Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The Kigali office will offer Fund Administration, Corporate Services, Compliance Solutions, as well as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) advisory services, pending regulatory approvals.

The company said in a statement on Thursday that, in offering its services, it will work closely with the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), which is positioning Rwanda as a leading hub for financial services in Africa.

Emma Msowoya, Country Head of Apex Group Rwanda, said the office reflects a “long-term commitment to the region” and a focus on building local expertise.

“I am proud to be part of Apex Group’s entry into East Africa as we expand our global footprint and drive meaningful change across the financial services industry,” she said.

“Rwanda’s reputation for innovation, stability, and progressive economic policy makes it an ideal location for Apex Group’s next chapter in Africa,” she added.

KIFC CEO Hortense Mudenge welcomed the expansion, saying it demonstrates growing global confidence in Rwanda’s stable business environment and strengthens the country’s position as a competitive financial hub.

“Apex Group’s presence further strengthens our financial ecosystem, enhances the availability of world-class services and Rwanda’s position as a trusted and competitive financial hub on the continent,” the KIFC CEO stated.

Apex Group, founded in Bermuda in 2003, operates in more than 50 countries worldwide, including several in Africa such as South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

The company plans to host an official launch event for the new office on September 8 at the Kigali Marriott Hotel, bringing together clients, partners, and stakeholders from across the region.

Beyond conservation, the park is also a source of employment. Management reports that more than 6,000 people have benefited from jobs linked to the development and maintenance of its facilities, including constructing walkways, building infrastructure, planting trees, removing invasive species, and ensuring cleanliness.

Visitor numbers have continued to grow. In 2024, the park attracted over 76,000 visitors, up from 69,222 in 2023. Between January and July 2025 alone, more than 56,000 people had already visited. This increase has translated into higher revenues, with Frw 158 million generated during the same seven-month period.

Encouraged by these results, park management is preparing to launch new projects aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and boosting tourism appeal. Planned additions include animals, electric buggies, and new walking and cycling paths.

“We intend to expand trails for tourists who prefer walking, cycling, or using electric scooters,” park officials told IGIHE.

“We will increase the number of bicycles and scooters and introduce electric buggies for those who wish to tour the park while seated. We are also conducting a feasibility study to introduce herbivorous animals, and we plan to host conferences that align with biodiversity conservation.”

The park also plans to introduce art installations, innovative structures, and digital tools to enhance learning about biodiversity. Interactive displays and creative facilities are expected to provide engaging experiences for both children and adults. Additionally, the innovation center will support young people through training programs designed to build skills in creativity and environmental stewardship.

Future projects include establishing eco-camping facilities to allow visitors to spend nights in tents, offering professional photography services, and adding more benches for relaxation and social interaction.

Management has also outlined initiatives to support surrounding communities in Nyarugunga, Ndera, and Kimironko sectors, focusing on income-generating activities through cooperatives.

Currently, the park is open from morning until 6 p.m., but plans are underway to extend closing hours to 9 p.m. in response to visitor demand.

Nyandungu Park was officially opened in July 2022 after six years of wetland restoration. Spanning 121 hectares—70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest—it is home to more than 60 plant species and over 200 bird species.

The park features a medicinal plant garden, the “Pope’s Garden,” five fish ponds, three swimming ponds, a visitor centre, a modern restaurant, and a 10-kilometre trail for walking and cycling.

AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa recently told reporters he would send a large delegation to the discussions aimed at finding solutions to the DRC’s ongoing crisis.

As promised, a team led by AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka has already arrived in South Africa. Before joining the talks, the group also attended an international peace and security conference hosted by the Mbeki Foundation.

Kabila, who was among those invited, dispatched senior allies including his former chief of staff Néhémie Mwilanya, former Kinshasa governor Andre Kimbuta, former senator Francine Muyumba, and former deputy budget minister Félix Momat Kitenge.

