Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

This decision follows a Ministerial Order No. 002/MoH/2024, issued on November 29, 2024, which amends Ministerial Order No. 002/MoH/2019 (April 8, 2019), setting the conditions under which a medical doctor can legally perform an abortion.

Article 5 of the new Ministerial Order, published in the Official Gazette on December 9, 2024, outlines the criteria that must be met for healthcare providers to offer abortion services and expands the list of authorized facilities.

“Abortion is performed in a public or a private health facility authorized by the Ministry in charge of health to operate as a hospital, a health center or a polyclinic. However, the Ministry in charge of health may authorise a clinic that fulfils the requirements to carry out abortion services after assessment of the requirements” states Article 5 of the Order.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in reproductive health have long highlighted that the complexity of legal abortion services often restricts access, particularly when these services are only available in larger hospitals, making it difficult for many women to obtain the care they need.

Legal grounds for performing an abortion include cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or forced marriage, where the pregnancy poses a danger to the woman’s health or the fetus, or when the woman is a minor. Abortions are also permitted when the pregnancy threatens the health of the woman or the fetus she is carrying.

With over 512 health centers across Rwanda, the country plans to ensure that all of these centers are staffed with qualified doctors within the next three years, which will increase the availability of comprehensive healthcare services.

The Health Development Initiative Rwanda (HDI Rwanda) has expressed strong support for these recent changes.

In a post shared on X , the organization stated, “This development is a significant step toward safeguarding the health of women and girls, particularly by addressing the harmful effects of illegal abortions, which have resulted in serious injury or death for many women.”
“This decision will enhance access to safe, reliable, and timely health services for women and girls in need of these critical services,” HDI Rwanda added.

According to data from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), a total of 4,378 women and girls received medical abortions between 2020 and 2023, citing various reasons.

The RBC report shows that 60% of those who accessed abortion services were victims of sexual violence, 32% had abortions due to health risks to the woman or fetus, 3% were minors, 2% were impregnated by a close relative, and 1% were victims of forced marriages.

The law stipulates that, except when the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s health or the life of the child, an abortion should only be performed if the pregnancy is no more than 22 weeks along.

The decree also announced other changes within the Military Tribunal where Lt Col Gerard Muhigirwa has been appointed as Vice President.

Among others, Lt Darcy Ndayishimiye and Lt Thérèse Mukasakindi have been appointed as Judges in the Military High Court.

The appointments were confirmed during a Cabinet meeting on November 9, 2024, after a review of military personnel proposals submitted by the Minister of Defence.

Prior to his new appointment, Brig Gen Karuretwa served as the Director of International Cooperation within the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) following his tenure as Head of Operations in the RDF’s Second Division in the Northern Province.

He has a long history of service, having spent 10 years in various roles within the Presidency.

From July 2011 to March 2016, he served as the President’s defence and security advisor, and from November 2013 to July 2021, he was the Principal Private Secretary to the President of the Republic.

Brig Gen Karuretwa joined the military in 1992. He holds a degree in Law from the National University of Rwanda (2000) and a Master’s in International Law from The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA.

Maurice is recognized for his pioneering work as the founding CEO of KCB Bank Rwanda, where he was instrumental in shaping the bank’s market presence and operational foundation.

His tenure as Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda further cemented his reputation, having successfully overseen its evolution into one of the country’s leading financial institutions. He has also previously served as Chair of the Rwanda Bankers Association.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Benjamin Rugangazi, Chairman of NCBA Bank Rwanda’s Board of Directors, said: “Maurice’s track record speaks volumes. He joins us at a time when we are deepening our efforts in corporate banking and expanding our retail footprint. With his leadership, we look forward to accelerating the bank’s growth trajectory and delivering enhanced value to our customers and shareholders.”

Maurice’s expertise as a Certified Public Accountant and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers is complemented by his academic credentials.

He holds an MBA from Strathmore University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi. As a certified Executive Coach, Maurice is passionate about empowering teams and fostering a culture of excellence.

Maurice’s leadership is rooted in transformative strategies and a commitment to robust governance, which resonate with NCBA Bank Rwanda’s mission to drive financial inclusion and innovation.

In his first remarks as Managing Director, Maurice shared a forward-looking vision.

“I am excited to build on the great work my predecessors have done and on the bank’s strong foundation as we steer NCBA Rwanda into the next phase of growth. I look forward to working closely with the team at NCBA and the wider financial sector in Rwanda to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders and the country at large,” he noted.

The announcement signals a confident step forward for NCBA Bank Rwanda as it aims to redefine its role in the market, fostering resilience and innovation in an increasingly competitive financial landscape.

NCBA Bank Rwanda is a subsidiary of NCBA Group, a full-service banking group providing a broad range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional, SME, and consumer banking customers.

NCBA Group operates a network of 115 branches in five countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast. Serving over 60 million customers, it is the largest banking group in Africa by customer numbers.

NCBA Bank Rwanda is currently present in Kigali with four branches and in other districts of Musanze, Nyagatare, and Kayonza. The bank will soon be unveiling new branches in Rubavu and Rusizi.

Through the partnership with MTN Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd on “MoKash,” a mobile savings and loan product, the bank has attracted over 4.7 million customers and disbursed over 13 million loans worth Frw386 billion.

MoKash continues to play a critical role in expanding financial inclusion in Rwanda by serving 2 million women and 2.5 million youth.

During a plenary of the National Transitional Council, over 90 percent of councilors approved the elevation of the president’s military rank, the council said in a statement.

Deby, 40, a former army general, assumed power after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, died from wounds sustained on the front line in the country’s north in April 2021.

