Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Among the most notable appointments are new chief executives for the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), both of which play crucial roles in Rwanda’s infrastructure and digital transformation agendas.

Dr Asaph Kabaasha has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of WASAC, replacing Prof Omar Munyaneza, while Antoine Sebera will take over as CEO of RISA, succeeding Innocent Muhizi.

At RISA, the new CEO will be supported by Roger Mizero as Chief Technology Officer and Innocent Asiimwe Mudenge as Chief Operations and Strategy Officer.

Muhizi, who had served as CEO of RISA since 2017 and oversaw major advances in digital infrastructure and e-governance, has been appointed Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore.

In the new appointments announced by Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente, the Cabinet also confirmed Hortense Mudenge as the new CEO of the Kigali International Financial Centre, succeeding Nick Barigye, who was recently named CEO of Crystal Ventures Group.

Meanwhile, Francis Kamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), has been appointed Director General of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency. Claude Mwizerwa takes up the role of Deputy Director General at the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

In a further restructuring, the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission welcomed a new leadership team. Valerie Nyirahabineza has been named Chairperson, with Maj Gen (Rtd) Jacques Nziza as Vice Chairperson. They are joined by newly appointed members Dancille Nyirarugero, Jacqueline Muhongayire, and Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi.

Appointments were also made across several ministries. Dr Muhammed Semakula becomes the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, while Gisèle Umuhumuza has been named Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The Ministry of Environment now has Fidèle Bingwa as Permanent Secretary, and Candy Basomingera has taken up the same role in the Ministry of Sports. In the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Aristarque Ngoga was appointed Permanent Secretary.

In Parliament, Alphonsine Mirembe has been appointed Clerk of the Chamber of Deputies. Within the City of Kigali, Gabriel Nduwayezu has been named Chief Digital Officer.

Diplomatic changes were also confirmed, with Ambassador Vincent Karega proposed to represent Rwanda in Algeria.

The Cabinet further ratified the historic peace agreement signed on 27 June 2025 between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), during talks held in Washington D.C. and mediated by the United States.

The agreement is considered a major step forward in addressing Rwanda’s security concerns and promoting peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region. Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the agreement and expressed optimism about the ongoing Doha Talks, which are being facilitated by the State of Qatar with the support of the African Union.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the ratification of a loan agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development to finance the Centre of Excellence for Aviation Skills. Another ratified agreement was a tax treaty with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, aimed at eliminating double taxation and curbing tax evasion and avoidance, measures expected to encourage greater cross-border investment and trade.

Cabinet members were also briefed on the significant progress in Rwanda’s mining sector, which continues to experience growth in production, investment, and the discovery of high-value minerals. In line with this, several mineral, quarry, and exploration licences were approved.

He made the remarks on July 15, 2025, during a visit to Legacy Clinics & Diagnostics in Kigali, one of the private medical facilities working closely with the Government of Rwanda to promote high-quality healthcare.

Legacy Clinics has been highlighted as a model for successful collaboration between the Czech Republic, the Rwandan government, and private sector players.

This partnership includes the provision of medical equipment from Czech companies, the training of medical personnel, and other technical assistance.

Minister Kozák commended the clinic’s focus on maternal and child health, which aligns with the Czech Republic’s development priorities, noting that such alignment strengthens cooperation and yields tangible results.

“I believe the opportunity goes beyond just improving Rwanda’s healthcare system,” he said. “There’s a real chance to make Rwanda a hub for healthcare in the region, and we see many sectors where we can collaborate.”

He also highlighted innovation and the potential role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare as key areas the Czech Republic is eager to explore further with Rwanda.

The two countries have an existing partnership focused on training Rwandan medical specialists in three core areas: gynecologic oncology, plastic surgery, and traumatology (the branch of medicine focused on the study and treatment of injuries caused by physical trauma, such as accidents or violence).

Czech medical teams visit Rwanda three to four times a year, performing between 40 and 50 surgeries per visit while training 70 to 80 Rwandan healthcare professionals in different departments.

The collaboration also includes opportunities for Rwandan doctors to receive advanced training in Czech medical universities, with five Rwandan doctors travelling there annually to enhance their expertise.

Dr. Fernand Rwamwejo, Deputy Head of Health Workforce Development Department, Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of close collaboration between public and private hospitals in improving national healthcare delivery.

“The doctors we train often work in private facilities like this one. Strengthening collaboration between public and private hospitals is vital for increasing the overall capacity to serve patients. The support Legacy Clinics receives, including medical supplies and ambulances, complements the government’s efforts,” Dr. Rwamwejo said.

Jean Malic Kalima, the Chairman of Legacy Clinics & Diagnostics, praised the Ministry of Health for easing access to medical supplies and promoting equity between public and private hospitals.

“The Ministry is working to ensure that what is available in public hospitals is also accessible to private ones. This inclusiveness has made a noticeable difference,” Kalima stated.

In 2024 alone, Legacy Clinics & Diagnostics served over 117,000 patients across its 23 departments. Among the new services introduced last year is plastic surgery, which focuses on repairing and reconstructing various parts of the body.

The discussion followed the formal announcement of bilateral relations between Rwanda and Turkmenistan on Monday, July 14, marking a significant milestone in both countries’ foreign policy engagement.

The ministers’ conversation focused on the newly established ties and the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), scheduled to take place in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from August 5 to 8.

The formalisation of diplomatic ties was sealed at a signing ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and Turkmenistan’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Aksoltan Ataeva, signed a joint communiqué on behalf of their respective governments.

Speaking after the ceremony, Ambassador Ngoga expressed optimism about the future of Rwanda–Turkmenistan relations and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to engaging in multilateral cooperation to tackle shared global challenges.

Both nations pledged to collaborate closely within the UN framework, particularly in areas of common interest such as trade, connectivity, and sustainable development — key themes of the forthcoming LLDC summit.

The Third UN Conference on LLDCs will bring together member states, development partners, and international institutions under the theme Driving Progress Through Partnerships.

The summit aims to address the structural challenges faced by landlocked countries, such as high transport costs and limited access to global markets, and to explore strategies for boosting economic resilience and regional integration.

Turkmenistan, the summit’s host, is a landlocked Central Asian country bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, with the Caspian Sea to the west. With a population of over 7 million, it has maintained a policy of neutrality in international affairs and is currently led by President Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

Rwanda, one of Africa’s most dynamic landlocked nations, is expected to contribute to discussions on how countries without direct sea access can unlock their economic potential through infrastructure investment, regional partnerships, and policy innovation.

Under the revised entry policy, first hinted at by the government in January and now fully in effect, travellers from eligible countries are no longer required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), complete visa forms, or pay any fees.

The exemption allows them to enter the country without prior authorisation and stay for up to 60 days. Nationals of East African Community (EAC) member states like Rwanda will continue to enjoy longer stays of up to six months, as provided for under regional free movement agreements.

A cabinet dispatch issued in January noted that while the broader goal is to facilitate travel across the continent, exceptions had to be made due to prevailing security risks in the two affected countries.

“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and promote tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant exemptions from e-visas to all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, for security reasons,” the statement read in part.

Kenya introduced its eTA system in January 2024 as a replacement for traditional visas. Although intended to simplify travel, the system attracted criticism for imposing what many saw as hidden fees and bureaucratic steps on travellers from previously visa-exempt countries.

The backlash was reflected in Kenya’s sharp drop in the Africa Visa Openness Index, falling 17 places to rank 46th out of 54 countries.

To address the concerns, the government promised further reforms, including a new passenger information system to streamline entry procedures and strengthen border security.

Authorities also plan to fast-track eTA approvals for travellers still subject to the system, with processing times expected to be reduced to 72 hours or less.

The high-level summit will convene under the theme “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace” and is expected to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the Catholic Church in Africa.

Held every three years, the SECAM Plenary Assembly is the most significant gathering of African Catholic leaders, bringing together Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from all 54 African countries and island nations.

The Kigali meeting will host approximately 250 delegates, as well as dignitaries and partners from other continents, making it a truly continental and global ecclesial event.

The Assembly, which coincides with the Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church, will be presided over by His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM.

Building on the work of the 19th Assembly held in Accra in 2022, the Kigali summit will focus on strengthening synodality, theological depth, institutional autonomy, and regional collaboration within the Church in Africa.

{{Setting a vision for the next 25 years
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A central outcome of the Kigali Assembly will be the adoption of a strategic vision document for 2025–2050, titled “The Vision of the Church–Family of God in Africa and its Islands.”

The document is the result of extensive consultations led by SECAM’s Standing Committee and Secretariat since 2022. It lays out a roadmap for the Church’s pastoral mission, institutional development, and engagement with the continent’s evolving realities.

The vision is anchored in twelve foundational pillars. These include evangelisation through Catholic education and theological formation, the development of a self-reliant Church, promoting family-based leadership models, and advancing missionary discipleship and synodality. It also emphasises strengthening care for creation, increasing youth engagement, and driving ecclesial renewal.

Other pillars focus on promoting justice, peace, and integral human development; fostering ecumenism and interfaith dialogue; expanding digital evangelisation efforts; improving health and well-being for all; enhancing liturgical life in African contexts; and deepening the Church’s role in political and civic life.

{{Addressing cultural and social realities
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One of the more complex topics to be discussed is the pastoral accompaniment of Catholics in polygamous unions. Recognising this as a deep cultural reality in many parts of the continent, SECAM has invited theologians to study the issue from both theological and pastoral perspectives. A pastoral document on this topic will be presented during the Assembly.

Other key presentations include a theological reflection on the Assembly’s theme, departmental and regional Church reports, and group working sessions. The event will also feature liturgical celebrations and conclude with a final message addressed to both the Church and the wider society.

{{Engaging Africa’s broader challenges
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In addition to its ecclesial focus, the Assembly will confront several pressing social, political, and economic issues affecting Africa today. These include governance and public leadership, human rights and social justice, poverty and debt, environmental sustainability, interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, and the protection and safeguarding of young people.

Through this historic gathering, SECAM aims to reaffirm the Church’s mission of being a prophetic voice in society and a source of hope, reconciliation, and peace for Africa and its people.

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) of the Catholic Church was officially established on July 29, 1969, during the first-ever papal visit to Africa by Pope St. Paul VI. The Pope also presided over the closing ceremony of the inaugural SECAM meeting on July 31, 1969.

The continental body was born out of the desire of African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) to establish a unified voice on matters concerning the Church in Africa and Madagascar. July 29 is now observed as SECAM Day by the Catholic Church across the continent.

Resolution 2785 extends the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti for six and a half months, until January 31, 2026. It expresses the council’s intention to consider the UN secretary-general’s February 2025 recommendations on options for the possible role of the United Nations in Haiti, notably regarding the establishment of a UN support office to provide logistical and operational support to the multinational police force in Haiti.

Resolution 2786 extends for six and a half months the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until January 28, 2026.

The resolution expresses the council’s intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA’s mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise as may be required by developments on the ground, including a durable nationwide ceasefire.

It requests UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present to the Security Council a further review of UNMHA before November 28, 2025.

Both resolutions were adopted unanimously.