Mbeki’s foundation had extended invitations to a broad range of participants, including members of President Félix Tshisekedi’s government and opposition figures.

However, Tshisekedi declined the Mbeki Foundation’s invitation, insisting that Congolese do not need a mediator to resolve their own political challenges. He argued that peace talks organised abroad are merely a distraction. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya reinforced that stance, saying no official from Kinshasa would attend, claiming that Mbeki did not fully understand the country’s problems.

Speaking to South African media on September 4, Kanyuka criticised Tshisekedi’s position, saying it undermined other peace efforts supported by the United States and Qatar.

“I know the map very well. Washington is not in the DRC, Doha is not in the DRC—they are foreign powers,” he said. “Why does he say he doesn’t want to be distracted by external talks? By closing the door to all dialogue, he is choosing war. That has been his position from the start.”

Thabo Mbeki, who served as South Africa’s president from 1999 to 2008, has long taken an interest in the DRC and is considered one of the African leaders most familiar with its conflicts.

The Head of State delivered his remarks at the opening of the 9th edition of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Kigali on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

“Since its inception, the Aviation Africa Summit has been pivotal in showing how much growth Africa’s aviation industry has experienced in a very short time,” President Kagame said, welcoming participants from across the continent and beyond.

“With the exhibitors and sponsors present, we also see how much more potential the aviation sector has to offer.”

Highlighting Rwanda’s innovative partnerships, President Kagame pointed to the collaboration with Zipline, which has been delivering urgent medical supplies to health facilities via drones for over a decade.

“This technology does not only save time; it also saves lives,” he said, noting plans to expand the service to urban deliveries and support emerging sectors like e-commerce.

President Kagame also celebrated a landmark moment for African aviation, witnessing the continent’s first-ever autonomous air taxi flight at the summit.

“We are very happy to be part of this demonstration and look forward to seeing what will come next,” he said.

President Kagame underscored the need for investments in a robust and dynamic aviation sector, pointing to a growing middle class, increasing tourism, and projected doubling of passenger traffic across the continent in the coming years.

President Kagame called for stronger collaboration with the African Union and African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to realise ‘one sky and free movement’ across Africa, noting Rwanda’s policy allowing visa-free entry for all African nationals.

“We have all the resources and capabilities we need,” he said, stressing that collaboration, innovation, and policy reforms are key to making travel more accessible and affordable.

Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore also welcomed participants, stressing Rwanda’s strategic role as a hub for aviation innovation and future air mobility.

“For Rwanda, aviation is not just a mode of transport; it is a strategic enabler of development,” he said, highlighting the integration of the Africa Drone Forum into the summit.

The two-day summit, hosted by the Government of Rwanda alongside the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, and Rwanda Airports Company, opened at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre under the theme, “Collaborating to Unlock Africa’s Aviation Growth.”

The summit brings together senior government officials, airline CEOs, Air Chiefs, and industry professionals to discuss key sectoral priorities, including sustainable aviation fuels, advanced air mobility technologies, and airport infrastructure development.

Rwanda is positioning itself as a leader in aviation excellence, investing in major infrastructure projects like the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera and supporting technological innovation to strengthen the continent’s aviation ecosystem. The previous edition of the summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2024.

The Kigali gathering aims to transform policy discussions into practical actions, fostering collaboration that can help Africa fully realise its aviation potential.

The launch took place on September 3, 2025, just hours before the ninth edition of the Aviation Africa summit, a two-day conference bringing together over 80 aviation companies from across the continent.

The drones, known as eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicles), are manufactured by Chinese company EHang and run entirely on electricity.

Each drone costs approximately $400,000 (approximately Frw 579 million), can carry two passengers, transport over 620 kilograms of cargo, cover 30 kilometres, and fly for up to 25 minutes on a full charge. They operate at an altitude of 100 metres, feature 12 rotors mounted on four arms, and are equipped with technology to detect obstacles mid-air.

