El Niño is a climate pattern associated with unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which can influence weather patterns around the world. In Africa, it can bring drought to some areas while causing above-average rainfall in others.
On August 10-11, 2026, the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), in partnership with the World Bank, conducted a two-day Tabletop Simulation Exercise for Rwanda's Contingent Emergency Response Project (CERP).
The exercise aimed to strengthen Rwanda's preparedness to effectively activate and implement the CERP mechanism in response to eligible emergencies, while ensuring rapid and efficient access to emergency financing.
MINEMA Permanent Secretary Aristarque Ngoga said disaster preparedness goes beyond having emergency equipment, stressing the need for institutions at all levels to understand their responsibilities and be ready to respond quickly when disasters occur.
'Preparedness is not only about having resources available; it is also about ensuring that institutions understand their roles and can act quickly and in a coordinated manner when an emergency occurs. The CERP simulation allows us to identify and address potential gaps before they affect our response to a real crisis,' said Ngoga.
Rwanda has also requested $86.2 million, equivalent to more than Rwf126.6 billion, to strengthen preparedness and emergency response capacity in areas considered particularly vulnerable to disasters.
Climate experts have warned that 2026 could rank among the hottest years globally. Meteo Rwanda Director General Aimable Gahigi said Rwanda could receive more than 400 millimetres of rainfall in the coming months.
Gahigi said the potential effects of El Niño could resemble conditions experienced in 1997 and 2023, when heavy rains affected countries across the region between October and December.
Since the beginning of 2026, MINEMA has relocated 4,785 households from areas considered highly vulnerable to disasters. Nearly 4,000 people have also been trained in disaster preparedness and response, while 14 temporary shelters have been established to accommodate people affected by disasters.
Emergency response equipment has been stocked in Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza and Karongi to facilitate faster interventions when disasters occur.
Over the past five years, disasters have damaged more than 16,600 houses across Rwanda, with about 2,700 completely destroyed. They have also damaged roads, bridges, schools, electricity infrastructure, health facilities and markets.
Rwanda is seeking additional funding to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response in vulnerable areas.In 2023, Rwanda was hit by severe disasters that damaged infrastructure across the country.
The project, located in Kabuhunde Village, Kagugu Cell, Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District, is expected to provide modern housing for 716 families currently living on a 33.699-hectare site.
The development will feature six-storey buildings (G+6), equipped with designated parking spaces and elevators.
City of Kigali spokesperson Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya said the new neighbourhood will also include key infrastructure and services, including tarmac roads, a wastewater treatment facility, public recreational spaces, a market and a health centre.
Residents who currently own land or houses within the project area will receive new homes based on the value of their existing properties and in accordance with compensation regulations, allowing them to retain ownership of the new homes.
The Kagugu project will follow an approach similar to that used in the Mpazi and Nyabisindu housing developments.
The first phase of the Mpazi project delivered nearly 800 homes, while its expansion is expected to provide more than 4,100 additional homes. The Nyabisindu project is expected to deliver more than 2,000 homes by June 2027.
The City of Kigali says the objective of the project is not simply to construct houses, but to improve residents' overall living conditions.
The Kabuhunde Rehousing Project will feature six-storey residential buildings with elevators and designated parking spaces.Construction of the Kabuhunde Rehousing Project is scheduled to begin in January 2027.The new Kabuhunde housing project in Kagugu is expected to provide homes for 716 families.The new Kagugu neighbourhood will include tarmac roads, a market, a health centre and public recreational spaces.
After Tshisekedi announced on August 27, 2026, that he had officially launched consultations aimed at finding solutions to the crises affecting the DRC, opposition figures grouped under the C64 coalition, which advocates for the defence of the Constitution, immediately rejected the initiative.
C64 includes prominent opposition politicians such as Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, Jean-Marc Kabund, Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga.
The coalition criticised the initiative, saying it should have been a genuinely inclusive national dialogue rather than what it described as consultations organised by the authorities.
'C64 continues to condemn and reject what Félix Tshisekedi calls national consultations, instead of launching an inclusive national dialogue. The Congolese people are not fools,' the coalition said.
The M.A.R.C party, led by Claudel Lubaya, also rejected the initiative, arguing that the consultations favour supporters of the Tshisekedi administration.
Opposition figures say their concerns centre on how the dialogue has been organised, who has been invited and the issues expected to be discussed. They argue that the process is primarily designed to serve the political interests of the current administration.
Fayulu and his allies have announced that they will join their supporters in a demonstration against Tshisekedi's government on September 15, 2026. The protest had previously been postponed twice as the two sides engaged in efforts to ease tensions.
The dispute is also linked to Tshisekedi's reported plans to amend the Constitution, which his opponents say could allow him to seek a third term. C64 members have vowed to strongly oppose such a move.
'Congo does not belong to Mr Félix Tshisekedi. The country will not become the victim of a third term after 2028,' C64 said.
Union Sacrée backs Tshisekedi
While opposition groups have rejected the initiative, senior figures within Union Sacrée, the political coalition supporting Tshisekedi, have welcomed it.
Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba described it as a 'new approach to dialogue', while National Assembly Speaker Vital Kamerhe called it an unprecedented way of seeking solutions to the DRC's problems.
Tshisekedi said consultations would first be held across all 26 provinces before a national conference in Kinshasa, allowing citizens and different institutions to present their views.
His supporters say the process is intended to move beyond traditional political negotiations involving only senior political figures and give ordinary citizens a role in finding solutions to the country's challenges.
Joseph Kabila stance
The 'Sauvons la RDC' coalition led by former President Joseph Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, supports an inclusive national dialogue but wants it to be led by an independent and impartial facilitator.
Kabila and his allies are calling for all parties affected by the DRC's crises to participate in the talks. They also want all sides to agree on the framework for the dialogue and for the international community to play a role in monitoring the process.
Their position is similar to that of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Anglican Church, which have called for dialogue involving armed groups, including AFC/M23 fighters and the CRP movement founded by Thomas Lubanga.
Tshisekedi has faced calls to ensure that armed groups are included in the dialogue, with critics warning that excluding them could limit the chances of reaching a lasting solution and potentially worsen the conflict, particularly in eastern DRC.
C64 coalition has rejected President Tshisekedi's dialogue plan, and announced protest
The GSDF said it was extremely regrettable that one of its members, who was supposed to abide by laws and discipline, had committed such an act, public broadcaster NHK reported.
On March 24, the GSDF officer, identified as Kodai Murata, allegedly scaled a barbed-wire wall and broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo with an 18-cm blade, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel. He was later arrested by the police.
Japanese prosecutors indicted Murata on charges including trespassing and threatening embassy staff.
The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation. So far, however, the Japanese side has only expressed that the incident was 'regrettable,' without offering an apology.
A Japanese police officer stands guard in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, March 25, 2026.
NESA Director General Dr Bahati Bernard said the results are currently being processed and will be announced in the coming days.
The national Senior Six examinations were held on July 15, 2026. Figures show that 108,722 candidates sat for the examinations at the upper secondary level.
Speaking during an interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, RBA, on August 28, 2026, Dr Bahati said the results of students who completed Senior Six would be released soon.
'The processing of the results for students who completed secondary school is at an advanced stage, to the extent that we can say that within a few days, possibly within a week or a week and a half, we could have announced the results,' he said.
In Rwanda, once examination results are released, students who obtain grades that qualify them to pursue university studies can immediately proceed to university without having to wait for another year.
Last year, candidates who sat for the Senior Six national examinations recorded an overall pass rate of 89.1%. Boys recorded a pass rate of 93.5%, while girls recorded a pass rate of 85.5%.
