The four-day summit, which begins on August 1st at the Marriott Hotel, features notable African leaders, experts, and impact makers who will converge to discuss, analyze, and initiate new pathways for Africa’s business and leadership future.
Participants include leaders and experts from various fields who have been carefully selected and will be honored in recognition of their efforts towards Africa’s development.
The theme of the summit is “Fostering Collaboration and Networking Among Business, Governance, and Security Stakeholder Leaders Across the African Continent.”
Activities lined up for the summit include plenary sessions and panel discussions, award presentation, and fashion runway.
During the opening ceremony, the organisers led by the chief convener, Amb. Kingsley Amafibe, stated that the summit aims to foster collaboration and networking among business, governance, and security stakeholder leaders across the African continent.
Over 50 recipients will be recognized for their efforts towards Africa’s development, including H.E. Dr. Dauda Lawal, the current Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria and Dr. G D Singh, the founder and chairman of the Asian African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Others are Melody Fidel Okwuazu a notable Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist famous for his contributions to youth mentorship and business coaching and and Adeniyi Victor, a biotechnology and pharmaceutical expert based in Nigeria.
Major General John Baptist Ngiruwonsanga, Commandant of the RDF General Headquarters represented General Mubarakh Muganga, the Chief of Defence Staff at the celebrations.
The PLA, established and led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), has grown over the past 97 years into a formidable armed force committed to the liberation and well-being of the Chinese people, the independence and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and international peace and cooperation.
The army’s contributions to global peace and stability kicked off when China first sent military observers to the United Nations (UN) in 1990. Over 50,000 Chinese peacekeepers have since taken part in peacekeeping missions in more than 20 countries.
Currently, 1,700 Chinese peacekeepers are on duty in six missions across Africa and the Middle East with 17 Chinese peacekeepers recorded as having lost their lives in overseas UN missions.
China is the second-largest contributor to peacekeeping efforts in terms of financial assistance and UN membership fees and the largest troop-contributing country. The Chinese naval hospital ship ‘Peace Ark’ is currently visiting several African countries to meet the medical needs of local people.
Before the end of August 2024, the PLA plans to conduct the ‘Peace Unity-2024’ joint exercise with the Tanzanian and Mozambican armed forces to enhance the ability of the participating parties to jointly respond to terrorism and maintain maritime security.
Military cooperation between Rwanda and China is a significant aspect of their bilateral relations. Both countries are dedicated to maintaining peace and are important contributors to international peacekeeping operations.
China’s Defence Attaché to Rwanda, Senior Captain (Navy) Li Dayi says that his institution and the RDF share common interests thereby learning from each other’s experiences in military construction and development.
Dayi expressed his commitment to strengthening this cooperation: “I personally assure you that I will spare no effort to continue to promote the pragmatic cooperation between PLA and RDF to a new level in the future and help the China-Rwanda friendly and cooperative partnership achieve new results,” he said.
Major General Ngiruwonsanga echoed these sentiments, highlighting the shared values and historical struggles for liberation between the two countries. He noted that the PLA’s journey of fighting for justice and protecting individual rights serves as an inspiration.
“The legacy of the PLA is not merely a reflection of past achievements but a guiding light for the future. Our collective efforts, grounded in mutual respect and understanding, will continue to advance the shared goals of peace, security, and prosperity,” he stated.
In his keynote address, China’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Amb. Wang Xuekun, reaffirmed the PLA’s dedication to world peace and stability and reflected on the growing relationship between China and Rwanda since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
He highlighted the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit as an important opportunity to further strengthen these ties. “It’s high time to push our relations to a new level,” he noted.
Senior Captain Li Dayi was recently appointed as the first ever defence attaché to Rwanda, a strong indicator of enhancement of bilateral relations and cementing the existing bond of friendship.
“China is always ready to work with Rwanda to bolster the relations between our two armies and two countries,” Amb. Wang said.
The longstanding relations between Rwanda and China span 75 years, marked by substantial cooperation. China remains one of the primary sources of Rwanda’s imports, underscoring the depth of their economic ties.
The research initiative, supported by the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) in collaboration with the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) Network, involved 18 students. Six of these students were distinguished for their exemplary work and received prizes.
Evariste Nsabimana, Deputy Director General of RWB, highlighted the significance of the students’ research in enhancing water resource conservation efforts across Rwanda.
“At the Rwanda Water Resources Board, our daily mission is to conserve the natural water resources of our country. Utilizing the information, we gather from various rivers is crucial to our conservation work.” He said.
Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, CEO of ARCOS Network, emphasized the competition’s goal of advancing students’ knowledge in environmental conservation.
