Category: News

The discussions focused on strengthening media cooperation between Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates, recognising the role of media in advancing bilateral relations and deepening partnerships across multiple sectors.

Rwanda and the UAE enjoy a strong and growing relationship. The UAE is currently Rwanda’s largest export market, with exports surpassing USD 1.55 billion in 2024, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Rwanda’s total goods exports.

The UAE is also a major investor, ranking as Rwanda’s second-largest source of foreign direct investment in 2023, with commitments of over USD 138 million in sectors ranging from logistics and hospitality to mineral processing and agriculture.

A prominent example of this cooperation is DP World’s Kigali Logistics Platform, a facility that has streamlined Rwanda’s trade flows and positioned Kigali as a gateway for East African commerce.

The two countries have also signed agreements on economic and technical cooperation, and in 2024, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) signed a partnership to link Rwanda’s financial hub with global capital markets.

Beyond trade and investment, Rwanda and the UAE are expanding cooperation in space technology, artificial intelligence, and governance innovation.

In December 2023, the Rwanda Space Agency signed an MoU with the UAE Space Agency to collaborate on civil space activities, while in April 2025, both countries joined Malaysia in a tripartite partnership on AI governance and innovation through their Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Education and tourism are also central pillars of cooperation. Rwandan students continue to benefit from UAE government scholarships at institutions like NYU Abu Dhabi and UAE University, while Rwanda regularly participates in the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, showcasing its unique attractions such as gorilla trekking and positioning itself as a top destination for Middle Eastern travellers.

Against this backdrop of broad and dynamic collaboration, media cooperation is expected to serve as both a bridge and a catalyst, promoting accurate information, facilitating cultural exchange, and amplifying the visibility of joint initiatives between Rwanda and the UAE.

They stressed that some online content creators are falsely claiming that Gogo was sacrificed, while others allege that she was killed. The family said if such baseless reports persist, they will take legal action, as the claims amount to a mockery of the deceased.

The warning was made on Monday, September 8, 2025, during Gogo’s burial in Munini Cell, Fumbwe Sector, Rwamagana District, where she was originally from.

News of Gogo’s death broke on September 3, 2025. She had travelled to Uganda for evangelical missions, having left Rwanda on August 29 together with some of her handlers. The artist had long battled epilepsy, the illness that ultimately claimed her life.

Bikorimana Emmanuel, commonly known as Bikem, explained that the hospital confirmed she died of complications related to her lungs.

Following her death, some YouTubers produced numerous videos alleging that Gogo had been sacrificed, while others claimed she had been killed by colleagues in disputes over money.

Musoni Bernard, who heads Gogo’s family and is also her stepfather, told IGIHE that it is deeply regrettable that certain media personalities seek to profit from a person’s death by fabricating stories for commercial gain.

“It is extremely painful that people want to profit from the death of a person. I have known that child since birth, and she never enjoyed good health because of epilepsy, which afflicted her continuously. Those who were with her called us from the moment she started feeling unwell, they took her to hospital and informed us, and even after her passing, they immediately notified us. The hospital clearly stated the cause of death,” he said

Musoni added that as the family was preparing to repatriate her body to Rwanda, they were shocked to see some content creators producing content on YouTube claiming that she had been sacrificed, while others used insulting language to mock them. He called on those responsible to delete the content or face legal consequences.

Bishop Nyirimpeta Anastase, who had invited Gogo to Uganda, also condemned the conduct of some Rwandan YouTubers who falsely claimed she was sacrificed and accused others of being behind it.

Gogo who rose to prominence on social media, gained wider attention after her worship track was remixed by South African musician David Scott, popularly known as The Kiffness.

Gogo was best known online for her heartfelt worship songs, often sung in English with her distinct accent. In the viral clip, she sings: “Everyday, I need the blood of Jesus.”

The Kiffness reworked the video by layering her vocals with trumpet and piano, creating a lively new version that he shared on TikTok and YouTube in January.

The literacy paper has been produced by the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE), with the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) and the British Council as core partners.

{{It highlights that:}}

{{Foundational literacy is essential}} – without it, children are locked out of future learning opportunities.

{{We know what works}} – structured pedagogy, teacher professional development, and targeted interventions can dramatically improve outcomes at scale.

{{Partnerships accelerate impact }} – by linking global evidence with local policy and classroom practice, governments and partners can achieve sustainable learning gains.

{{EE4A (Education Evidence for Action)}} is a biennial conference and initiative that bridges the gap between education research and decision-making in the education sector, with Zizi AfriqueFoundation playing a key role as the organizer and host of the EE4A conference, where education stakeholders and researchers gather to deliberate on critical issues and inform policy and practice.

{{The What Works Hub for Global Education }} is an international partnership, funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Gates Foundation, working out how to effectively implement education reforms at scale. This collaborative initiative comprises 12 strategic partners and 43 consortium partners, convened by the Blavatnik School of Government, the programme’s host institution.

