period of seven years,” Murenzi said, describing the reduction as a “surprise” given the stagnation in poverty levels between 2014 and 2017, when the rate only fell from 39.1% to 38.2%.
He attributed the progress to cumulative government efforts and methodological updates, including capturing food consumed outside homes, such as through school feeding programs, and adjusting the calorie threshold for extreme poverty from 2,500 to 2,400 calories per day.
Murenzi strongly defended NISR’s data integrity, addressing a 2019 Financial Times article that accused Rwanda of misrepresenting poverty statistics.
“We don’t give weight to such criticism because of who they are,” he stated, arguing that critics like the Financial Times lack the statistical expertise of authoritative institutions like the World Bank, Iinternatinal Monetary Fund (IMF), and United Nations (UN) Statistics Division, all of which validate NISR’s methodologies.
He stressed Rwanda’s adherence to international standards, noting, “What we do across various statistics… are things done following international standards practices.”
Murenzi also refuted claims of World Bank dissent, highlighting ongoing collaboration, with a senior World Bank economist present at the EICV7 launch to endorse the findings.
The NISR chief underscored the institute’s independence, denying any political pressure to manipulate data.
“There’s no pressure for me because I’m not the one implementing,” he said, explaining that NISR’s role is to measure, not implement, policies.
He pointed to NISR’s transparency in reporting unfavourable trends, such as unemployment rising to 21% during COVID, negative GDP growth, and inflation peaking at 20% in 2022.
Murenzi also cited NISR’s rigorous approach to evaluating local government performance (Imihigo), using evidence-based checks like household sampling and site visits to counter inflated claims.
Beyond poverty, the EICV7 highlighted Rwanda’s inequality challenges, with a national Gini coefficient of 0.37 indicating moderate inequality, while Kigali’s 0.44 reflects a higher wealth gap.
“In Kigali… you have a concentration of those in the country who are well off,” Murenzi explained, noting that provinces show lower inequality (0.27–0.3) due to smaller disparities.
He clarified that this does not mean provinces are uniformly poor, but rather that wealth gaps are less pronounced outside the capital.
Murenzi also addressed Rwanda’s Vision 2035 goal of achieving upper-middle-income status, requiring a GDP per capita of approximately $4,000 by 2035. Acknowledging the ambition, he noted that it demands annual growth of around 12%, far exceeding recent trends.
“There’s no ambiguity that this ambition requires another change in the way things are done,” he said, citing government-wide efforts to enhance efficiency and evidence-based policymaking.
He envisioned an expanded role for NISR, with analysts working directly with ministries like Agriculture to optimise interventions.
“We are saying our role is going to include sending our analysts to work with ministries… to say in your interventions how is evidence,” he added.
On poverty metrics, Murenzi clarified why Rwanda’s poverty line (~560,000 RWF/year, or ~$400 at 1,400 RWF/USD) differs from the World Bank’s $2.15/day global benchmark.
“Every country has its poverty line because it is reflecting the context the cost of living,” he said, noting that Rwanda’s line accounts for local costs, unlike the World Bank’s standardized measure for cross-country comparisons.
The extreme poverty threshold, set at 2,400 calories per day, aligns with World Food Programme standards, reflecting Rwanda’s evolving economic activities from subsistence farming to mixed sectors.
Murenzi emphasised data accessibility, confirming that the EICV7 report and anonymised raw data are available on NISR’s website.
“The report is already on our website. We are already tweeting it and sharing a link,” he said, adding that the data’s transparency allows independent verification.
Cardinal Ambongo made these remarks in a powerful Easter message. While acknowledging external pressures, he stressed that internal failures, driven by Congolese irresponsibility, are the root of the nation’s troubles, and called for unity to heal a fractured country.
“The primary cause of our misfortune, lack of peace in our country, is not the people from outside, it is not the foreigners, it is not Rwanda, it is us, the Congolese,” he stated.
Cardinal Ambongo further emphasized this internal failure, stating, “Our irresponsibility has made it so that we pose actions today that do not allow the blossoming of peace in our country.”
These statements challenge the Congolese government’s narrative that Rwanda allegedly fuels eastern DRC conflicts through M23 rebel support, pointing instead to the Congolese elite’s disunity and greed as the true drivers of the nation’s misfortune.
Ambongo criticized leaders for pursuing power and wealth while eastern regions suffer occupation. This selfish behavior, he argued, fosters despair, driving some Congolese to join rebellions due to frustration with exclusion.
He called for a unified effort to rebuild national cohesion and tackle both internal divisions and external threats.
Cardinal Ambongo also highlighted global corporations exploiting the DRC’s vast minerals, forests, and waters, which deepens the country’s vulnerability.
Internally, Ambongo flagged systemic issues fueling unrest. A corrupt justice system permits land and property theft, stirring public resentment. In Kinshasa, foreign traders dominate commerce, leaving Congolese feeling marginalized in their own homeland. Cardinal Ambongo warned that these grievances could ignite further chaos if ignored.
The High Commission, located in Islamabad, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, was inaugurated on April 22, 2025, during an official ceremony led by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, as part of his three-day visit to Pakistan.
The event brought together senior government officials, diplomats, media representatives, and private sector leaders.
Initially opened in 2024, the diplomatic mission is part of Rwanda’s expanding global network, which now includes 49 diplomatic missions across five continents.
The new High Commission is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing political cooperation, trade, and investment between the two nations.
Speaking at an earlier joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.
He also emphasized Rwanda’s openness to Pakistani investment and encouraged the business community in Pakistan to explore opportunities in Rwanda.
The visit is part of a series of high-level exchanges between both countries. Minister Nduhungirehe, affirmed Rwanda’s commitment to maintaining this momentum and expressed optimism about increasing trade volumes, which currently stand at around US$26 million.
On his part, Dar emphasized Pakistan’s readiness to collaborate with Rwanda in developing digital ecosystems, highlighting opportunities for joint ventures and knowledge exchange.
This inauguration follows Pakistan’s earlier decision to open its own High Commission in Kigali in 2021, further solidifying diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Fatou Harerimana, formally presented her credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on July 15, 2024.
Trade between the two countries continues to grow, with Pakistan ranking among the top importers of Rwandan tea, coffee, avocados, and other agricultural products.
Conversely, Rwanda imports medical supplies, rice, textiles, agricultural machinery, and industrial equipment from Pakistan.
Authorities have two priorities; to protect the integrity of those attending the meeting, and to ensure that it proceeds in strict secrecy (under penalty of excommunication and imprisonment) until the final decision is made.
By 2025, the Gendarmerie corps guarding Vatican City faces unprecedented technological challenges compared to other conclaves.
Among them are artificial intelligence systems, drones, military satellites, microscopic microphones, a misinformation epidemic, and a world permanently connected and informed through social media.
The conclave is scheduled to take place approximately 20 days after the pope’s death. The Vatican and the Holy See are preparing for the arrival of the cardinals who will vote for the next leader of the Catholic faith.
Emergency and control bodies are also working on it with state-of-the-art technology. So far, they have not shared details about their security arrangements, but they are not inexperienced in the task of safeguarding the integrity of high-profile figures in the face of today’s technological risks.
In fact, the election in 2013 of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the real name of Pope Francis, as supreme pontiff gives some indications of the rigorous security strategies that will be presented in the next conclave.
The Vatican has internet access, but within the areas where the cardinals will reside and vote for the new pope, there will be signal jammers. The technology prevents two devices from communicating with each other through radio frequency interference. The headquarters becomes an electronic bunker.
Thus, if someone were to manage to introduce a microphone, telephone, or computer, they would be unable to transmit information.
However, the possibility of administrative staff or the cardinals themselves introducing technology is remote. Authorities inspect the building for days in search of unauthorized microphones or cameras, check every permitted attendee, and double-check participants.
{{Privacy film in the windows}}
Contemporary satellites are capable of taking pictures of people’s faces from space, while AI can interpret lip movements. However, since there’s currently no technology to see through walls with such high resolution, the best strategy against espionage in the conclave is to close doors and windows.
During meetings and in the sleeping quarters, voters are not allowed to look outside. In addition, before the cardinals arrive, Vatican staff place opaque film over windows so that no journalist, satellite, or drone can take pictures of the interior.
{{Locked-down Vatican}}
The Vatican covers only 0.44 square kilometer in area. It is the smallest nation in the world. Until 2018, it had 650 cameras monitoring its streets from an underground command center.
In addition, the Vatican City Gendarmerie, which functions as a conventional police force, and the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which acts as an army, are located within the territory.
While in photographs they appear to be wearing antique costumes and carrying halberds, the latter group has highly trained personnel with heavy weapons, such as machine guns, rifles, and explosives.
An estimated 200,000 people are expected to be present in the small city-state once the conclave has determined the name of Pope Francis’ successor.
The event took place on April 22, 2025, beginning with a historical briefing on the roots of the Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed over a million lives simply because of their identity.
Following the briefing, the GTBank Rwanda team laid wreaths at the mass graves where more than 250,000 victims are buried, paying tribute to those whose dignity and lives were brutally taken.
Alphonse Munyentwali, Country Director of Aegis Trust Rwanda, highlighted that remembering the Genocide is an ongoing journey. He emphasized that since the majority of today’s Rwandans are youth, it’s essential for them to understand this history thoroughly to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
He also explained that despite Rwanda’s independence, colonial powers continued to influence its governance, which fostered the divisions that eventually led to genocide.
“We suffered greatly, but we are also fortunate because the Genocide against the Tutsi was not stopped by foreigners. Rwandan heroes stopped it. We stopped it ourselves, and we have the strength to prevent it from happening again. That is a great privilege, and it was largely done by the youth. Today, others look up to us,” Munyentwali said.
Sandrine Isheja, an employee at GTBank Rwanda’s Gisozi branch, shared her personal story, recounting how she was a child during the 1994 Genocide but still vividly remembers the difficult path she took to survive. Many of her relatives and fellow refugees now rest at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
She expressed deep gratitude to the Rwandan Patriotic Army for saving lives, including her own, and for restoring hope in life.
GTBank Rwanda’s Managing Director, Emmanuel Ejizu, spoke about how ethnic divisions introduced by Western colonialists were for their own benefit. He emphasized that unity is now the most powerful tool in countering such divisions and continuing the country’s journey of rebuilding.
“We must not be overwhelmed by sorrow. We need to hold onto hope and strive for a Rwanda that is united,” he said. “This commitment to unity should not only be during commemoration periods—it must be constant, even for Rwandans in the diaspora. Do not tolerate division or those who spread hate or seek to turn people against each other.”
Ejizu concluded by noting that the Genocide against the Tutsi was a deliberately orchestrated campaign, built on years of cultivated hatred. Therefore, if today people come together with good intentions, the meaning behind the phrase ‘Never Again’ can be fully realized.
The RNP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, said that as Police officers, donating blood is at the same time in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RNP and RBC and part of the force’s human security programme to promote the health of people it serves.
He said : “Donating blood by Police officers is part of the existing memorandum between RNP and RBC to contribute to the National blood bank. It is a periodic and voluntary action which also falls within the force’s initiative to support the human security programme in separate aspects of security and development including health because people cannot feel safe when they are not healthy.”
Dr. Andre Munyemana, from the RBC Blood Transfusion Division, in charge of donor selection, expressed gratitude to the Rwanda National Police for the ongoing partnership in the promotion of blood donation campaign.
He emphasized on the importance of the life-saving commitment exhibited by Police officers who donated blood.
“Donating blood is saving life of someone in need of blood. A person in need of blood has no other alternative. If he is not helped on time, he may lose life,” he added.
Dr. Munyemana urged the public to take blood donation as everyone’s responsibility and a reciprocal action because anyone or one of his/her relatives may also need it.
The initiative centres on the nationwide rollout of e-Ubuzima, a digital health platform that enables both doctors and patients to access medical records online. Already in use in 15 districts, e-Ubuzima is set to become the backbone of Rwanda’s health data management.
“We’ve set a target: by December this year, all health facilities in Rwanda should be fully digital and paperless,” said Muhammed Semakula, Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Health Financing at the Ministry of Health, in an interview with {The New Times}.
While the system is ready for full deployment, Semakula acknowledged that logistical hurdles remain.
“You need computers at every health facility. One facility needs a minimum of 25 computers to be fully digitalised,” he said, noting that larger hospitals may require even more due to multiple departments.
In addition to hardware, the ministry is focused on equipping healthcare workers with the skills needed to operate digital tools.
“We’re noticing that many from the older generation have lower computer literacy… This is why consistent training is needed,” Semakula explained.
Each health facility requires approximately two weeks of intensive work to fully transition to the digital system, which also relies heavily on stable internet access.
“We also need to ensure every facility has reliable internet,” he added.
Efforts are also underway to digitise community-level health services by mid-year. By June, the ministry aims to equip community health workers with internet-enabled smartphones to streamline data collection and service delivery.
The digitisation initiative is expected to improve efficiency, data accuracy, and continuity of care across the country’s health sector.
Earlier this month, Rwanda made another major leap in technology by rolling out a[ state-of-the-art Health Intelligence Center->https://en.igihe.com/health/article/rwanda-rolls-out-health-intelligence-hub-for-real-time-service-monitoring?var_mode=calcul] to enhance real-time monitoring of healthcare services, decision-making, and policy development.
The hub was launched on the sidelines of the Global AI Summit on Africa on April 3, 2025, by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, and the Minister of State, Dr. Yvan Butera. They were joined by fellow African health ministers and development partners.
