Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The membership was formalised on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, during a charter signing ceremony at SONARWA Life’s headquarters in Kigali. The event brought together senior executives, financial sector leaders and partners, marking what participants described as a “critical step” towards more inclusive leadership in the industry.

In his remarks, Isaïe Muhoza, Acting CEO of Rwanda’s leading life insurance company, said the company’s decision to join WIFR was not symbolic, but a strategic and values-driven move to institutionalise gender equity across all levels of its operations.

“This membership is not a ceremonial act—it is a serious commitment to systemic change,” Muhoza said. “Today, as SONARWA Life, we make a public commitment to ensuring that women have equal opportunities to grow, lead, and shape the future at our organisation and in the financial sector.”

Muhoza said gender inclusion is embedded in the company’s recruitment, assessment, and promotion practices, noting that building diverse teams was key to delivering sustainable business impact and serving customers better.

SONARWA Life’s entrance into WIFR also presented an opportunity to empower the company’s young female professionals. Three staff members, Esther Mugisha, Ingrid Isimbi, and Chantal Ikirenga, were awarded scholarships to pursue professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI).

Muhoza celebrated the awarding of scholarships to three female employees, calling them “the future of ethical leadership in the sector.”

Speaking on behalf of the scholars, Esther Mugisha, a Corporate Business Officer at SONARWA Life, expressed gratitude to both WIFR and the company’s leadership.

“This gesture is not only a testament to your commitment to empowering young women professionals in the finance sector, but also a great encouragement for us to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Rwanda’s financial industry,” Mugisha said.

WIFR, a non-profit network launched in 2023, champions diversity and inclusion within Rwanda’s financial services industry. Its work spans banking, insurance, investment, and microfinance, with a focus on, among others, building capacity, promoting mentorship, and advocating for gender-responsive policies.

Annie Nibishaka, CEO of Old Mutual Rwanda and an institutional member of WIFR, welcomed SONARWA Life into the network with a pointed reminder that Rwanda’s financial sector is at a turning point, where good intentions on gender equality must now give way to concrete action.

“The path towards gender balance in the financial sector has reached a critical moment where intention must translate into accelerated action,” Nibishaka said. “Gender balance enhances decision making, improves governance and ultimately delivers better outcomes for all.”

She highlighted some of the Foundation’s key achievements to date, including a research study on the state of women in the financial sector, mentorship cohorts with a pipeline of over 60 mentees, and partnerships with public institutions such as the Gender Monitoring Office and the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), all aimed at supporting the organisation’s mission.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Gatera, Director of the National Standards Division at RSB, announced that Rwanda will, in October, launch the world’s first standalone gender equality certification standard during the ISO General Assembly, which the country will host.

The certification, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Gender Monitoring Office, will be free of charge and available to both public and private institutions that meet the criteria for gender equity in operations and governance.

“We’ve seen transformational change when women are empowered in the workplace,” Gatera said…I would be happy to recognise some organisations that have demonstrated their compliance with gender equality requirements, including members of Women in Finance.”

Jessica Igoma, CEO of Mayfair Insurance, said SONARWA Life’s inclusion comes at a pivotal time, as WIFR prepares to launch a dedicated insurance sector chapter. She pointed to low insurance penetration in Rwanda, currently at 2.1% compared to the global average of 7%, as a challenge that could be tackled through targeted inclusion and awareness strategies.

“Looking at some of the statistics, we have about 92% of women with no insurance in this country, but also 38% of women do not know what insurance is or how insurance works. So, this will give us a good opportunity as women in insurance to be able to create a difference,” Igoma remarked.

SONARWA Life is the fifth insurer and the fifteenth institution to join the growing list of organisations aligned with WIFR’s mission, including Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), Bank of Kigali, BRD, NCBA Rwanda, Access to Finance Rwanda, Ecobank, I&M Bank, Umwalimu Sacco, Old Mutual Insurance, Coopedu, Mayfair, Sanlam, and Zep-Re.