At the conference, {{WWHGE}} convened education leaders in a session titled “Strengthening the Evidence Ecosystem: Building a Roadmap for Education Reform in Kenya.” The Hub emphasised its mission: to take rigorous global evidence, such as the GEEAP Literacy Paper, and ensure it moves into government policy and ultimately into classrooms.

Through collaboration with ministries, teacher training institutions, and local organisations, WWHGE is helping countries translate recommendations into practical reforms that directly shape how teachers teach and how learners acquire foundational skills.

{{The British Council’s Learning and Life for Global Education (LL4GE)}} initiative also featured at the conference. LL4GE integrates literacy, language, and life skills to provide young people with both academic and social competencies, equipping them for future employment, resilience, and active citizenship.

Together, {{WWHGE (with GEEAP)}}, the {{British Council}}, and {{LL4GE }} represent a powerful synergy: advancing literacy through both policy-to-classroom reforms and holistic learner development.

The What Works Hub for Global Education, working with GEEAP, the British Council, and other partners, will now take forward the Literacy Paper’s recommendations by embedding evidence into national reform agendas and supporting governments to implement them in classrooms at scale.

This marks the next phase of {{WWHGE}}’s mission: ensuring that every child, regardless of context, benefits from proven strategies to acquire foundational literacy and learning skills.

It is attended by military senior officers from 6 Eastern African Standby Force member states, namely Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the EASF Headquarters.

The training was officially opened by the Defence spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

The Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga expressed gratitude to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) for its steadfast commitment to building internal capacity to ensure peace and security in the region.

He also commended the Rwanda Peace Academy for hosting this significant course and for its ongoing efforts in delivering the requisite training courses to enable commanders and staff to effectively conduct peace support operations in the region and beyond.

Brig Gen Rwivanga highlighted the necessity of the course, saying that “expanding the pool of qualified personnel is essential in creating a sustainable nucleus of training experts who can cascade their skills and knowledge across all levels of our forces”.

He added,”By empowering you to become both leaders and educators, we ensure that training excellence is replicated consistently, even in the most remote operational environments.”

He further reminded the course participants that undertaking this course is not merely about developing individual capacity but also strengthening institutional resilience.

He emphasized that they are not only being prepared to lead, but also to teach, mentor, and multiply the knowledge and experience essential for sustaining a strong, professional, and responsive standby force. He urged the participants to approach this course with an open mind, discipline, and a shared sense of purpose.

Kenneth Goren Albert, Coordinator of the International Advisory and Coordination Staff, congratulated the facilitators, participants, EASF, and Member States for participating in this important training.

He emphasized the vital role of facilitators in equipping future trainers with the skills and knowledge needed to lead and address complex, population-centric operations at battle group and sector levels.

The annual gathering, hosted in Namur, the capital of Wallonia and a predominantly French-speaking city, combined physical activities with community discussions on projects supporting development in both Rwanda and host communities.

As in previous years, the event drew participants from across Belgium, offering a space for intergenerational exchange, recreation, and dialogue. The initiative was spearheaded by DRB-Rugali’s Namur section under the leadership of Lionel Karugarama, with support from the City of Namur, associations such as Humura-Iyubake ASBL and Convivialité-Rukundo ASBL, as well as retail company Delhaize.

The City of Namur played a key role by providing venues for sports and recreational activities. Participants engaged in football, volleyball, tennis, ping pong, tug-of-war, and group hiking at varying distances of 5, 10, and 15 kilometres. Others enjoyed boat tours (Croisière) exploring Namur’s scenic sites.

The day-long activities were carried out in teams, and the atmosphere encouraged both competition and camaraderie. Special arrangements were also made for parents with young children, with dedicated play areas set aside for them.

Speaking at the event, Lionel Karugarama expressed gratitude to all partners and participants, noting that Journée Sportive continues to serve as a platform for Rwandans to review past projects, exchange ideas, and design new initiatives to benefit their communities. He also highlighted how the gathering helps local businesses gain visibility, given the wide turnout.

Umutoni Annick, head of Humura-Iyubake AISBL, also commended the participants for their involvement, describing the event as a valuable tradition that strengthens community ties.

The day concluded with the awarding of trophies and prizes to teams that excelled in the various games, followed by social interactions that reinforced the event’s spirit of unity and togetherness.

PHOTOS: Emmy Uwimana

karirima@igihe.com

The agreement formalized on Monday, September 8, 2025, is expected to enhance connectivity, open new avenues for economic cooperation, and expand trade opportunities between the two nations.

Yankhoba Dième, Senegal’s Minister of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport, and Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, represented their nations at the signing ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Rwanda, Dr. Gasore described the agreement as “a major new step” that builds on the excellent relations already in place. He emphasized that it will further promote collaboration and create more opportunities for both countries.

The two countries enjoy longstanding friendly relations, reflected in visits and exchanges by heads of state and senior government officials. The most recent was on August 31, 2025, when President Paul Kagame visited Senegal to attend the Africa Food Summit (AFS).

