The agreement was signed on September 22, 2026, during talks between Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Cypriot counterpart, Dr. Constantinos Kombos.
Kombos said his discussions with Nduhungirehe focused on ways to further strengthen relations between Rwanda and Cyprus across various areas of mutual interest, as well as regional issues.
In a post on X, Nduhungirehe thanked his Cypriot counterpart for “good discussion, which opened new opportunities for the bilateral relations and cooperation between Cyprus and Rwanda.”
The signing of the agreement marks another step in the development of relations between Rwanda and Cyprus.
Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with Nicosia as its capital. It is located south of Türkiye, with the rest of its borders surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.
Rwanda, represented by Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, and Cyprus, represented by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, signed an Air Services Agreement on September 22, 2026.Rwanda and Cyprus have signed an Air Services Agreement to strengthen cooperation in aviation and deepen bilateral relations.
At a ceremony on the sidelines of the UN General Debate, the agreement was inked by U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Under the wide-ranging deal, the United States will be allowed to modernize and expand its activities at Pituffik Space Base, which it already operates in northwestern Greenland, and to establish an additional defense area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.
The deal also permits U.S. aircraft to fly over and land in any territory in Greenland, including its territorial waters, while U.S. public vessels may have undersea access to and movement within the territorial waters, without restriction except as mutually agreed upon by the parties.
The agreement bars non-NATO states from establishing manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland and from maintaining persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
It also restricts states or investors from countries that are not NATO members, NATO partners or EU member states from having control, significant influence or access to non-public information that could threaten national security or public order in particularly sensitive sectors or activities in Greenland.
The deal came after months of pressure from Trump, who repeatedly called for acquiring the autonomous Danish territory and did not rule out military or economic means. The proposal has drawn strong opposition from NATO allies and Greenlanders.
Under a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States, as amended and supplemented in 2004, the U.S. military has rights to maintain personnel and construct, maintain and operate facilities in designated defense areas in Greenland, including at Pituffik Space Base.
The newly signed agreement will enter into force upon the delivery of a diplomatic note informing the United States that the Kingdom of Denmark, together with Greenland, has completed the necessary parliamentary procedures.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (from left to right) sign an agreement at a ceremony on the sidelines of the UN General Debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2026.
Dr. Nsengiyumva made the appeal on Monday, September 21, 2026, during a cocktail reception in New York held in honour of Mushikiwabo on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Addressing ministers, permanent representatives and other guests, the Prime Minister said the gathering was an opportunity to further support a candidacy that is particularly important to Rwanda.
“Eight years later, her record speaks for itself,” Dr. Nsengiyumva said, referring to Mushikiwabo’s tenure at the helm of the OIF.
He said that under her leadership, the organisation had been modernised and undertaken major institutional, administrative and financial reforms.
Dr. Nsengiyumva also highlighted her focus on areas where he said the OIF can bring added value to its members, including youth, women’s empowerment, education, digitalisation, the economy and culture.
He further credited Mushikiwabo with strengthening the political dimension of the Francophonie and its role as a space for dialogue, solidarity and consultation in an increasingly fragmented world.
The Prime Minister said the OIF should continue building on these achievements and remain an organisation that responds to the priorities of all its members.
“Together we must work towards an Organisation useful to all its members, attentive to their priorities and capable of adapting to the realities of our time,” he said.
Mushikiwabo has led the OIF since January 2019, after being elected Secretary General in 2018. She was re-elected for a second term in 2022 in Djerba, Tunisia.
During her tenure, the OIF says it has mobilised €336 million since 2019, with 97% of its activities implemented.
Its women’s economic empowerment initiative, La Francophonie avec Elles, has reached nearly 100,000 women through 354 projects in 36 countries, while the organisation’s D-CLIC programme aims to increase the number of young people receiving digital skills training from 20,000 to 100,000.
In education, the OIF’s ELAN programme has reached 12 million students, using 46 African languages and working with about 230,000 teachers to promote early learning in mother tongues before children transition to French.
With her second term approaching its end, Rwanda has put forward her candidacy for a third mandate, with Dr. Nsengiyumva saying the decision was taken with the full support of President Paul Kagame.
He said Mushikiwabo has the experience, knowledge of the organisation and energy required to continue advancing the Francophonie.
“We are convinced that Louise Mushikiwabo possesses the experience, the knowledge of the Organisation and the energy necessary to continue to make the Francophonie evolve in the service of all its members,” he said.