As part of its membership, SONARWA Life will be expected to uphold the WIFR Gender Charter, monitor internal progress, and participate in sector-wide efforts to achieve parity.

The order, effective 21 days after the announcement, will bring the combined tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian goods to 50 percent.

Trump on Monday threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on goods imported from India, citing India’s purchases of Russian oil.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to Trump’s threat with a statement saying that “the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable” and that India’s oil imports are meant to “ensure predictable and affordable energy costs” for Indian consumers.

India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and “the United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability,” said the statement.

On July 29, Trump set a 10-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. The latest punitive tariff on Indian goods is seen as part of the U.S. pressure campaign targeting Russia.

The agreements were signed on August 6, 2025, at the conclusion of the Ministerial Session of the Third Joint Permanent Commission between Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The meeting aimed to review and strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

On the Rwandan side, the agreements were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, while Zimbabwe was represented by his counterpart, Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira.

Minister Nduhungirehe noted that both countries had sufficient time to explore areas of cooperation following the second session of the commission held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2023.

The meeting laid the groundwork for signing the new agreements covering youth development, collaboration between police institutions, health, customs information exchange, and expansion of energy sector cooperation.

He also pointed out that Rwanda and Zimbabwe already collaborate in several areas such as agriculture, correctional services, and tourism, stressing the importance of implementing the signed agreements.

“We must focus heavily on implementation. Let’s act on the decisions made today to produce tangible results. Establishing follow-up mechanisms, facilitating knowledge exchange, and working together to solve governance-related challenges are crucial,” he said.

He further stated that Zimbabwe is ready to work with Rwanda in the field of justice, with ongoing discussions aimed at finalising a prisoner transfer agreement. Talks are also nearing completion on avoiding double taxation and collaborating on social development programmes.

Minister Nduhungirehe described Zimbabwe as a key partner for Rwanda, with over 25 cooperation agreements signed to date aimed at boosting both countries’ economies.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira, expressed his country’s interest in working closely with Rwanda in various sectors.

“We consider the Rwanda–Zimbabwe partnership vital, as it has grown significantly over the years. Since our meeting in 2021, we’ve witnessed remarkable progress in several sectors. This reflects the strong collaboration, friendship, and mutual respect between us,” he said.

He also praised the establishment of a joint Rwanda–Zimbabwe Business Forum, noting its potential to highlight partnership opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, mineral extraction, industrial development, and other sectors that can benefit both populations.

Prof. Murwira highlighted existing cooperation in education, which is already yielding results. He confirmed that the deployment of a second group of Zimbabwean teachers to Rwanda is nearing completion.

He also mentioned his visit to Norrsken Kigali, which supports youth-led tech innovation projects, and identified it as a potential area for joint efforts in advancing technology and industrial growth.

Prof. Murwira added that Zimbabwe is prepared to offer scholarships to Rwandan students interested in furthering their knowledge, particularly in innovation and industrial development.

Twirwaneho spokesperson Kamasa Ndakize Welcome announced on Tuesday, 5 August, that joint attacks involving the FDLR, FARDC, and a faction of the Mai Mai Ngomanzito militia had begun in the villages of Irumba and Rugezi, located in southern Minembwe.

“Since the early hours of August 5, joint offensives by government forces, including FARDC, FDLR genocidaires, and Mai Mai Ngomanzito, have been carried out on Banyamulenge villages in Irumba and Rugezi,” he stated.

The reports come just days after the community raised concerns that FDLR fighters were undergoing training in Burundi, ahead of being deployed to join FARDC, Burundian forces, and Wazalendo militias in operations targeting the Banyamulenge.

“Military training, which constitutes a criminal act, is being provided to FDLR fighters in Burundi before they are deployed to the DRC. We continue to condemn this. Approximately 20,000 are currently in training, and more than 3,000 have already crossed into the DRC,” the group stated earlier.

