Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The discussions took place during President Kagame’s three-day official visit to Azerbaijan, which began on Friday.

Following their meeting, the two leaders addressed the press after witnessing the exchange of five cooperation agreements between Rwanda and Azerbaijan. The agreements cover the sectors of agriculture, education, air services, trade, and public service delivery.

Speaking at the event, President Kagame emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring that these new partnerships deliver tangible results.

“Mr. President, just know that you have friends in Africa, in Rwanda. We want to use this opportunity of our cooperation and friendship between you and myself, and the two countries, to move fast forward in achievements of prosperity,” President Kagame said.

Earlier in the morning, President Kagame visited the Alley of Honor, where he laid a wreath on the tomb of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev and Zarifa Aliyeva.

He also laid a wreath at the Alley of Martyrs, a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in Azerbaijan’s struggle for freedom, independence and territorial integrity.

Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Azerbaijan were formally established in 2017, with both countries expressing interest in expanding cooperation across different sectors.

A statement released on September 19, highlights that this initiative is part of ongoing efforts of the UCI and SafeR to enhance the safety of professional road cyclists.

The GPS safety tracking technology to be used in Rwanda was tested during the three stages (August 15 to 17) of the Tour de Romandie Féminin, in Switzerland, which enabled it to be refined.

All riders in all categories (Men and Women Elite, Under 23 and Junior) will be equipped with a GPS safety tracking device attached under their saddle during all events at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships (road races, individual and team time trials).

This system, operated from the UCI Road World Championships control centre, will enable real-time monitoring of data regarding the position and speed of the entire peloton, thus allowing for immediate identification of any unusual situations, such as a rider suddenly stopping on the course.

In such a case, the rider’s exact position will be transmitted to the relevant parties in the convoy – organisers, UCI Commissaires, medical and security services – so that appropriate measures can be taken without delay.

The UCI will continue to work closely with event organisers and all stakeholders with a view to wider deployment of GPS rider safety tracking in races and the development of safety alert and intervention protocols.

Commenting on the development, UCI President David Lappartient said that the introduction of a GPS safety tracking system for riders is important and necessary progress in this regard.

“Thanks to this system, any incident or accident that might have gone unnoticed can be quickly identified, and it will be possible to assist the person concerned as quickly as possible by mobilising those already on the ground and the emergency services,” he noted.

Lappartient also commended everyone who contributed to the development of this new safety device, as well as the National Federations that will inaugurate it during the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali.

The weeklong event will bring together a total of 917 competitors in Kigali as the first African city to host the prestigious cycling competition.

He delivered the message on Friday during the third graduation ceremony of the institute, where 83 students from the Class of 2025 were awarded their degrees.

The Premier congratulated the graduates for their achievement and commended the visionaries behind RICA’s establishment.

Dr. Nsengiyumva underscored that the graduation was not an endpoint, but the beginning of a larger mission.

“Today you are not just receiving degrees, you are receiving a call to service,” he said.

Dr. Nsengiyumva highlighted how the graduates’ expertise is closely tied to Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which seeks to boost productivity in priority food crops by 50 percent to ensure food sufficiency and competitive exports.

“As experts in conservation agriculture, you are well-positioned to drive this transformation by applying modern conservation practices and agri-innovations,” he emphasized.

He described conservation agriculture as a vital pathway to meet both national and global challenges: “Conservation agriculture represents a viable pathway for Rwanda to achieve environmental sustainability and long-term resilience. By improving soil health, it enhances agricultural productivity, increases farm efficiency and profitability, and contributes significantly to food security and the improvement of rural livelihoods.”

{{A call for integrity and service}}

The Prime Minister urged graduates to serve with humility and integrity, stressing that their skills were not meant for personal gain alone.

“As you embark on your careers, remember that the knowledge and skills you’ve gained at RICA are not for personal advancement alone. You are called to serve as agents of change and problem-solvers who create opportunities that transform communities” he said.

“True success is not measured by how far you go alone, but by how many you lift along the way. Let you be a generation not content to wait for the future, but a generation that is bold enough to shape it. Rise with purpose, rise with compassion, and above all, rise together as proud Rwandans,” Dr. Nsengiyumva added.

The Premier further assured that the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment where their talents will thrive.

“Together, we will forge a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and resilient,” he said.

{{Preparing leaders for global challenges}}

Dr. Olusegun Yerokun, Interim Vice Chancellor of RICA, also addressed the graduates, reminding them of the immense challenges facing agriculture globally—climate change, soil degradation, dwindling resources, post-harvest losses, and population pressures.

“Your training at RICA has been specifically designed to prepare you to lead this agricultural revolution,” he said.

He explained that the program combined theory with practice in fields, laboratories, greenhouses, and surrounding communities.

“The skills and knowledge you possess are the seeds that will enable you to cultivate change and sow a truly sustainable future for many generations of Rwandans,” Dr. Yerokun affirmed.

The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture was inaugurated in 2019 in Bugesera District as a strategic partnership between the Government of Rwanda and Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

Established with the bold vision to revolutionize agricultural education, RICA equips young leaders with the tools to address Rwanda’s pressing agricultural challenges while contributing to global sustainability.

It currently offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Conservation Agriculture, taught entirely in English.

The program is designed to address real-world problems, supported by international faculty, modern facilities, and partnerships with government, the private sector, and development organizations.

The attack hit airports in Germany, France, Spain, and several other countries, officials confirmed.

While no flight safety systems were compromised, the disruption caused long lines and confusion at departure halls.

Investigators across Europe are working together to trace its origin. Officials said it was too early to determine whether the attack was state-sponsored or carried out by criminal groups.

Meanwhile, airlines scrambled to revert to manual procedures, with staff checking passports and boarding passes by hand.

