Protests have expanded beyond economic grievances to include wider criticism of Iran’s clerical leadership, according to human rights monitors. Organisations such as the Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that the death toll includes at least four minors, and that more than 1,000 people have been arrested. Another rights network, HRANA, put the total at 29 deaths and 1,203 arrests.
Iranian officials have acknowledged the deaths of at least two members of security forces, but have not confirmed figures for protesters and dispute rights group tallies. Authorities have characterised many demonstrators as “rioters” and blamed foreign influence, while also promising dialogue to address economic concerns.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged economic reforms, including a new subsidy system and changes in central bank leadership, aimed at stabilising the currency and protecting citizens’ purchasing power. Despite these measures, the currency continued to fall, worsening public frustration.
Protests have taken place in 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces, and many demonstrators have broadened their demands to include political reforms, with chants against the country’s clerical rulers. Meanwhile, authorities have vowed to take a firm approach against those they label as instigators and extremists.
Agriculture remains a key sector of Rwanda’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of about 69% of the population. Key markets, including Nyabugogo, Musanze (GOICO), Rusizi and Huye, are supplied mainly by local producers.
In a report released on December 31, 2025, NISR provided an overview of agricultural performance during the year, showing that bean production fell slightly across most seasons. In Season A of 2025, bean output stood at 230,400 tonnes, representing a 1.2% decline compared to the same season in 2024. Season B production reached 240,700 tonnes, down by 0.6% year on year.
However, bean production improved during the Season C (summer farming) period, where output reached 3,178 tonnes, a 4% increase compared to the previous year.
In contrast, potato farmers recorded strong harvests across all three seasons. Potato production reached 475,700 tonnes in Season A, 314,000 tonnes in Season B, and 94,800 tonnes in Season C. Overall, potato output rose by 17% compared to 2024.
Sweet potato production declined during the year. In Season A, output totalled 656,000 tonnes, while Season B recorded 652,000 tonnes. Season C production stood at 41,200 tonnes.
Maize production also dropped in 2025. Season A output reached 481,200 tonnes, a 5.3% decrease compared to the same season in 2024, while Season B production stood at 117,000 tonnes, down by 1.2%.
Banana production showed modest growth, increasing by 1.3% overall. In Season A, production reached 1.2 million tonnes, while Season B recorded 1.1 million tonnes. Rice production also rose slightly, reaching 69,600 tonnes in Season A and 72,900 tonnes in Season B, representing increases of 0.8% and 0.2%, respectively.
Market prices reflect mixed supply conditions. Beans are currently selling at between Rwf 800 and Rwf 1,500 per kilogram in Nyabugogo, depending on the variety. Bananas are priced at around Rwf 600 per kilogram, while potatoes are selling at approximately Rwf 700 per kilogram.
{{Bugesera: From drought-prone to high-yield district
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Once known for frequent droughts, Bugesera District has emerged as one of Rwanda’s more productive agricultural areas.
According to the NISR report, Bugesera, alongside Gisagara and Rusizi districts, recorded the highest production of beans, rice and cassava in 2025.
Bugesera Mayor Mutabazi Richard told IGIHE late in 2024 that expanded tree-planting initiatives had contributed to improved rainfall patterns in the district.
“Efforts to increase tree planting have improved the local climate, leading to more rainfall,” he said.
Niyodushima Dieudonnée, head of Exodus Farm Ltd, which operates in Bugesera, noted that fully utilising the district’s nine lakes for irrigation could transform the area into a major food supplier.
“Bugesera’s land is fertile but does not produce throughout the year. When rainfall is sufficient, production is high, but dry periods limit output. With proper irrigation from the nine lakes, the district could supply the country with crops such as beans and maize,” he said.
Currently, irrigation schemes in Rwanda cover more than 75,000 hectares, with the government targeting 130,000 hectares by 2029.
Meanwhile, a market price report released in December 2025 shows that prices in November 2025 rose by 7.2% compared to November 2024. The increase was driven mainly by higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which rose by 1.4%.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco recorded a 16.2% increase, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 7.7%. Medical expenses surged by 70.9%, transport costs increased by 9.3%, and food and accommodation prices rose by 19.4%.
Speaking at an engagement ceremony in Uasin Gishu County on Saturday, January 3, the Head of State said the government is drafting a law that would make drug-related offences a capital crime, punishable by hanging. He emphasised that the legislation is a response to the failure of current penalties, which have not deterred traffickers and have left communities and families vulnerable to the devastating impact of drugs.
“For all these people who are involved in the illicit alcohol trade, we are going to change the law. In the past, we had a law with a clause that if you were caught selling substances, including hard drugs such as heroin, the only penalty was a fine of Ksh1 million (approximately 11 million Rwandan francs). Now we are changing that so that you can be hanged,” Ruto said.
He added that the law will also empower authorities to confiscate assets obtained through illicit drug and alcohol trade, including vehicles and property.
The President called on Members of Parliament to support the new legislation, noting that over five million Kenyans are affected by drug and alcohol abuse, which he described as a national crisis that threatens the country’s social and economic development.
