Category: News

The team departed Kigali International Airport on Tuesday morning, September 2, led by Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) president Shema Ngoga Fabrice. A 20-man squad was on board, with four additional players — Kavita Phanuel, Mugisha Bonheur “Casemiro,” Kwizera Jojea, and Buhake Twizere Clement — set to join the team in Lagos before heading to Uyo.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Amavubi will be looking to replicate their last visit to Nigeria, when they stunned the Super Eagles with a 2–1 victory in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. However, Nigeria had the upper hand in their most recent meeting in Kigali, winning 2–0 in the reverse World Cup qualifier.

Group C remains tightly contested. South Africa currently lead the table with 13 points, while Rwanda and Benin are level on 8. Nigeria sits just behind on 7 points, followed by Lesotho with 6, and Zimbabwe at the bottom with 4.

Entire villages built with mudbrick homes collapsed, leaving many residents buried under the rubble. Rescue teams have struggled to reach survivors because roads were destroyed by landslides, aftershocks continue to shake the region, and heavy rain has made conditions worse.

Helicopters and ground units have been deployed to evacuate the injured and deliver emergency supplies.

One survivor, Ziaul Haq Mohammadi, a student studying in Jalalabad, described the panic: “We spent the whole night in fear and anxiety because at any moment another earthquake could happen.”

According to Reuters, the country’s health system is overwhelmed. Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s health ministry, appealed for urgent support.

“We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses,” he said.

With limited hospitals and medical supplies, doctors and nurses are struggling to treat the growing number of casualties.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also raised concerns about the challenges facing rescue teams.

“The area of the earthquake was affected by heavy rain in the last 24–48 hours … many of the roads are impassable,” Kate Carey, a UNOCHA officer explained.

She added that aid workers are racing to clear debris and even remove animal carcasses to prevent water contamination, highlighting the multiple risks facing survivors.

The Taliban administration has formally appealed for international aid, stressing that Afghanistan cannot handle this crisis alone.

Humanitarian funding for the country has already dropped sharply in recent years, making the situation even more dire. Several countries have pledged support, with India sending tents and food supplies and China promising to provide additional assistance.

This earthquake is one of the deadliest to strike Afghanistan in recent years. With thousands displaced and entire villages destroyed, survivors now face a second crisis of hunger and disease.

The law establishing the DST was passed in February 2025 and applies to services originating outside Rwanda. Jean Paulin Uwitonze, RRA’s Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communications, confirmed that the tax will take effect at the start of the 2026 fiscal year.

“From 2026, digital services tax will be collected. It will cover online businesses such as Airbnb, Netflix, Amazon, and others. They will be required to pay tax on the services they provide in Rwanda, based on the revenues they generate,” Uwitonze said.

He added that RRA is finalising preparations to ensure a smooth rollout of the tax.

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In addition to the DST, a tourism accommodation tax introduced in February 2025 came into force on July 1, 2025. It is charged at a rate of 3% of the amount paid or payable for accommodation, excluding value-added tax (VAT).

The law requires accommodation providers, including hotels, lodges, apartments, motels, and Airbnb hosts, to register with RRA, collect the tax from clients, and remit it monthly.

According to RRA, taxpayers have largely complied since collections began on August 15, 2025.

“The tax is collected every month. For example, a business collects it from the 1st to the 30th of a given month and submits it to RRA no later than the 15th of the following month,” Uwitonze explained.

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RRA has also warned businesses attempting to evade taxes. Uwitonze said the authority is working with partners, including buyers and the Electronic Billing Machine (EBM) system, to identify and penalise defaulters.

“Those who do not want to pay will be caught quickly. We can detect all unpaid taxes and ensure compliance,” he said.

The initiative was highlighted by a landmark visit from Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to Dhaka, the first such visit in over ten years. The visit signaled a willingness on both sides to reopen dialogue and find new ways to work together.

According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s approach reflects a changing regional environment, with both countries searching for stronger positions in a time of shifting alliances.

Speaking during the visit, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said, “We are here to turn a new page. Our people share deep ties, and we believe cooperation with Bangladesh is essential for regional peace and prosperity.”

Bangladesh’s interim leadership has also shown cautious openness. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, responded by noting the potential benefits for both nations. “Bangladesh seeks partnerships that will bring growth and stability to our people,” he said. “If cooperation with Pakistan serves those goals, we are ready to explore it.”

Still, the history between the two countries remains difficult. The memory of the 1971 Liberation War, which led to Bangladesh’s independence, continues to cast a shadow. Dhaka has long called for greater accountability from Islamabad, but both sides are now focusing more on practical issues such as economic development and regional security.

Experts point out that the timing of this diplomatic outreach is significant. With India still the dominant power in South Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh both see value in broadening their options and strengthening their positions. For Pakistan, improved ties with Dhaka could provide much-needed diplomatic and economic gains. For Bangladesh, engagement with Islamabad could serve as a way to diversify alliances and secure new opportunities.

The ceremony was attended by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, and members of the AfDB Group’s Board of Governors.

Ould Tah delivered the oath of office with solemnity. After taking the oath, he signed the written version, which was officially certified by Ludovic Ngatse, minister of economy, planning, and regional integration of the Republic of the Congo, also chair of the Board of Governors of the AfDB.

Ould Tah was elected the ninth president of the bank on May 29, securing more than 76 percent of the vote, the highest first-term margin in the bank’s history.

Elected for a five-year term, the new AfDB president outlined four strategic pillars — to unlock Africa’s financial resources, to reform and strengthen the continent’s fiscal sovereignty, to turn demography into a dividend, and to build resilient infrastructure.

Ould Tah, 60, is introduced on the AfDB website as a seasoned economist and development banker with more than 40 years of experience in banking, as well as economist and ministerial roles in Africa and the Global South.

Founded in 1964, the AfDB has 81 member countries, comprising 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries.

Of the 106,418 candidates who registered, 106,079 sat for the exams, and 89 percent achieved a pass mark of at least 50 percent. Among them, the pass rate for boys was 93.5 percent, compared to 85.5 percent for girls.

The announcement was made on September 1, 2025, with officials noting that overall performance across all categories was encouraging.

Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana explained that the results were released earlier than in previous years to prevent students from losing valuable time.

Previously, results were published in November or December, often preventing unsuccessful candidates from retaking exams in time and delaying successful students from starting university.

He emphasised that announcing the results in September allows those who passed to proceed directly to higher education without interruption, while those who failed have sufficient time to prepare and retake the exams alongside their peers.

Performance varied across different categories of study. In the general education stream, 61,737 students sat for the exam, with 83.8 percent passing. In the Technical, Vocational, and Education Training (TVET) stream, 36,141 students took the exam, with 35,393 passing, resulting in a 98 percent success rate.

Among professional courses, 8,201 candidates sat for the exam, and 89.8 percent passed. All 438 nursing students passed, while in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), 3,829 candidates sat for the exam, and only seven failed to meet the 50 percent pass mark. In the accounting stream, 3,916 students were examined, and 825 did not reach the pass mark.

By academic stream, 41,182 students specialized in sciences, with 81.45 percent passing. In humanities, 10,091 candidates sat for the exam, achieving a pass rate of 90.78 percent. For language studies, 10,410 candidates were examined, and 86.1 percent achieved the passing score.

The Ministry also recognised top-performing students in each field. In sciences, Arengerwe Merci Alliance from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Rwamagana achieved the highest score with 96.06 percent.

In humanities, Kagemana Jean Lambert from ES Cyabingo in Gakenke scored 95.73 percent, while in languages, Mugisha Abayo Jennifer from Collège du Christ-Roi in Nyanza topped with 93.49 percent.

District performance varied significantly. Kayonza led with a 96.9 percent pass rate, followed by Kirehe at 95.6 percent, Rulindo at 94.9 percent, Ngoma at 93.8 percent, and Nyamasheke at 93.6 percent.

On the other hand, Kamonyi recorded the lowest performance at 85 percent, while Nyarugenge scored 87.1 percent. Gatsibo, Rutsiro, and Karongi each registered a pass rate of 88.6 percent.

The contribution is part of a long-term partnership between Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Imbuto Foundation, aimed at protecting the memory of the genocide through education and the use of digital technology.

Activities include teaching young people about Rwanda’s history through initiatives such as Igihango cy’Urungano and applying modern technology to conserve evidence and artifacts stored at memorial sites.

The partnership, now in its fourth year, is based on a 10-year commitment in which Liquid pledged to contribute up to USD 1 million toward these efforts.

Sam Nkusi, Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, emphasized the importance of digital preservation in ensuring younger generations understand and remember the country’s past.

“The purpose is to make sure we always remember, especially the youth. We are all growing older. Tomorrow, if this history is not strengthened, documented, and preserved in accessible places, how will Rwanda’s future generations, or even foreigners, know it? The goal is to make sure the truth endures forever,” he said.

Nkusi also noted that the partnership has already borne fruit, as four Rwandan genocide memorials have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. He called on other private sector actors to join efforts in safeguarding Rwanda’s history.

Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, reiterated the significance of protecting national memory.

“This collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Imbuto Foundation is important because it is our responsibility, as Rwandans, to protect and preserve our history. In this digital era, where social media gives space to those who distort and deny facts, repeated lies can have lasting effects. That is why we must ensure the truth is preserved and widely shared,” he said.

Dr. Bizimana stressed that it is the duty of today’s generation to leave behind a strong legacy for the youth.

“We must hand down to young people and future generations a truthful record of our past. That is why part of our strategy is to continue developing genocide memorials into complete repositories of history. It is not easy, but it is possible, making sure evidence is preserved and accessible to anyone who visits,” he noted.

Shami Elodie, Director General of Imbuto Foundation, welcomed the continued collaboration, praising its impact in educating youth and supporting memorial conservation.

As part of the ongoing program, the Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Bugesera District has already been upgraded.

The next project will focus on the Nyange Genocide Memorial in Ngororero District, which holds significant historical records of atrocities in that area.

The works, estimated at Frw 100 million, are expected to be completed by June 2026.

Speaking at a press briefing in Goma on Monday, Nyarugabo alleged that the Burundian troops are reinforcing local militias and the Congolese army in operations aimed at wiping out his community, a campaign he says began in 2017.

Nyarugabo, who hails from the Minembwe highlands, explained that the attacks were started by Mai-Mai militias from the Fulero, Bembe, and Nyindu communities, who swore to end their attacks only once the Banyamulenge were exterminated.

He accused the Congolese government of initially ignoring the violence until the creation of MRDP-Twirwaneho, a self-defence group formed to protect the Banyamulenge.

“More than 400 villages have been burned, thousands of people killed, and around half a million cattle looted. Many survivors fled to refugee camps in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, while others sought safety abroad,” he said.

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Burundi and the DRC signed a 2022 agreement to jointly combat armed groups such as RED Tabara and FOREBU. But Nyarugabo said the Banyamulenge were shocked to see Burundi, once a haven for their community, now cooperating in operations against them.

“The Burundian state was once a refuge for us. They received us, hosted us. Even after the Gatumba massacre, despite no real accountability, people continued to flee there whenever conflict erupted in Uvira or the highlands, and they were treated well. Even now, some remain there,” he added.

He said there are currently between 12 and 15 battalions, comprising more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers, stationed in the highlands.

“You may wonder, what are more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers doing in those mountains? They claim they came to hunt down RED Tabara, their enemies. But strangely, RED Tabara in that region allied with the Mai-Mai against us. And when the Burundians arrived, they too joined forces with the Mai-Mai.

“Between 12 and 15 Burundian battalions, comprising over 10,000 soldiers, are now stationed in the highlands. Officially, they claim to be pursuing RED Tabara, but in reality, they have joined forces with Mai-Mai groups and FARDC to attack our people,” he said.

According to him, Burundian forces fought RED Tabara, which then fled into Mwenga forests. But instead of pursuing them, Burundi joined the FDLR, the DRC army, and Mai-Mai militias in attacking and looting Banyamulenge communities in Minembwe and beyond.

Nyarugabo claimed Burundian troops are deployed in Bijombo, Gahuna, Kagogo, Mugeti, Irango, Nyakirango, Murambya, Gatanga, Gitaka, Kanono, Mitamba, Marimba, Rurambo, and other locations.

He further alleged that drones launched from Kisangani and Bujumbura have carried out repeated strikes in Minembwe, killing civilians and destroying villages. On August 31, he said, drones mistakenly hit an FARDC base in Karunga, killing between 36 and 48 Congolese soldiers, including a battalion commander.

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Nyarugabo appealed to Burundi to withdraw from what he described as “Kinshasa’s plan to annihilate the Banyamulenge” and urged the international community to step in.

“We have no quarrel with Burundi. They should not allow Tshisekedi’s politics to stain Burundian history with the blood of innocent Banyamulenge,” he said. “If they are truly fighting RED Tabara, let them work with us, not with Congo, Mai-Mai, and the Interahamwe.”

He vowed that the Banyamulenge would continue to defend themselves if targeted.

“I swear, the Banyamulenge will never allow themselves to be exterminated,” he declared.

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Although the Banyamulenge formed Twirwaneho for self-defense, some of their leaders chose to remain aligned with the Congolese government. These include Lt Gen Pacifique Masunzu, commander of the 3rd military region, and Urban Development Minister Alexis Gisaro.

Both have publicly denied that atrocities are being committed against the Banyamulenge, undermining the very rationale for MRDP-Twirwaneho’s existence.

Nyarugabo claimed their stance is driven by a form of “Stockholm Syndrome.”

“In short, they are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a mental condition where victims sympathise with their abusers. That’s their illness,” he said.

He added that despite their denials, they are well aware that their communities in South Kivu have been uprooted by attacks from Mai-Mai, government forces, and allied militias.

“When Sukhoi jets and drones strike Minembwe, they do not discriminate between kin. Those who die are our people—and theirs too. Among the dead we bury every day are our own relatives as well as theirs.”

Nyarugabo urged Banyamulenge collaborating with Kinshasa to “wake up, abandon delusion, and return to truth,” warning that anyone complicit in harming South Kivu civilians would also be held accountable.

“If they cannot speak the truth for their own safety, that I can understand. But they should remain silent rather than deny reality. One day they will be questioned, and they will feel shame—because what I am saying is the truth.”

Through the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), community members undergo six months of training designed to empower villagers to make decisions, manage resources, and implement development projects of their choice.

The process ensures that every resident has a voice in village planning, while grants provided by Spark support initiatives in economic development, governance, and social cohesion.

Each participating village receives between Frw 8 million and Frw 12 million, disbursed in two phases — 60% upfront and 40% later based on performance. The funds are invested in community-selected projects ranging from farming to housing and income-generating activities.

Vestine Yansayidiye, a resident of Musekera village, is among members who described how Spark changed their lives.

“When Spark came to our village in 2014, I joined a savings group and borrowed Frw 20,000. I bought two piglets and some rabbits. As they reproduced, I sold the livestock and earned about Frw 500,000, which I used as capital for business,” she said.

Yansayidiye explained that the profits allowed her family to stop renting and build their own house through the community group Twihute mu Iterambere.

“Now I also contribute to household needs, not everything depends on my husband,” she said.

Vestine has since purchased six plots of land worth Frw 8 million, and her assets from Spark-supported projects now exceed Frw 12 million.

Maria Nyirabarinegura, also from Musekera, shared a similar journey: “Before Spark, I lived in a house with a tiled roof. Today, I own a beautiful house worth Frw 5 million and rear livestock.”

She borrowed Frw 100,000, invested it in farming and pig rearing, and used the profits to build her home and expand into poultry and cattle. She emphasized that livestock farming boosted crop yields through access to manure, which was previously unavailable.

According to Alphonse Sikubwabo, president of Twihute mu Iterambere, Spark’s support enabled the roofing of 142 houses, each family receiving 20 roofing sheets.

“Beyond Spark’s support, we also contributed, with every household adding Frw 1,000. This helped us achieve even more,” he said.

The roofing initiative saw each family receiving 20 roofing sheets, costing over Frw 21.9 million, funded through group lending, farming, and savings.

The community also invested Frw 6.5 million for further improvements including sand flooring.

Founded in 2010, Spark Microgrants is a U.S.-based international NGO operating in eight countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi.