Prévot and the Belgian delegation are in Rwanda for the 46th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie.
The delegation received a detailed briefing on the history of the genocide, its origins, the scale of atrocities committed, and its enduring impact on survivors and the nation. They also learned about Rwanda’s 31-year journey of recovery, highlighting the country’s efforts in reconciliation, unity and reconstruction.
Following the visit, Prévot wrote in the memorial’s guestbook, delivering a solemn tribute on behalf of Belgium.
“On behalf of the Belgian government and the Belgian people, I bow once again before the memory of the victims of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994 in Rwanda,” he wrote.
“Visiting this memorial is a chilling reminder of those events that profoundly wounded our humanity. It is our collective duty to ensure that such atrocities never happen again, neither in this region nor anywhere else in the world.”
Prévot stressed Belgium’s determination to combat genocide denialism and ensure justice for crimes committed during the 1994 atrocities.
“Belgium will continue this commitment with determination. The fight against denialism is part of this, as is the prosecution in Belgium of those responsible for these abhorrent crimes, for whom no impunity is acceptable,” he added.
Prévot’s visit comes amid a serious diplomatic rupture. Earlier in 2025, Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing Brussels of clearly taking sides in a regional conflict over the situation in eastern DRC. Kigali also suspended its development aid cooperation with Belgium, accusing Belgium of politicising development and undermining regional mediation efforts.
Against this fraught backdrop, Prévot’s strong statements against genocide denial and impunity are widely seen as an attempt by Belgium to use his visit as a platform to mend ties with Rwanda.
During the visit, President Kagame gifted the Emir with Inyambo cows, an iconic and deeply revered symbol in Rwandan culture. The symbolic gesture is rooted in Rwandan tradition, signifying friendship, mutual respect, and the strong bond between the two leaders and their nations.
The two leaders also held a private tête-à-tête at the farm, marking another milestone in the steadily growing relations between Rwanda and Qatar. The meeting follows their recent engagement earlier in November in Doha, during the World Summit for Social Development, where they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation.
Sheikh Tamim’s visit comes at a pivotal moment, according to Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, the Charge d’Affaires at the Qatari Embassy in Rwanda. He noted that the visit signals Qatar’s commitment to expanding its partnerships across Africa, focusing on peace, security, and sustainable development. He emphasized that Rwanda is regarded as a trusted partner, with the visit expected to deepen cooperation based on shared interests and longstanding mutual respect.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura, highlighted the extensive areas of collaboration already underway. These include major projects such as the construction of Bugesera International Airport, in which Qatar holds a 60% stake. Qatar Airways is also expected to acquire a 49% shareholding in RwandAir, further reinforcing aviation cooperation.
He added that new ventures are likely to emerge from the visit, including opportunities linked to Kigali Innovation City, a flagship initiative aimed at positioning Rwanda as a continental technology hub.
Rwanda and Qatar continue to strengthen ties across investment, tourism, transport, and infrastructure. The Emir’s visit is expected to culminate in the signing of new partnership agreements, expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation.
Sheikh Tamim last visited Kigali in July 2022 as a special guest at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). His return marks an ongoing commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic engagement between the two nations.
The group crossed into Rwanda on November 20, 2025, through the La Corniche border, which connects Rwanda to the DRC.
Among them were 127 women, 32 men, and 352 children. Upon arrival, they were taken to the Nyarushishi Transit Camp in Rusizi District.
These returnees had been living in a temporary camp in Goma after being freed from various regions in eastern DRC, where they had been held captive by the FDLR, a group formed by remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The Vice Mayor of Rubavu in charge of Economic Development, Deogratias Nzabonimpa, assured the returnees that they would receive essential support to help them reintegrate into society.
“They will be given basic necessities to help them sustain themselves and contribute to the country, as this is the approach taken to bring them back into the Rwandan community. They will also be supported with various projects in their areas to help them provide for their families,” he stated.
Nzabonimpa also highlighted that the increasing number of returnees is a clear sign that the ongoing awareness campaigns are effective, with everyone playing a role.
To help them start their new lives, the returnees will receive basic financial assistance. Those over the age of 18 will receive $188, while those under 18 will receive $113.
Additionally, they will be provided with essential food supplies worth 45,000 Rwandan Francs.
Launched in 2024, the initiative supports organisations working to improve women’s mental and physical health globally and is funded by Pivotal, a group of impact organisations founded by Melinda French Gates, and managed by Lever for Change.
The grants, ranging from $1 million to $5 million, recognise Lifebox’s work in addressing one of the most critical yet under-resourced areas of women’s health: safe surgery. The funding will enable Lifebox and its partners to expand programs that improve the safety and quality of surgery and anaesthesia for women across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Support from Action for Women’s Health will enable Lifebox and our partners to strengthen safer surgical systems for women by empowering maternity and gynaecological surgical teams with practical, evidence-based tools to prevent surgical infection and improve outcomes,” said Kris Torgeson, Lifebox Global CEO.
“The grant will allow us to dramatically scale our work to strengthen the safety and quality of surgical systems for women’s health worldwide.”
Over 4,000 organisations from 119 countries applied to the Action for Women’s Health Open Call. After a rigorous review process, 83 organizations were selected, many of which have historically lacked access to major funding streams. The awards aim to deliver measurable impact for women across different geographies, life stages, and identities.
“Every year, more than four million people die following surgery. Unsafe surgery is one of the most urgent and solvable challenges in global health, especially for women,” said Dr. Tihitena Negussie Mammo, Lifebox Global Clinical Director and pediatric surgeon.
“At Lifebox, we’ve reduced postoperative complications and deaths, including those following cesarean section, by up to 40%. Strengthening surgical safety for women saves lives today and builds the foundation for healthier families and societies.”
Cesarean delivery, the most common surgery globally, accounts for nearly a third of all operations in low- and middle-income countries. Lifebox’s Clean Cut for Cesarean Section program reduces complications for mothers and newborns by strengthening compliance with six critical infection prevention standards.
Professor Salome Maswime, Vice Chair of the Lifebox Global Governance Council, added: “No woman should die while giving life. By strengthening surgical systems, we are transforming maternal health from survival to high-quality care, improving safety and dignity for every woman, everywhere.”
Lifebox was founded in 2011 by Dr. Atul Gawande, a renowned American surgeon, writer, and public health researcher. It has operated in more than 100 countries worldwide, including Rwanda.
Their work in Rwanda has included the implementation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist, distribution of essential equipment like pulse oximeters, and running programs like Clean Cut, which aims to reduce surgical site infections.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed toured the hospital’s facilities, which integrate medical innovation, sustainable design, and social impact, including solar energy, rainwater use, and eco-friendly materials, and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to global health, humanitarian action, and international cooperation.
The UAE-Indonesia Hospital for Cardiac Diseases is the first of ten specialist hospitals planned globally in the UAE Global Hospitals Programme, part of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Initiative.
According to Rwanda’s Office of the President, President Kagame also hosted the Emir at his farm in Kibugabuga, Bugesera District where the two leaders held a private tête-à-tête meeting.
The two leaders had last met early November 2025 in Doha, on the sidelines of the World Summit for Social Development.
During that meeting, they discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries.
Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, the Charge d’Affaires at the Qatari Embassy in Rwanda, has noted that the visit comes at a time of significant global changes, both regionally and internationally.
He also emphasized that the visit underscores Qatar’s vision of deepening its cooperation with the African continent, focusing on security, safety, and sustainable development.
Al Aida further remarked that Rwanda is a trusted partner of the Qatari government, highlighting that this visit would be an opportunity to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries, based on mutual trust, respect, and shared interests.
New partnership agreements between Rwanda and Qatar are expected to be signed during the visit.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura, said that there are numerous sectors in which the two countries are already collaborating, including a key project such as the construction of Bugesera International Airport.
He also mentioned new projects that could benefit from the cooperation, including the ‘Kigali Innovation City,’ which aims to make Rwanda a hub for technology in Africa.
Rwanda and Qatar enjoy strong bilateral relations across various sectors, including investment, tourism, and transport. The two countries also collaborate in the aviation sector, with Qatar Airways expected to acquire a 49% stake in RwandAir.
Beyond RwandAir, Qatar holds a 60% stake in the Bugesera Airport project.
The Emir of Qatar last visited Rwanda in July 2022, when he was a special guest at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Kigali.
The agreement, signed in Kigali and witnessed by the Minister in Charge of Emergency Management on Wednesday, November 18, marks the official start of the “Refugee Socio-Economic Graduation & Livelihood Opportunities in Rwanda” project.
The three-year initiative will support 3,200 refugee families and 800 families from surrounding host communities, providing targeted solutions to enhance their economic autonomy and improve their ability to meet basic needs independently.
The project represents a major step in implementing Rwanda’s Refugee Sustainable Graduation Strategy (2025–2030), which seeks to enable half of all refugee households in the country to graduate from reliance on aid by the end of the decade.
Speaking at the ceremony, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Albert Murasira, Minister in Charge of Emergency Management, said the partnership illustrates the effectiveness of collaboration in driving long-term change.
“This project marks an important milestone in creating meaningful pathways to self-reliance for refugees in Rwanda,” he said. “By supporting 4,000 refugee and host community households to graduate into sustainable livelihoods, we are demonstrating the power of strong partnerships to drive tangible, lasting change and strengthen the resilience of communities.”
European Union Deputy Director-General for International Partnerships, Martin Seychell, noted that the initiative reinforces EU support to Rwanda’s efforts to shift refugee assistance towards economic empowerment.
“The programme we sign today is a concrete demonstration of the European Union’s support to the ambitions of the Government of Rwanda to enable refugee households to move from aid dependence to self-reliance,” he said.
“Thanks to EU support through this and other projects, close to 20% of refugee households should advance towards economic inclusion. This new initiative further strengthens our longstanding engagement in the Great Lakes region and reflects our broader commitment
to the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, which is more essential than ever in a
context of increasing pressure on limited resources.”
The project will provide a sequenced package of interventions including targeted cash assistance, physical toolkits, and training programmes focused on entrepreneurship, climate-smart agriculture, and other livelihood skills.
Support will also be channelled into Village Savings and Loan Associations to strengthen long-term financial inclusion and resilience for participating households across five refugee camps and surrounding communities.
Andrea Bagnoli, WFP Country Director and Representative, said the initiative reflects a new era in how refugee support is approached in Rwanda.
“Today, we are starting a new chapter where refugees are seen not as beneficiaries but as entrepreneurs and active contributors to the community and Rwandan economy,” he said. “By working hand in hand with MINEMA and our partners, we are turning promise into practice.”
Rwanda currently hosts more than 136,000 refugees, largely from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, many of whom have depended on humanitarian support for years. By aligning this initiative with national development frameworks and facilitating access to markets and financial systems, partners hope to offer a sustainable and scalable model for future refugee assistance.
UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, Ritu Shroff, said the agreement reflects a shared belief in the potential of refugees and the communities that host them.
“We reaffirm something fundamental: that refugees and host communities alike deserve the opportunity to live dignified, productive, and independent lives and that with the right support, they absolutely can,” she said.
“UNHCR remains committed to working side by side with MINEMA, the European Union, WFP, and all partners to ensure that this project delivers meaningful, lasting impact.”
The 37-month contract, managed by the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), covers system design, deployment, and long-term technical support.
RCI CEO Patricie Uwase hailed the partnership as a milestone in South-South cooperation, highlighting Rwanda’s growing role in exporting digital governance solutions.
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone, not only in digitalising justice systems but also in demonstrating how African-led innovation can address global challenges,” she said.
Chief Justice Bryan Sykes described the system as a transformative step for Jamaica’s courts, noting it will reduce processing delays, cut litigation costs, and make court services more accessible to citizens. Law enforcement officers will also benefit, as case files can now be submitted digitally from any parish office.
The collaboration stems from a 2022 benchmarking mission, when Jamaican officials visited Rwanda to study its digitalised justice systems. Interest in Rwanda’s IECMS is reportedly growing, with other countries exploring similar partnerships.
Rwanda has already exported digital solutions to several African nations, including Chad, Eswatini, and Guinea, enhancing public financial management, tax compliance, and procurement transparency.
Implementation in Jamaica will begin in early 2026 with a three-month needs assessment, followed by system deployment and 20 months of maintenance and technical support to ensure sustainability.
Following the ceremony, President Nausėda and Amb. Dushimimana engaged in discussions focused on enhancing both bilateral and multilateral ties, with particular emphasis on trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.
Amb. Dushimimana also represents Rwanda to other countries including The Netherlands and Latvia.
Lithuania, a Baltic state located in Northern Europe, lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
Covering an area of approximately 65,300 square kilometers, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest.
The country boasts a diverse and rapidly growing economy, with notable strengths in the IT, manufacturing, and services sectors.
As a member of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Lithuania maintains strong regional and global connections, fostering continued economic growth and political stability.
Citing local officials, the report said that the vessel departed the port of Bena Dibele in Sankuru Province on November 13, bound for the capital, Kinshasa, more than 800 km away.
The boat capsized after encountering “whirlpools”, according to the report. It was carrying about 120 people, of whom only around 50 have been rescued so far, while the others remain missing. Search and rescue operations are underway.
Waterways remain a key mode of transport in the DRC, where boat accidents are common due to overloading and poor vessel conditions.