“These competitions are designed for young students, aiming to support their knowledge, particularly in conserving our water resources, because water is essential,” he remarked.
One of the recipients of the awards, Marie Claudine Umutoniwase from the University of Rwanda, received one million Rwandan Francs for her project on River Pfunda, which feeds into River Sebeya in Rubavu District.
Her project developed a technology to predict future floods.
“When I saw the announcement, I thought of creating a device to help predict future floods. By feeding upcoming rainfall data into the program I developed, we can anticipate and prevent floods,” she explained.
Emmanuel Singirankabo, also a student at the University of Rwanda, secured second place and was rewarded with Rwf800,000.
He shared his project’s focus: “My project addressed the issues of erosion and landslides on River Mbirurume due to deforestation. It aims to repair these damages.”
The research initiative organized by the Rwanda Water Resources Board attracted over 76 participants, with 18 completing the research and six getting awarded for their exceptional contributions.
Man has pondered for ages trying to understand what happens after death, unfortunately we may never know because no dead ever comes back to give an account of what really happens.
The Holy scriptures paint an imagination of the afterlife but with existing accounts of people claiming near-death experiences, this topic remains a subject of contention.
Most religious beliefs adduce to the fact that there is a certain form of afterlife to which people transit after death. These are some of them. Almost all religious perceptions suggest that life after death is grounded in scriptures or traditions.
Christians believe that after death they will be taken into the presence of God, where they will be judged for their deeds while still alive. Depending on the outcome, one would qualify for heaven or hell.
The concept of Hell is also deeply rooted in the idea of free will. Hell is traditionally depicted as a place of eternal fire symbolizing pain and suffering. Hell is viewed as a punishment for not “doing” God’s will while still alive.
While religion teaches that earthly experiences are a foretaste of greater blessings to come after this life, some people dispute these accounts saying those are fabricated stories to attract relevance.
Although some claim to witness apparitions or experience ambiguous sparking thoughts about life beyond death, no one has ever rose from the dead to give a firsthand experience.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of Purgatory, an intermediate state between heaven and hell.
According to this belief, upon death, people who have sinned undergo purification as a way to enter heaven. The catechism of the Roman Catholic Church states that “all who die in God’s grace but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation.
It suggests that the dead undergo a cleansing and purification process in purgatory, so as to achieve the “holiness” necessary to enter the joy of Heaven.
Fr. Fidele Mutabazi, Managing Director of Kinyamateka, a famous local tabloid, shares the view that earthly life is a preparation for a greater, eternal life.
“According to the Catechism of the Church, human life on earth is not merely for earthly pleasures; if it were, it would be a significant loss,” he says.
Mutabazi elaborates on the significance of Jesus Christ in Christian faith. “Jesus did not only teach about death but also demonstrated His power over it by raising the dead, such as Lazarus. His resurrection from the dead affirms that death is not the end,” he explains.
Christians believe that through baptism, they partake in the life and resurrection of Jesus, giving them hope of eternal life. However, some other different Christian denominations disagree with the idea of purgatory, arguing that once judgment occurs, individuals will stay in either Heaven or Hell for eternity.
Pastor Isaie Ndayizeye, a senior pastor and leader of the Association of Pentecostal churches of Rwanda (ADEPR), sticks to the hope of resurrection and eternal life for believers.
“According to our teachings, emphasis is put on the existence of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus Christ,” he reveals.
The resurrection of the dead is a cornerstone of his faith, hoping that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.
“We do not believe in reincarnation. Resurrection does not require one to come back through other forms of existence,” he says.
Theories about life after death, including resurrection, reincarnation, and perpetual oblivion, have been a subject of debate for centuries.
Sheikh Khalifa Nsengiyuma, an Islamic scholar based in Kigali explains that his faith agrees to life after death, based on the Quran teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
“We believe a life after death but different from our current existence,” he reveals. Islam perceives life as a test determining one’s final destination, with good deeds leading to paradise and bad deeds to punishment.
Nsengiyuma believes in the concept of Barzakh, where one is rewarded according to their deeds. “Once someone enters this state, it marks the beginning of their individual Day of Judgment. If a person was a believer and did good deeds, they start receiving rewards immediately. On the other hand, a wicked person begins facing punishments for their sins,” he explains.
Sheikh Nsengiyuma pinpoints signs preceding the final judgement, as described by the Prophet Muhammad, such as a mother giving birth to a master, the emergence of a great beast from the earth speaking human language and the sun rising from the west.
“These are the indicators that the final day is approaching, although the exact timing is unknown,” he says.