The announcement follows Ruto’s plans to strengthen the government’s law enforcement response. In his New Year’s address at Eldoret State Lodge on December 31, the President outlined plans to establish a robust Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The unit, he said, will be trained to operate at the level of Kenya’s elite Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, with capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, forensics, and financial investigations.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen supported the move, noting that countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and China impose the death penalty for serious drug offences.
“We cannot achieve first-world status while the most productive generation is being wiped out by drugs and alcohol,” he said, highlighting the ineffectiveness of current fines in curbing trafficking.
Murkomen added that the government’s crackdown will target major drug barons and operators of illicit alcohol, with special attention to young people from well-off families who are increasingly becoming addicted.
Currently, one in every six Kenyans aged 15 to 65 uses at least one substance, with alcohol being the most prevalent, affecting over 3.2 million people.
Voter turnout was approximately 52.43% in the December 28, 2025, elections, which included presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal votes. The final results will be confirmed by the Constitutional Court in mid-January.
Analysts credit Touadéra’s victory to his efforts to restore peace and security in a country long plagued by armed groups and civil conflict. These efforts were bolstered by support from Rwandan and Russian forces, which helped the government regain control over much of the territory.
Following the pacification of key armed factions, Touadéra’s administration negotiated peace agreements aimed at ending hostilities and promoting collaboration on national development projects.
During his campaign, Touadéra highlighted that while his nine years in office had brought significant progress, challenges remained that he aimed to address in a third term. The election outcome suggests that a majority of citizens continue to place their confidence in his leadership.
Touadéra has been in power since March 2016. He was permitted to run for a third term following a constitutional amendment in 2023, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in November 2025.
“I am innocent. I am not guilty,” Maduro told the court, according to journalists present at the hearing. He told the court he had been “kidnapped” from his residence in Caracas and insisted that, despite being in US custody, he was still the president of Venezuela.
Maduro appeared alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who also rejected all charges levelled against her by US prosecutors, saying she was completely innocent.
The court set March 17 as the date for the next hearing in the case.
The courtroom proceedings were tense and closely watched, coming just days after Maduro and Flores were seized in a dramatic US military operation. According to US officials, special forces extracted the pair from their residence within the heavily guarded Fort Tiuna military complex in the Venezuelan capital early on Saturday before flying them to New York.
During Monday’s hearing, a brief but heated exchange broke out between Maduro and a member of the public in the courtroom. At one point, Maduro described himself as a “prisoner of war”.
Earlier in the day, images circulated showing Maduro and Flores being transferred to the courthouse in handcuffs, surrounded by heavily armed officers. The scenes fuelled strong reactions both inside Venezuela and internationally.
In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, a move that Venezuelan authorities said was aimed at ensuring continuity of government. During the ceremony, Rodríguez praised Maduro and Flores as “heroes,” accusing the United States of carrying out an illegal act against a sovereign nation.
Outside the New York courthouse, protesters gathered to denounce the US action. Demonstrators waved banners reading “Free Maduro,” “No War on Venezuela,” and “USA hands off Venezuela,” while chanting slogans against what they described as foreign intervention.
The US operation has triggered widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns across the international community, with critics warning that it represents a dangerous escalation in Washington’s long-running campaign against Maduro.
US officials have said the operation was planned for months and carried out without prior congressional authorisation. The Trump administration has defended the move as part of broader efforts to combat alleged drug trafficking networks linked to the Venezuelan leadership.
In a public notice released on January 5, 2026, RDB said the decision is aimed at reinforcing Rwanda’s position as a leading destination for domestic and regional tourism. RDB, however, clarified that the promotional rates will not apply during the peak tourism period from June to October 2026.
Under the extended promotion, Rwandan citizens and East African Community (EAC) nationals are required to pay $200 (over Rwf290,000) for a gorilla trekking permit. Eligible visitors must present a national identity card, a valid passport, and a birth certificate to benefit from the discounted rate.
Africans and African residents from outside the EAC will pay $500 for a permit during the promotional period. To qualify, visitors in this category must present a valid passport, a resident identity card or diplomatic card, and a valid visa covering at least four consecutive months.
Outside the promotional window, the standard gorilla trekking fee is $1,500.
Volcanoes National Park remains one of Rwanda’s most significant tourism assets. In 2024, the tourism sector generated $647 million in revenue, driven largely by a 27 percent increase in earnings from gorilla-based tourism.
The updated legislation imposes harsher penalties for violations, emphasizes modern technology for enforcement and management, and aims to boost transparency, accountability, and road safety while cutting accidents and fatalities.
The previous framework, Law No. 34/1987 dated September 17, 1987, has been superseded. The new law was approved on January 5, 2026, at 9:30 p.m., with 77 parliamentarians in the plenary session voting in favor after a full day of article-by-article review.
Lawmakers highlighted that the reforms align with national development, introducing tougher sanctions to deter intentional breaches and encourage responsible driving.
Under Article 37, driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit of 0.80 g/L is an offense. For drivers of public transport vehicles, those carrying students, employees, or tourists, heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, or income-generating vehicles, conviction carries a fine of Rwf 100,000 to 400,000 and 3–6 months in prison.
