The accident occurred in Rukerereza Village, Kanazi Cell, Ruharambuga Sector, at a spot locally known as Shangazi.
Witnesses said the driver failed to negotiate a sharp bend, causing the vehicle to leave the road and overturn, injuring all 16 workers on board.
Traffic Police spokesperson Emmanuel Kayigi said the victims suffered minor injuries.
“Those who were in the truck sustained minor injuries and were taken to Bushenge Hospital for treatment, and most have already been discharged. The accident was caused by poor speed control and improper vehicle handling,” he said.
He urged motorists to remain vigilant, warning that negligence on the road can have serious consequences for lives and property.
The accident which occurred in Nyamasheke on February 18, 2026, left 16 people injured.
Scheduled for February 21, 2026, in Paris, the event will bring together nearly 500 Rwandans, particularly young people born abroad or those who left Rwanda at a very young age in 1994 during the Genocide against the Tutsi, along with representatives of diaspora associations and community leaders from several European countries.
Designed as a space for exchange, sharing, and information, this dialogue will provide an opportunity to better understand Rwanda’s journey in building national unity, addressing the challenges encountered over the years, and presenting the opportunities available to the diaspora to remain connected to their country of origin.
At the heart of this initiative is the desire to create a welcoming environment where everyone can share their life experiences, their attachment to Rwanda, and the ways in which they keep Rwandan culture alive in Europe. Discussions will focus in particular on identity transmission, the importance of family narratives, the role of youth in preserving cultural reference points, and the contribution of associations to community cohesion.
The day’s program will revolve around keynote speeches, expert panels, the sharing of lived testimonies, and plenary discussions.
Beyond the formal exchanges, this gathering is above all intended as a moment of reunion and sociocultural dialogue, where the Rwandan diaspora can strengthen its ties, value its shared identity, and pass on to younger generations the values of solidarity, respect, and resilience that define the community.
Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, interacts with youth on Rwandan history at a past event.
Recognized as a major crossroads for global agriculture, the event brings together professionals, institutions, investors, and visitors from around the world, creating a unique space for dialogue, exchange, and strategic partnerships.
This year again, Rwanda will take part in this major international gathering to showcase its agricultural potential, its expertise, and its ambitions in agro-processing and investment.
Rwanda’s participants will be led by theNational Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), in collaboration with the Embassy of Rwanda in France, alongside fifteen companies and entrepreneurs traveling from Rwanda.
Through this participation, Rwanda will highlight the modernization of its agricultural sector, the quality and diversity of its export products such as coffee, tea, and horticultural products, as well as the growing investment opportunities within its agri-food industry.
The country will also emphasize its commitment to sustainable and resilient agriculture, in line with global challenges related to climate change and food security.
The show continues to serve as a strategic platform for participating countries, offering opportunities to develop commercial partnerships, attract investors, and promote a strong and dynamic national image.
By taking part in this international event from February 21 to March 1, 2026, Rwanda once again affirms its place among the nations contributing to the future of agriculture and strengthening cooperation within the global agricultural community.
Photos from Rwanda’s participation in the previous edition
YouTube experienced the outage earlier on Tuesday, disrupting access for users across multiple countries, including the United States, with hundreds of thousands reporting problems loading videos and using related services.
In a public statement, TeamYouTube acknowledged the outage: “We’re aware some of you are having issues accessing YouTube right now.”
In an update, the team said: “An issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids).”
A couple of hours after the massive disruption, the team said all of its platforms were back to normal.
Social media platforms were flooded with posts from YouTube users across regions reporting simultaneous access failures. Outage tracking website Downdetector showed a sharp surge in complaints worldwide. In the United States alone, more than 320,000 users flagged issues at the peak of the disruption.
The urgent call came at the 9th Africa Business Forum 2026, the continent’s flagship business gathering, which opened Monday at the UN Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, under the theme “Financing the Future of Africa: Jobs, Innovation and Creative Capital.”
The two-day forum, convened annually by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and other partners, is a premier platform for high-level engagement among African heads of state, private sector leaders, and investors.
This year’s forum centered on fostering partnerships and leveraging blended finance to advance Africa’s youth economy.
Addressing the forum, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie emphasized the crucial importance of harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth. Noting that the AU’s 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063, designates the youth as the primary drivers of Africa’s renaissance, he said with over 70 percent of the continent’s population under the age of 30, Africa is yet to exploit its “immense” demographic potential.