Rwanda and Senegal have also established other agreements over the years. These include a cultural cooperation agreement signed in 1975, a general cooperation agreement in 2004, the creation of a permanent joint commission to oversee bilateral relations in 2016, as well as a partnership between Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and Senegalese national broadcaster RTS.

Senegal is home to a significant Rwandan community, including students and families, some of whom settled there more than 40 years ago.

The decision, announced on September 8, 2025, comes after days of unrest triggered by public anger over lawmakers’ perks and growing concerns about rising living costs. The demonstrations, which spread across major cities, turned deadly with casualties, including a 21-year-old food delivery driver.

Sri Mulyani, a respected technocrat and former World Bank managing director, was replaced by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who previously led Indonesia’s Deposit Insurance Corporation and held senior government positions.

Announcing his appointment, Purbaya sought to calm markets, stating, “We are not going to overhaul the system. We are going to optimise what’s existing.”

Analysts described Sri Mulyani’s dismissal as a significant shift, given her reputation as a guardian of fiscal discipline. The reshuffle also removed ministers in charge of cooperatives, youth and sports, and migrant worker protection, alongside security chief Budi Gunawan.

The move rattled investors, with the Jakarta stock index falling by more than 1 percent and the rupiah weakening. Economists fear the changes may pave the way for more expansive government spending.

President Prabowo has pledged ambitious programs, including achieving 8 percent annual economic growth, rolling out a national school lunch scheme costing about 1.5 percent of GDP, and increasing defence expenditure.

The protests that prompted the reshuffle were sparked by lawmakers granting themselves a housing allowance nearly ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage.

According to the Associated Press, demonstrators saw the decision as deeply insensitive in the midst of economic hardship. Violence during the protests left between eight and ten people dead, with rights groups warning of excessive use of force by security agencies.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, UNFPA said that the disaster also displaced 150 others.

The landslide struck Tarsin, a remote village nestled deep within the rugged mountains of the Jebel Marra region in Darfur.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update on Monday that humanitarian partners had provided life-saving assistance to more than 1,000 people and assessed needs in the area affected by the landslide in Tarsin.

OCHA noted that reaching the affected village proved extremely challenging, explaining that, due to the rugged mountainous terrain and persistent rainfall, aid workers were forced to transport supplies using donkeys.

The journey to deliver relief took up to 12 hours along steep, waterlogged paths, it added.

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council said last week that hundreds of civilians were killed after heavy rainfall triggered the landslide in Jebel Marra.

According to the results announced by the Speaker of the French National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, only 194 were in favor of Bayrou out of 558 valid votes. This marks the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic that a government has fallen during a vote of confidence, local media reported.

Speaking to the deputies Monday afternoon ahead of the vote, Bayrou stressed that France’s excessive debt was “life-threatening” for the country.

According to official figures, France’s public debt stood at 3,345.8 billion euros (about 3,914.6 billion U.S. dollars), or 114 percent of its GDP, at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

“Reality will remain inexorable, spending will continue to rise, and the burden of debt, already unbearable, will grow heavier and more costly,” Bayrou said, urging the country to “act without delay.”

“It only requires the mobilization and moderate efforts from everyone, provided we act in time,” he stressed.

In a speech before the vote, Marine Le Pen, former presidential candidate of France’s far-right wing party National Rally, called on President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the National Assembly to hold new elections following Bayrou’s defeat.

Following the confidence vote result, several parties voiced support for Bayrou’s leaving. Mathilde Panot, president of the deputies of the hard-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), welcomed the outcome. “Mr. Bayrou wanted a moment of truth,” she said. “He got it.”

LFI’s national coordinator, Manuel Bompard, said: “The fall of this government is a relief for all those who would have borne the full brunt of the dramatic consequences of the Bayrou budget. Today, the popular mobilization on September 10 and the unwavering determination of La France Insoumise have already achieved a first victory.”

Laurent Wauquiez, president of the deputies of the right-wing party The Republicans (LR), voted in favor of the confidence motion while allowing “freedom of vote” for his party’s elected representatives.

Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party, emphasized the need to “restore energy and give purchasing power back to the French.” “I want a government of the left and the ecologists, and it will then be up to Parliament to decide.”

In a press release, the Elysee said that Macron “acknowledged” the result of the vote. “He will meet with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou tomorrow to accept the resignation of his government,” the Elysee said. Macron will nominate a new prime minister in the coming days, it added.

The political turmoil in France has reverberated across Europe. On Monday evening, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the media that he “hoped” a solution to France’s political crisis would be found “as soon as possible,” voicing concern over its potential repercussions for the rest of the continent.

Macron nominated Francois Bayrou as France’s new prime minister on Dec. 13, 2024, succeeding Michel Barnier, who had been ousted in a no-confidence vote a week earlier.

Bayrou was the fourth French prime minister nominated in 2024 by Macron. He was born in 1952 and founded the centrist party Democratic Movement (MoDem) in 2007. He ran as a presidential candidate three times, in 2002, 2007, and 2012. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollars)