According to a statement released by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two diplomats reviewed cooperation relations between Doha and Kigali, exploring avenues to enhance them.
The discussions also focused on the conflict between Rwanda and the DRC and Qatar’s role in the mediation process.
The meeting comes on the heels of a similar diplomatic engagement on Saturday, when Sheikh Mohammed held talks with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf to discuss ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict between the two neighbouring countries.
Qatar has taken a leading role in efforts to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region. Talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel group, which says it’s fighting for the rights of marginalised Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the eastern DRC, are being held in Qatar.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of aiding M23 hostilities in the eastern DRC. Rwanda has repeatedly dismissed the claims, insisting that its primary concern is the continued presence and collaboration between Congolese forces and the FDLR militia group. The group, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, continues to pose a security threat on the border with Congo, fueling the conflict between Rwanda and the DRC.
Meanwhile, the African Union has also taken a central role in the region’s peace efforts following the early 2025 decision by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to merge the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes into a unified framework. This unified initiative, coordinated by the AU, aims to streamline regional mediation efforts.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Burhan and other council members met with Idris to discuss government priorities, including stabilizing the economy, protecting civilian livelihoods, and restoring order across the country’s states, the statement said.
Idris’s appointment was formalized on May 19 through a constitutional decree issued by Burhan, who also serves as commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The decision was welcomed by the United Nations, the African Union Commission, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The prime minister’s post had remained vacant since the resignation of Abdalla Hamdok in January 2022, following a military coup led by Burhan in October 2021. Hamdok and other civilian leaders were briefly detained before being reinstated under a short-lived power-sharing deal. He stepped down weeks later, warning that Sudan was at a “dangerous turning point” as mass protests erupted against military rule.
Idris, who holds a doctoral degree in international law, previously served as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization and Secretary-General of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.
Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, 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.
It wasn’t unusual to see children playing in front of these fragile homes, causing parents to feel an instinctive fear as if their hearts had skipped a beat, worried that the walls might crumble on them at any moment.
Rainfall posed a major threat not only to the residents but also to local authorities, as it had the potential to destroy homes or even claim lives.
This persistent fear is what prompted the City of Kigali administration to commit to improving housing in the area, which lies at the entrance to the city.
The authorities came up with a plan to resettle residents in better-quality homes without displacing them. Additional housing was also built to accommodate those relocated from other life-threatening locations.
Today, after a relatively short period of construction, the area has undergone a complete transformation. The once-disparaged zone of Dobandi and similar neighbourhoods has become Ubwiza Modern Village, a new estate set to host more than 680 residents.
This village consists of 18 apartment blocks, each three storeys high (G+3), and is expected to serve as a model for affordable, modern, and environmentally friendly urban housing.
Residents of the new estate express disbelief and joy at their new living conditions, something they say they never imagined, like Umutoni Clarisse, who lives with her family of seven.
“We used to live in a terrible place that was a real threat to our lives. The houses were so weak, and when it rained, you’d go to bed unsure whether you’d wake up again. Then the government came up with this idea and built us these homes,” she said.
“We’re very happy now. We are thankful to His Excellency the President of the Republic, who made this happen. We never imagined we’d live in such houses, or that we could sleep peacefully. Now, it rains and we sleep soundly throughout the night. The place we came from was awful.”
Umutesi Vestine, who received a four-bedroom house where she also runs a business, echoed the words, saying, “The area we lived in used to put many lives in danger. There was a time when the Mpazi River overflowed and swept away a house nearby, along with a couple and all their belongings. We recovered the woman’s body, but we never found the man’s.”
She described how, during floods, the drainage channels would overflow and destroy homes. People couldn’t dig latrines, and makeshift roofs were held in place with tyres or stones.
She also noted that the new houses matched the value of the land residents previously owned, with some receiving two or three homes, depending on what they had before.
Uwimana Denise confirmed she received two homes, one of which she now rents out for Frw 80,000 per month.
The Mayor of Kigali, Dusengiyumva Samuel, stated that this approach will be replicated in other disorganised neighbourhoods across the city and encouraged private investors to participate in this kind of development.
