The announcement follows the successful ACCS 2026 held in Livingstone, Zambia, from 23–25 September 2026. Ethiopia is scheduled to host the 2027 edition, ahead of Rwanda in 2028.
Rwanda was well represented at ACCS 2026 by the Marketing Society of Rwanda (MSR), Rwanda Convention Bureau, ICT Chamber, and representatives of the supply chain and procurement profession.
The delegation demonstrated Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening collaboration across marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement in support of Africa’s commercial transformation.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Moses Kazoora, President of the Marketing Society of Rwanda, said: “Securing the opportunity to host ACCS 2028 is a proud moment for Rwanda and its professional community. We commend the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Convention Bureau, for leading this successful bid, and appreciate the collaboration of our partners across marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement.
“Hosting ACCS 2028 presents an important opportunity to showcase Rwanda’s capabilities, strengthen professional networks, promote innovation and create meaningful partnerships across Africa. MSR looks forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver a successful summit that advances professional excellence and contributes to Rwanda’s business and economic development.”
ACCS 2028 is expected to bring together professionals and stakeholders from the marketing, communications, ICT, supply chain, creative industries and business sectors across Africa for knowledge exchange, networking, innovation and strategic partnerships.
MSR calls upon industry stakeholders, professional associations, private-sector organizations, government, institutions and development partners to support the preparations and successful delivery of ACCS 2028, ensuring a meaningful and impactful summit for Rwanda and the continent.
The Marketing Society of Rwanda is the national professional association dedicated to advancing marketing excellence, professional development, industry collaboration and the promotion of best practices in Rwanda’s marketing profession.
MSR works with government, private-sector institutions and regional and international partners to strengthen the marketing profession and contribute to Rwanda’s business and economic development.
Rwanda has been selected to host ACCS 2028 following a successful summit in Livingstone, Zambia.Moses Kazoora, President of the Marketing Society of Rwanda, has described the opportunity to host ACCS 2028 as a proud moment for Rwanda.The Rwanda delegation has brought together representatives from marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement at ACCS 2026.
In a message posted on X on September 28, 2026, Bisimwa said the decision sends a worrying message about the conduct of authorities in Kinshasa.
“The reinstatement of Gen Sylvain Ekenge as spokesperson for the armed forces of the Kinshasa government, after a long period of silence over discriminatory remarks targeting Tutsi women, is a worrying sign that the authorities are determined to continue along the same path,” Bisimwa said.
He said no explanation had been provided on how the authorities addressed the remarks Ekenge made on state television or what measures had been taken to prevent similar statements from being repeated.
“No explanation has been given to help understand how the authorities in Kinshasa addressed these remarks or what measures are in place to prevent their repetition. Instead, this decision shows that hate speech is being given space within state institutions,” he said.
Bisimwa added that when a state representative targets citizens based on ethnicity, it undermines public trust in national institutions and affects relations between communities.
“We condemn the reinstatement of this person who spreads hate, and we reiterate our opposition to the policy of persecuting and marginalising people based on ethnicity,” he said.
Bisimwa said AFC/M23 supports peaceful relations among people of different ethnic backgrounds, with respect for the dignity of every individual.
Gen Maj Ekenge was temporarily suspended in late 2025 after remarks he made on state broadcaster RTNC on December 27. At the time, he warned Congolese men against marrying Tutsi women and made remarks targeting them based on their ethnicity.
FARDC distanced itself from the comments, saying they did not represent the position of the army or the government, although subsequent developments pointed to a different course.
While Ekenge was suspended, FARDC spokesperson duties were temporarily assigned to its deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Mak Hazukay Mongba.
Reports of Ekenge’s return to the position emerged after he signed a FARDC statement concerning a plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, on September 25, 2026.
FARDC has not yet explained the reasons for his reinstatement.
AFC/M23 has condemned Gen Ekenge’s reinstatement as FARDC spokesperson.
The consensus was reached during a tea chat at the White House attended by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, and Trump and his wife, Melania Trump.
Xi said the trip to Washington was his first state visit to the United States in 11 years.
During the visit, the two sides added new substance to the vision for the China-U.S. relationship, and agreed to jointly build a constructive relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, Xi said.
The two sides also achieved mutually beneficial outcomes in the economic and trade fields, which will be welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community, he added.
Stressing that the future of China-U.S. relations is bright, Xi said that it reflects the trend of history.
The road to a bright future is often winding, with difficulties and challenges bound to arise along the way, Xi said, adding that it is in line with the laws governing the development of things.
Xi said he is willing to work with Trump to write a new chapter in the history of China-U.S. relations with the courage and a sense of responsibility to history.
Calling Xi’s state visit to the United States constructive and very successful, Trump said that the two sides held in-depth exchanges on U.S.-China relations and major international and regional issues, achieving positive outcomes that will benefit both countries.
He said he looks forward to maintaining close contact with Xi and jointly guiding the development of U.S.-China relations.
After the tea chat, Xi and Peng, accompanied by Trump and Melania, visited the U.S. National Archives. They walked together into the central hall, where they were briefed on the National Archives and its exhibits.
The archives carry the wisdom of the forebears and offer insights for the future, Xi said, adding that over the past 250 years, the American people have pursued the American Dream and built a prosperous country and a beautiful home on the North American continent.
The Chinese people, inheriting 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, have continued to make new achievements on the new journey toward realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said.
As two distinctive countries, China and the United States have different histories and cultures, social systems and development paths, Xi said.
However, the people of the two countries share the same aspiration for a better life despite the differences, he said.
If the two countries recognize and respect their differences, deepen mutual understanding and learn from each other, seek the biggest common denominator, expand the list of areas for cooperation, and properly manage differences, China-U.S. relations will enjoy steady and sustained growth, Xi said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, together with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, pose for a group photo at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026.Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan have a chat over tea with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan visit the U.S. National Archives, accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, after their tea chat in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026.
The two leaders conducted sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached common understanding on many issues, which has added new substance to the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, and provided new strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations.
Putting vision into action
“I am ready to work with you to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relationship on a steady course toward the future,” Xi said at the welcome ceremony at the White House.
Xi’s visit comes less than half a year after Trump’s state visit to China in May, when the two presidents agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.
Later at his White House meeting with Trump, Xi called for translating that vision into action and finding the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other.
The two sides need to work toward a relationship featuring cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, manageable differences, and promises of peace, Xi said.
Xi noted that China and the United States should, and fully can, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results through practical cooperation, help each other succeed through healthy competition, properly manage differences by seeking common ground while respecting differences, and build peace by fostering mutual trust, so that a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability can better benefit the two peoples and people around the world.
Trump, for his part, said he and Xi are good friends who have maintained in-depth and close communication, and expressed confidence that U.S.-China relations would be handled well under the leadership of the two heads of state.
The meticulous arrangements for Xi’s state visit, down to the details and with care and consideration, reflected the importance Trump attached to Xi’s trip.
After receiving Xi in person at the airport one day earlier, Trump hosted the grand welcome ceremony at the White House.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, watched a performance by the United States Marines in the company of the U.S. presidential couple. The ceremony also featured a military review, with U.S. honor guards from different military services performing traditional drills and playing instrumental music. Multiple combat aircraft flew over the White House in honor of the Chinese and U.S. presidents and their wives.
Following the talks, the two presidential couples met again for the state dinner. Inside, red blossoms and red linens decorated the room, a choice a White House release said reflected the color’s longstanding cultural significance in China.
“In less than half a year, the Chinese and American presidents have exchanged state visits, making history in our bilateral engagement,” Xi said at the state dinner hosted by Trump.
The strongest signal to the world is that the leaders of the world’s two most consequential major countries, though overtly competitive, can meet in harmony and with good spirit, which is the headline achievement, commented U.S. scholar Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Cooperation goes both ways
From Beijing in May to Washington in September, practical cooperation has remained high on the agenda of China-U.S. interactions.
At the ceremony, Xi called on the two countries to “cooperate with sincerity.”
Xi said the two sides share “deeply intertwined” interests and ample room for cooperation, noting that China-U.S. collaboration “may not solve every problem in the world,” but many would be hard to resolve without it.
During his talks with Trump, Xi said the latest round of trade and economic consultations between the two countries had produced a new joint arrangement, calling it good news for industries and people of both countries, as well as the global economy.
Noting that cooperation is a two-way street, Xi said as long as the two sides uphold the spirit of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, they can find a way out of problems.
The state dinner offered another glimpse of the breadth of economic ties between the two countries. Executives from major U.S. aviation, technology and financial firms were among the guests, including some who had accompanied Trump to Beijing in May, such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was another area discussed by the two leaders.
While China and the United States compete in AI, they have even more reasons to cooperate, Xi said, urging the two major countries in AI to leverage respective strengths rather than guard against each other.
The two sides should keep AI under human control, uphold a human-centered approach and use AI for good, ensuring that it serves human progress, Xi added.
Trump also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue on AI, calling it the technology that bears on the future of humanity.
Carrying on friendship
At the state dinner, both presidents looked back on the long history of exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties.
Xi recalled how the two peoples stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Japanese militarist aggression more than 80 years ago, and how Ping-Pong Diplomacy reopened the door to bilateral exchanges more than half a century ago.
He also recounted the story of American Ronald Sakolsky, who supported Chinese desert control worker Yin Yuzhen’s tree-planting efforts more than 20 years ago, calling it a shining example of friendly exchanges between the two peoples.
Such exchanges, Xi said, have promoted heart-to-heart communication between our peoples and strengthened public support for China-U.S. friendship and cooperation.
Trump, meanwhile, reviewed the long history of U.S.-China exchanges, pointing to early commercial ties and the exchange of “goods, knowledge, customs and ideas.”
“As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better,” Trump said.
New steps are now being taken to carry that friendship forward.
At the welcome ceremony, Xi announced that two pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will soon arrive at Zoo Atlanta and meet the American people. He also invited 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchange and study programs over the next five years.
“The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in our people, and its future lies with the young,” Xi said.
In 2023, during his visit to San Francisco, Xi announced a similar initiative inviting 50,000 young Americans to China over five years. That target has already been achieved.
“President Xi announced that he wants to double the number of students over the next five years. That’s very positive, very significant, because I believe that those kinds of exchanges and students going back and forth are very, very important,” said Kenneth Quinn, president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation.
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to the United States, at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
“I am now signing the text that reads as follows: ‘Pursuant to Article 116, paragraph 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, I submit my resignation from the office of President of the Republic.’…Ana, this goes to the Parliament, and tomorrow you go to the handover,” said Vucic.
Under Serbia’s Constitution and Law on the president, the president’s term ends when the written resignation is formally received by the National Assembly, without requiring approval. The Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic then assumes presidential duties for up to three months and must call a presidential election within that period.
Vucic also said he would take part in the snap parliamentary elections scheduled on Oct. 25 as an ordinary citizen.
The Serbian parliament was dissolved on Sept. 9. Under the Constitution, a dissolved parliament has limited powers, while the government continues to perform its duties until a new government is formed.
On Sept. 5, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) nominated Vucic as head of its electoral list and its candidate for prime minister in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections.
Following the Oct. 25 elections, the process of forming a new government will begin. The acting president, after consulting representatives of the elected electoral lists, proposes a prime minister candidate to the National Assembly. The candidate then presents the government’s program and cabinet members, which must be approved by a majority of all lawmakers.