Cybersecurity experts noted that airports are increasingly attractive targets for hackers because of their reliance on interconnected IT systems. The attack, they said, highlights vulnerabilities in Europe’s critical infrastructure.

Authorities have urged passengers to allow extra time for check-in and said contingency measures remain in place until systems are fully restored.

“We can confirm that the commission has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 19th package,” European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said at a press conference in Brussels.

The new package will target “Russian banks, crypto assets, and energy imports,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on social media platform X on Tuesday, after she held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

With about 19 percent of Europe’s gas supply still coming from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, the EU is also discussing accelerating a ban on Russian LNG as part of the new sanctions, according to media reports.

Over the past weekend, Trump has called on European allies to halt remaining purchases of Russian oil, and even suggested that members of the Group of Seven and NATO impose duties on countries facilitating Russia’s energy exports, claiming such steps are needed to weaken Russia’s economy.

The commission “will also propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports,” said Ursula von der Leyen in her X post. The phase-out of Russian fossil fuels is currently planned for completion by Jan. 1, 2028.

The new EU sanctions package had originally been expected to be presented to member states last Friday. However, a high-level EU team trip to Washington and efforts for coordination delayed it a week. EU officials said sanctions will be phased carefully to avoid energy price shocks or supply shortages within the bloc.

Former Munich Security Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen has urged the EU to increase pressure on Hungary and Slovakia to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, noting that Hungary still imports about 60 percent of its oil from Russia, while Slovakia depends on Russia for roughly 75 percent of its energy needs.

Ukraine has urged a swift adoption of the 19th sanctions package. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in posts on X earlier this week that “coordinated steps across the Atlantic” are essential to deprive Russia of resources for the conflict. “Now the focus must be on making the 19th package even tougher,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russia has downplayed the impact of the pending sanctions. Threats from Washington and Brussels, voiced regularly, “have no effect and will not change anything,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing Friday. She also criticized the EU’s push to abandon Russian energy, calling it “suicidal sabotage” and warning that Brussels is exhausting itself.

The EU has adopted 18 sanctions packages against Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, targeting finance, technology and energy. The 19th package will test the bloc’s ability to maintain internal unity while responding to mounting U.S. pressure for faster and broader action, analysts say.

The Foreign Ministry condemned a “heinous terrorist aggression” against the Al-Daraja neighbourhood mosque, saying the strike wounded several worshippers and partially destroyed the building. It said the attack was a “flagrant violation of religious norms and international conventions” protecting civilians and places of worship.

The ministry blamed the RSF for systematic abuses against civilians and infrastructure, and urged the international communities to act against “terrorism targeting unarmed civilians.”

Volunteer groups in El Fasher said earlier on Friday that more than 75 people were killed, including 20 displaced residents of Abu Shouk camp. They said a drone operated by the RSF hit the mosque during dawn prayers.

The RSF has not commented.

Clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies have raged in El Fasher since May. Nationwide, the war between the SAF and RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since it erupted in April 2023, deepening Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.

The House narrowly approved the Republican-drafted plan to keep the government funded until late November, but the Senate blocked it hours later with 44 in favor to 48 opposed, failing to reach the required 60 votes. A Democratic alternative, which included provisions on healthcare programs, also failed.

With both chambers now at an impasse and the deadline to renew federal funding expiring at midnight on Sept. 30, the risk of a government shutdown is rising.

A shutdown would halt many federal services, delay paychecks for hundreds of thousands of workers, and disrupt operations from national parks to visa processing, though mandatory programs such as Social Security and Medicare would continue.

The standoff underscores deep partisan divisions in Washington, with Democrats criticizing the House plan for omitting healthcare priorities and Republicans arguing that a stopgap is necessary to buy more time for negotiations.

Minister Nduhungirehe highlighted Burundi’s role in the ongoing war in Eastern DRC during an interview with journalist Scovia Mutesi.

Burundians were part of the East African Community Regional Force deployed to DRC late 2022.

DRC President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi later decided to expel these troops, accusing them of failing to attack the M23 rebel group but some of Burundi’s troops remained, agreeing to fight alongside the DRC army.

Since then, the number of Burundian troops in DRC has increased, and have been seen fighting alongside the Congolese army forces allied with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Wazalendo groups.

Minister Nduhungirehe stated that to date, Burundian forces have been involved in ongoing violence targeting Congolese Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities.

“As we know, Burundian troops in Eastern DRC are collaborating with the Congolese government in the ongoing war, which includes ongoing targeting of Banyamulenge and Congolese Tutsi communities,” he noted.

He further expressed concern over Burundi’s actions, likening them to adding fuel to a fire.

“These actions are concerning, and the Burundian government should understand that it must not add fuel to the fire. If it seeks peace in the region, it must stop this war against the Congolese people. The Burundian government needs to understand this and contribute to regional peace efforts,” said Minister Nduhungirehe.

He also condemned Burundi’s decision to use Bujumbura airport for the conflict, as a hub for transporting weapons and launching drone strikes aimed at Congolese civilians.

At different times, Burundi has accused Rwanda of harboring ill intentions towards it, even suggesting that Rwanda plans to attack. Nduhungirehe dismissed these claims as baseless.

“They’ve made these claims, and as you know, they are untrue. They have been repeating this. Rwanda has no plans to attack Burundi,” he stated.

In January 2024, the Burundian government closed all land borders with Rwanda.

This followed remarks made by President Ndayishimiye in his end-of-year speech for 2023, in which he hinted at closing the borders with Rwanda after accusing it of supporting the RED Tabara rebel group fighting his government.

The relationship between Rwanda and Burundi further deteriorated when Burundi’s troops began working with the FDLR terrorist group in Eastern DRC.

At that time, it was also reported that senior FDLR leaders would hold meetings in Burundi.