“I just want to say that Elon has worked tirelessly, helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations,” said Trump.
Trump credited Musk with “a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington” and said some of his staff would remain in the administration.
“I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,” Musk told reporters after Trump handed a golden key as a gift.
Having spent approximately 300 million U.S. dollars to back Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republicans, Musk recently said that he plans to cut his political spending substantially, because “I think I’ve done enough.”
In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Musk criticised Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” describing the legislation, a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement, as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of DOGE.
Widely regarded as the father of the medical abortion pill, Baulieu revolutionised reproductive healthcare with the development of mifepristone (also known as RU-486), offering millions of women around the world a safe, non-surgical option to end a pregnancy.
“His research was guided by his commitment to progress through science, his dedication to women’s freedom and his desire to enable everyone to live better, longer lives,” said his widow, television producer Simone Harari Baulieu, in a statement on Friday, May 30.
Baulieu is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed him as “a beacon of courage” and “a progressive mind who enabled women to win their freedom,” adding, “Few French people have changed the world to such an extent.”
Born Étienne Blum in Strasbourg on 12 December 1926 to Jewish parents, Baulieu joined the French Resistance as a teenager during the Nazi occupation. He later adopted the name Émile Baulieu, adding Étienne back after the war.
Raised by a feminist mother following the early death of his father, he would go on to devote his life to scientific discovery and women’s rights.
After studying medicine and working in the United States, Baulieu was mentored by Gregory Pincus, the American biologist known as the father of the contraceptive pill. Under Pincus’s guidance, Baulieu began focusing on the biology of sex hormones, a path that would define his career.
His breakthrough came in 1982 when he developed a method to block the hormone progesterone, which is vital for a fertilised egg to implant in the uterus. This discovery led to the creation of mifepristone, which would become a cornerstone of medical abortion.
The drug was approved for use in France in 1988 and has since been authorised in over 100 countries.
However, Baulieu’s groundbreaking work was not without controversy. He faced threats, legal battles, and fierce opposition from anti-abortion groups, particularly in the United States.
In 2023, following Wyoming’s decision to become the first US state to ban the abortion pill, Baulieu described the move as “scandalous,” reiterating that he had spent much of his life fighting to “increase the freedom of women.”
Despite the resistance, mifepristone has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as an essential medicine since 2010. While critics continue to question its safety, scientific studies show it has a lower fatality rate than many common over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin.
Beyond reproductive health, Baulieu’s research extended into ageing, depression, and neurodegenerative conditions. Even into his mid-90s, he continued working from his office in Paris, with ongoing projects that explored treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and severe depression.
“I would be bored if I did not work anymore,” he once said.
In 2023, President Macron awarded Baulieu the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national distinction.
At the ceremony, Macron praised his resilience in the face of vilification: “You, a Jew and a member of the Resistance, were heaped with the most atrocious insults and compared to Nazi scientists. But you held firm, out of love for freedom and science.”
Baulieu’s passion for life extended beyond the laboratory. A literature enthusiast, he befriended artists like Andy Warhol in the 1960s and expressed admiration for those who “claim to have access to the human soul.”
The event, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, brought together members of the Chinese community in Rwanda, Rwandan government representatives, and friends of China to celebrate both the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the traditional Chinese holiday.
Rwanda was chosen as the first African country to screen this film with a runtime of 2 hours 16 minutes, underscoring the growing cultural ties between China and Rwanda.
Detective Chinatown 1900, the fourth installment in the popular Chinese comedy-mystery franchise, directed by Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo, premiered globally on January 29, 2025, during the Chinese New Year.
The film, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1900, follows Qin Fu (Liu Haoran), a Chinese medicine practitioner, and Ah Gui (Wang Baoqiang), a Chinese man raised by a Native American tribe, as they investigate the murders of a white woman, Alice, and an elderly Native American man.
The prime suspect is Bai Zhenbang, son of Chinatown leader Bai Xuanling (Chow Yun-Fat). The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of anti-Chinese xenophobia fueled by the Chinese Exclusion Act, blending humor, action, and poignant social commentary on racism and cultural identity.