Dr. Nsengiyumva urged those attending the reception to support her candidacy and expressed hope that they would attend the next Francophonie Summit in Cambodia in November.
He also used the occasion to thank Mushikiwabo for her work during her tenure.
Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva addresses a reception held in honour of Louise Mushikiwabo in New York.Louise Mushikiwabo has overseen institutional, administrative and financial reforms at the OIF during her tenure as Secretary General.Guests attend a reception held in New York in honour of Louise Mushikiwabo.
The company’s interconnected programmes are transforming education in 25 schools across five districts including Muhanga, Nyarugenge, Gasabo, Musanze and Huye.
In partnership with the Rwanda Education Board (REB), AmaliTech’s Digital Literacy Training has equipped 23 teachers with essential technology skills.
Now serving as “digital ambassadors,” these educators will integrate technology into classrooms and leading after-school coding clubs, with the programme expected to benefit 2,500 students over three years.
“Before, using a computer in class felt intimidating,” said participating teacher Dusengimana David. “Now, not only can I teach with it—I can help my students explore technology meaningfully.”
While the Digital Literacy Training equips teachers to bring technology into everyday lessons, AmaliTech’s Coding for Kids (C4K) programme extends this impact directly to children, nurturing creativity and problem-solving skills for 600 students.
The programme, first launched in Ghana in 2021, introduces students to programming languages like Scratch and HTML/CSS. A recent C4K competition at SOS Kigali highlighted the students’ growing abilities, showcasing interactive projects and creative web pages.
To further its commitment to inclusivity, AmaliTech hosted an intensive Women’s Coding Bootcamp. The five-day programme provided 20 women with foundational skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, preparing them for careers in the tech industry.
Ituze Joella Liza, a participant shared, “I learned from inspiring senior women developers at AmaliTech. It showed me I can build a career in technology.”
The bootcamp is part of AmaliTech’s goal to train more than 200 women in digital skills by the end of 2027, building a stronger pipeline of women into Rwanda’s tech industry.
These initiatives align with AmaliTech’s mission to deliver global technology services while investing in local talent. By training teachers, inspiring children, and empowering women, AmaliTech is building a stronger, tech-enabled Rwanda.
The company invites schools, NGOs, government agencies, and private organizations to collaborate in expanding digital literacy and creating new opportunities across the nation.
AmaliTech is a social business that provides pathways to sustainable careers in the ICT sector for young graduates in sub-Saharan Africa, while delivering high-quality software and digital services to global clients.
With offices in Ghana, Rwanda, Germany, and the U.S., AmaliTech combines training, employment, and continuous learning to build a highly skilled workforce that meets international standards.
Its teams support clients with tailored software development, digital service delivery, and scalable solutions, enabling them to address critical talent gaps and drive innovation.
As a social enterprise, it reinvests surplus into training and community impact projects, expanding access to digital skills for women, persons with disabilities, and youth.
This approach allows AmaliTech not only to provide jobs but also to foster inclusion, create opportunities, and contribute to the growth of thriving digital economies.
AmaliTech is expanding its CSR initiatives in Rwanda by equipping teachers, children and women with digital skills.Teachers trained by AmaliTech are taking on the role of digital ambassadors, helping integrate technology into classrooms across Rwanda.AmaliTech’s digital literacy programme is expected to reach 2,500 students through teachers trained to use technology in classrooms.AmaliTech’s Digital Literacy Training has equipped 23 teachers with technology skills to support digital learning in schools.AmaliTech’s Coding for Kids programme is introducing 600 students to programming while developing creativity and problem-solving skills.AmaliTech is combining teacher training, children’s coding programmes and women’s skills development to expand access to digital opportunities in Rwanda.
The decision was delivered on September 22, 2026, a day after the prosecution and Shema’s defence agreed to a settlement under which he admitted to two charges.
The charges are issuing a dishonoured cheque, provided for under Article 126 of Law No. 060/2021 of October 14, 2021, governing negotiable instruments, and obtaining another person’s property through fraud, provided for under Article 174 of Law No. 68/2018 of August 30, 2018, on offences and penalties in general.
The offences stemmed from Shema issuing two cheques worth a combined $600,000 to settle obligations under a contract between his company, Africa Media Supplier, and ABZL International General Trading LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
In the plea agreement submitted to the court, the prosecution told the court that Shema had already paid the money and requested that he be sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and fined Rwf3 million.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the court approved the agreement and sentenced Shema to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and a Rwf3 million fine.
The court ordered that the terms of the agreement take effect immediately following the reading of the decision, resulting in his release.
The ruling came as Shema’s defence had previously appealed to the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court against a decision concerning his 30-day pre-trial detention.
One of Shema’s lawyers told IGIHE that following his release, they would withdraw the appeal they had filed.
Nyarugenge Primary Court has ordered the release of Fabrice Shema
Fine Fish, a company engaged in fish farming on 90 hectares of Lake Kivu in Rubavu’s bays, is behind the planned investment.
Fine Fish Managing Director Munyangeyo Themistocles said the company plans to establish the plant to meet growing demand for fish feed, which is currently largely sourced from outside the area.
He made the remarks on September 12, 2026, during a meeting of private-sector representatives in Rubavu District.
Munyangeyo said the company is ready to begin the project once basic infrastructure is developed at the approved industrial park.
“The industrial park has already been approved and we are waiting for basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water. We are ready to start the factory project, and we have already ordered machinery worth Rwf3 billion. Together with other equipment and the building, we expect the investment to cost Rwf4 billion,” he said.
He said the plant would make it easier for fish farmers around Lake Kivu to access feed, while infrastructure such as the Kivu Belt Road and ports in Rusizi and Rubavu is expected to facilitate transportation.
The company also plans to establish another branch focused on adding value to fish once the feed plant becomes operational.
Western Province Governor Ntibitura Jean Bosco said the plant would help address challenges faced by fish farmers in the province.
He said fish farmers currently have to source feed from other provinces, including the Southern Province, increasing transportation costs.
“If the factory is completed, it will solve the challenge of accessing fish feed easily, and particularly the problem of having to bring it from other provinces at a high cost,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda’s fish production rose from 43,133 tonnes in 2024 to 52,439 tonnes in 2025.
The country produced 71.6 million fingerlings during the year and targets fish production of 80,620 tonnes by 2035.
The Rwf4 billion fish feed processing plant is expected to be established in Rubavu Industrial Park once basic infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water, is in place.
In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S. relations.
Fans of Chinese video game “Black Myth: Wukong” pose for a photo in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States on July 7, 2026. A theatrical orchestral concert featuring the music from the game was held in Los Angeles on July 7, showcasing the unique fusion of Chinese mythology and Eastern aesthetics. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit “The Dancing Goddess: Mei Lanfang in America”, an exhibition marking the 96th anniversary of the 1930 North American tour of China’s renowned Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang, in New York, the United States, on March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
People attend the North American premiere of the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, the United States, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit the exhibition “World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century” at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California, the United States, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)
Young musicians from Beijing Youth Orchestra of China and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America perform during a joint concert at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
Students of Lincoln High School of the U.S. state of Washington and Beijing National Day School take selfies during the NFL FLAG China-U.S. Youth Flag Football Exchange Event & Lincoln High School 2025 China Tour in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He)American students visit a park during a music and cultural exchange camp between young people of China and the United States in Changzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, July 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Members of the Whiffenpoofs a cappella choir of Yale University sing a song during a cultural exchange event with local youth in Liping County, Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Qiandongnan, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)Teenagers from China and the United States sing during the closing performance of Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival at China National Opera House in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)
A special 50th anniversary concert celebrating the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 1973 visit to China is held in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Nkurunziza, from Mukura Sector in Rutsiro District, said he was forcibly recruited at the age of 14 after growing up in the DRC forests where his parents were FDLR members.
He said children raised within the group were taught that they had to join the armed group to help it eventually return to Rwanda and seize power.
“They told us that Rwanda was the promised land of the Hutu,” Nkurunziza said.
He also said FDLR members were warned against listening to Rwandan radio, with those caught doing so facing death.
“They used to tell us that Rwanda was the promised land of the Hutu, and that if they caught you listening to Rwandan radio, they would kill you so that you would not know the truth,” he said.
Despite the warnings, Nkurunziza secretly listened to Rwandan radio, which made him question what he had been told and eventually encouraged him to escape.
He said his experience after returning to Rwanda was different from the stories he had heard while in the FDLR.
“When I arrived in Rwanda, I was received well, contrary to the lies we had been told during the 13 years I spent with the FDLR,” he said.
Another former member, Uwimana (not real name), 20, said she was taken into the group at the age of 12 alongside four other girls.
“They would keep us locked inside their houses so that we could not escape,” she said, adding that they were subjected to sexual violence and forced to carry weapons during combat operations.
