Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Monzer Ali’s bold ambitions for MTN Rwanda’s future

Monzer Ali brings with him over 24 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, including 21 years within the MTN Group.

His extensive background equips him with a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape across the region and positions him well to lead MTN Rwanda into its next phase of transformation.

Taking over from Mapula Bodibe, whose impactful leadership guided MTN Rwanda through major milestones, Monzer aims to build on her legacy and carry the momentum forward.

During the staff townhall that was held to welcome the new CEO, Mapula expressed her gratitude to the MTN Rwanda team for their resilience and shared her confidence in Monzer’s ability to lead the company into its next era of growth and innovation.

In his first remarks as CEO, Monzer expressed admiration for Rwanda’s digital progress and excitement for the path ahead.

He reaffirmed MTN Rwanda’s commitment to being a partner in the country’s transformation, and to using technology as a powerful enabler of inclusive growth and to provide the highest quality of service to the Citizen of Rwanda.

He also paid tribute to his predecessor, thanking Mapula Bodibe for building a strong foundation and leaving behind a legacy of resilience and excellence that will continue to inspire the organization’s journey.

Monzer steps into this role at a defining time, with a clear vision for MTN Rwanda’s future built on three core pillars: accessibility, innovation, and sustainability. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all Rwandans, regardless of location or economic background, have access to digital tools and mobile financial services that empower their daily lives.

This includes accelerating the rollout of affordable smartphones, expanding mobile banking solutions, and reducing barriers to digital participation.

Through continued partnership with Chantal Kagame, CEO of Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd (MMRL), Monzer will work to deepen the company’s financial inclusion agenda, bringing secure, innovative services to individuals and businesses alike.

Connectivity, sustainability, and customer experience form the backbone of Monzer’s strategy for MTN Rwanda.

He is focused on expanding 4G+ coverage nationwide, enabling fast, reliable access to digital services and preparing the ground for future innovations like 5G.

This investment is aimed at unlocking opportunities in different sectors such as education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship for all Rwandans.

In addition to expanding digital access, Monzer is deeply committed to responsible and inclusive growth.

Under his leadership, MTN Rwanda is committed to advancing green energy initiatives ranging from the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and hybrid or fully electric vehicles to impactful reforestation projects all aimed at reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

MTN Rwanda continues to enhance customer experience through innovations such as self-service web portals, upgraded digital platforms, and modernized service centers.

These improvements are designed to simplify and enrich everyday interactions, putting more control in customers’ hands and minimizing service friction. across the service experience, MTN Rwanda aims to increase satisfaction, because we do not settle for less.

With Monzer at the helm, MTN Rwanda is poised to advance its mission of leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress – Forward, together.

May 3, 2025
President Kagame receives his counterpart of Guinea Gen Doumbouya at his farm in Kibugabuga

The visit is part of General Doumbouya’s three-day official trip to Rwanda, which began on May 1, 2025, and aims to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

Upon his arrival in Rwanda, General Doumbouya was warmly welcomed by the Guinean community during a ceremony held in Kigali. Attendees displayed messages of support on banners and T-shirts, showing appreciation for his leadership and commitment to his country.

General Doumbouya last visited Rwanda in August 2024 for the inauguration ceremony of President Kagame following his re-election. Earlier, in January 2024, he had also traveled to Kigali on a visit focused on deepening bilateral ties.

Rwanda and Guinea currently maintain a partnership agreement aimed at promoting cooperation in a range of sectors, including technology, agriculture, investment, services, tourism, energy, and trade.

May 2, 2025
Guinea’s President Gen Doumbouya visits Rwanda

Upon his arrival, President Doumbouya was warmly welcomed by members of the Guinean community in Rwanda during a celebratory event held in Kigali.

Attendees carried banners and wore shirts with messages expressing their support for his leadership and vision for Guinea’s future.

In a statement shared on X, the Guinean Embassy in Rwanda noted:“The President of the Republic of Guinea, H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, was warmly welcomed by Guineans living in Rwanda during his visit — a moment filled with emotion and pride for the community!”

This marks President Doumbouya’s return to Rwanda following his last visit in August 2024, when he attended the inauguration of President Paul Kagame after his re-election. He had previously visited in January 2024 to reaffirm bilateral cooperation.

Rwanda and Guinea signed a partnership agreement in October 2024, committing to collaboration across several strategic sectors, including technology, agriculture, investment, services, tourism, energy, and trade.

May 2, 2025
Rwanda and DRC to sign peace deal before President Trump in June

On the same occasion, additional agreements focusing on economic cooperation between the United States and both African countries are also expected to be signed. If all proceeds as planned, significant American investments are anticipated in Rwanda and the DRC.

The U.S. government has stated that this peace agreement represents a vital step forward and will offer a long-term solution to the prolonged instability in the Great Lakes region.

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed to IGIHE that both parties agreed to submit their respective drafts of the agreement by Friday, May 2. He also disclosed that the final signing will take place in June at the White House.

On Thursday evening, U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, announced that both countries had made significant progress on the draft and confirmed they would meet the Friday deadline.

His comments followed a round of talks held in Doha, Qatar, involving delegations from the U.S., Rwanda, the DRC, and Qatar. Rwanda was represented by Brig Gen Jean Paul Nyirubutama, Deputy Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), and Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, the Head of International Military Cooperation.

After the draft agreements are submitted, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet again with foreign ministers from the DRC to finalize a unified version of the document. Once finalized, preparations will begin for the official signing ceremony at the White House.

The event, anticipated within the next two months, may also include other heads of state who have played key roles in efforts to address insecurity in eastern DRC.

Before the agreement is signed, the U.S. has emphasized that both parties must first meet several preconditions. Among them, the DRC must fully address internal security challenges, including disbanding the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).

The DRC is also expected to implement internal governance reforms, including ensuring fair distribution of national resources across its regions.

In addition to the peace accord, both Rwanda and the DRC are expected to sign separate bilateral economic agreements with the United States.

To oversee the implementation of these conditions, a monitoring committee was formed on Wednesday. It includes representatives from the U.S., Qatar, France, and Togo—the latter acting on behalf of the African Union.

Negotiations previously conducted under the EAC-SADC framework have now been formally placed under the leadership of the African Union, with Togo taking the lead in facilitating the process going forward.

May 2, 2025
UN seeks emergency support for 45,000 flood victims in Somalia

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), four individuals, including two children, lost their lives after being swept away, while over 45,000 individuals have been affected by flash floods caused by moderate to heavy rainfall in various regions of Somalia since April 15.

OCHA said the Shabelle River burst its banks on Monday in Jowhar district, displacing over 6,000 people and inundating about 11,000 hectares of land.

“OCHA has reached out to partners to provide whatever emergency assistance they can deliver to those affected, particularly shelter, sanitation facilities, and relocation support,” it said in its flash update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The UN agency said the flooding is occurring at a time when partners, especially national non-governmental agencies that often serve as frontline responders, are facing crippling funding reductions, which have severely limited their ability to respond to emerging needs.

The floods were triggered by moderate-to-heavy rains during the Gu (April to June) main rainy season, which typically begins on April 15 in parts of Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands, where the Juba and Shabelle rivers originate.

“The rains have, however, brought relief following six months of prolonged dry conditions by replenishing water points and pasture,” OCHA said.

May 1, 2025
DRC seeks Senate approval to revoke former President Kabila’s immunity

“The Congolese judiciary has gathered the most tangible and irrefutable evidence supporting the clear involvement, the direct participation of senator for life Joseph Kabila in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the massacres of peaceful citizens”, Mutamba told reporters.

“We expect from the senate the pure and simple lifting” of immunity so the case can be heard by the High Military Court, Mutamba added.

Joseph Kabila served as president of the DRC from 2001 until 2019, after which he entered the Senate.

The current government has long accused him of collaborating with the AFC/M23 coalition, which controls large parts of North and South Kivu provinces in the country’s troubled east.

When Kabila visited Goma on April 18, 2025—a city under the control of the AFC/M23 coalition since late January—the Congolese government declared its intention to seize all his assets, calling his presence in the area further proof of his alleged ties to the rebel alliance.

An individual close to Kabila defended the visit, saying the former president was participating in peace talks aimed at resolving the country’s persistent insecurity in the east.

Minister Mutamba, however, asserted that Kabila played a role in atrocities committed in eastern DRC and went as far as to claim that the former president was among the founders of the AFC/M23 coalition.

He clarified that the prosecution is not targeting Kabila in his capacity as a former head of state, but rather as a sitting senator—hence the request to the Senate to remove his immunity so legal action can proceed.

In March 2025, Kabila publicly denied having any connection to AFC/M23, arguing that if he truly had ties to the group, the conflict in eastern DRC would have escalated far beyond its current level.

Kabila’s political party, the PPRD, also issued a statement denying the accusations. The party claimed there is no evidence that Kabila even traveled to Goma and added that even if he had, it would not prove any affiliation with AFC/M23.

May 1, 2025
President Ndayishimiye renews allegations that Rwanda plans to attack Burundi

He made the remarks during an interview with France 24, which focused on security concerns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ndayishimiye acknowledged recent diplomatic efforts and peace agreements between Rwanda and the DRC—brokered with the support of the United States and Qatar—stating that although the root issues are now better understood and there is renewed hope for peace, the situation remains delicate.

He emphasized that signs still suggest Rwanda harbors intentions to destabilize Burundi, even as Kigali continues to deny the accusations.

“We have information and evidence. It is based on the fact that Rwanda continues to host the individuals behind the 2015 coup attempt,” Ndayishimiye said.

He further alleged that Rwanda could use these individuals in the same way it allegedly backed the M23 rebel group in the DRC, presenting them as Burundians while covertly supporting them.

“We know that Rwanda could use them, claiming they are Burundians, when in reality, it would be Rwanda behind them,” he added. “As long as these individuals are not handed over to Burundian justice, we remain concerned.”

Despite these concerns, Ndayishimiye said the ongoing war in eastern DRC could limit Rwanda’s ability to launch a direct attack on Burundi.

He also accused Rwanda of supporting the armed rebel group RED Tabara, which has been linked to multiple terrorist incidents in Burundi. According to Ndayishimiye, this alleged support is one reason why his country remains on high alert.

The Burundian president noted that he has not spoken with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in some time. Their last conversation, he said, took place during regional peace talks on the DRC, during which Kagame reportedly assured him that the individuals involved in the 2015 coup would be brought to justice.

In February 2025, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told IGIHE that it is, in fact, Burundi that poses a threat to Rwanda—claiming that Burundian actions have already escalated beyond rhetoric.

He added that Burundi has aligned itself with the DRC in efforts to undermine Rwanda’s government and has aligned with armed groups, including the FDLR—a group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—and the Wazalendo militia.

Despite rising tensions, officials from both countries have recently held talks aimed at easing hostilities and restoring bilateral relations.

In March, Nduhungirehe noted that Rwanda and Burundi were on a constructive path toward de-escalation and mutual understanding, as dialogue between their governments continued.

{{Why Rwanda has not extradited the 2015 coup suspects}}

The individuals at the center of the dispute are accused of participating in the 2015 coup attempt that sought to overthrow former Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Rwanda has consistently stated that it cannot extradite them, citing international refugee law. Under agreements signed with the United Nations, any country that grants asylum to an individual claiming to flee persecution is not allowed to forcibly return them—particularly if the UN has formally granted them refugee status.

Rwandan authorities argue that returning these individuals would violate international obligations and set a precedent that no responsible state should follow.

Burundi, for its part, has previously submitted a list of the individuals it wants extradited, insisting that their handover is crucial to restoring normal diplomatic ties between the two nations.

While Rwanda maintains that legal repatriation is not possible, it has suggested exploring third-country resettlement options for the individuals in question.

May 1, 2025
Libyan PM orders closure of 25 diplomatic missions to cut public spending

The decision will result in the closure of 25 embassies, consulates, and missions in places including the Vatican, Albania, Vietnam, and Seychelles, and merge them into Libyan missions in countries that include Italy, Malaysia, and Kenya.

The decision also calls for the formation of a committee to reduce the number of diplomats and employees at Libyan missions abroad.

During a meeting with the state-owned National Oil Corporation on Tuesday, Dbeibah announced the intention to reduce the number of Libyan diplomats abroad by 20 percent.

“We will close a number of embassies. This is an important decision for the people, and it will help create a surplus of foreign currency consumption, especially since these embassies consume large amounts,” Dbeibah said during the meeting.

Dbeibah’s decision comes amid growing calls to cut government spending in an effort to improve Libya’s economic situation.

May 1, 2025
African Union resumes Gabon’s membership

Gabon’s reinstatement came after the council in its 1,277th meeting reviewed the country’s political transition and processes, which were found to be “generally successful,” PSC Chairperson Rebecca Amuge Otengo said in a briefing.

Otengo said as a result, the AU has lifted all sanctions and welcomed Gabon back to its full participation in the union’s activities.

Gabon was suspended from the AU following the unconstitutional change of government on Aug. 30, 2023.

“It is with great honor and pride that I announce to the Gabonese people, on behalf of Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic, Head of State, Gabon’s return to the great African family,” declared Gabonese Foreign Minister Regis Onanga Ndiaye from the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The removal of these sanctions allows Gabon to reclaim its position within the African community and extend its participation internationally, the minister emphasized.

Gabon can now actively engage in major international meetings organized by the AU and its partners.

Following the coup on Aug. 30, 2023, which brought General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to power, Gabon faced several sanctions, including those imposed by the AU.

The country has since returned to constitutional order after a recent presidential election, in which transitional leader Nguema secured a landslide victory with 94.85 percent of the vote.

The official inauguration of the president-elect is scheduled for May 3 in Libreville, the capital of the Central African country.

May 1, 2025
Over 250 Non-Commissioned Officers complete course at Police Training School Gishari

The 15th intake, which began in September last year, covered a range of subjects, including police operations, firearms handling, ethics, internal security, civic education, community policing, and public relations.

During the training, participants also took part in field sessions that supported security operations during the festive season, and attended special operation sessions to apply the lessons learned.

The trainees visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to deepen their understanding of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and National Liberation Museum Park in Gicumbi District to learn more about the campaign that helped end the Genocide.

While closing the course, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in Charge of Operations, Vincent Sano, congratulated the trainees on their successful completion and emphasized the importance of continuous learning.

“NCOs form the backbone of police operations. This training is key to public security and order. As you join various departments, maintain a positive attitude, use your skills to enhance service delivery, and act with professionalism and patriotism,” said DIGP Sano.

“The skills and knowledge you gained will enhance your service to the public. Do not fall into misconduct that can damage your career or tarnish the institution’s image. Avoid corruption, drunkenness, excessive use of force, and other behaviors that go against police values,” he added.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti, the Commandant of PTS, commended the trainees for their discipline and conduct during training.

He reminded them that the nation now looks to them to serve professionally and responsibly.

May 1, 2025