Blog

Rwanda was also recognized for excellence at the trade show, where the country received a certificate and medal of recognition for quality and innovation from PTAK Warsaw Expo.

Represented by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the country was accorded an exclusive space during the official opening ceremony to showcase captivating visuals that highlighted Rwanda’s diverse tourism attractions.

The fair running from October 10 to 12, was inaugurated by Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Ambassador Prof. Anastase Shyaka representing Rwanda to the country was among the keynote speakers during the opening session.

In his remarks, Amb. Shyaka commended the strong and growing relations between Rwanda and Poland, and expressed gratitude to the organizers of the fair for naming Rwanda the principal partner in its first-ever participation at TT Warsaw 2025.

He also spoke about the Visit Rwanda brand, noting that it represents Rwanda’s uniqueness and positions the country as an exceptional destination for visitors from around the world.

The Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports expressed appreciation to Rwanda for partnering in this year’s event and commended the country’s remarkable preparations to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali.

Speaking to IGIHE, Ambassador Shyaka praised RDB and commended all stakeholders in the tourism sector, including the eight Rwandan companies participating in the fair.

'It is a privilege for us to be here together. These companies will help us showcase the beauty of Rwanda’s tourism over the three days of this event,' he said.

The ceremony also featured a performance by Icyeza traditional dance troupe, whose young men and women entertained the audience with energetic dances and celebrations that captivated the crowd.

Ambassador Prof. Anastase Shyaka addressing participants of the international travel and tourism trade show held in Poland.

Ambassador Prof. Anastase Shyaka representing Rwanda to the country was among the keynote speakers during the opening session.

The Polish Minister of Tourism and Sports expressed appreciation to Rwanda for partnering in this year’s event and commended the country’s remarkable preparations to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali.

Rwanda was also recognized for excellence at TT Warsaw Expo, with Rwanda’s Ambassador in Poland Prof. Anastase Shyaka and RDB Head of Tourism Ariella Kageruka receiving a certificate and medal of recognition for quality and innovation.

The ceremony also featured a performance by Icyeza traditional dance troupe.

Rwanda received a Certificate and Medal of Recognition for Quality and Innovation.

Rwanda’s booth at the trade fair held in Warsaw.

[email protected]

Karirima Aimable Ngarambe

Every October 11, the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child, a moment to reflect on the opportunities and challenges facing girls as they grow into young women.

This year, we ask governments, policymakers and private-sector stakeholders to consider the impact those same young women could have as business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Across Rwanda and Africa, young women are creating businesses, driving innovation, and transforming livelihoods. Yet too often, they are doing so without the social and institutional support that enables success.

Families and communities have a critical role to play in ensuring that when young women take risks by building businesses — and in turn, generating jobs for others in their communities — they are rewarded by being able to access networks that support financial inclusion, rather than being held back by systems that traditionally exclude them.

Rwanda’s efforts in this space offer both promise and perspective. It has made remarkable strides in advancing financial inclusion and increasing access, with 96 percent of adults reporting access to some form of financial service.

Yet research from the Mastercard Foundation reveals persistent gaps in these gains. Only about 22 percent of adults hold formal bank accounts, and just one in four can access formal credit.

For young women in particular — as well as young people in rural areas, refugees, and persons with disabilities — access remains constrained by collateral requirements, financial products (such as business loans, savings accounts, or insurance schemes) that do not reflect their realities, and digital divides that limit opportunities.

Access to finance alone is not enough. For women to succeed, that access must be fair, appropriate, and linked to real opportunities. In practice, this means loans and savings options designed around the real situations women face — such as limited collateral and balancing household and business responsibilities — alongside financial literacy, coaching, and access to markets that help their enterprises grow. It also requires reshaping institutional practices so that women, refugees, and persons with disabilities can benefit on equal terms.

When these barriers are addressed, opportunities increase. For example, we’ve seen partners of the Mastercard Foundation achieve success by enabling young women’s access to agricultural value chains.

Programs like the Supporting and Enhancing Resilient and Viable Employment (SERVE) have helped hundreds of young women by providing low-interest loans, digital savings tools, and financial products that reflect young women’s realities and help them devise strategies for success.

Consider also the example of Allen Umulisa, Founder of RAI Green Stalks Ltd., who turned her vision for export-ready agribusiness into reality through the Value-Adding Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE), another partner program supported by the Mastercard Foundation.