Vucic, born in Belgrade in 1970, had served as defense minister, first deputy prime minister and prime minister. He was elected president in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Under the Constitution, the presidential term is five years, with a maximum of two terms for any individual.
Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 27, 2026. Aleksandar Vucic signed and submitted his resignation on Sunday, stepping down as president. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
“I expect more talks with Iran [this week],” Trump said in a phone interview with U.S. online news outlet Axios.
Citing two regional sources, Axios reported that another round of indirect dialogue between the United States and Iran could take place as early as Monday, although it remained unclear whether the two sides could bridge their differences.
Asked whether he was considering resuming strikes against Iran, Trump said: “I am always thinking about it.”
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a new round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last Tuesday.
According to Axios, Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks within a week, on the condition that the United States lifts its naval blockade, removes sanctions on Iranian oil sales and restore a regional ceasefire.
Trump rejected the Iranian proposal on Saturday.
Araghchi told NBC on Sunday that Iran still wanted a diplomatic solution despite Trump’s rejection.
“Although we heard from President Trump that he’s rejecting this deal … we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators,” Araghchi said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects the United States and Iran to hold more talks this week
The award was presented during a gala on September 24, alongside the fourth annual TICON Africa Conference.
Sparc Systems emerged as the winner following a vetting and adjudication process by an independent panel of judges, standing out among companies competing for the continental award.
The company’s Managing Director was also nominated as a finalist for the TICON ICT Professional of the Year award.
The Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa), a Pan-African body promoting ICT development, collaboration and professional standards, presents the awards to individuals and organisations contributing to Africa’s digital growth through innovation and leadership.
“This win is all about our clients and partners. Your trust is what drives us every day. We’re beyond proud to show what passionate, home-grown African tech leadership can do,” said Alice Satela, Senior Brand Awareness and Digital Marketing Executive at Sparc Systems.
The award comes after a year in which Sparc Systems’ leadership also received recognition at regional industry forums and corporate awards in Southern Africa.
Sparc Systems operates in Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Mozambique, providing IT infrastructure, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, software development, data centre management and technical training.
The company serves more than 150 enterprise, financial and public-sector clients across Africa.
Sparc Systems Limited has been crowned ICT Company of the Year at the prestigious Technology Information Confederation (TICON) Africa 2026 Excellence Awards.
The minister congratulated the pioneer cohort and welcomed the Senior Directing Staff and civilian faculty who will guide participants throughout the 11-month programme.
Marizamunda described the opening as a historic milestone for Rwanda’s defence and security architecture and a major step towards strengthening professional military education in the country.
The NDC-R is a constituent organ of the National Defence University-Rwanda. It was established following a directive by President Paul Kagame, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), with a mandate to provide education at the strategic level.
The inaugural course marks the beginning of the college’s programme aimed at developing strategic-level knowledge and skills among its participants.
The opening follows the recent merger of Rwanda’s key military and security colleges and training institutions into a single higher learning institution, the National Defence University–Rwanda (NDU-R), under a new law published in the Official Gazette on April 10, 2026.
The law provides that the President of the Republic, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, is the Chancellor of the university.
The National Defence University–Rwanda includes several constituent institutions such as the National Defence College–Rwanda (NDC-R), Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS), Defence Institute of Sciences and Technology (DIST), and the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS), all based in Kigali.
Other institutions include the National Intelligence Academy (NIA) in Bugesera District, the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in Musanze District, the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze, and the Rwanda Military Academy (RMA) in Bugesera.
The university is mandated to provide advanced education, training, and research for personnel in defence and security organs, senior government officials involved in national security, and international partners, with the aim of strengthening strategic thinking through high-level academic instruction and research.
The university is jointly overseen by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education.
The opening of the National Defence College-Rwanda course marks a new milestone in professional military education in Rwanda.The pioneer cohort of the National Defence College-Rwanda has begun an 11-month strategic-level programme.Rwanda’s Defence Minister Juvenal Marizamunda officially opened the inaugural National Defence College-Rwanda course at the Bumbogo Campus.