Melissa Rusanganwa, International Affairs Manager at the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), was the first to experience the aircraft in flight.

“I felt safe throughout the flight,” she said. “The crew conducted thorough checks and gave us instructions to follow. This technology will connect people across different regions and support tourism while being environmentally friendly, as the drones are fully electric.”

Rwanda has previously used drones mainly for medical deliveries. Zipline Rwanda, operational since October 2016, has delivered blood, vaccines, and medical supplies to over 650 health facilities, including more than 100 small clinics. Their drones carry 2–3 kilograms, travel up to 160 kilometres at speeds of 130 km/h, and complete long-distance trips in under 40 minutes.

The country is also developing a state-of-the-art Drone Operation Centre in Huye District, Southern Province, on the site of a former airfield. The 13.4 billion Rwandan franc facility will accommodate drones of all sizes, including large models comparable to helicopters with wingspans of 18–20 metres. It will host up to 3,000 drones at once and include areas for assembly and testing of new drones.

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According to a statement from the Office of the President, the two discussed ASECNA’s central role in advancing aviation across the continent as well as Rwanda’s leadership in the use of drones to deliver economic and health benefits. Rwanda is widely recognised for pioneering drone technology, particularly in the delivery of medical supplies to remote areas.

Zo’o Minto’o is in Kigali for the 9th edition of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major gathering of global and continental stakeholders in the aviation industry. Rwanda last hosted the summit in 2022.

The two-day event, hosted by the Government of Rwanda alongside the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, and Rwanda Airports Company, opens on September 4 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre.

With the theme “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s aviation growth,” the summit will provide a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and the showcasing of aviation innovations.

The summit’s agenda focuses on key issues shaping the sector, including sustainability through the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the future of advanced air mobility (AAM) with drones and eVTOL aircraft, and infrastructure development such as airport expansion and enhanced air traffic management systems.

The summit also highlights Rwanda’s growing position as a hub for aviation excellence. The country is investing heavily in infrastructure, notably the new Kigali International Airport at Bugesera, and positioning itself as a leader in technological innovation within the industry.

The previous edition of the Aviation Africa Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2024.

This year’s Kigali summit is expected to draw senior government officials, industry leaders, and professionals from across Africa and beyond to transform policy discussions into practical steps for the sector’s growth.

Residents of Kaburantwa in Buganda zone reported that late last week, they saw at least 30 trucks transporting Burundian troops and members of the Imbonerakure youth wing, affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party, crossing a bridge currently being rehabilitated by a Chinese company.

The Imbonerakure deployed to the DRC are said to have been trained jointly by Burundian soldiers. Observers of Burundi’s security dynamics confirm that among their trainers was the FDLR, a terrorist militia founded by individuals who took part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The forces are heading towards mountainous areas such as Minembwe, where they operate alongside the Congolese army, the FDLR and the Wazalendo militia in launching attacks against the Banyamulenge community and fighting rival groups such as MRDP-Twirwaneho.

On September 1, Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the AFC/M23 coalition, told journalists that more than 12,000 fighters—including Burundian troops, Imbonerakure, FDLR, and Wazalendo—had been deployed in the mountains of South Kivu in preparation for major offensives.

Congolese politician Moïse Nyarugabo, a former Member of Parliament, explained that Burundian troops stationed in the mountains number over 10,000.

“They have established camps, dug trenches… they are fighting, but I don’t know exactly whom they are waiting to confront,” he said.

Burundian forces have been openly operating in South Kivu Province since 2022, after Burundi and the DRC signed a military cooperation agreement.

The agreement was renewed in August 2023, with both governments agreeing that their armies would jointly fight the AFC/M23 coalition in North Kivu Province. However, the deployment there ended unfavourably for the Burundians, who were driven out of all the areas they once controlled in Masisi territory.