With access to technical expertise, trade facilitation, and financial networks, Allen built a thriving company that exports avocados, chillis, and French beans to international markets. By partnering with youth-led cooperatives, she is creating jobs and income for smallholder farmers (with a focus on women), while proving that young African entrepreneurs can compete globally.

These efforts point to what is possible, yet real change can only be sustained when systems shaped by families and communities change too. The path to entrepreneurship is less lonely when parents share the burden of care, spouses recognize women’s right to invest and lead, and communities normalize young women owning assets such as land.

Women’s entrepreneurship does not just change households — it strengthens communities and contributes to national growth. Research by the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that advancing women’s equality in Africa could add an estimated $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025.

As we commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, we call on policymakers, financial institutions, civil society, families, communities, and development actors to work together to ensure that young women entrepreneurs are not held back by financial, social, or cultural barriers. We challenge other stakeholders to design finance that works for women, create enabling policies, and build environments that support and nurture young women’s success.

Let’s all commit to ensuring that girls and young women who dare to dream of enterprise and leadership grow into women who have the finance, networks, and supportive systems they need to succeed. In doing so, we will strengthen families, communities, and economies for generations to come.

Ivan Ntwali is the Country Director at the Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda.

Ivan Ntwali

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said the move was necessary to prevent service members from missing their regular pay due on October 15.

'I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,' he wrote.

The instruction, which Trump said draws on his authority as Commander in Chief, comes amid growing concern that troops would miss their first paycheck since the shutdown began on October 1.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reportedly notified Congress of plans to reallocate research and development funds within the Department of Defence to cover the payments. According to sources cited by NBC News, there are sufficient funds available for at least two years.

The Defence Department has not yet publicly commented on the directive.

Partisan blame over the shutdown

The shutdown, now in its twelfth day, has deepened the standoff between Republicans and Democrats over a federal spending plan. Democrats have refused to back a Republican proposal unless it includes provisions to maintain key health insurance tax credits and reverse Trump’s cuts to Medicaid, the healthcare program serving low-income and elderly Americans.

Republicans, in turn, accuse Democrats of prolonging the crisis and disrupting essential services. Trump reiterated this position on Saturday, writing: 'The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy.'

Thousands of federal layoffs

While military personnel are considered 'essential' and must continue working even without pay, around 750,000 other federal employees—roughly 40% of the government workforce—have been furloughed without pay.

In a highly unusual move during a shutdown, the Trump administration has begun permanently laying off thousands of workers across several agencies. White House Budget Director Russell Vought confirmed the move Friday, posting on X: 'The RIFs have begun,' referring to 'reductions in force.'

According to administration disclosures, more than 4,000 employees have already been terminated across seven federal agencies. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saw its entire Washington, D.C. office dismissed, including staff working on immunisations, Ebola response, and the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, said the cuts targeted 'nonessential' personnel and were part of efforts to eliminate 'wasteful and duplicative entities' under Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.

Employees at the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were also among those laid off.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the AFL-CIO have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Northern California seeking to block the layoffs, calling them unlawful.

'It is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,' said AFGE President Everett Kelley.

In court filings opposing the unions’ motion, the Justice Department revealed that additional cuts could affect staff at the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The filing argued that halting the layoffs would 'irreparably harm the government.

Trump said the move was necessary to prevent service members from missing their regular pay due on October 15.

President Donald Trump has directed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to pay military personnel despite the federal government shutdown.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos said on Saturday that Washington supports the DRC’s 'decisive step' to implement the accord, calling it crucial for 'facilitating repatriation, restoring state authority, and strengthening stability across the Great Lakes region.'

DRC military issues disarmament order

In a communiqué issued on October 10, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) directed all FDLR factions operating on Congolese territory to immediately lay down their arms and surrender to Congolese authorities or to the UN mission, MONUSCO, for repatriation to Rwanda.

The statement, signed by Major General Ekenge Bomusa Efomi Sylvain, said the order follows the operational directive adopted on October 1 by the Joint Supervisory Committee overseeing the implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement, which was mediated by the United States.

The FARDC also urged civilians living in areas under FDLR influence to cut all ties with the rebel group and to encourage its members to surrender peacefully. It warned that any refusal to comply would lead to forced disarmament 'by coercion or use of force' in accordance with the Washington accord.

The Congolese army further warned its personnel that collaboration of any kind with the FDLR is strictly prohibited, noting that any soldier found aiding or coordinating with the group would face 'severe disciplinary sanctions.'

'The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo exhort the FDLR to facilitate the ongoing peace process by surrendering without violence or bloodshed,' the statement concluded.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda signed the Washington Peace Agreement on June 27, 2025, under U.S. mediation.

Under the deal, Kinshasa committed to dismantling the FDLR, a militia formed by elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Kigali has long raised concerns that the group’s continued presence and cooperation with the Congolese army pose a persistent security threat to Rwanda and regional stability.

The implementation of the Washington Pact has faced setbacks in recent months, with Rwanda accusing President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration of lacking good faith in its execution. It remains to be seen whether the FDLR, which is deeply entrenched within some government forces, will finally be dismantled, potentially easing long-standing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.

In a communiqué issued on October 10, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) directed all FDLR factions operating on Congolese territory to immediately lay down their arms and surrender to Congolese authorities or to the UN mission, MONUSCO, for repatriation to Rwanda.

U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos said on Saturday that Washington supports the DRC’s 'decisive step' to implement the accord, calling it crucial for 'facilitating repatriation, restoring state authority, and strengthening stability across the Great Lakes region.'

Wycliffe Nyamasege

“The Presidency of the Republic wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway,” Rajoelina said in a statement released on Sunday morning.

The warning followed dramatic scenes on Saturday when soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit abandoned their barracks on the outskirts of the capital to join demonstrators at the historic Place du 13 Mai. This is the same unit that played a key role in the 2009 uprising that first brought Rajoelina to power.

The troops were widely reported to have been greeted by cheering crowds as they marched into the city centre, calling on security forces to 'refuse orders to shoot' and condemning what they described as excessive police force used against protesters.

The protests, led largely by young people identifying with a 'Gen Z' movement, began on September 25 in response to chronic power outages and water shortages but have since morphed into a broader call for political reform.

Demonstrators are demanding Rajoelina’s resignation, an apology for violence against protesters, and the dissolution of both the Senate and the electoral commission.

According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the demonstrations began. The government disputes those figures, with President Rajoelina insisting that only 12 people, whom he described as 'looters and vandals', have died.

Prime Minister Ruphin Zafisambo, appointed just weeks ago, urged calm and dialogue in an address on Saturday evening, saying the government 'remains firm but ready to collaborate and listen to all forces — the youth, unions, and the army.' He warned that 'Madagascar will not withstand another crisis if this division among citizens continues.'

The presidency also issued assurances that President Rajoelina 'remains in the country' and is 'managing national affairs.'

Madagascar has a long history of political instability and military interventions since gaining independence from France in 1960. Rajoelina himself rose to prominence during mass protests that ousted then-president Marc Ravalomanana in 2009, with the backing of the same CAPSAT unit now rebelling against him. He went on to win presidential elections in 2018 and 2023, both marred by opposition boycotts.

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has warned of an 'attempt to seize power illegally and by force' after a group of soldiers joined ongoing anti-government protests in the capital, Antananarivo.

An army contingent called on soldiers at the airport to refuse orders to shoot civilians.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The initiative, aimed at supporting the well-being of IDPs, brought together peacekeepers, community members, and partner organisations in a coordinated campaign to reduce the risks and impact of malaria.

During the outreach, participants engaged in clearing overgrown vegetation, eliminating mosquito breeding sites, educating residents on malaria prevention methods, and distributing mosquito repellents to families living in the camp.

Speaking at the event, Colonel Leodomir Uwizeyimana, Commander of the Rwanbatt-3 Contingent and representative of the Rwandan peacekeepers in UNMISS, emphasised the importance of collaboration between peacekeepers and the local community. He encouraged residents to actively maintain a clean environment by removing bushes and stagnant water, crucial steps in preventing malaria transmission.

Simon Khan Lok, Chairman of the Mangateen IDP Camp, praised the initiative, highlighting how the partnership promotes community health by combining education with practical tools to fight malaria.

Malaria continues to pose a serious health challenge in Mangateen, located on the outskirts of Juba. This outreach activity underscores the shared commitment of Rwandan peacekeepers, diaspora groups, and health organisations to improving the living conditions and health outcomes of displaced residents.

The initiative, aimed at supporting the well-being of IDPs, brought together peacekeepers, community members, and partner organisations in a coordinated campaign to reduce the risks and impact of malaria.

During the outreach, participants engaged in clearing overgrown vegetation, eliminating mosquito breeding sites, educating residents on malaria prevention methods, and distributing mosquito repellents to families living in the camp.

IGIHE

While the total value of all exports, including non-merchandise items, fell by 14.5 percent to USD 1,182.7 million, down from USD 1,382.7 million in the same period of 2024, the nation’s core merchandise export earnings grew by 6.2 percent, reaching USD 826.0 million from USD 777.7 million.