He won the presidential election in May 2024 after leading a transitional government for three years.

According to the Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Israel launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, targeting such sites as Syrian navy vessels docked at Latakia Port, military depots in coastal areas, and arms depots in Damascus.

In addition, the attacks hit the 112th Brigade between the cities of Sheikh Miskin and Nawa in the west of Daraa province, as well as military depots near the Mahja town in northern Daraa.

Two civilians were killed in the assaults on the 12th Brigade in the city of Izraa, the observatory added.

In Damascus, a Xinhua correspondent witnessed Israeli warplanes flying overhead.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told reporters on Monday that the Israeli army launched strikes targeting “strategic weapons systems, residual chemical weapons capabilities, and long-range missiles and rockets” in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of “extremist elements,” claiming that Israel does not aim to interfere in Syria’s internal politics.

He also said that “the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a targeted and temporary operation to take control of areas near the border” with Syria because Syrian militants crossed into the buffer zone between the two countries over the weekend, violating the Agreement on Disengagement signed in 1974 between Israel and Syria.

Airstrikes are expected to continue in the coming days, an anonymous Israeli official told Xinhua.

Multiple regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, among others, condemned the occupation, calling for respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Also on Monday, Syrian online media outlet Sawt al-Asima reported that Muhammad al-Bashir, born in 1983 and an electrical engineer and head of the “Syrian Salvation Government” opposition group in Idlib under the aegis of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been tasked with forming a new Syrian government.

Following the latest developments in Syria, the international community has voiced concern about peace and stability in the country, as United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for calm and “avoiding violence at this sensitive time.”

“We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria,” said Guterres.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would continue diplomatic consultations with relevant parties as well as the United Nations to help stabilize the situation, highlighting the necessity to hold dialogue among different segments of the Syrian society.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday voiced readiness to support and coordinate efforts with all stakeholders to secure Syria’s territorial integrity and stability, saying that Türkiye will make efforts for the safe return of over 3.5 million Syrian refugees residing in the country back home.

China hopes all parties concerned will proceed from the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and find a political solution to restore stability in Syria as soon as possible, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Monday, stressing that the future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people.

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said that Washington “will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process, led by the UN, to establish a transition away from” the Assad government, while President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that “The United States should have nothing to do with” the situation in Syria.

The merger, which resulted in the creation of the newly restructured IBUKA, was finalized during a meeting on December 8, 2024, aimed at strengthening the organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission.

Speaking to the press on December 9, 2024, Dr. Gakwenzire explained that the merger was not an overnight decision, but the culmination of long-term discussions and careful reflection.

“What you saw yesterday is the outcome of years of deliberation,” he stated.

He went on to explain that the decision was rooted in the need for a unified approach to remembrance, advocacy for genocide survivors, and preventing future atrocities.

“Our decision was driven by our shared history and the urgent need to ensure that these memories serve as a powerful lesson to prevent genocide—not only in Rwanda but across the globe.”

Dr. Gakwenzire highlighted that while the organizations had been operational for years, overlapping activities had led them to recognize the benefits of collaboration.

“We realized that our objectives were often aligned, and by working together, we could more effectively advance our shared goals: remembrance, support for genocide survivors, justice, and the well-being of our communities. Now, we will continue to pursue these objectives collectively,” he noted.

The newly reorganized IBUKA will be led by Dr. Gakwenzire as President. Other key leadership appointments include Christine Muhongayire as First Vice President, Blaise Ndizihiwe as Second Vice President, and Louis de Montfort Mujyambere as Secretary-General.

Additional members of the leadership team include Aline Mpinganzima as Commissioner for Youth, Education, and Culture; Lawyer Janvier Bayingana as Commissioner for Remembrance, Justice, and Peacebuilding; Monique Gahongayire as Commissioner for Health, Social Welfare, and Gender Equality; and Evode Ndatsikira as Commissioner for Research, Development, Capacity Building, and Investment.

Upon arrival, Sulayem engaged with young girls at the BK Arena for the “Girls on Track” program welcoming over 100 young women from schools across Kigali to a packed schedule of exciting and inspiring events at the BK Arena.

Joined by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and racing driver, F1 analyst, and presenter Naomi Schiff, the girls took to the track in karts for the first time as well challenging themselves on the simulators, trying their hands at different sporting challenges.

Besides, they had the chance to meet with and hear from inspiring experts from across the world of motorsport who shared their advice and experiences with the girls.

Participants also had the unique opportunity to connect online with FIA Women in Motorsport Chairperson Burcu Çetinkaya who joined them remotely from the Women in Motorsport North America summit in Indianapolis, fostering an inspiring international dialogue.

The participants, involved in karting and e-sport activities, are set to play a role in the upcoming General Assembly events.

Key figures at the program included Minister of Sports Nyirishema Richard, Permanent Secretary Nelly Mukazayire, State Minister of Education Irere Claudette, and Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) President Gakwaya Christian.

The week-long General Assembly, coinciding with the FIA’s 120th anniversary, will feature ten major activities. These include a tree-planting initiative at Nyandungu Eco-Park, a session for university students on motorsport career opportunities, and visits to the Zipline facility in Muhanga District.

Additionally, there will be a meet-and-greet for motorsport enthusiasts and displays of iconic race cars, including the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC, Porsche 99X Electric (GEN3 Evo), and Red Bull RB13.

On Thursday, December 12, a session will focus on the role of technology in reducing environmental damage.

The General Assembly and awards ceremony will take place on Friday, December 13, at the BK Arena, recognizing achievements across various motorsport disciplines including Formula One, Rally, and Karting.