{{Who killed Alice?}}
The investigation reveals a complex conspiracy: Alice’s murder was orchestrated by a corrupt businessman in collusion with a xenophobic congressman (John Cusack) to frame Bai Zhenbang and stoke anti-Chinese sentiment for political and economic gain.
The elderly Native American’s death was a related cover-up. There is no indication that Bai Xuanling, the influential Chinatown leader, was involved in Alice’s death; rather, he plays a pivotal role in protecting the community.
Qin Fu and Ah Gui’s clever deductions expose the true culprits, resolving the case while highlighting ongoing racial tensions, leaving a bittersweet reflection on cultural harmony.
Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kigali, highlighted the film’s global success and symbolic importance for Africa and Rwanda.
“Detective Chinatown 1900 is a blockbuster, which was officially launched on January 29 and so far has made a revenue of 1.3 billion US$ globally. It’s the first screening of the movie in Africa, choosing Rwanda as the first and unique country. It’s a special and joyful occasion, the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival,” she noted.
She also reflected on the reasons behind the film’s widespread popularity.
“More importantly, it may be attributed to the focus on the respect and equality, tolerance and inclusiveness, mutual learning and appreciation, and harmonious coexistence of civilizations. This is particularly meaningful for today’s world, which is plagued by frequent conflicts and turmoils.”
{{The essence of Dragon Boat Festival}}
Dragons in Chinese culture symbolize, among others, good luck, protection and intelligence. The festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (May 31, 2025), commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River in despair over political betrayal.
Locals raced boats to save him and dropped sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) to protect his body, origins of the festival’s dragon boat races and zongzi traditions.
The Kigali screening also underscored the shared cultural values between China and Rwanda as highlighted by Hang who praised Rwanda’s support for China’s Global Civilization Initiative.
“Rwanda’s cosponsoring of [the UN resolution for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations] is highly appreciated,” she stated.
“Like Rwanda, we oppose others imposing their own governance and development models on us. We are firmly against the interference of our internal affairs in the name of so-called democracy and human rights,” Hang added as she underscored shared values.
Hang also celebrated cultural exchanges, such as the upcoming participation of Rwanda’s Agaseke Culture Center in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2025, which will showcase Rwandan culture alongside Chinese traditions.
She concluded with a call to action: “Let’s work together for a better world with peace, stability and prosperity, for future and our next generations.”
Now in its third year, the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform continues to drive impact across the continent by mentoring and supporting startups working on cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, computing, and IoT.
This year’s program saw an overwhelming response, with nearly 435 applications submitted from innovators across 19 African countries.
After careful selection, ten promising startups were chosen for the Qualcomm Make in Africa 2025 cohort.
These startups will now embark on an incubation journey where they will receive mentorship, technical guidance, business coaching, and support in product development—including access to engineering consultations and hardware platforms.
They will also be guided on how to protect and commercialize their intellectual property.
The ten selected startups represent a diverse array of solutions and sectors.
They include Nigeria’s Aframend, which is using AI for drug discovery based on African phytochemicals, and ClimatrixAI, which is building hyperlocal flood prediction systems.
Tunisia is represented by AmalXR, offering AI-driven VR rehabilitation, Pixii Motors, an electric scooter company focused on battery optimization, and Ecobees, an AI solution for monitoring hive health.
Kenya contributes three entries: Farmer Lifeline, with solar-powered AI pest detection robots, Solar Freeze, which tackles post-harvest food loss through solar IoT cold storage, and Pollen Patrollers, focused on AI-assisted precision pollination.
Senegal’s Edulytics is using mobile AI to detect liver fibrosis via ultrasound, while Archeos from Benin is revolutionizing fish farming through solar-powered IoT automation.
In a show of continued support for innovation with societal impact, Qualcomm has confirmed that the startups will be eligible for the Qualcomm Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund at the conclusion of their mentorship cycle.
One startup will be awarded funding for its exceptional use of wireless technology to address community needs, while the remaining nine will receive development stipends to further scale their solutions.
Complementing the incubation program is L2Pro Africa, Qualcomm’s IP education platform launched in partnership with leading intellectual property law firm Adams and Adams.
The online platform offers free training to African startups, SMEs, and researchers on how to protect and manage their innovations.
The recently updated platform now includes patent and trademark filing guides for key markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, and the African regional patent bodies ARIPO and OAPI—covering 43 countries in total.
To date, over 135 African learners have enrolled, with several alumni of the Qualcomm Make in Africa program already initiating their own patent filings.
Wassim Chourbaji, SVP and President of Qualcomm MEA and SVP of Government Affairs for EMEA, praised this year’s selection of startups, describing them as a powerful reflection of the continent’s rising innovation ecosystem.
“This year’s cohort of deep technology startups is a testament to Africa’s burgeoning innovation landscape,” he said. “By leveraging Qualcomm’s cellular, IoT, and edge-AI technologies, these startups are poised to revolutionize agriculture, sustainability, climate change, transportation, and healthcare. We are honored to support their journey toward creating transformative solutions for a better future.”
John Omo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), echoed the excitement, highlighting ATU’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm and calling on broader collaboration to bring African-led technologies to life.
“Innovation is the engine of Africa’s future, and it is clear the ten startups in this year’s cohort exemplify its power,” he said. “While ATU works to align spectrum policy, regional standards, and open-data practices so that new technologies move quickly from lab to market, we also recognize that real progress demands a broad coalition. We therefore call on governments, academia, investors, and industry to back these ventures—and every initiative that puts African ingenuity first.”
Rwanda was among the countries that participated in the Coffee Europe Expo 2025, an international coffee trade fair held at Ptak Warsaw Expo in Warsaw, Poland.
The event convened stakeholders from across the coffee value chain, including innovators and technology providers in coffee production, processing, and distribution.
Despite being a first-time participant at the Expo — which marked its 10th edition — Rwanda was given a place of honor and recognized for its growing role in the global coffee industry.
The event ran from May 27 to 29 and welcomed around 6,000 visitors from 15 countries. More than 100 exhibitors, including several Rwandan businesses, showcased premium Rwandan coffee and tea.
While the expo’s primary focus was coffee, Rwanda also presented its tea products, positioning Poland as a potential alternative to Russia — historically one of Rwanda’s top tea importers.
“Russia was a key buyer of Rwandan tea via the Mombasa auction,” said Bizimana in an interview with IGIHE. “But due to the war in Ukraine, volumes have declined. We now see Poland as a country that could fill that gap.”
According to Bizimana, both coffee and tea from Rwanda were warmly received, signaling strong interest from Polish and Eastern European buyers. Although Rwandan coffee already has established markets, new export destinations often bring competitive pricing and better terms.
“What makes Poland stand out,” Bizimana explained, “is its interest in value-added coffee — roasted and packaged in Rwanda. This creates more jobs for our youth and keeps more value within the country.”
He also emphasized the broader importance of such international expos, which provide insights into regulatory requirements and market preferences, helping Rwanda refine its export strategy.
{{Exhibitors speak out}}
Rusatira Emmanuel, CEO of Baho Coffee Company, was among the Rwandan participants. He said the sheer scale and enthusiasm of the Polish market exceeded expectations.
“No one anticipated such a large and vibrant market. People were genuinely curious about Rwanda. This is the first expo where we’ve been given such a prominent and respected platform,” Rusatira said.
He described the event as a valuable opportunity to network with roasters, exporters, and industry professionals across Eastern Europe.
“Everyone sold out. There was strong demand for both Rwandan coffee and tea. People are eager to know more about our products,” he added.
Also exhibiting was Rubayiza Aloys, CEO of Rwanda Mountain Coffee Ltd & JAC Coffee Ltd. With a five-hectare farm in Huye District, Rubayiza not only grows coffee but processes it into various formats — green beans, roasted coffee, and eco-friendly capsules.
“This Eastern European market is significant — it accounts for 40% of global coffee consumption,” he noted. “Capsule coffee is especially popular here. Around 20% of consumers prefer it, and it sells at a premium price. We tailor our offerings based on customer needs.”