This growth was driven by gains in traditional crops and manufactured goods, highlighting a healthy shift in Rwanda’s export profile.

Traditional goods surge, manufacturing rises

Traditional exports, a cornerstone of the economy, led the momentum, with revenues increasing by 29.7 percent to USD 254.3 million, up from USD 196.2 million in the first half of 2024. These goods now account for 30.8 percent of total merchandise exports, up from 25.2 percent in the same period last year.

Coffee receipts soared by 159.1 percent, while mineral exports rose by 30.8 percent. These strong performances were supported by favourable weather and higher global commodity prices. Tea, however, recorded a 3.2 percent decline due to a 4.7 percent drop in unit prices, despite a modest 1.6 percent increase in volumes.

In the first quarter of 2025, coffee receipts soared by 159.1 percent.

Non-traditional exports also gained traction, rising 22.7 percent to USD 212.2 million from USD 173.0 million, increasing their share of merchandise exports to 25.7 percent from 22.2 percent.

Imports and the widening deficit

Despite export gains, the overall merchandise trade deficit widened by 3.6 percent to USD 1,488.4 million, from USD 1,436.3 million in the first half of 2024, driven by a 4.5 percent increase in merchandise imports, which reached USD 2,314.3 million.

Rising imports reflect strong domestic demand for capital and intermediate goods. Consumer goods imports grew 18.9 percent in value and 12.6 percent in volume. Food imports rose 19.3 percent in value and 13.0 percent in volume, while non-food products increased 18.5 percent in value and 10.2 percent in volume.

A major export commodity, Rwandan tea is known for its quality and has found success in niche markets in Europe and Asia.

Consequently, the export-to-import ratio fell to 45.3 percent, down from 49.1 percent, a 7.8 percent decline.

Re-exports fell by 17.6 percent to USD 277.4 million, reducing their share of total merchandise exports to 33.6 percent from 43.3 percent. Conversely, informal cross-border trade increased slightly to 9.9 percent, up from 9.2 percent.

Regional trade

Rwanda recorded strong performance within the East African Community (EAC). Formal exports to the EAC surged 30.4 percent to USD 155.1 million from USD 118.9 million, driven by growth to the Democratic Republic of Congo (up 72.9 percent) and Uganda (up 26.4 percent).

Rwanda recorded strong performance within the East African Community (EAC). Formal exports to the EAC surged 30.4 percent to USD 155.1 million from USD 118.9 million.

At the same time, imports from EAC countries contracted 28.9 percent to USD 545.5 million from USD 767.4 million, mainly due to sharp declines from Kenya (84.5 percent drop) and Tanzania (25.4 percent drop). As a result, Rwanda’s trade deficit with the EAC narrowed by 39.8 percent, falling to USD 390.4 million from USD 648.6 million.

IGIHE

While technology continues to offer numerous opportunities — from innovation and learning to improving productivity — it has also brought with it a wave of risks, especially for children who often lack the maturity to discern appropriate online content.

According to officials, these risks fall into four categories: information-related, contact-related, behaviour-related, and contractual.

Information-related risks include exposure to degrading or pornographic material, violent or hateful content, fake news, and content that promotes bad behaviour.

Contact-related risks involve child trafficking, harassment, hate speech, intimidation, sexual solicitation, and online grooming.

Behaviour-related risks include cyberbullying, receiving sexually explicit messages, sharing of nude or revenge images, public humiliation, impersonation, coercion, and gambling, among others.

Authorities warn that such exposure has serious psychological and moral effects on children. In response, Rwanda has introduced a new Child Online Protection Policy, adopted in September 2025, aimed at ensuring a safer digital environment for children.

The policy calls for close collaboration between government institutions and internet service providers to detect and block harmful content before it reaches children. It also provides for clear legal and regulatory frameworks enabling authorities to sanction platforms that fail to remove flagged material.

Additionally, the framework seeks to establish systems for monitoring online offenders in line with international standards.

To discourage the production and consumption of pornographic material, the policy introduces ethical guidelines for technology developers and service providers, requiring them to uphold Rwandan cultural values and prioritise children’s safety online.

It also seeks to ensure that minors do not access age-inappropriate content and that children’s data stored on devices or online platforms is adequately protected. The policy further encourages responsible advertising by requiring online marketing to be categorised according to age groups.

Service providers will be obliged to put in place mechanisms to identify and restrict content unsuitable for minors.

To strengthen accountability, the government plans to establish a toll-free hotline through which citizens can report harmful online content, seek assistance from experts, and request the removal or suspension of offending websites.

Children under 18 make up nearly half of Rwanda’s population. The government aims to make the internet accessible to all, while ensuring that young users are equipped with digital literacy and protection mechanisms.

The Child Online Protection Policy envisions an inclusive digital environment that safeguards children’s rights while promoting safe and responsible technology use.

The policy will be implemented over a five-year period with an estimated budget of Frw 1.52 billion.

Its implementation will involve multiple institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), RURA, RISA, REB, the Rwanda National Police, and other partners.

The new policy calls for close collaboration between government institutions and internet service providers to detect and block harmful content before it reaches children.

IGIHE

Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had spoken with Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, about preparations for their return. An Israeli official told Kan public broadcaster that the army expects the hostages to arrive before Monday morning.

“The IDF has completed its preparations for the release of the hostages and assesses that all of them will be released before Trump’s arrival,” the official said.

Media reports suggested that Hamas has told mediators it is prepared to release all 20 living hostages as early as Sunday, ahead of a Monday deadline under the ceasefire agreement, if Israel frees at least two of seven high-profile Palestinian prisoners previously removed from the release list. It is unclear whether Israel will accept the condition.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas will release 20 living and 28 deceased hostages held in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel will free roughly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and allow increased humanitarian aid into the enclave, devastated by Israeli strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel is ready to receive hostages “immediately,” amid reports that Hamas may release them later in the day under certain conditions.

Xinhua

'It is already very rare to see an independent film, and even rarer to see an independent African one. So, we wanted to expose them to that,' explains Scott Hillier, founder of the festival and partner of the French Institute.

The students, from Green Hills Academy and the École Française Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, participated in a contest aimed at developing their critical thinking.

'They had to judge a film based on its performance, the emotion it evoked, its aesthetics, and its story. This engaged them a lot, and they all voted for a film to award it a prize,' Hillier adds.

The festival also allowed the young audience to discover films from other international festivals curated by Hillier, offering a global panorama of independent cinema.

'We presented African films, then films from the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe. Their reaction surprised me: they really enjoyed it and actively participated in the voting,' he says.

Among the films screened, Deja Nu from Côte d’Ivoire and The Yellow Dress from Kenya particularly impressed Hillier, whom he describes as showcasing raw, emotional, and authentic storytelling talent.

In total, 21 films are competing this year, across 14 categories, ranging from feature films to documentaries, student films, and experimental works. The festival also offers the Rwandan Film Students Special Award, allowing Rwandan students to screen their films on a big screen in front of an audience outside their school.

Hillier emphasises the importance of promoting authentic stories. 'Seeing the amazed faces of young viewers reinforces this choice. We want to tell impactful stories that spark conversations, even if opinions are divided,' he says.

The inaugural screening was initiated by the director of the French Institute in Rwanda, Ms. Lee Fou Messica, and organised in collaboration with Aimée Umutoni Kabuguza, who convinced Scott Hillier to hold the first edition of the AAIFF in Rwanda rather than in Cape Town.

In this school screening, the students’ votes awarded Beyond The Ring, a South African documentary directed by Mari Geldenhuys and Malcolm Rainers, as the winner of their competition. Meanwhile, the main festival will officially kick off on Friday and run through Sunday, with the grand prize to be awarded during Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Among the young Rwandan talents present, Méthode Muhire, a film student at East African University Rwanda (EAUR), shared his journey: 'At first, I knew nothing about cinema. After a brief course in video production and some experience in photography and videography, I decided to develop my skills at university. Today, I have made two short films, won two international awards, and am working on a new project called Fallout.'

For Hillier, Kigali proves to be an ideal location for the festival: 'This is where it all happens. Rwandans have warmly welcomed the festival, and we hope to host even more participants this year.'

Moreover, the AAIFF is part of the Ecu Festival Group and continues to promote African independent cinema, giving a voice to a new generation of filmmakers.

The French Institute in Kigali, in partnership with the AAIFF, presented independent African films, offering Rwandan high school students a rare opportunity to discover the continent’s cinema.

The initiative was organized by the French Institute in Rwanda in partnership with Scott Hillier, the festival’s founder and partner.

Scott Hillier emphasizes the importance of promoting authentic stories.

Among the young Rwandan talents present was Méthode Muhire, a film student at East African University Rwanda (EAUR).

Méthode Muhire noted that he has already produced two short films and received two international awards.

Hillier considers Kigali an ideal venue for the festival.

IGIHE