According to the ministry, SNAF positions came under attack at 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) by armed elements using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.
The ministry said the attacking force comprised a mix of al-Shabaab militants and militias loyal to the President of Southwest State Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
'SNAF responded professionally and decisively, repelling the attack and thwarting the assailants' attempt to destabilize the security and stability of Baidoa,' the ministry said in a statement.
Military forces seized weapons and vehicles used in the attack and were conducting clearance operations to secure the city and track down remaining fighters in parts of Baidoa, the statement said.
'The Ministry of Defense will provide the Somali public with further details regarding the attack and the outcome of the operation once it has concluded,' it said.
Somali troops have controlled the city since March, when they seized control of Baidoa and prompted the resignation of Laftagareen.
Residents confirmed that heavy fighting erupted in Baidoa on Monday morning as SNAF forces clashed with armed militias loyal to Laftagareen, alongside al-Shabaab elements.
While local opposition figures claimed to have captured the city, military officials denied the claim and confirmed that security operations remained ongoing.
According to the ministry, SNAF positions came under attack at 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) by armed elements using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.
The regional schools tournament has received a major financial boost after the East African Development Bank (EADB) committed $90,000 (about Rwf 132 million) as title sponsor of this year's games.
The tournament, which is underway in Morogoro, has brought together 413 teams and 5,548 participants from across East Africa competing in 51 sporting disciplines, making it one of the region's biggest school sports events.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony on Sunday, EADB Country Manager Stephen Wambura said the bank's support was aimed at investing in young people and promoting sustainable development through sport.
'While our core mandate is financing development projects across key sectors of the economy, we recognize that sustainable development goes beyond infrastructure and enterprises. It also means investing in people, especially young people, who represent the future of our region,' Wambura said.
He said sports sponsorship was part of the bank's Corporate Social Initiatives agenda, given the role of sport in promoting healthy lifestyles, developing character and creating opportunities for young people.
'Through this sponsorship, we are investing not only in the competition, but in the development of the next generation of East African leaders,' Wambura added.
Under the sponsorship, EADB will support the production of medals and trophies for winning teams and provide playing kits for teams competing in the finals.
For Rwanda, the games provide an opportunity for its young athletes to compete against some of the strongest school teams in the region.
In boys' football, CGF Kigali is representing Rwanda, while PSB Huye is competing in the girls' category, among other Rwandan teams.
Volleyball is another discipline where Rwanda will be looking for strong results. Nyanza Technical Secondary School (Nyanza TSS) will compete in the boys' tournament, while GS Indangaburezi will represent the country in the girls' competition.
Rwanda will also compete in basketball, with ITS Kigali featuring in the boys' 5×5 category and ESB Kamonyi competing in the girls' tournament.
In handball, GS Tabagwe will represent Rwanda in the boys' competition, while Kiziguro Secondary School will compete in the girls' category.
FEASSA President Justus Mugisha, while lauding the lender's financial commitment, described this year's edition as the biggest in the history of the games.
Mugisha said the competition includes primary school pupils under 15, secondary school students under 19 and participants in the special needs education category.
According to Mugisha, the event has more than 6,000 participants, including about 5,000 students, while the overall number of people attending the games, including parents, is expected to exceed 10,000.
The tournament is scheduled to run until August 22, with Rwanda hoping to secure medals across several disciplines while competing for a strong overall performance against the region's leading school sports programmes.
EADB Tanzania Country Manager, Stephen Wambura (Right), officially hands over to FEASSA president, Justus Mugisha, players' kits that will be donned during the final games. EADB provided the kits as part of the USD 90,000 sponsorship of the games.PSB Huye is among the Rwandan teams in Morogoro for the FEASSA 2026 tournament.FRSS officials, alongside representatives from MINEDUC and MINISPORTS, are supporting Rwanda's teams.
Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä followed children for eight years and found that those who spent more time using screens tended to perform better in tests of cognitive processing during adolescence.
The findings challenge the common belief that screen time is always harmful to children. However, researchers say the results should not be interpreted as a reason for children to spend unlimited time on phones, computers or other digital devices.
Instead, they suggest that what children do during screen time may be more important than the amount of time they spend in front of a screen.
The study was based on the PANIC study, which has followed children's physical activity and nutrition over several years.
