Today, however, Rwanda has moved past these events, with cross-border trade once again picking up between residents of Rubavu town and Goma, which is currently under the control of AFC/M23.
In an interview with IGIHE, the Mayor of Rubavu, Prosper Mulindwa, discussed these events, trade between residents of Rubavu and Goma, investment opportunities in the area, and the threat previously posed by the FDLR terrorist group.
As we begin 2026, how would you assess how things went for the district last year?
Mulindwa: 2025 is a year that Rubavu residents will not forget, especially around this time, between January 26 and 27, 2026, when the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) attempted to launch artillery strikes at Rwanda in an effort to destabilize our security.
However, their efforts were thwarted due to our country's strong defense and the bravery of the Rwandan army.
The battle in Goma led to the AFC/M23 taking control, and significant changes followed. The challenges caused by FDLR, Wazalendo, and other groups that had been trying to disrupt Rwanda's security were defeated and pushed far away, alleviating concerns of insecurity that had been linked to Congo.
Property damaged during the conflict has been repaired, and we assisted 16 families who lost loved ones in the attacks, as well as those who were injured. This support helped revive trade between Goma and Gisenyi, which had previously been disrupted due to the closure of the Kabuhanga border, but is now fully operational.
The main border at Grande Barrière now closes at 6 p.m., whereas the smaller border closes at 12 a.m., a significant change from its previous closure at 9 a.m. This has energized both small and large traders, with an average of 100 to 120 trucks crossing into Rwanda daily to transport goods to Goma.
The transformation in the district is evident, and hope is on the rise. Barriers that once made it difficult for people from the DR Congo to trade in Rwanda have been removed, leading to a significant increase in border crossings.
For example, Grande Barrière now sees 6,000 to 8,000 people crossing daily, while the smaller border handles 36,000 users each dayâ€"compared to the past, when trade was almost nonexistent.
Today, people are happier and continue to invest in various sectors. This growth shows that we are heading toward larger projects, and we are seeing a rapid development of the city as most people are now requesting permits to build multi-story buildings, accelerating the city's development.
How would you describe Rwanda's relationship with AFC/M23, now that they have become a neighboring presence?
We cannot say that there is a relationship as we are not concerned with that. Our focus is on whether our borders are functioning. And as far as the borders are concerned, they are open and functioning well. Our citizens travel there and return peacefully. That alone gives us confidence that there is peace in Congo and that the residents there are not causing harm to our people.
Before, we had people trying to destabilize our security, some of whom we arrested in Rwanda. They came with ill intentions, but there has been no security threat from Congo. Our concern is how our people are treated when they cross into Congo, how they are received, how they cross the border, the services they receive, and how they return with good stories. This shows that the country is not a threat to us, and that continues to be the case today.
Are you referring to the FDLR as the group that was behind efforts to destabilize Rwanda?
Yes, it is FDLR, and as you know, FDLR had been integrated into the FARDC (Congolese military), making it difficult to distinguish between the two. They had been operating on the Congo side of the border, and you could hear them speaking Kinyarwanda language.
These people are no longer here. AFC/M23 has defeated them, and they have moved far away.
We also had some of our own citizens who had joined FDLR and Wazalendo in the past, but they have returned to Rwanda and received training at Mutobo and reintegrated into society.
Over 150 of them have returned. This shows that the security issue was real, especially when people tried to bring in new fighters and recruit our citizens into their military to fight against us.
Shifting focus from the FDLR, what is the current situation regarding drugs coming across the border?
The issue of drugs is still present. However, the legal systems between our two countries are not aligned, so what is prohibited in Rwanda might be allowed in Congo. This challenge continues because the laws have not been harmonized yet.
In Rwanda, drugs are illegal, and we intercept them at the border whenever attempts are made to smuggle them. While we have not completely stopped this, we remain committed to protecting our borders and raising awareness among citizens. Those caught in the illegal drug trade are arrested, and the law is enforced.
How is Rubavu faring in terms of business and tourism?
After these challenges, our tourism sector picked up in 2025, to the point where there were days when we welcomed more tourists than our available infrastructure could accommodate. In July 2025, we even had so many visitors that all rooms were fully booked, reflecting the growing popularity of Rubavu.
Domestic tourism, with Rwandans coming from other parts of the country, has grown, and many people continue to book new hotels and call on us for support as they implement the national development vision. Construction is still ongoing, so in the near future we will have many more hotels, and we continue to attract new investors.
There is also demand for state land for investments, and we are seeing positive developments in agriculture and livestock, with increased productivity.
In 2025, we also launched a new tourism project, including the Nengo Hill hike and tourism based on conferences, which will complement our tourism sector.
All of this has contributed to raising the district's commercial profile. The taxes collected from businesses have increased significantly, from Rwf4.2 billion to Rwf5 billion, showing that the private sector is thriving.
Rubavu has a new port. How has it transformed water transport?
This is the first time Rubavu has had such a port, and it has opened a new route for cross-border trade. We were used to land borders, but because our neighbor, Congo, has vast areas that are more accessible by water, the port has been a great addition. The port has made it easier for goods to reach parts of Congo that were previously hard to access, greatly benefiting cross-border trade.
Today, over 90 vessels use the port, and goods produced in Rwanda now have an easier route to DR Congo, opening up new opportunities in business and helping us make better use of Lake Kivu.
There's been talk of introducing public ferry services. How far along is this plan?
The public ferry service is still under preparation, but things are progressing well. The port now has a section dedicated to passengers, and we are in the process of constructing larger ferries to carry more passengers. The President has already approved the ferry for the Nkombo residents in Rusizi, and this will be used by everyone, not just Nkombo residents. The ferry is still being built.
Regarding legal reforms, the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) has presented the project that will regulate passenger transport by water. This is still being reviewed, and the relevant authorities are evaluating it before final approval.
We expect to see the water transport system operational soon, both from a ferry perspective and legally. There will be new signs to guide boats and established routes.
What is the status of plans to upgrade Rubavu's airport and launch RwandAir flights?
The airport project has been in preparation for some time, and we've received information that preparations for flights to Rubavu are almost complete. However, we are still awaiting the exact start date. This is a large-scale project that involves regulatory work, ensuring airport security, and preparing other facilities for the flights.
We are told the project is almost ready, and we are waiting for the announcement of the start date. Everything else has been prepared, and there have been no major obstacles. We expect the launch to happen soon.
What are Rubavu's prospects for 2026?
We will continue from where we left off. We are focusing on urban planning to ensure that people build properly and use the land effectively. We are also helping people invest in infrastructure and grow their businesses. Rubavu will continue to be a key economic hub with new multi-story buildings, improved public spaces, and more opportunities for investors.
Rubavu residents are encouraged to make use of the industrial zone, and we continue to focus on agriculture and livestock to improve production. We will keep working towards sustainable growth for everyone in the district.
IGIHE