Michael Wyroslak, the General Manager of 1000 Hills Products in Poland, has been importing and distributing Rwandan coffee for seven years. He described the journey as one of growth and transformation.
“In the beginning, there were many misconceptions about Rwandan coffee. But over the years, we’ve changed that narrative. People now appreciate its quality and unique flavor profile,” he said.
Wyroslak explained that they’ve increased both the quantity and quality of coffee exports year after year, and they continue to introduce new Rwandan products to the Polish and broader European markets.
“Our future is bright — as long as Rwanda keeps producing high-quality coffee, demand will only grow,” he concluded.
The Coffee Europe Expo was hosted at Ptak Warsaw Expo, one of the largest exhibition centers in Europe. It hosts more than 70 events annually, attracting over 1 million visitors and over 7,000 exhibitors across various industries.
The operation was particularly challenging because liver surgery in infants requires advanced technology to prevent excessive bleeding, which can lead to death during the procedure.
Liver surgery is inherently complex due to the medications involved and the significant risk of blood loss, especially critical in a six-kilogram infant with a limited blood supply.
The child was initially taken to a private hospital where doctors discovered an abdominal mass. The mother was advised to transfer the child to CHUK, which had better equipment and more specialised doctors. At the time, the baby was only two months old.
Upon admission to CHUK and after a thorough examination, the child was diagnosed with liver cancer. The tumour had completely infiltrated the liver.
Since such tumours can sometimes respond to medication, the child was put on treatment, which helped shrink the tumour, leaving it confined to the right lobe of the liver.
After extensive analysis of medical images, the team of doctors determined that although most of the liver was affected, approximately 30% of healthy liver tissue remained.
Dr. Alain Jules Ndibanje, a paediatric surgery specialist at CHUK and the lead surgeon in the operation, told IGIHE that this 30% was sufficient for the liver to continue performing its vital functions.
The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying blood, storing and releasing glucose, aiding digestion, and more.
“After detailed analysis, we decided to operate and remove the part severely affected by cancer. The surgery was successful, and we left 30% of the liver that was still healthy,” Dr. Ndibanje said.
The complex procedure involved a team of around 20 medical professionals, including paediatric surgeons, paediatric oncologists, imaging experts, anaesthesiologists (who faced the delicate process of administering anaesthesia to a baby with compromised liver function), and a collaborative team from the University of Michigan working with Rwandan doctors.
To prevent excessive blood loss, advanced surgical technology was employed. The surgeons carefully tracked every blood vessel connected to the liver, mapping them out before and during surgery.
“We used specialised tools to isolate each blood vessel to avoid bleeding. We progressed very slowly. The operation lasted about nine hours. The baby is now awake, feeding again, and we’re hopeful for continued recovery,” Dr. Ndibanje explained.
The paediatric surgeon described the case as the most serious liver condition they’ve encountered in children, noting that they usually deal with more manageable issues.
Despite the complexity and high cost of the surgery, all expenses were covered by the national health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Santé. Dr. Ndibanje also acknowledged the invaluable support from the University of Michigan team.
The surgery comes on the heels of other major medical milestones at CHUK, including the recent non-invasive removal of a coin from the stomach of an 18-month-old and a pioneering procedure where a foetus received a blood transfusion while still in the womb — a first for Rwanda.
Noting that China is a trustworthy strategic partner of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said at the event that the close ties and high level of mutual trust between the two countries’ leaders have injected strong momentum into bilateral relations.
The books are rich in content, profound in thought, and highly relevant in practice, Balayeva noted, adding that it is an important piece of literature that will help Kazakh readers gain a better understanding of China.
Participants at the event said the book is a major work by Chinese President Xi Jinping that encapsulates his deep thinking on national and global governance and serves as a “window of ideas” for the international community to understand China.
Through reading this work, Kazakh friends across various sectors are expected to gain valuable insights for independently exploring a development path suited to their own national conditions, the event organizers said.
Around 300 representatives from political parties, media outlets, think tanks, and universities from both countries attended the event.
The Kazakh editions of the books were co-translated and published by China’s Ethnic Publishing House and Kazakhstan’s Foliant Publishing House. To date, the book has been translated and published in 42 languages.
