Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

French national Joris Delbove, riding for Team TotalEnergies, emerged victorious in Stage Four of the 2025 Tour du Rwanda, which covered a distance of 95.1 kilometers from Rubavu to Karongi.

Delbove crossed the finish line just one second ahead of his teammate Fabien Doubey, also from TotalEnergies, securing both the stage win and the yellow jersey.

Following this stage, Delbove now leads the general classification with a total race time of 12 hours, 24 minutes, and 57 seconds.

His closest competitor, Fabien Doubey, trails by just two seconds, while Oliver Mattheis from Bike Aid sits in third place, five seconds behind the leader.

Brady Gilmore of Israel Premier Tech follows at eight seconds back, with Eritrean cyclist Henok Mulubrhan rounding out the top five, twelve seconds off the pace.

Other notable riders in the top ten include Adria Pericas from UAZ, Moritz Kretschy of Israel Premier Tech, Milan Donie from the Lotto Development Team, Rwanda’s Masengesho Vainqueur, and Juan Martinez from Devo Team Picnic.

Manizabayo Eric, another Rwandan rider, currently holds the eleventh position, forty-four seconds behind the leader, while Mugisha Moise sits in sixteenth place, trailing by just over two minutes.

The stage itself saw an impressive performance from Rwandan cyclists, with three local riders finishing in the top ten.

Delbove claimed the stage victory with a time of two hours, 27 minutes, and 20 seconds, followed closely by Brady Gilmore, who finished three seconds later. Henok Mulubrhan secured third place, while Lorrenzo Manzin of TotalEnergies finished fourth, just ahead of Fabien Doubey.

Enea Sambinello of UAZ took sixth place, while Rwanda’s Manizabayo Eric, Masengesho Vainqueur, and Mugisha Moise finished in seventh, eighth, and ninth positions, respectively. Adria Pericas from UAZ rounded out the top ten.

With strong performances from Rwandan cyclists, the host nation continues to make its mark in this year’s Tour du Rwanda, adding excitement to the competition as the race progresses.

The fifth stage will take riders from Rusizi to Huye District, covering a challenging distance of 144 kilometers.

Founded in 1957, the largest and leading brewery in Rwanda continues to focus on quality and operational excellence through rigorous innovations and expansion projects leading to global recognitions.

The journey to acquiring the prestigious award began a few years ago, requiring dedication from all teams from the shopfloor, packaging lines, production and brewery leadership.

According to the Brewery Manager, David Banyenza, Total Productive Management (TPM) is a system aimed at optimizing manufacturing performance through quality management, workplace safety, employee capability building and process improvements.

The TPM Bronze Certificate elevates the brewery to internationally recognized standards.

“Achieving the Bronze certificate is not merely about achieving superior Key Performance Indicatora [KPIs] that we are audited on but about embedding a culture of continuous improvement where teams must be trained, processes standardized, and TPM tools integrated into daily operations, setting the stage for the next milestone which is Silver certification for the brewery” he said.

BRALIRWA’s Soft Drinks Plant in Kicukiro district was awarded the TPM Silver Certification in 2023 and was the first soft drink subsidiary of HEINEKEN to achieve the award globally.

The Soft Drinks Plant also won The Coca-Cola safety franchise award in Africa in 2022 and has spent over 10 years without any accident incident whereas the brewery in Rubavu has spent three years accident free.

The Supply Chain Director at BRALIRWA Plc, Mr. Samuel Murumu explained that the essence of TPM is to drive operational success in all aspects of manufacturing.

“The TPM Awards are a testament to our unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence. It reflects the dedication of our entire team in driving continuous improvement and ensuring that every step of our supply chain upholds the highest standards” Samuel Murumu said.

While addressing the UK Parliament on February 26, 2025, Lord Collins was questioned about the brutal murder of 70 Christian worshippers by ADF militants.

Reports indicate that the victims, mainly women and children, were taken hostage before being killed with machetes and hammers. Their bodies were later discovered inside a church in Lubero Territory, North Kivu province.

In response to inquiries from UK lawmakers about Britain’s stance on the killings and whether the issue had been raised with international organizations, Lord Collins mentioned Amb. Nduhungirehe.

“The reality is that we are trying to ensure that all crimes committed in these incidents are properly investigated so that those responsible are held accountable. When I met the Foreign Minister of Rwanda in Geneva this morning, he denied all these accusations about things happening,” he said.

Amb. Nduhungirehe swiftly denounced these remarks, calling them unacceptable.