Twirwaneho also indicated that credible intelligence showed each FDLR combatant receives $50 prior to leaving Burundi and is then dispatched to areas such as Luvungi, Lubarika, and Lemera, where they reportedly establish temporary bases.

However, in his latest statement, the Twirwaneho spokesperson clarified that Burundian forces were not involved in the August 5 attacks and called for their complete and public withdrawal from what the movement described as a wider campaign to annihilate the Banyamulenge.

“We affirm that Burundian troops did not take part in today’s attacks. We hope they will completely and publicly distance themselves from such operations. Withdrawing from this genocidal war would mark a major step toward peace,” he said.

Twirwaneho reiterated its commitment to peace but stressed its right to defend civilians under threat using all means permitted by law.

The attacks continue despite prior commitments to a ceasefire and an end to violence in eastern DRC, as ongoing talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel group proceed.

In recent weeks, the rebel group has accused FARDC and its allied militias of carrying out coordinated attacks, urging the international community to condemn the violence and support a peaceful resolution to the conflict, one they say is rooted in the marginalisation and persecution of Banyamulenge communities in eastern DRC.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe made the announcement during a strategic engagement with Harare City Councillors and municipal officials on Monday. He emphasised that informal trade has severely undermined the viability of formal businesses in Harare’s central business district.

“The proliferation of street and night vending has destroyed the viability of formal businesses in our city,” Minister Garwe stated.

“The government has therefore moved to ban the importation and sale of second-hand clothes, as well as all forms of street vending.”

According to Garwe, informal trading spaces have not only disrupted regulated commerce but have also become hotspots for illicit drug activities and other underground dealings, posing threats to public health and national security.

To ensure effective enforcement, the Minister urged Harare City Council to collaborate closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). He also called for a humane and community-sensitive approach when implementing the new directive, referencing past incidents in which vendors were mistreated during clean-up campaigns.

“Enforcement should not be about being tough or brutal,” he said. “Let us engage with vendor associations and educate the public while upholding law and order.”

In addition to the crackdown on informal trading, Garwe pressed city authorities to urgently address Harare’s worsening traffic congestion, which he described as “unacceptable.”

He encouraged the reinforcement of municipal by-laws to improve the capital’s overall functionality and flow.

“Restoring order in our city is not optional,” he added. “We must act now to preserve the integrity of formal businesses and the safety of our communities.”

The ban is expected to impact thousands who rely on vending for their livelihoods.

Addressing provincial leaders in North Kivu during a high-level meeting held in Goma on August 4, 2025, Gen. Makenga stressed that meaningful change cannot be achieved through words alone but must be reflected in actions on the ground.

“Change must be demonstrated through action,” he said. “As leaders, the people you serve must see the difference in the way you govern. The country has been in disarray for far too long, and restoring order will take time. But the roadmap exists and with collective effort, including yours and ours, transformation is possible.”

He emphasised that the process of change must begin from within the movement itself, urging fighters and leaders to embody the values they aspire to promote.

“Transformation starts with us. We must show our people and the world that we are not the same. You cannot change someone else if you have not changed yourself,” he added.

Gen. Makenga also denounced the practices that have plagued the Congolese state, including the looting of national resources and systemic corruption. He said the AFC/M23 must commit to ending such behaviours and focus on restoring peace and stability in the country.

The rebel group controls large swathes of territory in eastern DRC and is currently in talks with the Kinshasa administration in a Qatar-led process to end the longstanding stalemate.

The crises in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been driving an average of 600 people to cross the border daily in search of safety and lifesaving aid, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing, citing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Uganda is already the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the third largest globally, said Haq.

Uganda’s progressive refugee policy allows refugees to live, work and access public services, but funding shortfalls are drastically impacting aid delivery and threaten to undo years of progress, he said.

Currently, Uganda’s refugee response is only 25 percent funded, and UNHCR is calling for more urgent and sustained international support and solidarity to ensure refugees and their local communities can live safe and more dignified lives, said the spokesperson.