Senior six examination results are expected to be released soon
The 41-year-old rapper was scheduled to perform at Golden 1 Center on Thursday, August 27, as part of his ongoing The Fall-Off World Tour.
However, the concert was canceled following the fatal accident involving a truck carrying equipment for the tour.
The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. on Interstate 5 in Yolo County, northwest of Woodland, California.
According to authorities, the big rig was traveling southbound when it moved onto the right shoulder and later overturned as the driver attempted to return to the roadway.
The driver, who was the only person inside the truck, died in the crash. The Yolo County Coroner's Office identified him as Jarlath Parkinson, 66, of Jackson, South Carolina.
The truck was transporting equipment used for J. Cole's tour. California Highway Patrol officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation, with possible driver distraction or fatigue being considered.
Authorities said alcohol and drugs were not believed to have contributed to the crash.
Following the death, Golden 1 Center and Live Nation announced the cancellation of J. Cole's Sacramento performance.
'Our thoughts are with the crew member's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,' the venue said in a statement.
Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster are expected to receive automatic refunds, while those who bought tickets through other sellers have been advised to contact their original point of purchase.
The canceled performance was part of J. Cole's extensive The Fall-Off World Tour, which is scheduled to continue with shows in Oakland before moving to Southern California and other international destinations.
The tour is currently scheduled to conclude in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December.
J. Cole canceled his Sacramento concert after a member of his touring crew died in a highway crash in California.
Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and Yale University analysed GPS tracking data from 4,581 mammals and birds across the United States.
The study, published in the journal Science, combined animal tracking information with anonymised cellphone location data to examine how wildlife responds to people themselves, rather than only to the landscapes humans have changed.
Researchers compared animal movements during matching periods in 2019 and 2020, a period that provided a rare opportunity to study changes in human activity during COVID-19 lockdowns.
The analysis found that 57 percent of the species studied were affected by both human presence and changes to the landscape.
Human presence was linked to changes in the amount of territory animals used or the size of their environmental niche for 67 percent of mammal species and 68 percent of bird species.
The researchers also found that wildlife responses varied greatly between species.
For example, wolves expanded their habitat use in response to human presence, while white-tailed deer reduced their environmental niches as human presence increased. Sandhill cranes showed an opposite pattern to deer.
The effects were particularly noticeable in areas with relatively little development, including national parks.
This suggests that even when landscapes remain largely natural, the presence of people can influence how animals use available habitats.
Researchers said the findings show that conservation efforts should not focus only on protecting natural landscapes from roads, cities and other forms of development.
Understanding where and when people are present could also be important for protecting wildlife.
Ruth Oliver, an assistant professor at UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and co-lead author of the study, said the findings highlight the need for conservation strategies that take into account the specific needs and behaviours of individual species.
The research was part of the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative, an international collaboration that used the unusual reduction and changes in human activity during the pandemic to study how wildlife responded.
The wider initiative brought together about 600 partners and collected one billion location records from roughly 13,000 animals.
Researchers are now investigating whether changes in animal behaviour caused by human activity and environmental changes help wildlife adapt or instead indicate increased stress and a greater risk of death.
The scientists say the findings could help conservationists develop more targeted policies that identify when and where wildlife needs greater protection from human activity.
Researchers have found that human presence can significantly change how wildlife uses habitats and moves through natural environments.
The Rwanda Energy Group (REG) said construction is progressing well, with work being accelerated to ensure the dam starts generating electricity as scheduled.
Once completed, Nyabarongo II will generate 43.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity, making it one of Rwanda's major energy infrastructure projects.
The project will also create a 68-kilometre-long artificial lake with a storage capacity of 800 million cubic metres of water.
Beyond power generation, the reservoir is expected to support irrigation, flood control, water supply and water transport linking Rwanda's Northern Province with Kigali.
Water from the project will benefit five districts: Kamonyi, Muhanga, Gakenke, Nyabihu and Ngororero, where it is expected to support various development activities.
REG said tourism and other economic activities are also planned around the lake, creating additional opportunities for communities living in the surrounding areas.
Nyabarongo II is expected to boost Rwanda's electricity generation capacity and support the country's efforts to expand access to reliable energy for economic development.
The project has been allocated Rwf149.81 billion.
The Rwanda Energy Group (REG) said construction is progressing well, with work being accelerated to ensure the dam starts generating electricity as scheduled.The dam is expected to create a 68-square-kilometre artificial lake once it is fully filled.The project has a total budget of Rwf149.81 billion.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning announced the development on Friday, saying the new agreement, signed by Yusuf Murangwa and U.S. representatives, provides a framework for advancing cooperation and supporting Rwanda's health sector priorities.
'Building on the five-year Health Cooperation MoU signed between Rwanda and the United States in December 2025, the two countries have signed a Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG) to translate their shared commitments into action,' the ministry said in a post on X.
The SOAG builds on a $228 million bilateral health cooperation agreement under the US administration's America First Global Health Strategy. The partnership provides for up to $158 million in US support over five years, while Rwanda committed $70 million from its domestic health budget.
The broader agreement focuses on strengthening Rwanda's health system, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, and improving disease surveillance and outbreak response.
It also places emphasis on greater national ownership of healthcare delivery and a gradual shift toward Rwanda assuming increased responsibility for financing and managing key health programmes.
Under the partnership, Rwanda is expected to take full control of its HIV/AIDS response by the fourth year, as US financial support declines.
The cooperation also includes investments in health infrastructure, next-generation HIV treatments and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The December 2025 agreement further provided for initiatives involving US companies, including support for advanced medical delivery infrastructure through Zipline and disease outbreak surveillance through Ginkgo Bioworks.
The signing of the SOAG marks a further step in implementing the commitments made under the five-year partnership and provides an operational framework for advancing the two countries' health cooperation.
The new agreement, signed by Yusuf Murangwa and U.S. representatives, provides a framework for advancing cooperation and supporting Rwanda's health sector priorities.
The handover ceremony held on August 28, 2026, followed the completion of the China-aided Masaka Hospital Renovation and Expansion Project, which has transformed the facility into one of the largest comprehensive teaching hospitals in Rwanda and the region.
The expanded hospital, located in Kicukiro District, will become the new home of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), which is expected to relocate to Masaka by the end of 2026.
Rwanda's Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, described the facility as the largest hospital in Rwanda in terms of capacity, saying the new building has more than 700 beds and, together with the existing Masaka District Hospital next door, brings the total capacity to more than 800 beds.
'This hospital is the largest in Rwanda. It's the largest because the one we had in Rwanda with the highest number of bed capacity had 500,' Dr. Nsanzimana said during the handover ceremony.
He said the significance of the project goes beyond the size of the building, with the services planned for the facility expected to provide high-level medical care to patients from Rwanda and beyond.
'So if you look at the region, it's also among the largest hospitals. And not only the building, but also the services that will be provided in this hospital plan to be at the high level for national, but also for international medical care,' he said.
The minister said Rwanda expects the new facility to develop into a medical hub serving Africa and beyond, building on the longstanding partnership between Rwanda and China.
'We expect this to be a hub for medicine in Africa and beyond, through the friendship and partnership in Rwanda and China,' Dr. Nsanzimana said.
From 127 to 837 beds
The scale of the transformation is reflected in the expansion of the hospital's infrastructure. The hospital's floor area has increased from about 6,389 square metres to 56,957 square metres, while the number of beds has risen from 127 to 837.
The facility has 22 operating theatres and a planned daily outpatient capacity of 2,000 visits. It comprises 13 buildings, including an outpatient and emergency building, a medical technology building, inpatient wards and an administrative building. The project also includes a helicopter pad.
A connecting corridor system was designed to respond to the complex terrain around the hospital, where the height difference reaches up to 32 metres, making movement between different sections of the facility easier for patients and medical personnel.
The project was designed by IPPR International Engineering and undertaken by Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd. Construction began in July 2022, with the project's groundbreaking ceremony held on March 30, 2023.
The project cost 580 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to more than Rwf124 billion, and is the largest grant aid project undertaken by the Chinese government in Rwanda so far.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the transformation represented a historic development for a hospital that has been closely associated with the two countries' relationship for more than a decade.
'Masaka Hospital stands as both a witness and participant to China-Rwanda friendship,' Amb. Gao said.
The original Masaka Hospital was built with support from the Chinese government and officially opened in 2011, with a floor area of 6,398 square metres and 127 beds, providing basic medical services to people in surrounding areas.
In 2018, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Rwanda, Xi and President Paul Kagame witnessed the exchange of notes on the expansion and renovation project.
Amb. Gao said the project therefore reflected the continued attention given to the partnership by the leadership of both countries.
'The successful completion of this renovation and expansion project marks a comprehensive and historical transformation of the hospital, ushering in a new era of development in both its facilities and service capabilities,' he said.
New home for CHUK
The expanded Masaka facility is expected to play a central role in the reorganisation of tertiary healthcare services in Kigali.
The Ministry of Health recently announced that CHUK would move to the new facility by the end of 2026. Its current premises in central Kigali will, however, continue providing critical emergency services.
Speaking at the handover, Dr. Nsanzimana said preparations were already underway to ensure a smooth transition and allow services to begin at the new facility as soon as possible.
'After the building is officially received today, there's work being done to see the services starting as soon as possible with CHUK moving in here,' he said.
He said the government was working with CHUK leadership and other government teams to make the transition smooth.
'I can't wait to see patients coming in, in a few weeks,' Dr. Dr. Nsanzimana said, noting that steps were already being taken to prepare the facility for use.
The minister also highlighted the potential for the hospital to become a centre for medical research and technology.
He said discussions with Ambassador Gao had included the possibility of doctors in Rwanda working remotely with specialists in China, including through technology that could allow medical professionals in different countries to participate in procedures.
'That is how you can connect people even remotely with technology. That is what we are working on,' he said.
Building on decades of medical cooperation
The handover also builds on a longstanding China-Rwanda partnership in healthcare following the establishment of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and China dating back to 1971.
So far, China has dispatched 26 batches of medical teams, comprising 343 medical personnel, to Rwanda. The teams have provided medical services at Masaka Hospital and Kibungo Hospital, cumulatively treating more than 720,000 patients and performing more than 40,000 surgeries.
In September 2023, the Rwanda Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion Center was established at Masaka Hospital, while a Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation room was set up at Kibungo Hospital in 2026.
The 26th Chinese medical team is currently working at both facilities. Amb. Gao said China intends to build on this cooperation by using the new Masaka Hospital as a platform for deeper collaboration in healthcare.
He outlined three areas of future cooperation: establishing a collaborative medical centre, strengthening medical talent development and expanding technology-driven cooperation, adding that the two countries would work to develop the hospital into a regional centre of medical excellence.
Amb. Gao also pledged continued support for training Rwandan medical and public health professionals through long-term expert support, training programmes and clinical mentorship.
The expanded Masaka Hospital comprises 13 buildings, including outpatient and emergency facilities, inpatient wards and medical technology facilities.The expanded Masaka Hospital includes a helicopter pad as part of its upgraded facilities.The new Masaka Hospital is equipped with 22 operating theatres and has a planned daily outpatient capacity of 2,000 visits.The expanded Masaka Hospital has a total floor area of 56,957 square metres, up from 6,389 square metres.The expanded Masaka Hospital has increased its bed capacity from 127 to 837 following the renovation and expansion project.The expanded Masaka Hospital is expected to strengthen Rwanda's capacity to provide high-level medical care to patients from Rwanda and beyond.