“This level of ignorance, confusion, and misinformation by Lord Collins, UK Minister of State for Africa, is insulting and UNACCEPTABLE!” he posted on X.

“He was asked in the House of Commons a specific question about 70 Christians who were killed with machetes and hammers by ADF, a Ugandan terrorist organization affiliated with ISIS, in Kasanga, Lubero Territory, North Kivu. And yet, he dares to respond by saying, ‘When I met the Foreign Minister of Rwanda this morning, he denied all those crimes happening’?”

Nduhungirehe further emphasized that the ‘UK government will have to formally answer about it’.

Relations between Rwanda and the UK have deteriorated in recent months, particularly after Britain accused Rwanda of allegedly supporting the M23 rebels, who have been engaged in conflict with the DRC’s armed forces.

Despite Rwanda’s rejection of the allegations and its calls for the DRC to address its internal challenges without shifting blame, the UK has taken sides and imposed sanctions on Rwanda, further straining diplomatic ties.

The ministry denounced the move as “unexpected and unjustified,” noting it violated Article 8 of a bilateral accord requiring prior consultation on diplomats’ visa exemptions.

“The Algerian authorities were not informed beforehand, as stipulated by mutual agreement,” the ministry said in a statement.

It accused France of caving to domestic political pressures, including far-right influence, and warned against dragging Algeria into “France’s internal conflicts,” saying such actions risked “unintended consequences for all aspects of bilateral relations.”

The measures, announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday, limit entry and movement in France for Algerian officials carrying diplomatic or service passports.

Barrot described the restrictions as “reversible” pending improved cooperation on migration, according to French media.

The dispute comes amid longstanding tensions over migration. Paris has repeatedly accused Algiers of refusing to repatriate Algerian nationals expelled from France, including Franco-Algerian influencers facing trial for allegedly inciting violence.

Israeli authorities are conducting DNA tests to confirm the identities of Shlomo Mansour, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, and Itzik Elgarat, who were abducted during the October 7, 2023, attacks.

The exchange took place early Thursday, with Palestinian prisoners receiving a welcome in the West Bank and Gaza.

This marks the final exchange under the current ceasefire phase, which is set to end on Saturday.

Israel has previously criticized Hamas for the treatment of hostages during handovers, accusing the group of public humiliation. Sources indicate that this time, Hamas complied with Israel’s demand for a private transfer.

Among Palestinians to be freed are more than 400 Gazans detained during the war and 50 prisoners serving life sentences.

Footage showed buses departing Israeli prisons and arriving in Palestinian territories, where families and supporters gathered to celebrate.

The hostage exchange comes amid uncertainty over whether the ceasefire will be extended or transition into a second phase, which could involve the release of all remaining living hostages in Gaza in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners.

Negotiations for the next phase, initially expected to begin during this round, have yet to commence.

Meanwhile, thousands in Israel attended the funeral of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, who were killed while in captivity.

The meeting aimed to prepare for the 19th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), which is scheduled for November 2025 to discuss ways of enhancing military professionalism in Africa through education, training, and development of officers.

The meeting was officially opened by Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, the Commandant of the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College and current Chairman of ACoC, and attended by Maj Gen Stephen Mnkande, the Commandant of the Command and Staff College of Tanzania and Air Commodore Maghidr Nouri Ahmed, the Commandant of the Libyan Command and Staff College, with their accompanying delegations.

In his remarks, Brig Gen Nyamvumba underscored the importance of cooperation in military training and education, noting it as a paramount avenue in addressing security challenges across the African continent and beyond.

“As we convene here for the TROIKA Meeting, I reiterate the importance of cooperation in military training and education among African colleges. This cooperation is crucial for strengthening our collective capacity to address the complex security challenges that our continent faces.

“The professionalism of African defence forces is paramount, and our efforts must be directed towards enhancing ready commanders and staff responsible for ensuring security and stability across our continent, and by extension globally,” said Brig Gen Nyamvumba

The 19th African Conference of Commandants will bring together Commandants of Defence Colleges from Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana with TROIKA members which are Rwanda, Libya, and Tanzania.

On the same day, Major General Yousef A. Al Hnaity, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordan Armed Forces (CJCS-JAF), visited the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) headquarters in Kimihurura, where he was received by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen MK Mubarakh.

He also took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda.

Their discussions focused on reviewing and enhancing bilateral cooperation between the defence forces of their countries.

IGP Namuhoranye was invited as the resource person in the 5th Conference and Retreat for Nigeria Senior Police Officers, held on Tuesday, February 25, and presided over by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima.

The conference and retreat are held under the theme: “Improving Nigeria’s Internal Security and Economic Prosperity through Inclusive Policing.”

IGP Namuhoranye said that achieving internal security requires close cooperation and collaboration of security agencies and the public.

“Homeland security is based on public peace and stability. No law enforcement agency can achieve much without the cooperation, trust and partnership of the citizens it serves. Therefore, the cooperation of the Police and the citizens in maintaining security should not be an option but a necessity,” IGP Namuhoranye said.

In Rwanda, he said, security activities and collaboration with the population are a catalyst for security, well-being of the citizenry and sustainable development.

It serves as a premier platform showcasing agricultural and livestock products, farming equipment, and innovations in agricultural technology. The event also highlights key developments and advancements in the sector over the years.

Rwanda is represented by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the Rwandan Embassy in France, which plays an active role in coordinating the country’s participation.

At the exhibition, representatives from Rwandan companies involved in agricultural trade and exports are engaging with major international agribusiness firms to explore market expansion opportunities, foster trade partnerships, and exchange industry insights.

As part of these efforts, Ann Christin Ishimwe, Head of Sales & Marketing at Kinazi Cassava Plant Ltd, and Janet Basiima, Head of Market Development and Innovation at NAEB, visited Phoenix International, a leading French company specializing in importing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables worldwide.

In an interview with IGIHE, Phoenix International manager Bikoo Prem expressed his admiration for Rwandan coffee and honey, indicating a strong interest in importing these products to introduce them to his customer base.

Prem also praised the improved packaging of Rwandan agricultural products, emphasizing its role in maintaining quality.

“Packaging is crucial as it enhances the value of the product, ensures proper preservation, and protects it from air exposure or contamination. It also facilitates transportation by air, sea, or road,” he noted.

Another key engagement was with TAI YAT, a French enterprise specializing in exotic food imports.

The company’s Associate Director, Marc Lao, also commended the packaging of Rwandan products and expressed interest in establishing trade relations.

Discussions between with Ann Christin Ishimwe of Kinazi Cassava Plant Ltd resulted in promising prospects for future collaboration.

{{The photos below show Ann Christin Ishimwe, the Market Manager at Kinazi Casava Plant Ltd, alongside Janet Basiima, the Head of the Market Development and Innovation Department at NAEB during discussions on the sidelines of the trade fair}}

{{Interactions with the management of TAI YAT}}

karirima@igihe.com

Officially inaugurated on February 24, 2025, at INES-Ruhengeri, the center aims to help individuals understand and effectively exercise their rights, contributing to sustainable development.

The initiative was introduced by Dr. Nfor Nyambi, a law lecturer, in collaboration with INES-Ruhengeri.

He was inspired to establish the center after observing similar initiatives successfully operating in various African universities, particularly at the University of Pretoria.

Dr. Nyambi noted that, apart from existing centers at the University of Rwanda, there was a gap in other universities regarding dedicated human rights initiatives.

Consequently, INES-Ruhengeri took the lead in establishing CHRIS to advance human rights and sustainable development.

As the newly appointed Executive Director of CHRIS, Dr. Nyambi explained that the center will operate based on four main pillars: education and training, research, advocacy, and collaboration with civil society organizations.

Emphasizing that human rights are everyone’s responsibility, Dr. Nyambi highlighted CHRIS’s role in raising awareness and empowering citizens to understand and exercise their rights.

CHRIS consists of law students from INES-Ruhengeri who will engage in evidence-based research, conduct training sessions, and collaborate with various institutions to enhance human rights protection.

The center is expected to significantly contribute to improving the well-being of citizens and collaborating with the government on policy development related to human rights protection and preservation.

The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Umurungi Providence, expressed strong support for the initiative, describing it as a commendable effort with great potential to advance human rights advocacy.

She further stated that the center will enable young law students to play a crucial role in educating and promoting human rights awareness within Rwandan society.

Tim Nkurunziza, the head of the law students’ association at INES-Ruhengeri, emphasized that CHRIS will help students enhance their research skills and deepen their understanding of effective human rights advocacy.

The majority of CHRIS members are faculty and students from the law department at INES-Ruhengeri.

Additionally, CHRIS has an advisory committee composed of renowned human rights experts from Africa and beyond.

Among them are Prof. Antoinette Elia, a Spanish human rights specialist, and Me Felix Nkongo Agbobala, a prominent Cameroonian lawyer known for his work in human rights law, among others.