Ekenge resumed the role after being sidelined in late 2025 following comments he made on national broadcaster RTNC, in which he warned Congolese men against marrying Tutsi women.
At the time, Ekenge said: “Today, if you marry a Tutsi woman, you have to be very careful, you have to be very careful because… they can even give you someone from her family, such as a nephew or cousin, who comes to your home and is not actually a cousin or nephew, but someone who comes to have children with your wife in your home. [When children are born], they tell you that the children were born looking like Tutsis because Tutsis are a superior ethnic group.”
His return comes as the FARDC deals with the aftermath of a September 25, 2026 plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, which involved several soldiers. Ekenge signed the military’s statement confirming the crash.
The remarks that led to his suspension sparked criticism from Tutsi community representatives and the AFC/M23.
FARDC leadership subsequently distanced itself from Ekenge’s comments, saying they did not represent the position of either the military or the government, and announced his temporary suspension.
David Karambi Fati, president of a Tutsi community organisation in North Kivu, said the suspension was insufficient and called for Ekenge to face legal proceedings.
AFC/M23 also condemned the remarks, saying that portraying Tutsi women as symbols of the enemy could contribute to hostility against the community.
Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe likewise condemned the comments, linking them to what he described as genocide ideology, cooperation with the FDLR and attacks against Congolese Tutsis and Banyamulenge.
During Ekenge’s suspension, Lt Col Mak Hazukay Mongba served as acting FARDC spokesperson from January 8, 2026. Hazukay had previously been the military’s deputy spokesperson.
Gen Maj Sylvain Ekenge confirmed the plane crash involving soldiers.
Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire delivered the President’s message to the players in the dressing room following Rwanda’s 3-1 victory over Liberia in their opening Group K match on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Kagame attended the match at Amahoro Stadium and was pleased with the team’s performance, according to Mukazayire.
“We believe that when we start well, we finish well. We are proud of you and the work you have done because it showed determination, commitment and teamwork, and that was reflected in the result you delivered,” Mukazayire told the players.
She encouraged the team to build on the victory while identifying areas where they could improve.
“This is the beginning. We believe you have seen where you need to put in more effort. The coach and the whole team did well. Whether those on the pitch or those outside it, we could see that everyone was supporting you,” she said.
Mukazayire also urged the players to remain focused and composed, reminding them of their ability to compete against strong opponents.
“Have a clear objective and remain calm. This is one of the messages I was asked to deliver to you. You have talent and ability in the way you play. Another message I was given is that we are all behind you, both the leadership and the fans,” she said.
She acknowledged that Cape Verde would present a difficult challenge but urged Amavubi to approach the match with determination.
“Cape Verde is a strong team, but compete against them, put in the effort and you will beat them,” Mukazayire added.
Rwanda opened its AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win over Liberia at Amahoro Stadium, with goals from Abeddy Biramahire, Leroy-Jacques Mickels and Joy-Lance Mickels. Liberia scored through Sylvanus Nimely.
After the first round of matches in Group K, Rwanda and Mali lead the group with three points each, with both teams having a goal difference of plus two. Liberia and Cape Verde are yet to earn points.
Amavubi left Kigali International Airport late on Friday night, heading to Cape Verde for their second qualifying match.
Four players who had been part of the training camp did not travel with the team. They are Mbonyumwami Taiba, Uwiyaremye Fidali, Niyongira Patient and Mugisha Yves.
Rwanda will face Cape Verde on Tuesday, September 29, at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia.
Amavubi received a message of encouragement from President Kagame following their 3-1 victory over Liberia.President Kagame has sent a message of encouragement to Amavubi ahead of their AFCON 2027 qualifier against Cape Verde.President Kagame urged Amavubi to remain focused and composed as they prepare to face Cape Verde.Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire delivered President Kagame’s message to Amavubi players ahead of their match against Cape Verde.
