Rwanda has upgraded its national laboratory testing capacity to detect new coronavirus variants with 12 cases of the UK and South Africa variants now confirmed in the country.

Rwanda has eased coronavirus restrictions with movement between Kigali and the majority of the country now permitted, following a significant drop in new infections.

Rwandan Hutu rebels denied allegations they were behind the killing of the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and instead accused the armies of the DRC and Rwanda of responsibility.

Rwanda has started its first phase of vaccination against COVID-19 with the limited 1,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine administered to high-risk groups, including frontline workers.

Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda and also the former Chairperson of the African Union (2018-2019) has just called out Europe and North America for hoarding vaccines i.e. bulk-buying excess doses directly from manufacturers which limits supply and secures better deals to the detriment of governments with less purchasing clout.

Rwanda's capital Kigali was back under total lockdown on Tuesday after a surge in coronavirus cases in a country that has adopted some of Africa's toughest anti-Covid measures.