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In 2023, the IRMCT Appeals Chamber ruled to discontinue Kabuga’s trial, citing that he was unfit to stand trial due to serious health conditions. Since then, he has remained in custody in The Hague, Netherlands.

On 9 September 2025, Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and his team stated that although Kabuga has repeatedly complained that his continued detention violates his fundamental rights, European countries he sought to be relocated to have refused to host him.

'Yet, two years later, Kabuga remains in limbo, while complaining that his continuing detention violates his most fundamental rights. His preferred European states have proved unwilling to accept him and the Host State is unequivocal that Kabuga 'cannot be released onto its territory’' reads the prosecution’s submission.

The prosecution further argued that there should be no concerns about transferring Kabuga to Rwanda, stressing that medical arrangements will be made during the flight.

'The Prosecution therefore requests that the Trial Chamber decide on Kabuga’s provisional release,' he noted.

Brammertz and his team also emphasized that further decisions on Kabuga’s case should not be delayed on grounds of medical records, since much of his health information is already public.

Félicien Kabuga, once one of Rwanda’s wealthiest businessmen, has long been identified as a leading financier of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He is accused of, among other charges, importing massive quantities of machetes that were distributed and used in the killings.

Kabuga was arrested in France on 16 May 2020 after 26 years as a fugitive. In October that year, he was transferred to The Hague to face trial before the IRMCT.

The charges against him included genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination, and persecution.

The IRMCT has clarified that the suspension of proceedings did not amount to an acquittal, nor did it establish guilt.

Kabuga was arrested in France on 16 May 2020 after 26 years as a fugitive. In October that year, he was transferred to The Hague to face trial before the IRMCT.

IRMCT Prosecution led by Serge Brammertz has requested the provisional release and transfer of Kabuga to Rwanda.

IGIHE

The figures show a slight easing from the 7.3 percent recorded in July 2025. The report published on Wednesday, September 10, indicates that food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 5.4 percent over the year and 0.9 percent compared to July.

Alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and narcotics saw sharper increases, climbing 13.5 percent year-on-year and 1.4 percent on a monthly basis.

Health services recorded the steepest rise, surging by 70.5 percent compared to August last year, although they registered a marginal decline of 0.1 percent from July.

Transport costs went up by 6.9 percent over the year and 0.1 percent month-on-month, while restaurants and hotels posted an annual increase of 18.5 percent and a monthly rise of 0.8 percent.

The report also highlights differences between product categories. Local products rose by 6.7 percent over the year, while imported goods increased by 8.3 percent.

Prices of fresh products rose by 6.2 percent year-on-year and 1.5 percent on a monthly basis. Energy prices were relatively stable, increasing by 2.5 percent on an annual basis but falling by 0.4 percent compared to July.

Excluding fresh products and energy, the general index rose by 7.8 percent year-on-year and 0.6 percent month-on-month.

Prices of fresh products rose by 6.2 percent year-on-year and 1.5 percent on a monthly basis.

The report shows that local products rose by 6.7 percent over the year, while imported goods increased by 8.3 percent.

IGIHE

According to Chief Executive Officer Regis Rugemanshuro, this performance reflects an average annual increase of 16.7 percent over the past five years.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, RSSB officials presented the institution’s overall performance from 2021 to 2025.

Rugemanshuro highlighted that RSSB’s total assets have doubled in five years, climbing to Frw 3 trillion as of June 2025.

The return on investment also rose sharply, moving from 1.4 percent in 2021 to 14.2 percent in June 2025. Based on the Frw 2.846 trillion investment portfolio, this translated into profits of Frw 361.7 billion.

'Over the last five years, RSSB has reshaped its investment approach by focusing on sustainable real estate projects and subjecting all new investments to thorough due diligence,' Rugemanshuro said. 'The results are clear, and this is the strategy we intend to maintain.'

He added that in addition to reviving underperforming assets, the institution successfully exited certain investments at a profit. 'Some investments reach maturity, and when that happens, divesting at the right moment allows us to strengthen our portfolio,' he noted.

Rugemanshuro also dismissed past criticism that RSSB was operating at a loss, saying current results demonstrate sound financial management.

'This confirms that members’ contributions are being well protected, invested for their benefit, and used to support national development and job creation,' he emphasized.

The report further showed an expansion in healthcare partnerships. The number of health facilities working with RSSB under the Community-Based Health Insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) increased from 953 in 2021 to 1,182 in 2025, while those under the Rwandaise d’Assurance Maladie (RAMA) scheme rose from 810 to 1,152.