For other drivers, penalties include a fine of Rwf 150,000 to 300,000 and up to 10 days in prison, or one of these alone. If the blood alcohol level is at least double the limit, penalties rise to a fine of Rwf 200,000 to 500,000 and 3–6 months in prison, or one of these. Repeat offenders within one year face the maximum penalty, which may be doubled.
Refusing a blood alcohol test is also an offense. For higher-risk category drivers, it brings a fine of Rwf 300,000 to 600,000 and 3–6 months in prison. For others, a fine of Rwf 400,000 to 600,000 and up to 10 days in prison, or one of these.
The prospect of jail terms sparked discussion in parliament. Deputy Christine Mukabunani argued against imprisonment where possible, proposing longer driving suspensions and steeper fines instead, believing higher financial consequences would be more effective.
Deputy Pie Nizeyimana raised concerns about potential psychological impacts.
In response, Ambassador Hope Gasatura Tumukunde, Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, defended the tough measures as necessary to shift attitudes toward road safety.
She stressed that the penalties were weighed against the gravity of offenses, their threat to lives, and the need for strong deterrence, addressing an urgent issue requiring shared responsibility.
Article 39 states that refusing to stop when signaled by a police officer or authorized official is an offense, punishable upon conviction by a fine of Rwf 400,000 to 700,000 and 3–6 months in prison. Driving without a valid license carries 15–30 days in prison and a fine of Rwf 100,000 to 200,000, or one of these.
For serious safety-threatening offenses, police must prepare case files and forward them to the National Public Prosecution Authority within legal deadlines. A forthcoming ministerial order will define administrative offenses, fines, and demerit points.
Those issued administrative fines must pay within 30 days of notification. Late payment incurs a 30% surcharge, due within another 30 days.
Non-compliance leads to vehicle impoundment. However, alleged offenders or vehicle owners can appeal in writing or other means; if no reply comes within three days, the offense is canceled.
Photos from U.S. media show Maduro landed in Manhattan by a helicopter from a Brooklyn detention center and was placed in an armored car, accompanied by heavily armed law enforcement officers.
Protesters gathering outside the court were shouting slogans and holding banners writing “Free Maduro” and “USA hands off Venezuela.”
U.S. troops carried out a raid on Saturday to kidnap Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them out of Venezuela, then put them in custody in New York.
“Congratulations to my brother, President Mamadi Doumbouya, on his election as President of the Republic of Guinea. We look forward to deepening our strong bilateral relations and working closely together to advance our shared priorities and the prosperity of our nations,” President Kagame said in a post on X.
Doumbouya’s win was confirmed by Guinea’s Supreme Court on Sunday, formalising his transition from junta leader to democratically elected president. The court validated the provisional results announced earlier, crediting Doumbouya, 41, with 86.72% of the vote.
The runner-up, Abdoulaye Yero Baldé, received 6.59% of the votes. The court noted that Baldé, who had initially challenged the election results with the Supreme Court, had since voluntarily withdrawn his complaint.
The election marks Guinea’s first presidential vote since Doumbouya led a coup in September 2021, which ousted Alpha Condé. The vote was held under a new constitution that removed the ban on military leaders running for office and extended the presidential term from five to seven years.
Rwanda and Guinea enjoy cordial relations, reinforced through exchanges of visits and cooperation across multiple sectors. President Kagame last visited Conakry in November 2024, joining President Doumbouya for the launch of the Simandou Iron Ore Project, considered the largest ongoing mining project in the world.
The Simandou deposit is estimated to contain approximately 3 to 4 billion tonnes of high-grade recoverable iron ore and is expected to reach full production capacity by 2030, with an annual output of around 120 million tonnes.
Bilateral cooperation has also been strengthened through agreements signed on October 9, 2024, in Kigali during a session of the Joint Cooperation Commission. According to announcements from both countries’ foreign ministries, the 12 agreements cover areas such as public administration modernisation, export promotion, tourism development, special economic zones, migration data management, defence and security, justice, economy, and trade.
“The partnership between our two countries is based on complementary and a win-win approach,” said Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. He noted that Rwanda can benefit from Guinea’s expertise in mining, while Guinea can learn from Rwanda’s experience in public service innovation and digitisation.
Although relatively new, the bilateral relationship has strengthened since Rwanda opened its embassy in Conakry in January 2024. President Doumbouya has expressed interest in adopting Rwanda’s development model, and the two leaders have met frequently to explore cooperation opportunities.
In addition to the agreements, both countries have established a follow-up mechanism to ensure proper implementation of recommendations from the first session of the Joint Cooperation Commission.
Valais Canton police said the 40 victims, aged between 14 and 39, included 21 Swiss nationals, seven French nationals, five Italian nationals, one Belgian national, one Portuguese national, one Romanian national, one Turkish national, one dual Swiss-French national, one victim holding French, Israeli and British nationalities, and one dual Italian-United Arab Emirates national. Many of them were minors.
According to the police, a criminal investigation has been opened against the two managers of the “Le Constellation” bar on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury and negligent arson.
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin told Swiss media on Sunday that Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning on Friday.
