In a recent interview on Top Congo FM, Muyaya stated that the withdrawal of the M23 rebels would be carried out in the same spirit as the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), established under the Washington Peace Agreement of June 27, 2025, on dismantling the FDLR militia group.
However, in a post on X, Minister Nduhungirehe termed Muyaya’s remarks as a “blatant disinformation” aimed at misleading the Congolese public.
Nduhungirehe clarified that the JSCM is a strictly bilateral mechanism between Rwanda and the DRC, responsible only for neutralising the genocidal FDLR group and overseeing the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive security measures along the border with the DRC.
According to the minister, the AFC/M23 rebel group is not covered by the mechanism, neither in its wording nor in its spirit.
Unlike the JSCM’s mandate, which focuses on the “neutralisation” of a cross-border security threat and the lifting of related defensive measures, Nduhungirehe said the issue of the M23 will be resolved through political dialogue.
The dialogue aims to “address the root causes of the conflict” and find an “effective resolution,” which would logically follow the restoration of state authority.
“These points are clearly stated in the Doha Declaration of Principles,” he added.
The Doha Declaration was signed on Saturday in Qatar between representatives of the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebels, marking a significant step towards ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
The agreement is part of ongoing peace efforts facilitated by the State of Qatar, with support from the United States, the African Union, and regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Following the June 27 Washington agreement between Rwanda and the DRC, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Doha signing as “a significant step forward towards the peaceful resolution” of the conflict in eastern DRC. The ministry praised Qatar’s mediation role and called for continued support to conclude the peace process.
Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable peace and economic development in the Great Lakes region, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict to restore security and stability.
It is “not possible to equate” the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with “outlawed rebel armed groups,” read a statement by the ministry, urging the EU to adopt a more balanced approach that takes into account Sudan’s unique national circumstances.
On Friday, the EU adopted sanctions against two individuals and two entities affiliated with the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including asset freezes, prohibition of the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, and travel bans.
Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a joint statement to formally reject the WHO’s 2024 International Health Regulations Amendments.
The statement accused the amendments of being “vague and broad” in terminology, claiming that U.S. agencies “put Americans first in all our actions” and “will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans’ speech, privacy or personal liberties.”
The pact, which was adopted in Geneva in June 2024, aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic occurs.
The tournament will bring together 15 nations competing in Africa’s Davis Cup Group V, the continent’s lowest tier in the prestigious global competition.
Team Rwanda features a strong line-up including Niyigena Étienne, Hakizumwami Junior, Ishimwe Claude, and David Manzi Rwamucyo. The squad is under the stewardship of head coach Habiyambere Dieudonné.
Before they departed from Kigali on Saturday, the players received the national flag from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, in a symbolic send-off ceremony.
The matches will be staged at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone, with the 15 teams divided into three pools: one group of three teams, and two groups with four teams each.
To determine which two teams will earn promotion to Group IV, playoffs will be held between the top team in Group A and the top team in Group D, as well as between the winners of Group B and Group C.
Rwanda dropped to Group V following a tough outing at the Davis Cup 2024 in Angola, where it finished bottom of Group B behind Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya.
That 2024 squad, also coached by Habiyambere Dieudonné, included Habiyambere Ernest, Niyigena Étienne, Hakizumwami Junior, and Muhire Joshua. The team won only one of nine matches in the group stage and lost 2–1 to Angola in the relegation playoff.
Cameroon also suffered relegation from Group IV in 2024, finishing last in Group A, home to Senegal, Algeria, and Angola, before falling 2–1 to Kenya in the playoffs.
Rwanda’s best Davis Cup campaign came in 2019, when the national team, featuring Havugimana Olivier, Niyigena Étienne, Habiyambere Ernest, Uwizeyimana Mathieu, and guided by coach Rutikanga Sylvain, secured historic promotion to Group III.
The tech billionaire revealed the plans in a brief post on X, but no further details or launch timeline were provided.
The new app is expected to offer kid-friendly AI content, a notable shift from the more controversial aspects of xAI’s current offerings.
“We’re going to make Baby Grok @xAI, an app dedicated to kid-friendly content,” Musk wrote on Sunday.
The announcement follows criticism directed at xAI after the release of an adult-style AI avatar named Ani in the Grok app.
Ani, a sultry-voiced anime character dressed in revealing clothing, sparked widespread concern among parents and online users for reportedly responding inappropriately to minors, even when Kids Mode was enabled.
Baby Grok appears to be Musk’s attempt to reassure users and reposition xAI as a safe platform for younger audiences.
This pivot also comes as tech rivals move to secure their stake in the growing market for child-focused AI tools.
Google, for instance, recently announced it is working on a child-friendly version of its Gemini AI assistant.
The Gemini app for kids will reportedly help with homework, storytelling, and answering questions, all without advertising or data collection, to emphasise learning and creativity in a controlled environment.
Meanwhile, xAI has continued to rapidly evolve its core product. Earlier this month, the company released Grok 4, its most advanced language model to date, featuring a multi-agent architecture and expanded capabilities.
Grok remains central to Musk’s vision for integrated AI across his platforms. The chatbot is currently accessible through X, Grok.com, and mobile apps, and comes with premium tiers that unlock advanced features, including Grok 4.
Airtel Rwanda announced on Thursday, July 17, 2025, that whenever suspicious messages are detected, customers will receive them with a warning label advising caution.
Airtel Rwanda’s Managing Director, Emmanuel Hamez, said the system was launched in response to the growing number of cybercrimes, particularly mobile money fraud.
“This is part of our commitment to enhancing safety and protecting our customers from internet-related crimes and financial fraud. In recent months, we’ve seen a rise in mobile money theft, particularly through SMS scams. Today, we’re pleased to announce that, as of two weeks ago, we’ve implemented a system that flags potentially fraudulent SMS messages with a warning.”
The AI system analyses messages for characteristics common in scam texts, such as frequently used words by fraudsters, patterns of mass messaging, and other indicators.
Once the AI detects suspicious activity, it flags the message with a warning before delivering it to the customer.
If the sender’s number continues to distribute fraudulent messages and is confirmed as suspicious, that number may be blocked.
Gaaga Jean Claude, Managing Director of Airtel Money Rwanda, stated that Airtel worked closely with various government agencies to understand the nature of mobile money fraud, leading to the decision to develop and implement a proactive solution.
He emphasised that using AI to combat cyber fraud is timely, given the growing reliance on digital systems and the evolving tactics of fraudsters.
“AI is an advanced technology that enables machines to mimic human intelligence, and it is widely used around the world. That’s why we adopted it, to enhance the security of our customers’ funds,” he said.
Gaaga added that Airtel already had a system in place to help customers recover stolen money when reported, and it has proven effective. Statistics show that mobile money fraud incidents involving Airtel customers remain below 2% of total reported fraud cases nationwide.
The new fraud detection system is free of charge and doesn’t require customers to register, as it has been automatically activated for all Airtel users.
Airtel Rwanda also plans to expand the warning system to detect fraud not only in SMS, but also in phone calls and social media messages used by scammers to steal money.
A high-level delegation from SUNY, comprising senior leaders and university presidents, concluded a two-day visit to Kigali on Friday, July 18, 2025, with a declaration of intent to collaborate, made in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education.
Speaking during the event held at Serena Hotel Kigali, Dr. Melur K. “Ram” Ramasubramanian, SUNY’s Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, emphasised the institution’s long-term commitment to fostering mutually beneficial relationships with African nations.
“We’re here to explore the possibility of deploying our Africa initiative and building long-term collaborations with the education system of Rwanda,” he said. “We’ve been impressed by the commitment of the people and the opportunities we’ve encountered.”
The SUNY Africa Initiative is an intentional global strategy aimed at deepening academic and cultural ties across the continent. The delegation’s visit to Rwanda followed an earlier stop in Kenya and will continue to other countries, including Nigeria and Ghana.
Dr. Ramasubramanian outlined key areas of interest, including student and faculty exchange programmes, joint research, online education offerings, and workforce development initiatives.
“We call this the SUNY Africa Initiative… Our goal is to build long-standing academic programmes where students from Rwanda can come to the United States to study at one of our 64 campuses,” he said.
“At the same time, we want our students to experience the culture and innovation happening here in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills and a thousand smiles.”
Research collaboration is another key priority, particularly in fields aligned with Rwanda’s national development goals. SUNY officials expressed interest in partnering in areas such as energy, mining, and materials science.
“We have research interests aligned with Rwanda’s priorities, such as energy and minerals,” said Dr. Ramasubramanian.
“At SUNY Poly, for instance, Professor Soboyejo, an international expert in materials science, and his team, along with other material scientists within the SUNY system, are planning to collaborate with Rwandan counterparts to not only support the immediate use of extracted minerals but also innovate and modify these materials for future applications.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Education, Dr. Joseph Nsengimana, welcomed the collaboration, noting that the government prioritises such partnerships in pursuit of its Vision 2050 goals.
