The decision on Sunday “could lead to the dispossession of Palestinians of their property and risks expanding Israeli control over land in the area,” said a statement issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Such measures, including Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, “are not only destabilizing but, as recalled by the International Court of Justice, unlawful,” it added.
The UN chief called on the Israeli government to immediately reverse these measures, and again warned that the current trajectory on the ground is eroding the prospect for the two-state solution, the statement said.
Guterres reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.
“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law,” the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the Israeli government’s decision to resume land registration procedures in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
According to SA News, the discovery was made by Dr. Massimo Meregalli from Italy and Dr. Roman Borovec from the Czech Republic.
These respected entomologists recently published their research on flightless weevils found in remote parts of the park. These tiny insects live in the soil, hidden under shrubs, and mostly come out at night, making them very hard to find and study. Therefore, their discovery required meticulous fieldwork in the Richtersveld’s challenging environment.
SA News quoted a statement by South African National Parks (SANParks) as saying, “With the support and guidance of Richtersveld National Park Nursery Curator Pieter van Wyk, the researchers explored the remote Armmanshoek Valley, an area not previously surveyed for soil insects.”
“Their efforts resulted in the identification of multiple new species, further confirming the Richtersveld as a hotspot of endemism and scientific importance,” it said.
To honor the park’s importance for conservation and SANParks’ support for research, the scientists named a newly found group and species “Richtersveldiella sanparkensis.”
This is the first insect species to be officially named after SANParks and Richtersveld National Park. The researchers have also previously honored the local culture by naming other groups, Khoisan and Nama, recognizing the long history of connection between the communities and this unique land.
“These discoveries highlight the importance of continued scientific exploration within protected areas and reinforce SANParks’ commitment to conserving not only iconic wildlife and landscapes, but also the often-overlooked species that form the foundation of healthy ecosystems,” SANParks said.
“The naming of Richtersveldiella sanparkensis stands as a lasting scientific tribute to the Richtersveld and SANParks’ ongoing dedication to biodiversity conservation,” it added.
To honor the park’s importance for conservation and SANParks’ support for research, the scientists named a newly found group and species “Richtersveldiella sanparkensis.”
Over the years, BRALIRWA’s involvement in Tour du Rwanda has evolved beyond sponsorship, becoming an integral part of the race’s identity and fan experience.
For the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 1, the leading beverage company will participate through its premium beer brand Amstel, which has long been a Gold Sponsor of the race for several consecutive years.
Celebrating performance and authenticity
At the heart of BRALIRWA’s Tour du Rwanda engagement is Amstel 100% PURE MALT, a brand whose values of authenticity, craftsmanship, and consistency align naturally with the discipline and endurance of professional cycling.
As part of its sponsorship, Amstel will once again award the daily stage winners, a tradition that has become a defining moment of each racing day, celebrating excellence, resilience, and achievement on Rwanda’s demanding routes.
Beyond the competitive aspect, BRALIRWA continues to elevate the Tour du Rwanda experience for fans by hosting After-Race Experiences at stage finishes. These moments bring spectators together to celebrate the day’s racing, reinforcing Tour du Rwanda as not just a sporting competition, but a shared national celebration.
Bringing fans closer
In line with its commitment to shared moments and friendship, BRALIRWA, through Amstel, will actively participate in the Tour du Rwanda Social Ride, a unique experience allowing cycling enthusiasts to ride selected race routes ahead of the professional peloton.
The Social Rides will take place on February 26 and March 1, 2026, with participants standing a chance to win exciting rewards. Across the two rides, four sports bicycles—two per ride—will be given away, alongside branded goodies and prizes, making the experience both inclusive and rewarding for cycling fans across the country.
BRALIRWA’s presence will further extend to the Tour du Rwanda Festivals, which will be hosted in four locations nationwide, including: Kigali, Huye, Rubavu, and Musanze.
At each festival stop, Amstel will add to the excitement by giving away one sports bicycle per festival, reinforcing its support for grassroots cycling enthusiasm while celebrating the diverse communities that make Tour du Rwanda a truly national event.
Responsible celebration at the core
As a leading beverage company, BRALIRWA has stated that all Amstel activities during the upcoming Tour du Rwanda 2026 will follow regulatory requirements and responsible drinking guidelines.
Alcoholic beverages will not be sold to persons under 18 or to pregnant women. The company also emphasizes the messages “Drink Responsibly” and “Don’t Drink and Drive,” highlighting its commitment to public safety and responsible consumption.
BRALIRWA’s partnership with Tour du Rwanda continues to blend world-class cycling, fan engagement, and responsible brand leadership, cementing Tour du Rwanda as a celebration that extends far beyond the race itself.