Despite this progress, Rugemanshuro acknowledged that real estate investments, currently accounting for 10 percent of RSSB’s portfolio, face challenges.

'Delays in project implementation remain an issue, from project initiation to completion, due both to follow-up capacity and inefficiencies in the construction sector,' he said. 'This is an area where we must intensify efforts.'

Among the ongoing projects is Heza Estate, where 70 percent of the houses under construction have already been reserved by buyers even as works near completion.

RSSB is also planning to expand developments on land near the Kigali Golf Course, with plans including a five-star hotel and other projects in collaboration with private investors.

Rugemanshuro concluded that, while there is room for improvement, the last five years have shown remarkable progress. He stressed that RSSB continues to play a vital role in safeguarding members’ assets while contributing to Rwanda’s broader development goals.

RSSB Chief Executive Officer Regis Rugemanshuro highlighted that RSSB’s total assets have doubled in five years, climbing to Frw 3 trillion as of June 2025.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, RSSB officials presented the institution’s overall performance from 2021 to 2025.

The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) has reported strong financial growth, with profits totaling Frw 361.7 billion over the past five years, reaching this figure by June 2025.

IGIHE

A ceremony was held near the dam in the northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region to celebrate the project’s official completion.

It was attended by senior Ethiopian officials, African leaders and representatives from the African Union and other international organizations, including African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Kenyan President William Ruto, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

Construction of the 5,150-megawatt hydropower project began in 2011 on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border.

Addressing the event, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted the dam’s potential to strengthen the national economy by providing stable energy for industry, improving livelihoods and advancing regional energy integration.

“Congratulations to all Ethiopians, both at home and abroad, as well as to our friends around the world, on the historic inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” he said.

The project, with a designed total water storage capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, has long been a source of tension among the three Nile-bound countries of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. While Cairo and Khartoum fear the dam will reduce their water share, Addis Ababa maintains that the project will not harm downstream countries.

“We are firm believers in collective advancement,” Abiy said, reaffirming Ethiopia’s commitment to pursuing growth without undermining its neighbors’ interests.

The Blue Nile, known as the Abay River in Ethiopia, originates from Lake Tana about 570 km north of Addis Ababa and is one of the Nile River’s two main tributaries.

Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2025, shows the transmission lines of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the northwestern Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Ethiopia on Tuesday officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydropower project in Africa.

Xinhua

The three-month course was designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to safeguard people and their property, even under challenging situations.

The IGP Namuhoranye highlighted the remarkable transformation made by the trainees during the course, noting improvements in both their technical abilities and their overall professionalism and attitude.

'You now graduate not just with new skills, but with the responsibility and capacity to carry out critical missions under pressure — with discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights, both at home and abroad,' said IGP Namuhoranye.

He further urged them to maintain the commitment, discipline, and resilience that defined their training as they move into operational duties.

'Let the dedication and professionalism you demonstrated during training continue to guide you in your daily work, wherever your mission may take you.'

The SWAT course is part of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) broader strategy to build a highly skilled, professional, and adaptable police force capable of responding to modern security threats both domestically and in international peacekeeping or in crisis response operations.

The three-month course was designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to safeguard people and their property, even under challenging situations.

The IGP Namuhoranye urged trainees to maintain the commitment, discipline, and resilience that defined their training as they move into operational duties.

IGIHE

Security sources confirmed that Gasita left the city in the early hours of September 9, 2025.

His departure is credited with restoring a measure of calm after days of unrest. Reports suggest he was secretly escorted to Bujumbura with the assistance of his bodyguards and Burundian soldiers.

The general’s flight came a day after violent protests in Uvira on September 8 that left three people dead and five others injured, according to South Kivu provincial authorities.

Demonstrators, led by Wazalendo fighters and supported by civilians, first marched to the office of Mayor Kifara Kapenda to demand Gasita’s removal, accusing him of being a potential traitor. They later went to the hotel where he was staying, prompting his guards to open fire on the crowd.

Alexis Byaduniya, a Wazalendo member, said: 'His guards panicked when we delivered the message, fearing an attack on the hotel. They responded by shooting at civilians.'

President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Gasita in December 2024 to lead the 33rd Military Region, first stationed in Bukavu. He later moved to Kindu in February 2025 when M23 rebels captured the city. In September 2025, Tshisekedi assigned him to Uvira, a decision strongly opposed by Wazalendo.

Protests began on September 2 when residents learned of his arrival. Roads were blocked, daily activities halted, and demonstrators vowed to continue until Gasita was forced out.

While Wazalendo members alleged that the general is Rwandan, the Congolese army denied this, stressing that he remains Congolese and enjoys government support.

Brigadier General Olivier Gasita, head of operations and intelligence in the 33rd Military Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army (FARDC), has fled Uvira following sustained pressure from the Wazalendo militia.

IGIHE

The incident occurred on September 9, 2025, at around 11 a.m., when laborers were reinforcing a retaining wall built to hold back soil. Some workers were positioned beneath the wall, while others were adding soil on top when it suddenly gave way.

Security officials, local authorities, and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) arrived swiftly at the scene to provide reassurance and launch investigations.

Nyamasheke District Mayor, Narcisse Mupenzi, confirmed the arrests, saying: ' Ongoing investigation has led to the arrest of two individuals.'

The suspects are reported to be the site engineer and supervisor. Sources indicate that 13 injured workers including eight in critical condition were transferred to Kibogora Hospital for treatment.

Belyse Uwingabiye, human resources manager at DNG Ltd, the company contracted to build the plant, said about 50 employees had been working on the wall at the time.

Florien Ndahayo, the lead mason on site, described the incident as a tragic accident, noting that the wall had been built in line with soil test results and the approved design.

Two people have been arrested in Nyamasheke District after a retaining wall collapsed at the construction site of the Nyirahindwe I hydropower plant, killing eight workers and injuring 13 others.

Construction works have been going on for two years.

IGIHE

They made the call during the Second Africa Climate Summit, held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa from Monday to Wednesday under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”

Charting Africa’s common climate future, African leaders at the summit highlighted the potential of African-led solutions in renewable energy, climate adaptation, green growth, and nature-based resilience.

Proposing the launch of the African Climate Innovation Compact, a continent-wide partnership uniting research institutions, leadership, startups, rural communities, and innovators, to African leaders at the summit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that, with the right partnership and investments, Africa can take the lead in solving the global climate crisis.

He said the continent is endowed with unique assets, including a burgeoning young population bursting with creativity and innovation, vast arable land capable of feeding a growing continent and beyond, as well as the fastest-growing solar belt on earth.

“Africa did not cause this crisis, yet Africa can lead in solving it. We have the solutions to restore degraded lands, to capture carbon, and to produce green and clean power. We know what needs to be done,” Abiy said, highlighting the East African country’s own climate action records, including the Green Legacy Initiative that saw 48 billion trees planted since its launch in 2019, as well as critical green infrastructure development initiatives.

According to the Ethiopian prime minister, the proposed climate compact, structured around five pillars of innovation discovery, financing, knowledge development, policy enablement, and public engagement, aims to deliver 1,000 African climate solutions by 2030 across energy, agriculture, water, transport, and resilience by mobilizing African leadership, global partnerships, and private sector investment.

Highlighting the dwindling international climate action commitments, Kenyan President William Ruto stressed the urgent need “to secure Africa’s rightful place in the global economy,” urging African countries to remain steadfast in building a modern, green, and inclusive industrial base.

“Today, climate action risks being sidelined as national security and short-term interests. Development assistance is shrinking,” Ruto said. “It has never been more urgent for Africa to stand together and demonstrate that collaboration delivers prosperity and peace for all of us.”

The Kenyan president emphasized that realizing Africa’s vision of climate-positive growth requires dual actions. Africa must exercise its agency decisively, urgently, and coherently, while the international system must dismantle the structural barriers that continue to hold Africa back.

African leaders at the summit voiced a unified call for the reform of the global financial architecture, as well as for grant-based financial flow and investment commitments, to accelerate Africa’s resilient and green development.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on his part, stressed that Africa needs “genuine cooperation for the implementation of our continent’s adaptation plans by providing financial resources, technology, and expertise.”

Calling for “fair, significant, and predictable” global climate finance, he said the continent’s vulnerability due to climate change, debt burden, and the structural inequalities of the international financial architecture must be redressed through climate justice.

As Africa’s flagship climate gathering, the summit, co-hosted by Ethiopia and the AU, brought together African heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, experts, and heads of international partners to chart the continent’s common climate future.

African leaders on Monday emphasized the need to redefine the continent’s role in global climate action, positioning it as a crucial player in shaping the future climate economy.

Xinhua

Their arrest came as a shock, as they maintain that they are ordinary citizens engaged in private activities with no links to Rwanda’s security services. However, the Burundian prosecution insisted that the women had travelled to Bujumbura with intentions to undermine the country’s security.

In an interview with IGIHE, Nizeyimana explained that she and Nyirahabineza had entered Burundi through the Kobero border with Tanzania. They presented their documents, were asked about their purpose of travel, and explained that they were going to attend a wedding in Bujumbura, even showing an official invitation.

'We boarded a public vehicle, a Probox, and travelled. When we reached Gitega, the driver made a mistake. He was stopped by police but refused to halt when signalled,' she said.

According to her, when the vehicle was later stopped by other police officers, the driver was asked for his documents, and all passengers were ordered to step out. They were accused of being on a mission to destabilise Burundi.

'Nearby, there was a police station. They took us there, searched us, confiscated our phones, but found nothing suspicious. We thought the matter was over and waited to be released. Around 5 p.m., an officer came to interrogate us. We explained everything and hoped to be freed since there was no wrongdoing on our part.'

Instead, Nizeyimana, Nyirahabineza, and the driver were detained overnight. The police told them they were only waiting for fuel to transfer them back to the Rwandan border. The following day, however, an officer returned their luggage except for one item: a wristwatch belonging to Nyirahabineza.

'When we asked about the watch, the officer became angry and accused us of insulting him. He then reported us to his superiors, leading to a decision to keep us detained again.'

Although the watch was later returned, the situation escalated. On the following Sunday, the Prosecutor General came to take their statements. They expected release afterwards but were instead transferred to Gitega Central Prison, where they were held for months without trial.

With the intervention of a human rights organisation, the women were eventually brought before the court in June, facing charges of espionage. The prosecution demanded life imprisonment, but they maintained their innocence.

On August 22, the court acquitted them, but they were not released immediately as the prosecution was given time to appeal. By August 29, with no appeal filed, the Ministry of Justice ordered their release. However, their travel documents, including passports, remained withheld.

Thanks to support from the Embassy of Rwanda in Bujumbura, their documents were returned on September 3, and the following day, they flew back to Rwanda.

Nizeyimana recalled: 'On September 4, we went to Bujumbura, where the Embassy bought us flight tickets, and we returned home.'

She also described prison conditions in Gitega, where inmates are provided with raw food such as beans and flour but must buy charcoal to cook.

'It’s not sustainable. If they give you beans and flour but no charcoal, you must buy it yourself. Otherwise, the food they give you cannot last until the next distribution.'

Because mobile phone access inside Gitega Prison is relatively easy, relatives were able to send them money to supplement their diet.

'Overall, we were not treated badly. The country has faced challenges, but friends and family supported us as much as they could.'

She credited their acquittal to divine intervention: 'It was God who helped us win the case. On our own, we could never have managed.'

Nizeyimana added that in Gitega Central Prison, there is another young Rwandan man who has been imprisoned since 2021, although she was unable to speak to him in detail about his case.

Nizeyimana and Nyirahabineza entered Burundi through the Kobero border, but their journey ended in Gitega.

Nizeyimana and Nyirahabineza spent six months in Gitega Central Prison.

IGIHE

Citing an airport source, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) said that the airspace over Warsaw Chopin Airport has reopened.

“Due to the restrictions and closure of airspace, disruptions and delays that may last all day should be expected,” Warsaw Airport said. It added that passengers should check the current flight status on the airport website and obtain detailed information directly from the carriers.

According to local media RMF24, the airspace over the airports in Modlin and Rzeszow has also reopened, but remains closed over Lublin.

LOT Polish Airlines spokesman Krzysztof Moczulski announced this morning on platform X that due to the temporary closure of airspace, some LOT flights were redirected to other airports in Poland.

Polish military shot down drones over Poland after Polish airspace was repeatedly violated overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to a statement from Polish Armed Forces Operational Command.

According to PAP, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command has activated all necessary procedures. Polish and allied aircraft are operating in Polish airspace, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of readiness.

Poland on Tuesday night closed four airports, including its largest Chopin Airport in Warsaw, due to “unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security,” according to notices posted on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s website.

The closure of key Polish airports came after Warsaw claimed that “drone-type objects” had violated its airspace from neighboring Ukraine.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday that the country’s air force has used weapons against hostile objects that have entered Polish airspace.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday on social platform X that the Polish airspace was violated by a “huge number of Russian drones,” and some posed a “direct threat.”

Xinhua