Author: Sam K. Nkurunziza

The catastrophe began when a fire started while a person was cooking on board the vessel, said Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim.

Dozens were saved but many of the survivors were left badly burnt. The search for the missing included rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities.

The motorised wooden boat caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko said. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory.

“The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high,” said senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili on Friday. “As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance.”

Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations.

Congo’s rivers are a main means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas with little infrastructure. Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods.

“Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable,” said Bofili.

Dignitaries from various sectors graced the opening ceremony, including Rwanda’s Minister of State of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Irene Murerwa and presidents of national sports federations.

The event also drew prominent fan leaders like Bigango Valentin of the Rwanda Arsenal Fans Community (RAFC). At the heart of the festival was a powerful message from Minister Rwego Ngarambe, who called on African fans not only to support Arsenal but to invest in the future of African football.

“We are Arsenal fans from different African countries, let’s give ourselves the mission to do everything possible so that one day we have players from our own countries playing for this great club,” he urged.

Beyond the official speeches and celebrations, the festival offered a packed program, including visits to iconic sites like the Ntarama Genocide Memorial and Amahoro Stadium. Fans also committed to giving back, with planned donations to Aheza Healing and Career Center and a joint tree-planting activity with Orion BBC.

Social events added even more sparkle to the weekend, with friendly matches, tourism excursions, and a highly anticipated group screening of the Arsenal vs. Ipswich Town match on Sunday afternoon.

The festival, last hosted in Rwanda in 2018, returned with even more energy and international presence, welcoming fans from Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.

This gathering also underscored the ongoing partnership between Rwanda and Arsenal through the Visit Rwanda campaign, proudly featured on the club’s left sleeve since 2018, a symbol of growing ties between global football and African ambition.

With scholarships valued at up to $85,000 per year, the program is offering a growing number of young learners the chance to access top-tier universities across North America, Europe, and Africa, without the financial barriers that have historically limited such opportunities.

Far from being just another scholarship scheme, ALX Pathway is designed to help students succeed beyond admission. Essential tools that are especially crucial for students transitioning directly from secondary school into fast-paced global academic environments, are disseminated.

It begins with an eight-month Foundation program that equips learners with communication, leadership, critical thinking, and professional readiness skills. Once they complete the program, through the application process, the students are connected to partner universities.

Each institution offers a distinct academic and cultural experience, students are supported and ALX ensures students are prepared for both.

In the United States, students interested in computer science, engineering, or entrepreneurship are drawn to Berkeley’s dynamic campus, where the tech industry and academia often overlap. It’s the kind of place where students work on real-world problems from day one.

For those looking to combine tradition and leadership, Morehouse College in Atlanta presents another option. The historically Black college has produced renowned figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and filmmaker Spike Lee.

It offers a leadership-centered education, particularly appealing for students interested in social impact and public service. Atlanta’s creative and cultural energy only adds to the student experience.

The University of Chicago brings a different kind of intellectual rigor. Known for its commitment to academic depth, students there immerse themselves in debate, discussion, and a high standard of independent thinking.

Other American institutions in the network include Vanderbilt University, with its strong programs in healthcare and innovation and Macalester College in Minnesota, which boasts a globally diverse student body and a deep focus on international relations.

Others are Northwestern University, located just outside of Chicago, with strengths in journalism, business, and engineering and Skidmore College in New York, which encourages creative, cross-disciplinary learning in small, interactive classes.

Across the Atlantic, students interested in applied technology and digital innovation can look to Code University in Berlin, Germany. Here, learners ditch the traditional lecture model in favor of hands-on tech projects in collaboration with leading companies.

The university is situated in one of Europe’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, giving students access to real-world experience even before graduation.

Closer to home, the African Leadership University (ALU) in Rwanda offers students a chance to study on a forward-thinking campus where learning is rooted in problem-solving.

Rather than memorizing theory, students work on projects that tackle real-world African challenges through internships and collaboration. The institution attracts learners from across the continent, creating a pan-African learning environment that blends leadership development with academic study.

The African Leadership College (ALC) in Mauritius offers a similar model but with the added bonus of a coastal campus setting. It combines academic rigor with entrepreneurship, preparing students for impact-driven careers in one of Africa’s most advanced economies.

For learners focused on practical outcomes and technical education, the Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology in South Africa offers certifications and industryready programs that match evolving job market needs.

While the destinations are varied, the starting point remains the same: the ALX Pathway’s Foundation program in Kigali. For students like Ange, who is aiming to study at Macalester College, this initial step is about more than just preparation.

“The Foundations program changed how I think. I will arrive confident and prepared—the transition will be smoother, because they have prepared me,” she said.

Mentorship plays a central role throughout the journey. ALX alumni and program facilitators guide students as they select universities, prepare applications, and transition into student life abroad.

The program’s focus is not only on academic readiness but also on personal transformation, helping students identify long-term goals and take ownership of their development.

As the deadline approaches for the May 2025 intake, the number of applications is expected to rise. The cohort is scheduled to begin next month, and the final day to apply is April 21. Interested students can visit alxafrica.com or contact 0796 163 394 to begin their application.

During a press conference held on April 16, 2025 at Xianhe Hall, Beijing International Club, Professor Lionel M. Ni, Founding President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), emphasized the growing demand for AI expertise and how his university is actively inviting foreign talent, including from Africa, to be part of the innovation ecosystem.

Professor Ni said that the university is not just Chinese in location but global in spirit, with 10 to 20 percent of its student population coming from outside China and a diverse faculty recruited from around the world.

“My university is a truly international university… probably 10%, 20% non-Chinese students coming to our place… We’re pleased to entertain, to host the student or senior faculty working with us,” he said.

His remarks come at a time when Rwanda is investing heavily in its digital economy. The country’s One Million Coders program aims to train one million citizens in digital skills by 2030, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, software development, and data analysis.

China’s willingness to host Rwandan students and researchers in its advanced tech labs could fast-track the goals of this national program and create new pathways for innovation-led growth.

At the event, Professor Ni also addressed a question about China’s reliance on Nvidia chips, which are said to have been used in training the advanced Chinese AI model Deepseek.

He acknowledged that China cannot yet access the most advanced chips but is actively investing in local alternatives. “With the century, I cannot get the most advanced, but… I’m looking for some local companies as well… I’m pretty sure in a year or so, you will see the software ecosystem,” he said.

This shift toward technological independence, he explained, is not just about hardware. It involves building complete ecosystems that support AI development, including software, data infrastructure, and academic research.

By involving international students in this effort, China is effectively inviting countries like Rwanda to be part of shaping that future. Rwanda, which already integrates AI across multiple sectors including health, education, and finance, stands to gain from such cooperation.

With the right partnerships, Rwandan students and professionals could gain hands-on experience in high-impact research and contribute directly to global advances in intelligent systems. For a country that has declared technology as a pillar of its economic transformation, the opportunity could not be more timely.

The president carried a wooden cross during the procession, accompanied by his family, in an attempt to practice the symbolic gesture involving retracing Jesus’ final steps before his crucifixion and praying or meditating at each of the 14 designated stations.

The Burundian presidency later stated that Ndayishimiye participated in the “stations of the cross,” joining in the suffering of Jesus. His public involvement in the religious ceremony was seen by some as a sign of humility and solidarity with the nation’s Christian community.

However, the gesture also sparked mixed online reactions. While some praised the president’s devotion, others criticized the move as tone-deaf in the face of ongoing national challenges.

“He should be solving the problems Burundians are facing, at the very least helping secure fuel, but here he is lifting wooden crosses made from Grevillea trees,” read one of comments by a social media user.

The event, which was part of global Good Friday observances, has since fueled a broader conversation in Burundi about leadership, faith, and national priorities.

Mengniu, one of China’s leading dairy producers, has built this factory to depend more on machines and digital systems than on human labor. This is part of a bigger shift in how the company processes, tracks, and delivers its products, with a heavy focus on smart technology.

Each day, the Beijing facility handles 1.2 million liters of milk. But very few human hands are involved. Robots move between stations, and machines operate with little noise or delay. Most of the work is automated, controlled by software and guided by real-time data.

The factory is equipped with sensors that monitor everything, from the temperature of storage tanks to the amount of bacteria in the milk. These Internet of Things (IoT) sensors feed information into a central system that helps technicians manage the process from a glass-walled control room.

There, a 3D digital copy of the entire factory, known as a ‘digital twin,’ allows engineers see what is happening in real time and fix problems before they get worse.

Artificial intelligence (AI) also plays a big role. It is used to predict when machines might break down, so repairs can be done before any damage occurs. AI helps with planning production, reducing errors by nearly 40%, and even cutting energy waste by adjusting power use based on the factory’s needs.

Every package of milk or yogurt from the factory comes with a QR code. By scanning it, customers can trace the product’s entire journey, from the cow in Inner Mongolia, to the transport truck, to the final processing in Beijing.

This system is powered by block chain technology, which keeps the data secure and helps build consumer trust. The factory also takes sustainability seriously. About 30% of its energy comes from solar panels and biogas.

AI systems manage energy use minute by minute to avoid waste. Even wastewater is tracked digitally and treated with advanced sensors. Around 95% of that water is reused, mainly for irrigation in green spaces.

In product development, Mengniu’s Beijing team created an AI-based “nutritionist” tool called Mengmeng. It offers customized dairy diet plans for over 10 million users.

The company also works with Alibaba to study market trends. When a new flavor, like bubble tea yogurt, becomes popular, the factory can quickly adjust production within 72 hours.

The use of advanced technology at the Beijing plant reflects a bigger shift in China’s manufacturing sector. It’s not just about making products faster, but about making them smarter and more efficient.

Mengniu started in 1999 as a small milk collection station in Inner Mongolia. But in Beijing, it now operates one of the most advanced dairy factories in the country. Technology is no longer a support tool—it’s now at the heart of everything the company does.

Mengniu sees ‘lots of opportunities’ in Africa

As of now, Mengniu Dairy does not export its products directly to Africa. However, the company has expressed strong interest in expanding into the African market, recognizing the continent’s growing demand for dairy products.

However, it has previously engaged in initiatives like the ‘Dairy Nourishes Africa’ project in Tanzania, aiming to support local dairy industries through technical assistance and training.

During my visit, Mengniu’s Vice President, Wei Wei, highlighted Africa as a significant opportunity for the company’s future growth.

“We see Africa as a very important market right now. For now, we don’t have a very specific timeline, but we really value this market…we see a lot of opportunities there and we will develop more business there in the future.” Wei Wei said.

Rwanda, with its robust dairy sector producing over one million tonnes of milk annually, stands to gain insightful lessons by adopting advanced technologies in dairy processing and management.

By embracing innovations such as automated milking systems, digital monitoring tools, and efficient supply chain management, the country can enhance productivity, ensure product quality, and reduce post-harvest losses.

Such technological integration not only supports Rwanda’s goal of increasing milk production but also positions the nation to meet growing domestic and regional demand for dairy products.

Collaborations with technologically advanced dairy industries can facilitate knowledge transfer, enabling Rwanda to modernize its dairy infrastructure and practices, ultimately benefiting farmers and consumers alike.

Designed to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, the program not only offers full scholarships to international universities but also equips students with practical skills that prepare them for academic and professional success.

The ALX Pathway is open to high-performing secondary school graduates, offering them access to some of the world’s top universities across North America, Europe, and Africa.

But beyond the funding, what sets the program apart is its intentional focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving. According to Yvan Cedric Mukunzi, the ALX Pathway Lead in Rwanda, the greatest value of the program is not just the scholarship itself.

“When most people hear about the ALX Pathway Program, they immediately think of the incredible opportunity to secure a fully funded scholarship to a world-class university. And yes, that alone is a life-changing benefit. However, the true value of the Pathway program goes far beyond financial support,” Mukunzi said.

He explained that for learners making the leap straight from high school to university, ALX Pathway offers something far more powerful, a head start, a carefully designed foundation for academic, professional, and personal success.

This head start begins with an eight-month curriculum designed to build essential skills that traditional secondary education often overlooks.

Students learn the basics of entrepreneurship, communication, business mathematics, statistics, and even introductory software engineering. These courses are intentionally designed to help learners connect their academic knowledge with real-world application.

Clovis Cyubahiro, a recent graduate from Ecole des Sciences Byimana, initially joined the program for the scholarship. But he says the program has already reshaped his perspective. “I joined for the free university education, but what I’m gaining before I even set foot on campus is changing how I see my future in my community,” he explained.

A large part of this transformation stems from the entrepreneurship course (ENT 100), where students are encouraged to identify challenges in their own neighborhoods and develop potential solutions. Whether it’s addressing erratic electricity in rural districts or improving access to clean water, the emphasis is on turning local issues into opportunities.

“In our secondary schools, we learn theory very well. What we often miss is the connection between classroom knowledge and solving real problems in our communities,” said Pacifique Tumusifu, who is set to study International Business in Mauritius through ALX Pathway.

This practical orientation is no coincidence. As Mukunzi explained, the goal is to build a mindset of innovation.
“Rwanda and the region need job creators, not just job seekers. When young people start seeing challenges as opportunities, that mindset shift becomes as valuable as any university degree,” he noted.

The curriculum continues into a second term that focuses on deepening these foundational skills. Students learn how to apply statistical thinking, manage business finances, and use technology as a tool for entrepreneurship.

These are skills increasingly valued by universities and employers, especially in regions where economic development is linked closely with innovation and technological advancement.

One particularly transformative experience for many students is the quantitative reasoning course (QNT 101), which challenges the traditional fear of mathematics.

Students also engage in team-based projects where collaboration and communication are essential, giving them early exposure to the dynamics of professional work environments. These soft skills, often overlooked in purely academic settings, are proving to be just as critical as technical knowledge.

The program’s outcomes are beginning to take shape as the first cohort secures placements at leading universities.

Institutions such as African Leadership College in Mauritius, the University of California Berkeley, Macalester College in Minnesota, Code University in Berlin, and Morehouse College in Atlanta are among the diverse destinations that ALX Pathway students are heading to.

Each offers a distinct experience, from Silicon Valley’s tech hubs to the leadership-driven model of ALU Rwanda, giving students exposure to a range of academic and cultural environments.

Bigirimana Olivier, who will soon begin his studies at ALCHE in Mauritius, says the greatest benefit he’s received so far isn’t on paper.

“I’ll bring back knowledge, connections, and experience. But I already have something valuable, the ability to see opportunities where others see problems. That’s how we’ll build our community’s future,” he said.

For many Rwandan students, the journey through ALX Pathway is redefining what it means to pursue higher education. It is not just about gaining degrees abroad, but about returning equipped to contribute meaningfully at home.

The second cohort of ALX Pathway begins in May, with the application deadline set for April 21. Interested applicants can text the word “pathway” to 0796 163 394 or visit alxafrica.com/join-pathway to apply.

He shared this message during a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where officials from the Sudanese Embassy and Sudanese nationals residing in Rwanda were taken through Rwanda’s history, from the colonial era to the execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Musa stated that they wanted to learn from the resilience of the Rwandan people, who managed to stop the genocide, rebuild their nation, and move forward without forgetting their past.

“What I would say to Rwandans is that they must continue to remain united and stay the course of nation-building. They must preserve the unity they have today, and strive for lasting peace, development, security, and stability in their country,” he said.

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, involves fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and government forces. It has already claimed over 24,000 lives and displaced more than 13 million people. Civilian property and infrastructure have also been devastated.

In his message to the people of Sudan, Ambassador Musa described Rwanda as a clear example of how a nation can recover and thrive after going through extreme turmoil.

“It is a country that rose from difficult times, during the genocide, and achieved progress through unity, strong leadership, and firm principles. We in Sudan can also achieve this,” he emphasized.

A Sudanese national, Rwan Eljack, shared her impressions from the memorial visit, saying she was deeply moved by what she saw and learned, especially in contrast to Rwanda’s current state of peace and progress.

“What I saw was truly heartbreaking, but I believe everyone who visits this place leaves with a lesson. As Sudanese youth, we’ve learned that even after a dark chapter, there is hope for rebuilding. We believe that even our two-year-long war will one day end,” she said.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial, located in Gisozi, is the final resting place of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who were killed in Kigali and surrounding areas.

The move signals a potential shift in the country’s internet landscape, with Starlink promising high-speed, low-latency connectivity, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides internet through a network of low-earth orbit satellites, offering faster speeds compared to traditional fiber and mobile networks. The service is particularly beneficial for rural communities where infrastructure challenges have made reliable internet access difficult.

With Uganda’s growing digital economy, Starlink’s entry could enhance e-learning, e-commerce, telemedicine, and remote work, bridging the gap between urban and rural internet accessibility. The UCC requires all telecommunications providers to obtain a license before offering services in Uganda.

Starlink’s application will undergo technical and financial evaluations to ensure compliance with national regulations. If approved, the company will join other internet service providers in expanding Uganda’s digital connectivity.

While Starlink’s technology is promising, concerns remain about pricing, accessibility, and competition with existing providers. The service has been known to charge higher installation fees, which could limit adoption among lower-income users.

However, industry experts believe Starlink’s presence will increase competition, potentially driving down internet costs and improving service quality across Uganda. As Starlink awaits regulatory approval, Ugandans are eager to see how the service will transform internet access in the country.

If licensed, Starlink could play a key role in enhancing digital inclusion and supporting Uganda’s vision for a more connected future.