“During this decade, 362 million youngsters entered the working age population. However, our current job market can only provide jobs to 161 million people,” Atske Selassie said. “This demographic reality can become Africa’s greatest strength if we succeed in turning our youth into productive capital and our innovation into scalable enterprises.”
Experts and policymakers at the forum stressed that while global capital has become more selective, Africa’s demographic and market fundamentals make it an “irresistible frontier.” They highlighted the need to address the existing gap between available funds and viable projects.
Emphasizing that transformation is already underway in multiple sectors across Africa, with the continent beginning to export value, not just commodities, UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete said that despite these successes, the pace of transformation remains below potential.
“Africa faces a huge infrastructure financing gap and further loses billions annually to illicit financial flows. Even so, the continent holds over 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars of domestic institutional capital in pension funds, insurance pools, and sovereign assets. The paradox, therefore, is not a lack of capital, but the lack of mechanisms that connect capital to bankable projects,” he said.
Gatete proposed four strategic measures for collective action. These include scaling up domestic capital and deploying innovative financing instruments, stronger credit ratings and more credible African capital markets, full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and investing decisively in innovation, skills, and data systems.
This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2026 shows a scene of the 9th Africa Business Forum 2026 at the UN Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The decision on Sunday “could lead to the dispossession of Palestinians of their property and risks expanding Israeli control over land in the area,” said a statement issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Such measures, including Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, “are not only destabilizing but, as recalled by the International Court of Justice, unlawful,” it added.
The UN chief called on the Israeli government to immediately reverse these measures, and again warned that the current trajectory on the ground is eroding the prospect for the two-state solution, the statement said.
Guterres reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.
“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law,” the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the Israeli government’s decision to resume land registration procedures in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
According to SA News, the discovery was made by Dr. Massimo Meregalli from Italy and Dr. Roman Borovec from the Czech Republic.
These respected entomologists recently published their research on flightless weevils found in remote parts of the park. These tiny insects live in the soil, hidden under shrubs, and mostly come out at night, making them very hard to find and study. Therefore, their discovery required meticulous fieldwork in the Richtersveld’s challenging environment.
SA News quoted a statement by South African National Parks (SANParks) as saying, “With the support and guidance of Richtersveld National Park Nursery Curator Pieter van Wyk, the researchers explored the remote Armmanshoek Valley, an area not previously surveyed for soil insects.”
“Their efforts resulted in the identification of multiple new species, further confirming the Richtersveld as a hotspot of endemism and scientific importance,” it said.
To honor the park’s importance for conservation and SANParks’ support for research, the scientists named a newly found group and species “Richtersveldiella sanparkensis.”
This is the first insect species to be officially named after SANParks and Richtersveld National Park. The researchers have also previously honored the local culture by naming other groups, Khoisan and Nama, recognizing the long history of connection between the communities and this unique land.
“These discoveries highlight the importance of continued scientific exploration within protected areas and reinforce SANParks’ commitment to conserving not only iconic wildlife and landscapes, but also the often-overlooked species that form the foundation of healthy ecosystems,” SANParks said.
“The naming of Richtersveldiella sanparkensis stands as a lasting scientific tribute to the Richtersveld and SANParks’ ongoing dedication to biodiversity conservation,” it added.
To honor the park’s importance for conservation and SANParks’ support for research, the scientists named a newly found group and species “Richtersveldiella sanparkensis.”
Over the years, BRALIRWA’s involvement in Tour du Rwanda has evolved beyond sponsorship, becoming an integral part of the race’s identity and fan experience.
For the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 1, the leading beverage company will participate through its premium beer brand Amstel, which has long been a Gold Sponsor of the race for several consecutive years.
Celebrating performance and authenticity
At the heart of BRALIRWA’s Tour du Rwanda engagement is Amstel 100% PURE MALT, a brand whose values of authenticity, craftsmanship, and consistency align naturally with the discipline and endurance of professional cycling.
As part of its sponsorship, Amstel will once again award the daily stage winners, a tradition that has become a defining moment of each racing day, celebrating excellence, resilience, and achievement on Rwanda’s demanding routes.
Beyond the competitive aspect, BRALIRWA continues to elevate the Tour du Rwanda experience for fans by hosting After-Race Experiences at stage finishes. These moments bring spectators together to celebrate the day’s racing, reinforcing Tour du Rwanda as not just a sporting competition, but a shared national celebration.
Bringing fans closer
In line with its commitment to shared moments and friendship, BRALIRWA, through Amstel, will actively participate in the Tour du Rwanda Social Ride, a unique experience allowing cycling enthusiasts to ride selected race routes ahead of the professional peloton.
The Social Rides will take place on February 26 and March 1, 2026, with participants standing a chance to win exciting rewards. Across the two rides, four sports bicycles—two per ride—will be given away, alongside branded goodies and prizes, making the experience both inclusive and rewarding for cycling fans across the country.
BRALIRWA’s presence will further extend to the Tour du Rwanda Festivals, which will be hosted in four locations nationwide, including: Kigali, Huye, Rubavu, and Musanze.
At each festival stop, Amstel will add to the excitement by giving away one sports bicycle per festival, reinforcing its support for grassroots cycling enthusiasm while celebrating the diverse communities that make Tour du Rwanda a truly national event.
Responsible celebration at the core
As a leading beverage company, BRALIRWA has stated that all Amstel activities during the upcoming Tour du Rwanda 2026 will follow regulatory requirements and responsible drinking guidelines.
Alcoholic beverages will not be sold to persons under 18 or to pregnant women. The company also emphasizes the messages “Drink Responsibly” and “Don’t Drink and Drive,” highlighting its commitment to public safety and responsible consumption.
BRALIRWA’s partnership with Tour du Rwanda continues to blend world-class cycling, fan engagement, and responsible brand leadership, cementing Tour du Rwanda as a celebration that extends far beyond the race itself.
As part of its sponsorship, Amstel will once again award the daily stage winners. BRALIRWA, through Amstel, will actively participate in the Tour du Rwanda Social Ride, a unique experience allowing cycling enthusiasts to ride selected race routes ahead of the professional peloton.
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at escalating violence in the states of Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and throughout the country, emphasizing that under international law, individuals who order the commission of war crimes may be held accountable.
They expressed their full support for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and stressed that continued constructive cooperation between the host government and UNMISS is essential to sustaining peace and stability, facilitating safe and timely humanitarian access and ensuring the protection of civilians.
While reaffirming their commitment to supporting South Sudan’s peace process and working in partnership with the transitional government to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, the members of the council called on South Sudanese leaders to engage in genuine inter-party dialogue about potential changes to the 2018 peace agreement, through an inclusive and transparent process.
They also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of South Sudan.
The vehicle was handed over to the Rwanda National Police at its headquarters in Kigali on February 13, 2026. The ceremony was attended by the leadership of Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPC Ltd), senior RNP officials, and other distinguished guests.
The donated unit is a MAN Model TGS 31.400 firefighting truck equipped with modern firefighting systems, capable of responding to incidents in standard environments as well as high-rise buildings. It is valued at €759,100 (over Rwf 1.3 billion).
Eric Mpayimana, head of RPC Ltd, said the donation reflects the company’s commitment to supporting communities beyond its core mandate of electricity generation.
“We chose to donate fire trucks to the countries where our power plant supplies electricity, including Burundi and Tanzania, and now Rwanda. This is part of our commitment to providing assistance in case of fire outbreaks so that they can effectively combat fires,” Mpayimana explained.
He added that this donation complements other projects that RPC Ltd is involved in, including building markets, youth centers, and hospitals, which contribute to connecting the people of these three countries.
ACP Boniface Rutikanga, the spokesperson for RNP, emphasized that the truck is a significant contribution to ensuring the safety of people and property, as the existing firefighting vehicles were insufficient.
“This donation increases our capabilities, as we aim to have such vehicles in more locations. The reason for this is the growth of infrastructure, urban expansion, and the increasing need for emergency services. We anticipate more trucks like this as we continue to improve our resources,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He also noted that the donation shows RPC’s awareness of the potential dangers associated with electricity when used improperly.
“RPC provides electricity to homes, but when used incorrectly, it can result in fires. Receiving this firefighting truck means they are also considering the safety of those who will use this electricity in case of accidents,” ACP Rutikanga added.
Rangira Bruno, the Mayor of Kirehe District, where the power plant is located, highlighted that the donation of the fire truck is another important step in RPC Ltd’s ongoing partnership with the government to support the welfare of the community.