Despite various debates, no one has definitively brought out the true picture of the afterlife, leaving many to focus on living meaningful lives on earth.
Jean-Paul Sartre, a renowned French philosopher and lifetime atheist is reported to have confessed to the possibility of God’s existence before his death in 1980.
Beliefs about life after death vary widely across religions and cultures. While some hold firm convictions based on scriptures, traditions and teachings, others remain skeptical due to the inconclusive nature of this subject.
Ultimately, the mystery of what happens after death continues to intrigue and inspire diverse opinions, leaving little room to fully understand the matter.
But as the old Rwandan adage goes, “Gira neza wigendere ineza uzayisanga imbere.” Do good and move on without expecting immediate rewards because those acts of kindness will eventually lead to positive outcomes in the future.
Throughout Twagirayezu’s trial, following extradition from Denmark late in 2018, eyewitnesses vouched that he was a participant in acts of Genocide as a member of the notorious Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (CDR) political party at the height of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The 56-year-old Twagirayezu, formerly a teacher in a vocational school in Rubavu District is said to have participated in several killings in Gisenyi town between April 7 and April 9, 1994.
These massacres, in which the suspect is said to have been a ringleader, took place mainly between the areas of Busasamana and Gacamena. There, the Tutsi were slaughtered in thousands.
Prosecution appealed his acquittal relying on the significant evidence that was overlooked in the initial trial.
On January 11, 2024, Presiding Judge Timothee Kanyegeri, of the Nyanza-based High Court Chamber for International Crimes (HCCIC), ruled that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove Twagirayezu’s role in the crimes he is accused of.
During the hearing of the case, witnesses for Prosecution included one Etienne Gasenge, himself a participant in the genocide at the same time and place (as he testified) with Twagirayezu.
Gasenge said that on the seventh of April, they started the killings in Mudende and that on the following day, they proceeded to Busasamana.
The witness said that Twagirayezu was with them as they dumped bodies in a pit, and that he (Twagirayezu) had an R4 gun.
Another witness who is a survivor, Jean Ruzibiza, said that he saw the suspect, on April 8, at a school in Mudende where many had fled the massacres.
Ruzibiza said Twagirayezu was among the Interahamwe militias that attacked the school that day, and that he had a gun, and a spiked club of the kind the militias used as one of the crudest, most sadistic killing instruments.
Another witness, code-named DTA, said that on April 10, he saw Twagirayezu seemingly asking for the identity documents (which in those days was for the purpose of establishing an individual’s ethnicity) of two women, and one young man who were trying to cross into the Congo, then Zaire.
DTA testified that when the three people couldn’t produce their documents, the defendant killed them on the spot. The witness continued that Interahamwe dumped the bodies of the victims in a pit under an avocado tree, in a place called Munyazogeye.
Two of the judges, including presiding judge Kanyegeri, and Fidele Nsanzimana, did not find this, and similar evidence of enough preponderance to convict Wenceslas Twagirayezu.
Subsequently, they chose to acquit him on grounds that the Prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the suspect actually was in Gisenyi at the time of the crimes he is accused of.
The presiding judge said court reached its decision based on, among other things, documents the suspect produced, claiming they showed he was in DRC on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of April, 1994. Additionally, the judges said, they “identified inconsistencies in several testimonies from different witnesses.”
When Twagiramungu was seeking asylum in Denmark years ago, he told immigration officers in the European country that between January, and July 1994 he was in Gisenyi. “He (the defendant) only started making claims that he was in DRC when prosecutors were questioning him in 2018.
This initiative demonstrates the urgent need for humanitarian intervention and reaffirms the UAE’s steadfast commitment to supporting the people of Gaza amidst the catastrophic situation. The UAE’s various lines of communication continue to facilitate the humanitarian efforts to assist the people of Gaza, and extend a helping hand during their time of need.
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said: “At this critical time, the urgency of our mission to evacuate injured Palestinians to Abu Dhabi cannot be overstated. This unprecedented route reflects the gravity of the situation and our resolute commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people of the Gaza Strip and to ensure the arrival and distribution of relief through all available means, including land, sea and air. This initiative stands as a testament to the UAE’s enduring and historic support for the Palestinian people, guided by our unwavering dedication to providing immediate relief and advancing peace in the face of immense adversity.”
She underlined that to date, the UAE has welcomed 709 patients from Gaza, along with 787 of their family members, to receive medical treatment. This follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to provide care for 2,000 injured and cancer patients from Gaza.
“This significant scale-up in our efforts demonstrates our solidarity with the Palestinian people and our determination to alleviate their suffering and ensure urgent, sustainable, unhindered delivery of aid, at a wide scale and through all possible means. We remain resolute in our collaboration with international partners to ensure that our aid reaches those in desperate need,” she added.
“For his part, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, said: “We are thankful to the UAE for supporting the evacuation of sick and injured people from Gaza to receive the urgent care they need. We hope this paves the way for the establishment of evacuation corridors via all possible routes, including the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to Egypt and Jordan, and from there to other countries. We also call for evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored. Thousands of sick people are suffering needlessly. Above all, and as always, WHO calls for a ceasefire.”
Notably to date, the UAE has provided over 40,000 tonnes of crucial aid, including food, relief, and medical items, through 8 aid ships, 337 flights, 50 airdrops, and 1,271 trucks. The fourth UAE relief ship arrived in Al-Arish this week, marking the eighth shipment of aid, which carried 5,340 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, and is the largest shipment since the launch of the relief operations.
On Tuesday, July 31, a pivotal meeting was held in Luanda, Angola, to address the ongoing regional security concerns with representatives from both Rwanda and the DRC in attendance.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, represented Rwanda while the DRC was represented by Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba. The meeting was mediated by Angola’s President João Lourenço.
Shortly after the meeting, Amb. Nduhungirehe revealed some of the resolutions made. “The 2nd Ministerial Meeting on the Security and Peace Situation in the Eastern DRC, held in Luanda, Angola, concluded successfully. The meeting agreed to a ceasefire between the warring parties in Eastern DRC starting August 4, under the supervision of an enhanced ad hoc mechanism,” he said in a statement, shared on his social media handle.
“Rwanda remains committed to achieving lasting peace in the region by addressing the root causes of the conflict,” Nduhungirehe emphasized.
He expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s outcome, noting that it was conducted with a constructive spirit.
Tensions between Rwanda and its western neighbor escalated in 2022 when the DRC government accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels in the ongoing military conflict with the Congolese Army.
Rwanda strongly denied the allegations and counter acted by blaming DRC of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group comprised of dissidents of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with intentions to destabilize the country.
Rwanda and DRC representatives met in Angola earlier this year in a move to help each other implement measures to restore security in North Kivu province.
In March 2024, it was anticipated that these talks would pave way for a landmark meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi under Angola’s stewardship. Both leaders had expressed interest in a face-to-face meeting.
DRC had previously expressed commitment to eliminate the FDLR from the jungles of eastern DRC but recently Christophe Lutundula, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the media in Kinshasa that his government knows nothing regarding the rebels’ whereabouts.
Residents of Ngoma Village, Cyangungu Cell, Kamembe Sector, Rusizi District, are particularly grateful for the initiative.
They have expressed their appreciation to the local leadership, and assured that they will take excellent care of their new homes.
In July 2024, the newly built houses, constructed with fired bricks and cement, were finished and furnished with essential items before being handed over to the residents.
Alphonsine Muteteri is one of the beneficiaries who shared her joy: “On my first night in the new home, I slept so comfortably that I didn’t even notice that it was already morning. I no longer experience the cold and discomfort I was used to,” she said.
She added that the dilapidated structure she was accustomed to and the unconducive living conditions contributed negatively to her performance in her daily chores as a local farmer.
Jeanne Matagata, who lives with her husband and 3 children, also expressed her gratitude.
“I used to live in a house so poor that it felt like a pit. Now, thanks to the government for setting up good places for us to live. Our lives have improved significantly,” she said.
Anne Marie Dukuzumuremyi, the Deputy Mayor of Rusizi District in charge of social affairs, urged the new homeowners to maintain their new homes carefully and ensure hygiene at all times.
The prevalence of these disorders is on the rise, with the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating a 40% increase over the past 30 years globally.
Neurological disorders, which rank second in causing the highest number of deaths globally, include epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, stroke, myopathies, paralysis, and many others.
WHO projects that by 2050, the prevalence of these disorders in Rwanda will have doubled.
Professional attention to these conditions in Rwanda began less than 20 years ago with the first specialized department established at Caraes Ndera in 2006 and another one at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in April 2024.
At Caraes Ndera, approximately 70% of patients suffer from neurological disorders, resulting in long wait times for appointments up to five months.
To gain deeper insight into these disorders, their treatment, and Rwanda’s progress in training more specialists, IGIHE engaged Dr. Fidele Sebera, regarded as the pioneer of neurological treatment in Rwanda.
Dr. Sebera, a specialist in treating neurological disorders, introduced this field in Rwanda after undergoing specialized training in Senegal. He studied medicine at the former National University of Rwanda and specialized in neurology in Senegal. For over a decade, Dr. Sebera was the sole specialist in neurological treatment in Rwanda.
