The new document, which will take effect on July 1, aims to implement the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through science and technology and regulate the process of awarding military scientific research.
The regulations establish a structured award system aligned with national and military strategic goals.
Key features include prioritizing combat effectiveness as the sole benchmark, refining award nomination and review procedures, and strengthening oversight on discipline and confidentiality.
The regulations are expected to enhance innovation vitality in military research, accelerate breakthroughs in defense technology, and provide high-quality scientific support for the cause of building a strong military in the new era.
This is a powerful recognition of a Rwandan-born institution that’s not just keeping pace with global banking standards but setting them.
Bank of Kigali was recognized for its outstanding performance across key banking areas — from digital transformation and customer growth to sustainable financing and financial inclusion.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali said: “This award is not only a celebration of our performance — it is a celebration of our people, our partners, and every Rwandan who chooses to bank with us.”
{{Why BK? }}
In the past year, over Frw 207 billion was disbursed to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), fueling job creation and stimulating local business growth.
Additionally, Frw 62 billion was invested in agriculture and dairy, providing critical support to farmers and enhancing food security in the country.
Innovations in digital lending have also been a key driver. Through the BK Quick+ platform, loans of up to Frw 50 million are now available in as little as 15 hours, all via the BK Mobile App or Internet Banking. This has made financial access more efficient and convenient for many.
Moreover, financial inclusion has made significant strides. Over 5,100 agents have processed more than 5.6 million transactions, reaching deep into underserved communities and expanding access to financial services.
However, behind these impressive numbers are the real stories of individuals and businesses. Parents have been able to pay school fees, women are scaling up their businesses, farmers are able to purchase more seeds, young people are building their own ventures, and corporations are expanding operations.
To further deepen this impact, this year, Bank of Kigali introduced BIGEREHO Na BK, a nationwide campaign with a single goal: to help every Rwandan achieve their dreams.
Through tailored loan solutions such as Kataza na BK, which offers up to Frw 15 million for women-led businesses, Kungahara na BK providing custom financing for agricultural cooperatives, Tuza na BK offering instant Frw 500,000 loans for school fees, and BK Mortgages, which offers 100% financing with no down payment for first-time homebuyers, the bank has expanded its support to a broader audience.
This fifth consecutive win from Global Finance Magazine reaffirms Bank of Kigali’s pivotal role in shaping Rwanda’s financial landscape. The bank is not only proud of its achievements but also deeply committed to the continued progress and opportunities ahead.
{{About Bank of Kigali}}
Founded in 1966, Bank of Kigali is Rwanda’s largest commercial bank, serving over 1 million customers through an extensive branch network and digital channels. The bank is committed to fostering economic growth by providing innovative financial services to individuals, SMEs, and corporate clients.
{{About Global Finance Magazine}}
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, Global Finance Magazine reaches over 50,000 readers in 193 countries and territories. The magazine’s annual Best Bank Awards are a trusted benchmark for excellence in the global financial community, recognizing institutions that combine strength, innovation, and customer value.
The commanders reviewed the progress made since the last session, focusing on efforts to combat illegal activities and improve security in border communities.
Both parties emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and joint initiatives to address emerging threats, while recognizing the positive outcomes achieved under the leadership of their respective Heads of State.
In his opening remarks, Brigadier General Pascal Muhizi, RDF 5 Infantry Division Commander, expressed gratitude to the Heads of State for their visionary leadership, steadfast commitment to peace, and support for regional integration.
He acknowledged that their leadership has created the political will and conducive environment for effective collaboration between the two armed forces.
Brig Gen Muhizi reminded the commanders that ensuring peace and security along the shared border is a collective responsibility, urging them to maintain vigilance and adopt a proactive approach.
He stressed the need for heightened awareness to address cross-border threats such as terrorism and illegal economic activities.
Brigadier General Gabriel Elias Kwiligwa, TPDF 202 Infantry Brigade Commander and head of the Tanzanian delegation, reflected on the success of previous meetings in resolving challenges.
He credited the trust, transparency, and mutual understanding between both sides for fostering peace and harmony along the border, benefiting the communities living in the area.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Kirehe district officials, where they were welcomed by Mayor Bruno Rangira. They toured the Karushuga border area, which borders Tanzania’s Kaisho district, adjacent to Ngara district in Tanzania.
The judgment issued Wednesday by the international trade court is “temporarily stayed until further notice while this court considers the motions papers,” the appeals court said in its order.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s reinstating of Trump’s tariffs gives the administration some breathing room, local media reported on Thursday.
“Certainly the President is acting within his authority,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing Thursday. “All of the actions the President has taken rely on legal authorities that have already been granted to him by our nation’s existing laws.”
The judges at the international trade court ruled on Wednesday that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act Trump had invoked to enact tariffs did not “confer such unbounded authority” to presidents.
The block they imposed covered all of the retaliatory tariffs Trump issued in early April. They also barred the Trump administration from making any further modifications to the tariffs in question.
The administration filed a notice of appeal shortly after the ruling, asking the trade court to pause enforcement of the ruling during the appeal process. It also sought “interim relief” from the federal appellate court.
“The Supreme Court must put an end to this,” Leavitt said. “These judges are threatening to undermine the credibility of the United States on the world stage.”
Also on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras of Washington, D.C. issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from collecting tariffs from two educational toy companies, Learning Resources Inc. and hand2mind Inc., who manufacture most of products in Asia.
Contreras, calling the tariffs “unlawful,” stayed his order for 14 days “so the parties may seek review in the Court of Appeals.”
The ceremony, held on May 29, 2025, at UN headquarters in New York, was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who presented the prestigious medals.
The two Rwandan soldiers honored were Sergeant Major Fiston Murwanashyaka, who died on February 24, 2024, and Corporal Eliakim Niyitegeka, who passed away on July 11, 2024.
Both soldiers were killed while serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The medals were received by Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Ngoga, on behalf of the families of the fallen soldiers.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Medals are named in honor of the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld, who tragically died in a plane crash in Zambia in September 1961.
On July 22, 1997, the UN Security Council established these medals to honor those who sacrifice their lives while on peacekeeping missions under the UN’s mandate.
During the same event, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also laid a wreath to honor the 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
“Over the decades, more than 2 million women and men have served in 71 missions across four continents,” said Guterres during the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal ceremony.
“In the communities and countries in which they serve, UN peacekeepers are an important symbol of the United Nations at its best. Together, they have helped improve millions of lives.”
Guterres acknowledged the complex challenges UN peacekeepers face in today’s world—terrorism, borderless crime, and misinformation, which have made them vulnerable to attacks.
He stressed the importance of adapting peacekeeping efforts to meet new realities in these difficult times.
Guterres also presented the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2024 to Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana.
Additionally, Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone was awarded the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award. Both women served in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei.
Thursday’s events marked the annual observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, celebrated on May 29.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed at a press briefing that U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump “submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed and supported.”
“Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas. I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home,” said Leavitt.
“I won’t comment further, as we are in the midst of this right now,” she added.
An Israeli official and a U.S. source familiar with the case confirmed that the proposed deal includes not only the 60-day ceasefire but also plans to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 dead hostages, CBS News reported.
Hamas said Thursday that its leadership had received a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from Witkoff through the mediators and was studying it.
“The Hamas leadership has received Witkoff’s new proposal from the mediators and is responsibly studying it in a way that serves the interests of our people, provides relief, and achieves a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a brief statement.
For more than 30 years, eastern DRC has been destabilized by insecurity, primarily caused by armed groups, including the FDLR formed by remnant perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
This ongoing insecurity has forced thousands of Congolese, mainly Rwandophones, to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
The refugee crisis, coupled with the DRC government’s failure to address the situation, gave rise to the M23 rebel group.
M23 claims to advocate for the rights of marginalized Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
Since late 2021, M23 has been engaged in armed conflict with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), leading to further displacement and instability in the region.
During an interview with Jeune Afrique, RDB CEO, Jean Guy Afrika, highlighted that investments was asked whether the conflict in eastern DRC, which shares a border with Rwanda, has affected investment in the country.
“I will start with the fact that the situation in the eastern part of DRC has in no way affected the flow of investments in Rwanda,” Afrika said.
“In 2024, the latest data shows we grew our registered investments by 32% to nearly 3.2 billion from a base of about 2.5 billion. That’s a fact, and we could share the data if needed.”
He attributed this resilience to Rwanda’s proactive defensive measures, which have prevented the conflict from spilling into its territory.
Significant investments in the country’s security architecture have created a safe environment, reassuring investors despite the instability caused by the DRC’s refugee crisis and clashes between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).
Afrika highlighted that the regional situation is stabilizing, with the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes merged into a single framework managed by the African Union (AU).
“At some point, the EAC and SADC were involved, but the two were merged and now managed by the AU with the signing of the principles of agreements,” he explained. “The path forward is much clearer now, and those fears that might have existed are in the past.”
This normalization has further bolstered investor confidence, contributing to a 30% jump in registered investments in 2024 compared to 2023.
The RDB’s success stems from its investor-friendly approach, particularly through its one-stop center, which integrates 24 agencies and offers over 400 services, including licenses and permits.
“The whole idea was to create a seamless experience for the investor,” Afrika noted. “When you operate in Rwanda, when you open a business, there is predictability in the regulatory environment, sanctity of contracts, and minimal red tape.”
This streamlined system addresses key pain points like land permits, titles, construction permits, electricity, and energy, ensuring a smooth experience.