“To achieve that vision, we must ensure that we have a workforce capable of delivering on it,” he said. “Collaborations like this bring significant value to the country and help us build the Rwanda we want and deserve.”
The discussions also highlighted Rwanda’s interest in tapping into SUNY’s expertise in areas such as materials science, advanced manufacturing, and e-learning. Dr. Nsengimana noted that Rwanda is exploring “e-internships” that would allow students to gain international experience virtually, expanding access to global opportunities without leaving the country.
Dr. Winston “Wole” Soboyejo, President of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Chairman of the Council of the Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of Rwanda, stressed the importance of aligning education with industrial needs.
“We listened to industry here in Rwanda articulate their needs for skilled human capacity to scale, and we believe SUNY can play a role in bridging that gap,” he said. “We’re thinking not just of students travelling to New York, but also of short courses and online education tailored to Rwanda’s needs.”
Dr. Peter O. Nwosu, President of SUNY Oswego, pointed to SUNY’s involvement in major U.S. industrial development projects as a model for collaboration.
“In Central New York, we’re working with Micron Technology on a $100 billion investment in semiconductor manufacturing,” he said.
“This kind of transformation requires talent — the right kind of workforce. That’s where universities come in, and we want to explore what we can learn from Rwanda and what we can offer in return.”
Rwanda’s openness to innovation was another key point of interest. “One intriguing idea we heard is Rwanda being open to acting as a proof of concept,” said Dr. Ramasubramanian. “We have faculty developing new ideas, and Rwanda could offer a place to test and refine these ideas before scaling them globally.”
The SUNY delegation included university presidents from SUNY Oswego, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and SUNY Fredonia, as well as senior officials in international education and external relations. Among them were Dr. Joshua S. McKeown, Associate Provost for International Education and Programs at SUNY Oswego, and Wayne Westervelt, Vice President for External Relations at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
During their visit, the delegation engaged with the University of Rwanda, Rwanda Polytechnic, and various private industry stakeholders.
Dr. Stephen H. Kolison Jr., President of SUNY Fredonia, expressed appreciation for the hospitality and vision he witnessed during the visit. “The potential to do things here is just tremendous,” he said. “We hope to return.”
The collaboration, still in exploratory stages, is expected to lead to a range of academic activities, including co-developed programmes, research partnerships, and expanded student mobility between Rwanda and the SUNY system, which serves over 375,000 students across 64 campuses in New York State.
“We believe in starting small and executing quickly,” said Dr. Ramasubramanian. “It’s only a matter of time before we return and move to the next phase of implementation.”
The deals, signed on Thursday, July 17, in New York, include a visa waiver for all passport holders and two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering health and tourism.
Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Walton Webson, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective countries.
The visa waiver agreement allows nationals of both countries to travel without the need for entry, transit, or visitor visas. Officials say the move will ease travel restrictions, promote cultural and economic exchange, and enhance mobility between the two nations.
The MoU on health outlines areas of collaboration including disease prevention, HIV/AIDS and malaria programmes, maternal and child health, health insurance systems, pharmaceutical cooperation, and epidemiological surveillance. The agreement is expected to support knowledge exchange and capacity building in both countries’ health sectors.
In tourism, the two nations committed to working together to promote sustainable travel and eco-tourism, and to explore innovations in green energy and climate-resilient tourism strategies. The MoU also provides a framework for joint marketing and tourism development initiatives.
The agreements are part of Rwanda’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with the Caribbean and advance South-South cooperation.
According to Leavitt, ultrasound exams performed on Trump’s legs revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a condition frequently found in individuals over the age of 70.
Leavitt said additional exams identified Trump with “no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness.”
Trump, 79, was recently photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where visible swelling around his ankles sparked public speculation about his health.
The agreement, signed on July 17, was represented by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB).
The new plant is expected to reduce Rwanda’s dependence on cement imports, create jobs, and support the country’s infrastructure development with sustainable quarrying practices.
Clinker, a vital component in cement production, will be produced locally for the first time at scale. Cement imports into Rwanda reached $94 million in 2024, marking a 41.5% increase from $67 million the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
RDB said the investment would “generate employment and support Rwanda’s infrastructure development through sustainable quarrying practices.”
This development follows the government’s recent approval of mineral, quarry, and exploration licences as part of efforts to boost the mining sector.
The clinker plant is expected to play a crucial role in meeting growing local demand for cement, cutting foreign exchange outflows, and driving economic growth in the country.