Researchers examined 260 young people, including 124 girls and 136 boys, who had an average age of 15.8 years.
They looked at screen use, physical activity and sedentary behaviour from childhood into adolescence.
The teenagers' learning, attention and working memory were assessed using the CogState test battery.
The results showed that greater screen time beginning in childhood was associated with better cognitive processing during adolescence.
Petri Jalanko, a doctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, said the findings suggest parents and teachers should encourage children to use digital devices for activities that involve active thinking, problem-solving, creativity and learning.
'We should not regard screen time solely as harmful but seek balance between physical activity and screen time that promotes active thinking,' Jalanko said.
The researchers also found that the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance was more complicated.
Among girls, higher levels of light physical activity from childhood were associated with better working memory during adolescence. Among boys, participation in guided physical activities was linked to better working memory.
However, the researchers did not find a clear connection between physical activity and cognitive performance when activity was measured using devices that tracked movement and heart rate.
The researchers said the differences could partly be explained by the type of activity and how it was measured.
They also stressed that the study does not prove that screen time directly causes better cognitive performance.
More research, including intervention studies, is needed to establish whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship.
More childhood screen time has been associated with better thinking skills in teens.
Africa's leading electric motorcycle manufacturer, Spiro, has unveiled the EKON M1 V3, a new e-bike designed to meet the demands of Rwanda's varied terrain and the needs of local riders.
The motorcycle was unveiled on August 14, 2026, at Spiro's stand during the ongoing International Trade Fair in Gikondo, Kigali.
The launch brought together Spiro staff, customers and partners, as well as visitors attending the trade fair.
According to Spiro, the EKON M1 V3 was developed with Rwanda's mountainous landscape in mind. The country, known as the 'Land of a Thousand Hills,' has varying terrain and road conditions, including steep slopes and uneven or challenging surfaces.
The company said the motorcycle was designed to handle these conditions and has been given the nickname 'The Motorcycle of a Thousand Hills.'
Spiro Rwanda Managing Director Amit Chawla said the new model was developed after considering the daily challenges faced by motorcycle taxi riders.
'This motorcycle is different from the ones we have previously brought to the market. When we looked at what our riders face every day, from navigating hills and different types of terrain to the need for a motorcycle that is affordable and easy to maintain, the Ekon M1 V3 is the answer,' Chawla said.
Some motorcycle taxi riders who were among the first to test the EKON M1 V3 said its design sets it apart from other Spiro motorcycles previously introduced in Rwanda.
Mfashwenimana Amiel said the motorcycle's higher ground clearance makes it better suited to uneven and difficult terrain.
'With other motorcycles, when you reach an uphill area or a bad road, the motorcycle can sometimes hit the ground. But the EKON M1 V3 is high enough that even when you ride on uneven roads, it does not hit the ground. That makes it the best for our roads,' he said.
Spiro says the EKON M1 V3 can help users save up to 35 percent compared with using a petrol-powered motorcycle in the same category.
The company also says replacement parts for the model can cost up to 40 percent less, potentially reducing maintenance and operating costs for users.
The launch comes as Spiro continues to expand Rwanda's electric mobility infrastructure.
Over the past three years, the company says it has invested in developing and expanding electric transport infrastructure across the country, including battery-charging stations in different locations.
Spiro has also launched seven large 'mega stations' as part of efforts to strengthen the infrastructure supporting electric motorcycles in Rwanda.
The company plans to continue promoting the EKON M1 V3 across the country, giving motorcycle riders and other potential customers an opportunity to learn more about the model and its features.
Spiro's management in Rwanda affirmed that the new EKON M1 V3 is designed to handle Rwanda's hilly terrain.Spiro Rwanda officials attended the unveiling of the new motorcycle.Riderman entertained those in attendance.Expo attendees in Gikondo also attended the unveiling of Spiro's new motorcycle.These motorcycles were designed with Rwanda's terrain in mind.
'The most pressing challenges are still terrorism and cross-border crime,' Rwivanga said during an interview with The New Times' The Context podcast.
The former Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) spokesperson, who took over as Director of the EASF in May, identified Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups among the threats facing the region, noting that insecurity along the eastern coast can disrupt the movement of goods and services.
Regional countries, he argued, need closer cooperation in areas including maritime security and cross-border policing to address threats that transcend national borders.
Testing operational readiness
The EASF has been conducting exercises and force verification missions to ensure member states can deploy the personnel and equipment they have pledged to the regional standby arrangement, Rwivanga explained.
Established in 2004, the EASF is one of the African Union's five regional standby arrangements. It is mandated to support peace support operations, conflict prevention, crisis response and post-conflict reconstruction in Eastern Africa.
The organisation achieved full operational capability in 2014 after evaluating the forces pledged by member states, according to Rwivanga.
He stressed, however, that readiness is not a one-off process and requires regular exercises and verification.
'We have a checklist to verify the readiness of the forces such that when the need arises for us to engage these forces, we will prove that they are ready for integration,' he noted.
The EASF has conducted command-post, field-training and maritime exercises across member states to strengthen interoperability and ensure that different national forces can operate together.
Rwivanga spoke shortly after a force verification exercise in Uganda, where EASF officials were assessing the country's pledged capabilities.
Similar verification exercises have been conducted in other member states and will continue as part of the organisation's readiness programme, he added.
Beyond military threats
While military preparedness remains central to the EASF's mandate, the organisation is broadening its focus to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, Rwivanga explained.
Member states are increasingly pledging capabilities that can be deployed during natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
Ethiopia has pledged C-130 aircraft for strategic airlift, while Rwanda has committed medical evacuation support and Kenya has pledged air reconnaissance capabilities. Uganda is also expected to contribute search-and-rescue capabilities.
These capabilities could allow the region to respond collectively when a crisis overwhelms the capacity of an individual country, Rwivanga noted.
He pointed to natural disasters and climate-related emergencies as threats that should form part of the region's broader security preparedness.
'We should not just look at the enemy in the sense of rebel forces,' he said. 'You should look at the enemy even within with climate-related issues that could easily spiral out of order.'
Reducing reliance on external support
Rwivanga also highlighted efforts by African countries to increase their financial contributions to continental peace and security initiatives.
Greater African funding, he maintained, would help reduce dependence on external partners and strengthen the region's ability to respond to crises.
He pointed to increased contributions by Ethiopia and Kenya to the African Union's peace and security architecture as an indication of growing African ownership.
'At least in our small but very determined way, we are ready to operate even without that external support,' he stated.
The EASF is also seeking greater support from its member states to strengthen its resources and operational capabilities, he added.
Cooperation against cross-border threats
Regional cooperation is essential because terrorism, organised crime and other security threats do not stop at national borders, Rwivanga observed.
He cited joint security engagements between Rwanda and Uganda, as well as Rwanda and Tanzania, as examples of countries working together to address cross-border insecurity.
'Working together helps to deal with all the grey areas, the blind spots along the border,' he said.
He called for stronger cooperation between regional organisations, arguing that economic integration and security cooperation are closely linked.
Disruptions to the movement of goods and services can affect economies on both sides of a border, making security cooperation important not only for defence but also for regional economic activity, he explained.
Ultimately, the EASF's objective is to ensure that member states are prepared to respond collectively when a crisis emerges.
The organisation is seeking to become more cohesive and better prepared to address both traditional security threats and humanitarian emergencies across the region, Rwivanga stressed.
The former Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) spokesperson, who took over as Director of the EASF in May, identified Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups among the threats facing the region, noting that insecurity along the eastern coast can disrupt the movement of goods and services.
The final round of matches took place on Saturday, August 15, across venues including the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, with the top three sides earning passage to next year's Regional Final.
Rwanda dropped its final fixture to unbeaten Uganda by six runs, wrapping up the tournament in third place within the six-team table.
Uganda claimed top spot to win the tournament, while Nigeria finished second. Joining Rwanda in the top three, both sides advanced to Division 1, where they will meet Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania in 2027 to decide Africa's representative at the 2028 showpiece event.
The week-long tournament brought together six nations, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique, competing for three progression slots.
On the individual leaderboards, Nigeria's Kenneth Boniface stood out after capping his campaign with an unbeaten century (100 off 74 balls) against Sierra Leone.
Uganda's Robert Owilli finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 234 runs, while Ghana's Stanley Carson topped the bowling charts with 12 wickets.
The third-place finish keeps Rwanda's target intact as the squad advances to the final regional stage of 2028 U19 World Cup qualification.
Rwanda dropped its final fixture to unbeaten Uganda by six runs, wrapping up the tournament in third place within the six-team table.Uganda claimed top spot to win the tournament, while Nigeria finished second. The week-long tournament brought together six nations, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique, competing for three progression slots.
In a social media post on Sunday, Museveni congratulated Ruhamya and fellow Ugandan cadet Bakyira Ruyondo on completing their military training at the prestigious academy.
'Congratulations Ruhamya, congratulations Bakyira,' Museveni said, adding that military service provides young Ugandans with a good foundation.
Ruhamya, the son of UPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, graduated from Sandhurst on Wednesday, August 5, alongside Bakyira and other international cadets.
The training prepares cadets for military leadership, command and operational responsibilities as they begin their careers as officers.
Museveni also congratulated the parents of the two newly commissioned officers and encouraged young Ugandans to consider army service.
'Army service gives you good foundation,' he said.
Ruhamya's graduation marks another connection between the Kainerugaba family and Sandhurst. His father, Gen Muhoozi, graduated from the academy in 2000 after joining Uganda's military in 1999 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
Gen Muhoozi recently shared photographs of Ruhamya during his training at Sandhurst, including a comparison with his own experience at the academy 27 years ago.
Sandhurst, formally known as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, trains officers for the British Army as well as military personnel from countries around the world.
Ruhamya now joins the UPDF following his training, alongside other Ugandan officers who have received military training at the British academy.
Ruhamya (second from left) joins a growing number of UPDF officers trained at Sandhurst, The training equips cadets with skills in military leadership, command, and operational planning as they prepare for roles as officers in their respective armed forces.
Political differences between Rwanda and Burundi should not hinder professional cooperation between their armed forces, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), has said.
Rwivanga made the remarks during an interview with The New Times' The Context podcast, where he discussed the role of the EASF, regional security cooperation and the challenges facing the Eastern African region.
Asked whether tensions between Rwanda and Burundi could affect cooperation within the EASF, Rwivanga said the organisation had not been affected by disputes between its member states.
'Surprisingly, this organization has not been affected in any way by the conflicts between individual states,' he said.
He pointed to previous tensions between Rwanda and Uganda, saying that despite bilateral disagreements, the two countries continued participating in regional security initiatives through the EASF.
The same principle, he said, applies to Rwanda and Burundi. According to Rwivanga, both countries have remained consistent in participating in the EASF's military, police and civilian engagements despite their differences.
He said regional security cooperation requires member states to distinguish political disagreements from their professional responsibilities.
'Whatever transpires between nations, as professional forces, we need to go beyond the political issues between nations and work as professionals in the military field,' Rwivanga said.
He added that countries in the region have to continue working together because they share the same security environment and face challenges that do not respect national borders.
'Whether we like it or not, we are in the region together and we have to work together,' he stressed.
Regional security
Rwivanga, who recently took up his new role at the EASF headquarters in Nairobi after serving for nearly six years as Rwanda Defence Force spokesperson, said regional cooperation remains essential in addressing security threats.
He identified terrorism, cross-border crime, maritime insecurity and cyber threats among the key challenges facing the region.
He argued that stronger cooperation between regional organisations and neighbouring countries would help address such threats more effectively. 'Working together helps to deal with all the grey areas, the blind spots along the border,' he noted.
He cited cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda, as well as Rwanda and Tanzania, as examples of joint efforts to address cross-border insecurity.
EASF readiness
Rwivanga also sought to clarify the role and readiness of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, which was established in 2004 as one of the African Union's five regional standby arrangements.
The force brings together military, police and civilian components from countries in the Eastern African region and is mandated to support peace support operations, conflict prevention, crisis response and post-conflict reconstruction.
Rwivanga said the EASF reached full operational capability in 2014 after verifying the forces and capabilities pledged by member states.
He stressed that being a standby force does not necessarily mean that it must constantly deploy troops.
'The best generals are those who can win without necessarily going to war,' he said, explaining that conflict prevention and diplomacy are also central to the organisation's mandate.
He said member states have participated in various regional and international operations, providing experience that can serve as a foundation for collective deployments.
Focus on disasters
Beyond traditional security threats, Rwivanga said the EASF is increasingly preparing for humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.
He revealed that member states are pledging additional capabilities, including strategic airlift, medical evacuation, air reconnaissance and search-and-rescue capacity.
Ethiopia, he said, has pledged C-130 aircraft for strategic airlift, while Rwanda has pledged medical evacuation capabilities and Kenya has pledged air reconnaissance.
The aim, according to Rwivanga, is to enable the region to respond collectively to emergencies that may overwhelm an individual country.
He cited earthquakes and other climate-related disasters as examples of crises that could require a regional response.
'We should not just look at the enemy in the sense of rebel forces. You should look at the enemy even within, with climate-related issues that could easily spiral out of order,' he argued.
Rwivanga highlighted that the EASF's priority over the next three years would be to strengthen cohesion, readiness and the ability of member states to respond collectively to security and humanitarian crises.
He said regional cooperation would remain critical even when individual member states have political differences.
'In regional integration, we have to work together to find solutions,' he stressed.
Political differences between Rwanda and Burundi should not hinder professional cooperation between their armed forces, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), has said.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a press statement that the meetings are part of the movement's ongoing 'contacts and diplomatic efforts with mediators to inform them of Israeli violations.'
Qassem provided no further details about the visit.
A source within Hamas told Xinhua that a delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo late Saturday, marking his first visit since assuming the post of head of Hamas' political bureau in July.
The source said the delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad to discuss developments concerning the Palestinian issue and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
The visit comes as mediators from Egypt, Türkiye and Qatar continue efforts to consolidate the ceasefire agreement amid disagreements over the implementation of its next phases.
Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected a U.S.-backed 15-point plan for ending the Gaza conflict, insisting that Israel will not withdraw its forces from the enclave until Hamas is fully disarmed.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said Sunday that its delegation is holding meetings in the Egyptian capital Cairo to ensure Israel's compliance with a roadmap agreed upon with the U.S.-led 'Board of Peace.'
Known as Visit Kivu, the initiative is being driven by the Bwishyura Kivu Boat Cooperative, a youth-dominated cooperative based in Bwishyura Sector in Karongi District.
The initiative brings together boat tours and other experiences around Lake Kivu, offering visitors opportunities to explore the lake and some of its islands while also discovering the communities and landscapes around it.
Through 16 motorised boats, the cooperative takes visitors onto the lake and to islands including Nkombo and Ijwi. Its boat operators work across Karongi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Rusizi and Rutsiro, the five Rwandan districts bordering Lake Kivu.
'We have a legally registered cooperative, and our goal is to take tourists around Lake Kivu and its islands,' said Niyomugabo Moïse, president of the cooperative.
Visit Kivu also links lake excursions with experiences on land. The cooperative has helped establish a hiking route connecting Karongi town to Bisesero, allowing visitors to combine the scenery of the lake with the area's historical heritage. Members also participate in community work to clear and maintain paths used by visitors. Among the more distinctive experiences is seeing cattle swimming in Lake Kivu, an activity that offers visitors an unusual glimpse into life around the lake.
The tourism activities have also become an important source of income for members of the cooperative. Founded in 2018 with one employee and Rwf370,000 in capital, the cooperative now has 37 members, 18 permanent employees, including three women, and a capital of Rwf8.7 million.
The cooperative says its tourism activities generate about Rwf4 million a month, helping members meet household needs and pay for health insurance.
Members say joining the cooperative has also allowed them to work together, support their families and interact with visitors from different places.
Niyomugabo says the expansion of tourism around Lake Kivu should go hand in hand with protecting the environment and preserving the culture and heritage of communities around the lake.
He says members need training in cooperative governance, financial management and marketing, as well as more investment to help expand tourism activities, an initiative backed by authorities acknowledging their impact to the community and national development at large.
With its combination of boat trips, islands, hiking, history and community experiences, Visit Kivu reflects the growing effort to present Lake Kivu as a destination to be explored beyond its shoreline.
Visitors can experience Lake Kivu from the water while exploring the landscapes and communities that surround the lake.The Bwishyura Kivu Boat Cooperative has grown into a tourism-focused cooperative offering boat excursions and supporting livelihoods in communities around Lake Kivu.Visitors stand a chance to explore Lake Kivu and its islands aboard motorised boats operated through the Visit Kivu initiative.