“At that time, I started discussions with the Brothers of Charity here in Ndera, who connected me with doctors from Ghent University in Belgium and the medical company Union Chimique Belge (UCB),” he recalls.
Collaborating with them, he arranged for Rwandan doctors to train in Senegal, where he had studied, to increase the number of specialists. Today, there are five such trained doctors.
Considering the growing concerns caused by these disorders, Dr. Sebera planned to sustainably increase the number of specialists.
In partnership with experts from Ghent and UCB, he developed a curriculum for neurology, now taught at the University of Rwanda.
“Currently, we have 11 students. The first cohort is in their second year, with six in their first year and five in their second year. We plan to admit another seven to ten students in the upcoming academic year (September 2024),” he noted.
There is hope that admitting students annually will provide a sufficient human resource to treat these disorders properly and ultimately neurology studies will deepen roots in Rwanda.
In support of his initiatives, the Government extended a scholarship to Dr. Sebera to study at Ghent University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 2023.
Previously, he had received various medical training, including in brain cancer and the general functioning of the brain, from France and Belgium.
“These services are now available in Rwanda. I initiated them after establishing the neurology department at Ndera,” he says.
Dr. Sebera chose this field because, upon completing general medicine, he noticed a lack of specialized doctors in neurology despite the prevalence of such conditions globally.
His passion was partly driven by observations during internships at various hospitals, where he saw many Rwandans with these disorders being inadequately treated.
“Among my peers, none were interested in specializing in this field because they feared it. That’s when I decided to encourage Rwandans to pursue this field,” he explains.
Neurological disorders are often overlooked and confused with mental illnesses like madness, but Dr. Sebera explains that there is a difference.
He says that neurological disorders have specific causes, such as brain tumors, which can be detected through medical examinations.
“For instance, epilepsy can be diagnosed using radio imaging to identify the cause, unlike other mental illnesses which has no proven cause.
18 years down the road, Dr Sebera admits that patients can now receive proper diagnosis and treatment, with quantifiable improvements in their conditions.
Though the journey is still far from over due to the limited number of doctors, there is a beacon of hope since these disorders are now recognized and people know where to seek treatment.
Factors contributing to these disorders include hormonal imbalance, brain tumors, strokes, and poor eating habits.
Epilepsy, in particular, can be treated successfully if properly diagnosis is made in time, contrary to common myths that it’s as a result of witchcraft or demonic possession.
Dr. Sebera cautions on the abuse of illicit drugs, which significantly impact neurological health, preventing accidents as much as possible, and maintaining overall body health.
This partnership aims to drive full-scale digital transformation across Corporate, SME, Agribusiness, and Retail segments.
With this collaboration, Bank of Kigali will become the first financial institution in the country to offer a fully digital, hyper-personalized experience to its customers.
Veefin will empower Bank of Kigali with its flagship suite of comprehensive SCF and Digital Lending solutions.
This includes a self-on boarding module available across all channels, automated digital underwriting of loans via the Loan Origination Solution (LOS), and efficient transaction management through the Loan Management Solution (LMS), complemented by an advanced Debt Recovery System.
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Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO at Bank of Kigali explains that this is yet another milestone in the Bank’s digitization journey.
“The partnership with Veefin will help us boost efficiency and improve transparency in our loan processes. Our esteemed clients will be able to apply for any credit product using BK digital channels and will enjoy faster turnaround times,” she said.
Raja Debnath, Managing Director, Veefin Solutions said “Bank of Kigali’s decision to partner Veefin’s advanced SCF and Digital Lending solutions underscores their commitment to innovation.
Africa and especially Rwanda is at the epicentre of technological adaptation and innovation, multiple banks in the region have shown significant interest in implementing Veefin’s solution, reflecting a broader trend towards adopting cutting-edge financial technologies to efficiency. Our partnership with Bank of Kigali will set new benchmarks in the continent for other lenders to follow”
{{About Bank of Kigali Plc}}
Bank of Kigali, established in 1966, is Rwanda’s leading financial institution dedicated to driving the nation’s economic growth.
Through its wide range of banking services catering to individuals, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agribusinesses and corporate customers, the bank has played a pivotal role in fostering economic resilience, innovation and community development.
To meet the evolving customer needs, the bank embarked on a digital transformation journey and has set an ambition to become a leader in innovation and financial inclusion.
Bank of Kigali has been frequently recognized as the best bank in Rwanda by Global Finance Magazine, Euromoney and The Banker.
These accolades reflect our unwavering commitment to customer centricity and excellence in the banking sector.
