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The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the existing defence cooperation between the Gambia Armed Forces and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).

As part of his visit, Lieutenant General Cham visited RDF Headquarters on Monday, October 13, where he held meetings with the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the RDF, General MK Mubarakh.

During the meeting, Lieutenant General Cham was briefed on regional security dynamics and Rwanda’s contributions to peace and security in Africa.

He also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he paid respect to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Additionally, he toured the Campaign against Genocide Museum.

Throughout his visit, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces will also visit institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Defence and the Rwanda Defence Force.

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mamat O.A. Cham is on a working visit to Rwanda from 12 to 17 October 2025.

As part of his visit, Lieutenant General Cham visited RDF Headquarters on Monday, October 13, where he held meetings with the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the RDF, General MK Mubarakh.

During the meeting, Lieutenant General Cham was briefed on regional security dynamics and Rwanda’s contributions to peace and security in Africa.

IGIHE

The bank reaffirmed its commitment during the closing ceremony of Customer Week, where the management emphasized that any goal an individual sets is achievable, which was the central theme of this special week dedicated to the customers and employees of the bank.

Throughout the week, the bank highlighted various initiatives aimed at empowering customers, including the 'Ikamba’ program, designed to help women engaged in small and medium-sized businesses access loans without requiring collateral.

The week also included a session where customers shared their feedback, expressing both their concerns and satisfaction with the bank, while exploring various technological solutions easing access to services.

During this week, BPR Bank honored some of its longstanding customers, including Louis Nsengiyumva, who was the first customer of the bank and received two cows as a token of appreciation.

BPR Bank Rwanda also acknowledged the contributions of its employees in delivering diverse services, with special recognition given to Marie Grace Nyinawabiru, who has been with the bank for over 30 years. She was awarded a two-million-franc prize for her outstanding long-term service.

The bank, which began operations in 1975, currently has 137 branches across the country.

The Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, Patience Mutesi interacting with customers.

BPR Bank Rwanda employees enjoyed memorable moments with customers.

Louis Nsengiyumva, the first customer to open a bank account in BPR received two cows as a token of appreciation.

IGIHE

According to the hospital’s annual performance report covering July 2024 to July 2025, patient numbers have been on a steady rise for the past three years. The hospital treated around 94,000 patients in 2023, and the figure climbed to over 101,000 in 2024, before reaching nearly 120,000 in the latest reporting period.

The report shows that neurological and psychiatric disorders remain the leading causes of admission, with epilepsy and schizophrenia accounting for nearly half of all cases recorded.

Epilepsy most common condition

Epilepsy topped the list of illnesses treated at Ndera, with 36,097 patients, representing 29.08 percent of all those treated. It was followed by schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking and perception, which accounted for 24,991 cases (20.14 percent).

Surge in acute and bipolar disorders

The hospital also treated 10,349 cases of Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder (ATPD), a short-term mental illness that can be triggered by stress, trauma, or substance use, representing 8.34 percent of total admissions.

Bipolar disorder, characterised by alternating episodes of depression and mania, affected 7,235 patients (5.83 percent), while depression accounted for 4,076 cases (3.28 percent).

Rise in substance abuse and trauma cases

Cases of Substance Use Disorders, including dependence on alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and other drugs, continued to rise, with 3,229 patients (2.7 percent) receiving treatment. These are primarily managed at the Icyizere Psychotherapeutic Center in Kicukiro District, which also provides specialized care for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In total, the hospital recorded 4,250 inpatients during the year under review.

Psychiatric and neurological cases

Out of the total caseload, 66,335 were psychiatric patients, while 53,524 suffered from neurological disorders, making up 44.67 percent of all admissions. Neurological conditions treated include stroke, dementia, and chronic headaches, among others.

The report emphasizes that CARAES Ndera’s services extend beyond mental illness, countering the long-held perception that it treats only psychiatric conditions. The hospital now plays an expanding role in managing neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Rising demand exceeds hospital capacity

Hospital officials say that patient demand continues to outpace the facility’s capacity, pushing operations to 116 percent of what it was designed to handle.

'We are now operating beyond our capacity, treating up to 116 percent of what the facility was originally built for,' said Frère Nkubiri Charles, the hospital’s Director General.

Nkubiri noted that 45 percent of patients come from Kigali City, with the hospital experiencing sustained growth in mental health cases following the Covid-19 pandemic.

'Globally, Covid-19 led to about a 30 percent increase in mental health disorders,' he explained. 'Our figures were slightly below that, but we still observed noticeable rises in depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions.'

CARAES Ndera Neuropsychiatric Teaching Hospital received 119,859 patients during the 2024/2025 fiscal year, marking a 17.7 percent increase from the previous year and underscoring the growing demand for mental and neurological health services in Rwanda.

The Director General of CARAES Ndera Hospital, Frère Nkubiri Charles, said that the number of patients being treated continues to rise and has exceeded the hospital’s capacity.

The annual report shows that neurological and psychiatric disorders remain the leading causes of admission, with epilepsy and schizophrenia accounting for nearly half of all cases recorded.

Sarkozy was notified of the conditions of his incarceration at the request of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). For reasons of security and discretion, details regarding the arrangements will not be made public.

According to a source close to the case cited by BFMTV, Sarkozy is expected to serve his sentence at La Sante Prison in Paris. The interval before Oct. 21 will allow him time to organize his personal and professional affairs.

Once in custody, his defense team will be able to file a request for release before the Court of Appeals, which will have two months to issue a ruling.

On Sept. 25, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 campaign. Although he has appealed, the judges ordered that the sentence be enforced immediately, citing the “exceptional seriousness” of the offenses.

Sarkozy will become the first former French president in contemporary history to serve a prison sentence.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been informed that he will begin serving his prison sentence on Oct. 21, following his conviction in the case concerning alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign, French media reported Monday.

Xinhua

Gathering leaders from more than 20 countries as well as regional and international organizations, the summit is co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump.

The summit will discuss ending the war in the Gaza Strip, enhancing efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and ushering in a new phase of regional security and stability, according to the Egyptian presidency.

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas entered into effect on Friday, following three days of intensive negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh between the two sides mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States.

The first phase of the plan includes Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and the north, and the opening of five crossings for aid, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Hamas announced earlier in the day that it had handed over all 20 of the remaining live hostages, who were captured during the attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange deal.

More than two years of Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza, killing over 67,000 people and triggering famine, according to Gaza’s health authorities and UN-backed food experts.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) addresses the summit on ending the Gaza war in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025. A summit on ending the Gaza war kicked off here Monday, which witnessed the signing of the recently-reached ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Xinhua

In Rwanda, this message could not be more relevant. The country’s steep hills and intense rainfall make it particularly prone to natural hazards. In 2023, two forces of nature stood out as Rwanda’s deadliest disasters — landslides and lightning. One crept silently through soaked hillsides; the other struck suddenly from the sky. Together, they claimed more lives than any other disasters that year, underscoring how geography and climate continue to shape risk across the nation.

Data from the Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Risks in Rwanda (2024) show that landslides and lightning have been the most frequent and fatal hazards over time. Between 2016 and 2023, landslides killed 449 people, while lightning strikes claimed 379 lives. Over the same period, floods caused 259 deaths and rainstorms 237, revealing a consistent and worrying pattern in Rwanda’s disaster history.

Between 2016 and 2023, landslides killed 449 people, while lightning strikes claimed 379 lives.

The country’s iconic landscape — steep, green, and breathtaking — is also what makes it fragile. Western and northern districts such as Gakenke, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Rubavu sit on hilly terrain that receives some of the heaviest rainfall in Rwanda.

According to the Disaster Risk Hotspots Assessment Report (2024), Rwanda has 326 identified hazard hotspots, with 134 rated as high or very high risk. Most lie in highland regions where rainfall often exceeds 1,800 millimetres per year, loosening soil and triggering deadly slope failures.

Experts warn that changing rainfall patterns, longer dry spells followed by intense downpours, are increasing disaster risks.

Human activity and a changing climate intensify risks

Human activities such as deforestation and cultivation on steep slopes have magnified these natural vulnerabilities. As trees are cleared for farming or construction, soil stability weakens. When heavy rains fall, water quickly turns into runoff, destroying homes, crops, and roads.

The May 2023 floods and landslides demonstrated this danger vividly. In just two days, torrential rains killed 131 people, displaced over 51,000, and destroyed thousands of homes, mostly in the same western districts repeatedly flagged in national risk assessments.

According to the Disaster Risk Hotspots Assessment Report (2024), Rwanda has 326 identified hazard hotspots, with 134 rated as high or very high risk.

Lightning, though less visible in its destruction, remains equally deadly. Rwanda’s equatorial location and high elevation make it one of Africa’s most lightning-prone countries. The same storms that sustain agriculture can, in moments, turn lethal. Victims are often caught in open spaces such as farms, playgrounds, or church grounds.

Adapting through science, relocation, and awareness

Experts warn that changing rainfall patterns, longer dry spells followed by intense downpours, are increasing disaster risks. Soils become more saturated, landslides more frequent, and thunderstorms more violent. In fast-urbanising areas like Musanze and Rubavu, metal roofing and hillside construction further heighten lightning exposure.

Residents of Kagogo Sector, Kabaya Cell, try to clear land after past landslides.

Recognising these threats, the Government of Rwanda has strengthened disaster preparedness through relocation, infrastructure upgrades, and community awareness. Under the National Relocation and Mitigation Plan, more than 6,000 households living on high-risk slopes are being moved to safer zones. Engineers are reinforcing bridges and roads, planting trees, and building terraces to stabilise hillsides.

The Ministry of Education has installed lightning rods in schools, while local authorities extend protection to churches and community centres. Public campaigns now teach residents how to stay safe during storms and recognise warning signs of slope failure.

Building a culture of preparedness

These interventions align with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation II (NST2), which treats disaster risk reduction as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The focus is shifting from response to prevention, integrating resilience into agriculture, urban planning, and education.

Musanze-Kigali Road destroyed by a landslide in 2013.

Rwanda’s geography cannot be changed, but its management can. Through reforestation, stronger building standards, and continuous community engagement, the country is building resilience step by step.

On this International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Rwanda’s story stands as both a warning and an inspiration, a reminder that resilience is not built after disaster strikes, but every day through preparation.

Each landslide that scars a hillside and each flash of lightning in the sky reminds Rwanda that survival depends on readiness. The challenge now is not just to recover from disasters, but to stay ahead of the next one.

IGIHE

The fair, which ran from October 10 to 12, was officially inaugurated by the Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwandan companies joined global participants in showcasing the country’s diverse tourism offerings.

Godfrey Rurangwa, Business Operations Manager at Makario Safaris, expressed that the fair provided an invaluable opportunity to build connections and learn from industry peers.

“We were able to engage with counterparts in the sector, exchange ideas about potential collaborations, and discuss ways to mutually promote our platforms in both Rwanda and Poland. This is a great starting point to attract tourists from Poland and the region,” he said.

Rurangwa also expressed his gratitude to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Rwandan Embassy in Poland for their logistical and institutional support.

Similarly, Walter Marcel, representing Mapendano Voyages, also thanked the RDB for facilitating participation.

He noted that the fair was an excellent platform to highlight Rwanda’s attractions, including Nyungwe, Akagera National Park (home to the Big Five), and the gorillas in Virunga National Park.

“It is a privilege for us to be present at TT Warsaw 2025. Rwanda is a country of remarkable beauty, with stunning landscapes, safety, and cleanliness, it deserves to be visited more,” he said.

For Marcel, the fair provided a unique opportunity to directly engage with visitors and Polish tourism professionals, dispelling misconceptions and offering concrete reasons for future travelers to choose Rwanda.

Both Rurangwa and Marcel stressed shared goals, such as strengthening commercial ties between agencies, exchanging digital promotion tools, and creating offers tailored to the European market.

Participants from Rwanda believe TT Warsaw 2025 has laid the foundation for the sustainable development of tourism between Rwanda and Poland.

Aimable Rutagarama, Chairman of the Chamber of Tourism, explained that the fair provided a valuable opportunity to tap into new markets and showcase Rwanda’s attractions to the world, positioning the country as a gateway to the region.

Karirima Aimable Ngarambe

The launch took place at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology (CST-UR) on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the devices, designed to be mounted on both motor vehicles and motorcycles, continuously gather and transmit air quality data in real time. They monitor key indicators such as temperature, humidity, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and gases including ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

Data will be analysed in real time, enabling city administrators and researchers to identify high-risk pollution areas and take early preventive action.

Representing the university, Professor Richard Musabe said the initiative will be highly beneficial to Kigali and its surrounding areas.

Dr. Eric Nizeyimana, the researcher behind the project, explained that the idea began in 2020 as a response to rising global air pollution. The research was conducted at the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT).

'Air pollution is a major challenge in Kigali and beyond. It is crucial to develop sustainable solutions to protect both current and future generations,' Dr. Nizeyimana said. The project will initially focus on Kigali, with plans to expand to other provinces.

Eddah Barasa, Research Grants Officer at the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) under PASET, praised the initiative for its innovative use of technology and potential impact. RSIF/PASET also financially supported the research.

The Clean City IoT Device project not only collects and analyses real-time air quality data to guide preventive measures but also aims to raise public awareness, foster scientific collaboration, and engage communities in protecting urban environments.

Key partners in the project include the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Meteo Rwanda, the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and RSIF/PASET.

The the devices are designed to be mounted on both motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The devices use Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

The project was developed by Dr. Eric Nizeyimana.

Representing the university, Professor Richard Musabe said the initiative will be highly beneficial to Kigali and its surrounding areas.

The project was officially unveiled on Friday, October 10, 2025.

IGIHE

The fair, which brought together key players from the global travel and tourism industry, proved to be an ideal platform for showcasing Rwanda’s tourism offerings.

This marked Rwanda’s first appearance as a main partner of the event, and the country’s stand generated significant interest.

Represented by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda had a prominent space where engaging visuals highlighted the diverse tourist attractions the country has to offer.

The opening ceremony, which was presided over by the Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports, was attended by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Poland, Prof. Anastase Shyaka.

Amb. Shyaka praised the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed his gratitude to the organizers for the unprecedented partnership.

He also emphasized the significance of the Visit Rwanda brand, noting its powerful appeal to tourists from around the globe.

Taking advantage of this visibility, Amb. Shyaka invited TT Warsaw 2025 attendees and visitors to plan a trip to Rwanda and experience the country’s rich cultural and natural offerings firsthand.

The closing ceremony of the fair was marked by a celebration of Rwanda’s cultural heritage, with a spotlight on the Visit Rwanda brand and lively Rwandan dance performances.

In an interview with IGIHE, Amb. Shyaka thanked organizers, and all tourism sector players, including eight Rwandan companies present at the fair.

Kazimierz Cwikla, vice‑president of Ptak Warsaw Expo, largest exhibition center in Poland, hailed Rwanda for an exemplary collaboration and promised continued collaboration.

Throughout the event, Itorero Icyeza ballet captivated attendees with performances showcasing Rwanda’s cultural beauty through songs and traditional dance.

Rwanda was specially recognized as one of the event’s main partners and for its excellence at the trade show. The country was also awarded a certificate and medal of recognition for quality and innovation by PTAK Warsaw Expo.

Rwanda was represented by eight companies.

The closing ceremony of the fair was marked by a celebration of Rwanda’s cultural heritage, with a spotlight on the Visit Rwanda brand and lively Rwandan dance performances.

The 30th edition of the Warsaw International Travel and Tourism Fair (TT Warsaw 2025), in which Rwanda participated for the first time, concluded on a high note on Sunday October 12, 2025.

Karirima Aimable Ngarambe

Key appointments include Laurent Nunez as minister of the interior, Jean-Pierre Farandou as minister of labor, Monique Barbut as minister of ecological transition, Edouard Geffray as minister of national education, and Catherine Vautrin as minister of defense.

Roland Lescure was reappointed as finance minister. Jean-Noel Barrot remains in office as minister of foreign affairs, while Gerald Darmanin has retained his post at the Ministry of Justice.

Lecornu met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace earlier in the evening, according to local media reports. Lecornu proposed “a mix of civil society figures with experience and young parliamentarians” for the second edition of his government.

Lecornu had resigned on Monday, less than a month after his initial appointment and just one day after announcing part of his first cabinet. He was reappointed as prime minister on Friday amid ongoing political tensions.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Sunday evening unveiled the lineup of his new government, comprising a total of 34 ministers, according to the Presidency.

Xinhua