Family-related disputes, particularly divorces, continue to dominate the court docket, followed by cases involving immovable property, breach of agreements, and civil registry documents. Specifically, courts recorded 2,674 divorce cases, 2,259 cases concerning immovable property, 1,176 breach-of-agreement cases, and 1,059 cases related to civil registry documentation.

Supreme Court President Domitille Mukantaganzwa emphasised that this year, the Judiciary will prioritise dispute resolution outside of court, particularly through mediation.

She stated: “In this judicial year, the Judiciary will intensify efforts to encourage parties to resolve disputes amicably, particularly in family, labour, administrative, and commercial cases, using mediation.”

For criminal cases, the focus will be on victim-offender mediation and plea bargaining, which allows for agreements based on admission of guilt.

Historical trends show a sharp increase in divorce filings over the past decade. In 2016, only 21 cases were registered; this rose to 69 in 2017 and 1,311 in 2018. In 2019, 8,941 families were granted divorces, while in 2020, courts received 3,213 cases. The 2021-2022 judicial activity report recorded 3,322 cases, followed by 3,075 the next year. Although recent figures suggest a slight decline, divorce rates remain high.

Legal Framework and Reforms

The recently revised Law Governing Persons and Family identifies rising divorce rates as a key concern. Property-sharing agreements have often influenced divorces, with many couples agreeing to a 50/50 split of assets if separation occurs.

Article 156 provides that if the common property regime is dissolved due to divorce, and spouses have been married for less than five years, a judge may order an unequal division of property and debts. The law states:

“When the common property regime is dissolved due to cohabitation issues or changes in property management, spouses shall divide property and debts equally or as mutually agreed. However, if requested by a spouse married for less than five years, the court may order a division proportionate to each party’s contribution.”

The law also allows the court to consider property destroyed or debts incurred by a spouse, whether before or during the marriage, if not disclosed to the other spouse.

Grounds for divorce include adultery, conviction of a serious crime, refusal to provide household necessities, physical or psychological abuse, egregious misconduct, disputes over children, or other intolerable reasons. It also allows either spouse to seek divorce if cohabitation becomes impossible for any other valid reason.

The visit took place on August 29, 2025, in Nyagatare Sector, Nyagatare District, where the juvenile facility is located.

Several participants described the experience as highly valuable, noting that it helped them deepen their understanding of laws relating to child justice.

“This visit helped us connect what we were taught in class with real-life practice. It allowed me to see how far Rwanda has advanced in building infrastructure that supports child justice,” Asiimwe Norah told IGIHE.

“I found it to be a commendable initiative that protects children’s rights within the justice system. After this visit, I encourage everyone working with children to always value them.”

Her views were echoed by Niyitegeka Jean Marie Vianney, another participant, who said the visit offered an opportunity to see in practice what they had studied in books, adding that the lessons would be useful in his future career.

“We witnessed how children who have strayed from society are treated—not with punitive measures, but in ways that rehabilitate them. This is not punishment but correction. Here, they are given the chance to study, from primary to secondary education, and even undertake vocational training,” he explained.

Niyitegeka also welcomed the fact that children receive care from mental health specialists who help them heal and prepare to reintegrate into their families and communities after rehabilitation. He noted that this sets a positive example for anyone working in child justice, emphasising that children should be corrected in ways that support their growth rather than punished harshly.

Bigirimana Consolate, a lecturer and head of the Child Justice Law program, explained that ILPD prioritises teaching methods that take students into real environments where legal principles are applied.

“Such programs are designed to give our students practical knowledge, bridging the gap between classroom learning and field practice. Here, they saw how a child’s rights are protected once admitted to the rehabilitation center, whether as someone on trial or as a convicted child, while also considering their welfare, education, and overall well-being, ” she said.

The Child Justice Law program began in 2023 and has so far enrolled around 65 students.

During the visit, students also learned about the operations of the Nyagatare Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and expressed satisfaction at seeing the Government of Rwanda prioritizing children’s rights.