Uwimana said she remained in the group until she was 20 and eventually escaped with one of her children.
“I became tired of that life and decided to escape. I escaped with one child, but I still have hope that I will find the others,” she said.
RDRC figures show that 12,832 former combatants have passed through the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre since its establishment in 2001.
Uwimana, 20, recounts how she was taken into the FDLR at the age of 12 and subjected to years of abuse before eventually escaping with one of her children.Sgt Nkurunziza Evariste recounts how he was forcibly recruited into the FDLR at the age of 14 and spent 13 years with the armed group.
Dr. Nsengiyumva made the remarks on September 21 while addressing the Global Africa Business Initiative’s high-level event, Unstoppable Africa 2026, in New York, as leaders and business executives gathered alongside the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Artificial intelligence is often described as Africa’s great opportunity. That is true. But in most of our countries, it is being used at a small fraction of its potential,” he said.
He said Africa should focus on building, adapting and deploying AI at scale while ensuring that the value generated by the technology remains on the continent.
Dr. Nsengiyumva highlighted Rwanda’s investments in digital infrastructure, including a national fibre-optic backbone, broad 4G coverage and ongoing 5G pilots. He said the country has also digitised more than 250 government services and established a national digital payment platform.
Rwanda adopted a National AI Policy in 2023 and has a data protection law supported by a dedicated Data Protection Office. Nsengiyumva also noted that Rwanda’s Cabinet approved the establishment of a National AI Agency in June to drive strategy, research, development and adoption of AI.
He said Rwanda’s approach is based on connectivity, digital services and trusted rules, while identifying affordable computing capacity and energy as major constraints.
On AI sovereignty, Nsengiyumva said it should not mean self-sufficiency, noting that Rwanda welcomes global companies and partnerships. Instead, he said, attention should be given to where decisions are made and where value is recorded.
He also stressed the importance of developing African talent, saying Rwanda is investing in AI engineers through institutions including Carnegie Mellon University Africa and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
“We are not asking to be included in someone else’s AI economy. We are building our own, safely, equitably, and responsive to our own needs and opportunities,” he said.
Dr. Nsengiyumva is in New York representing President Paul Kagame during UNGA 81, where he is scheduled to deliver Rwanda’s national statement on September 23. The General Debate runs from September 22 to 28.
Premier Nsengiyumva has highlighted Rwanda’s push for African AI sovereignty
During the visit, participants were briefed on how Irembo has made it easier for citizens to access public services while also helping the government deliver services more efficiently.
More than 300 participants from different countries attended the forum, which focused on ways to improve service delivery across Africa and ensure that citizens have a better experience when accessing public services.
The participants were shown some of the services available on Irembo, as well as the ‘Byikorere’ initiative, which allows Rwandans to apply for services directly through their mobile phones without having to visit Irembo agents.
They were also briefed on the role of Digital Ambassadors deployed across the country to help citizens understand how Irembo works and assist them in using technology to apply for and access public services.
Samuel Afotoye from Ghana, one of the forum participants, described Irembo as a good example of how technology can simplify access to public services.
He said Ghana also has digital platforms through which people can access services, but they are not consolidated in one place as they are on Irembo.
“We do not have services brought together in a one-stop centre like Irembo. Each service is usually handled by the institution responsible for it,” he said. Afotoye said bringing services together on one platform makes it easier for people to access them without having to move from one institution to another.
Sibusiso Nyasulu from Malawi said platforms such as Irembo can also help reduce corruption in public service delivery.
“Standing in queues to get a stamp slows down the quality of service. Because the world we live in is moving very fast, it is important for countries to consider putting in place digital infrastructure that can speed up service delivery,” he said.
Nyasulu, however, noted that limited access to digital devices such as mobile phones and internet connectivity in many African countries remains one of the challenges to expanding digital public services.
As part of their programme in Rwanda, the forum participants also visited Rwanda Mountain Tea factory in the Masoro Industrial Zone, where they observed its operations and measures put in place to improve service delivery and the quality of its products.
They also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, where they paid tribute and laid flowers at the graves of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Africa CX Leaders Forum participants explore how Irembo is transforming public service deliveryAfrica CX Leaders Forum participants toured Rwanda Mountain Tea factory in the Masoro Industrial Zone to learn about its operations and quality measures.Africa CX Leaders Forum participants explored Irembo’s digital platform and its role in making public services faster and easier to access.Africa CX Leaders Forum participants also paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi during a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