As part of its sponsorship, Amstel will once again award the daily stage winners. BRALIRWA, through Amstel, will actively participate in the Tour du Rwanda Social Ride, a unique experience allowing cycling enthusiasts to ride selected race routes ahead of the professional peloton.
The cemetery was established in 2011 after Remera Cemetery in Gasabo District was permanently closed. Remera had been in use long before 1994, and by the time it closed, 9,525 burials had taken place on seven hectares of land. Since its opening, Rusororo Cemetery has accommodated 13,396 burials across 18 hectares.
Rwandan law sets specific standards for burial plots, including maximum dimensions and spacing between graves, and allows multiple burials in a single grave if the family consents.
Despite these provisions, the remaining space at Rusororo is limited, prompting authorities to explore options for expansion.
According to Anselme Nkusi, the Director of Cons Tech Ltd, which manages the cemetery, “The land we currently have will last about seven to eight months. When additional space is needed, the City of Kigali relocates nearby residents to create more room for burials.”
Cremation has been legally permitted for over ten years as a potential solution to land shortages, but adoption remains low among Rwandans, who are often reluctant to burn the remains of loved ones. Since the law was enacted, only 28 cremations have been performed in Rwanda, primarily by foreign residents accustomed to this practice in their home countries.
Authorities have also considered stacking two coffins in a single grave to maximize space, but cultural sensitivities have made this approach difficult.
“We tried burying two people in one grave with family consent,” Nkusi said. “Some families initially agreed but later withdrew, insisting no additional burial should be added above. This illustrates the challenge of balancing practical needs with cultural preferences.”
Attitudes, however, appear to be shifting. A 2025 study by the Ministry of Unity and Civic Engagement found that 61 percent of respondents agreed that cremation could help address the growing shortage of burial space.
Of more than 12,000 people surveyed, 32 percent strongly supported cremation, 29 percent moderately supported it, while 34 percent opposed it and 5 percent were undecided.
Since its opening, Rusororo Cemetery has accommodated 13,396 burials across 18 hectares.
In the vote taken on Monday, April 15, a majority of the MPs disagreed with Lords amendment 1B, which had sought to ensure the Bill has “due regard” for domestic and international law.
The MPs also shot down the Lords proposal for Rwanda to be only regarded as safe for as long as the provisions of the UK’s treaty with that country are in place.
Other amendments rejected by the MPs include a provision for age assessment for the persons facing removal to Rwanda and exemption of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking from the Rwanda asylum scheme.
The House of Commons also rejected the Lord’s proposal which sought to exempt agents, allies and employees of the UK overseas seeking asylum in the UK from being removed to Rwanda.
The Bill, which has elicited intense debate in the UK, will now return to the upper chamber for further scrutiny today.
The Bill will not become law until both the Upper and Lower chambers agree on the final wording, a process known as parliamentary ping-pong.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the government’s scheme was unlawful.
The judges argued that genuine refugees being removed to Rwanda faced the risk of being returned to their home countries, where they could face harm.
The scheme, first announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government following a deal with Rwandan authorities, seeks to act as a deterrent to people from arriving in the UK on small boats across the English Channel.
UK government says failed asylum seekers would be offered £3,000 (Rwf4,866,727) to move to Rwanda under the new voluntary scheme.
The government reportedly plans to replicate the Rwanda scheme in other countries, including Armenia, Costa Rica, and Ivory Coast if the Bill sails through.
But the Labour Party strongly opposes the scheme, insisting that it’s doomed to fail.
“The boats have kept coming, the backlog has kept growing, and the people smugglers are still laughing all the way to the bank,” Shadow Home Office minister Stephen Kinnock lamented.
“Two years of headline-chasing gimmicks, two years of pursuing a policy that is fundamentally unworkable, unaffordable and unlawful. Two years of flogging this dead horse,” he added.
In a press statement on Friday, April 5, 2024, CBK Governor Kamau Thugge said the lender had taken a strategic decision to close the office to focus on digital service.
The termination took effect on April 2.
“The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announces the cancellation of the authority granted to the Bank of Kigali (BoK) to operate a Representative Office in Kenya under Section 43 of the Banking Act, effective April 2, 2024.
“The voluntary termination of BoK’s presence in Kenya follows a strategic decision taken by the Bank of Kigali Group Plc (BoK’s parent company) to focus more on digital service delivery channels. CBK authorised the establishment of Bank of Kigali’s Representative Office in Kenya on February 12, 2013,” CBK stated.
Bank of Kigali, headquartered in Kigali, was established in 1966. It’s licensed and supervised by the National Bank of Rwanda under the Law governing the organisation of banking.
In 2023, BK Group recorded a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit, reaching Rwf74.8 billion in 2023. The group saw its profit before tax cross the $100 billion mark, growing at 23.8 per cent.
According to documents seen by IGIHE, the 17-year-old, who is part of the Tony Football Excellence Program (TFEP), has been invited to train with the club from April 12 to June 4, 2024, under the club’s international football training and sports development program.
FC Estoril Praia, ranked 12th in the top Portuguese league, Liga Portugal, will foot his travel, living, and medical expenses during the entire training period.
The player’s dedication to football and his impressive performances as a member of the TFEP U17 team are said to have played a crucial role in his selection.
{{TFEP Programme}}
TFEP, an Israeli sports project, was introduced in Rwanda in September 2022, with the aim of enhancing sports development among talented youth in schools.
The project, led by renowned Israeli sports investor Yonat Miriam Listenberg, was launched three months after receiving approval from the Cabinet to help in fostering capacity building, improving infrastructure, and implementing sport-tech technologies in the country.
The agreement was formalised with the signing of a partnership agreement with the Government of Rwanda, represented by the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), on September 4, 2022.
Speaking during the signing of the deal, Listenberg affirmed that the program would nurture Rwandan youth to become global stars.
“We thank H.E, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, and government leaders for creating an enabling environment to invest in Rwandan youth and communities through sports. The project aims to promote sports culture and leadership among Rwandan young girls and boys. The partnership between the Government of Rwanda and the TFEP will ensure the achievement of our common goal, namely to nurture Rwandan youth of today to become the global stars of tomorrow,” the Director of TFEP asserted.
On her part, Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, expressed her confidence that the project would be a game-changer in the sports sector as it implements both the Sports Development Policy and the Schools Sports Policy.
“The program will develop players throughout their entire journey from an early age into professional players and will integrate football education with the current school curriculum. We thank the investor for recognising the potential in Rwanda and committing to investing in the country.”
“Talent development is an essential aspect of athletes’ development pathways, and under this program, we are confident that young football talents will be nurtured into future professional players,” the minister said.
The holy day, widely known as Easter Sunday, is celebrated among Christian communities in many parts of the world with church services, family gatherings, feasting, and various cultural traditions.
This Christian holy day is observed three days after Good Friday, which is believed to be the day Jesus Christ was crucified by Roman authorities and died on Calvary.
Since Friday, Christians have been sharing messages of goodwill on social media to commemorate the painful sacrifices and intense suffering endured by the Son of God during his three-year mission on Earth.
On Sunday, it was no different as netizens took to various social media platforms to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, with the Catholic Church having set the mood last evening.
In his message to the country on the eve of Easter Sunday, Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, challenged members of the public to embrace unity and put an end to self-centered behavior, which he said is a significant driver of conflicts.
“Nowadays people tend to look at themselves and being selfish. When many people do so, they can’t come together. If such disunity starts from relatives, families that’s the source of conflicts.
“God is the only one who knows what will be beneficial to us, let Jesus Christ who has risen today reveal that to us, he defeated death. Let’s thank God as we celebrate our holy Easter,” Cardinal Kambanda said.
Netizens, on the other hand, extended heartfelt wishes to their loved ones and the world at large during the Holy Easter weekend.
“Happy Easter Sunday dear X family. May all your burdens be washed away by the blood of Jesus,” X user Birungi Bianca wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! He is Risen , Happy Easter to you all Fam,” Ayebare Martin said.
BOD Republic said: “As we celebrate Easter, may the love of Christ fill your home with happiness and blessings. Happy Easter to you and your family!”
The corporate sector in Rwanda was also not left behind as various companies seized the opportunity to wish their customers a joyous Easter.
“Happy Easter! May this long Easter weekend bring you joyful memories and happiness to you and your loved ones,” MTN Rwanda wrote on X.
“Wishing all a joyous Easter filled with blessings of renewal and happiness. Happy Easter!” Real estate company House in Rwanda shared.
Bbox Rwanda wrote: “Happy Easter from all of us at Bboxx! 🐰✨ May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of surprises!”
“Happy Easter to you and your loved ones from all of us at QSS Rwanda! May we rise anew and become the best versions of ourselves,” Q-Sourcing Servetec Rwanda wrote on X.
Rwanda Labour Rights Organization (RLRO) wrote “Happy Easter to all! May this season bring renewal and unity to our workplaces. Let’s continue our efforts for decent work, and Social justice . Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous Easter!”
President Kagame, in a statement shared on his official X account on Tuesday night, termed the 44-year-old’s victory as a true testimony to the confidence of the Senegalese people on his leadership.
“My sincere congratulations to Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his election as President of Senegal. Your victory is a true testimony to the confidence of the Senegalese people, whom I congratulate for the peaceful conduct of the elections. I look forward to further strengthening the good relations between our two nations,” Kagame wrote.
Mes sincères félicitations à Bassirou Diomaye Faye pour son élection comme Président du Sénégal. Votre victoire est un véritable témoignage de la confiance du peuple sénégalais, que je félicite pour le déroulement pacifique des élections. Je me réjouis de renforcer davantage les…
Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s main rival from the governing coalition, Amadou Ba, has already conceded defeat, setting the stage for Faye to become the youngest president in the country’s history.
“The Senegalese people have reinforced the good health of our democracy. I wish him (Faye) success at the head of our country,” Ba said.
Provisional results showed Faye with about 53.7% and Amadou Ba – from the current ruling coalition – with 36.2% based on tallies from 90% of polling stations in the first-round vote, the electoral commission said.
Faye is set to become the Africa’s youngest elected president as he commands a huge lead in the vote held on Sunday.
Faye, backed by prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko during the election, has pledged to make the fight against corruption and national unity his top priorities upon taking office.
“In electing me, the Senegalese people have decided on a break with a past,” Faye told journalists in his first public appearance since the election. “I promise to govern with humility and transparency.”
Sonko endorsed the former tax inspector for the presidential seat after being barred from vying.
Faye’s participated in the election barely two weeks after being released from prison in Dakar.
The President-elect had in April last year been charged with several offences, including contempt of court, after broadcasting a message critical of the judiciary in legal cases against Sonko.
Sonko joined Faye in jail in July on, among other charges, calling for insurrection.
According to Demilade Oluwasina, the founder of Learnible Global and host of the summit, this summit is designed to showcase entrepreneurial opportunities existing in the evolving future of work and connect young people and professionals to leverage these opportunities. Additionally, the summit further strengthens innovation exchange and collaboration among stakeholders for more significant value creation and economic thriving of African societies.
Learnible Global is a Learning Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Company based in Kigali, Rwanda, serving clients and impacting professionals across Africa and the globe. Learnible Global has worked with various notable organizations in Rwanda and beyond to develop innovative learning programs for academia and the workplace. The company also hosts the Learning Excellence and Innovation Conference.
Through its Planbpreneur Project, Learnible Global has had a significant impact on several young Africans and connected them to new entrepreneurial opportunities, including freelancing, consulting, portfolio careers, monetizing knowledge, and more entrepreneurial pathways that leverage digital, remote, and distributed work.
One of the programs includes the Digital Skills Employability Accelerator program, which has helped many young Rwandans get jobs. Through the Planbpreneur brand and innovation academy, aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals who desire to create new income and drive impact to undergo mentoring workshops and sessions to help them achieve those goals.
At the Africa Future of Work and Entrepreneurship Summit, Learnible Global is not only creating a platform to connect entrepreneurial opportunities to young people and professionals but also further expanding the work done with the Planbpreneur Brand. During the event, The Planbpreneur book and Planbpreneur platform will be launched as tools to help individuals become entrepreneurial professionals and learn ways to create income and impact in the future of work. More importantly, the event will reinforce the significance of entrepreneurial thinking and action, as well as emphasize intrapreneurship within organizations to generate value in the economy and create resilient organizations that can innovate and thrive in our perpetually changing world.
The summit will feature panel sessions, masterclasses/workshops, business exhibitions, showcases, networking, and more. Some of the areas of focus include: developing skills to thrive in the future of work, creativity, and innovation, building digital businesses and startups, leveraging Africa, Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the future of work, building professional brands, and much more.
Speakers at the event include Rica Rwigamba, Country Head of the Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda as Keynote Speaker; Alex Ntale, Chairman of the Rwanda ICT Chamber; Gbemi Disu, Executive Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Africa; Malik Shaffy, Country Manager, African management Institute; Dr. Gaidi Faraj, Pan-African Solutionist and Fmr Head of College at the African Leadership University; Demilade Oluwasina, the Founder of Learnible Global, among others to be announced. Additional speakers include Elvis Melia from MeliaCRED and a Consultant to GIZ; Amanda Akaliza, Founder of Humeka Organization and 1st Runner up, Miss Rwanda, who will moderate the event.
Partners include Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre, IGIHE, Waka Global, and more to be announced.
The main event will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre on Saturday, 26th November 2022, at 11:30 am. You can participate in the event through affordable ticket packages. The standard ticket costs RWF10,000, and the VIP ticket costs RWF50,000 for early-bird registration. Both tickets hold several benefits.