“Initially, we had to tell our story, but increasingly, investors themselves are telling the story for us,” he added.
Rwanda’s strategic focus on sectors such as real estate, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing has also driven growth.
“We target certain sectors: real estate, agriculture where we try to raise productivity, tourism, and manufacturing, a big sector,” Afrika said.
“Rwanda’s unique selling proposition is becoming increasingly clear: you will have a regulatory environment that is conducive, predictable, and allows you to do business the way you want to do it.”
To support long-term growth, the RDB is tracking company survival rates to identify and address their needs.
Hosting the event for the first time, Rwanda welcomed delegates from over 20 African nations and beyond to discuss the critical role of internal auditing under the conference theme, “Building Bridges, Inspiring Change.”
Kabera highlighted the engaging discussions, noting that presentations and “question patting” revealed “a lot of the challenges and what we are facing in the profession of internal audits,” particularly in navigating technology, emerging risks, and global contexts.
The minister emphasized Rwanda’s reliance on internal auditing as a “strategic pillar” of its governance model, which has driven the nation’s transformation since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
“Internal audit gives organizations, both public and private, the tools to detect inefficiencies, prevent mismanagement, and ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively,” he said. Kabera stressed that Rwanda’s culture of accountability, which demands “continually ask[ing] ourselves questions on whether we are doing the right thing,” has built strong institutions and sustained public trust.
Reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to the profession, Kabera highlighted investments in institutional capacity, professionalization, and technology adoption.
He praised the Institute of Internal Audit of Rwanda for shaping ethical and innovative practices, adding, “We are proud to see the growth of the Institute of Internal Audit of Rwanda and its increasing influence.”
He urged other African nations to embed similar support for the profession, stating, “It is our wish that the spirit of supporting the internal audit profession be embedded across different countries in Africa.”
Addressing the delegates, Kabera called internal auditors “enablers of change,” with “a huge responsibility to be ethical in everything you do, to be independent, to advise on strategies for improvement.”
He encouraged embracing technology and data analytics to go “beyond the teams and team offices” and align with national development strategies. He also urged leaders to “give [audit] teams the space to speak the truth, the resources to grow, and the permission they deserve.”
The conference’s focus on public sector accountability, geopolitical challenges, and economic inequality reduction aligned with Kabera’s vision of auditors as drivers of sustainable development.
He encouraged delegates to “use this conference to rethink about the role of the audience and its function in the development of our countries” and to build “even stronger networks of accountability and innovation.”
Terry Grafenstine, Chairperson of the Global Board of Directors of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), noted that corruption remains a significant challenge in many institutions across Africa and worldwide. She emphasized that internal auditors, by applying best practices, can serve as vital examples of good governance.
Mousa Diakite, a delegate from Benin attending AFIIA 2025, described the conference as an opportunity to share expertise, conduct research, and contribute to advancing good governance and improving audit practices in public and private institutions towards sustainable development.
During AFIIA 2025, a partnership agreement was signed between the Global and African Chief Internal Auditors to strengthen collaboration in promoting the profession both in Africa and internationally.
Speaking at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the continent’s heads of armed forces emphasized that unity, enhanced coordination, and the sharing of intelligence and expertise will be crucial to neutralizing emerging threats to peace, stability, and cohesion.
Kenyan President William Ruto opened the one-day meeting, noting that insecurity, political strife, and the climate crisis present existential threats to peace and long-term development.
“Across the continent, we face increasingly asymmetrical and transnational threats, from terrorism and armed conflict to cyberattacks and environmental degradation,” Ruto said. “These challenges test the resilience of our institutions and demand that we reimagine our peace and security architecture.”
Kenya is the second African country after Botswana to host the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, which brought together senior policymakers, military leaders, security experts, and bilateral partners to discuss contemporary security challenges and explore lasting solutions.
This year’s conference, held under the theme “Strengthening African Security: Sustaining Unity of Effort,” highlighted the need for cooperation and partnerships to eradicate transnational security threats.
Ruto said Africa’s ability to accelerate development, eliminate poverty, and transform livelihoods largely depends on sustained investments in security and political inclusivity.
“We envision a future in which African states stand together in mutual defense of our sovereignty and values, where our military cooperation is not reactive but proactive and strategic,” he said.
The conference is taking place against a backdrop of profound shifts in the global security architecture, underlined by strategic competition, evolving technologies, and climate-induced fragility, said Soipan Tuya, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Defense.
According to Tuya, these shifts necessitate the continent to recalibrate its defense apparatus to focus on foresight, resilience, and constructive engagement among disciplined forces.
Charles Muriu Kahariri, chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, said the gathering of African military leaders provides them with a platform to align their strategic objectives and a collective approach to tackling shared threats.
Kahariri also called on African countries to address the underlying political, economic, and social drivers of insecurity on the continent, using military force as a last resort.
