She presented the copies to Adrián Martín Couce, Director-General for Protocol at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
The ceremony held on Friday, precedes the formal presentation of her Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI of Spain, which is expected to take place in the coming days.
Ambassador Nkulikiyinka was appointed to the position on 10th June 2026.
This marks the first time in Rwanda’s history that the country has established an embassy in the Kingdom of Spain, further strengthening the strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and this European country.
Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka has presented copies of her Letters of Credence to Adrián Martín Couce, Director-General for Protocol at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
According to the 2026 GBS.World Buy-Side Demand Survey, 80% of global businesses are piloting generative AI initiatives, 61% are testing autonomous AI workflows within back-office operations, and 63% now require formal AI governance frameworks. Hybrid human-AI workforces are rapidly becoming the operational standard across global business services (GBS).
As enterprises accelerate their adoption of AI, cloud technologies and intelligent automation, the conversation is shifting beyond technology itself to focus on people.
Increasingly, competitive advantage will depend on the ability to access workforces that are digitally skilled, adaptable and capable of working confidently with, and alongside, AI.
Against this backdrop, Rwanda is implementing one of Africa’s most coordinated long-term digital workforce strategies. Through sustained investment in education, digital infrastructure, AI, industry partnerships and workforce development, the country is building the capabilities required to compete in the next generation of knowledge-based global services.
Over the past decade, Rwanda has embedded digital transformation at the centre of its national development agenda. National initiatives including the ICT Strategy, the National Artificial Intelligence Agency, National Artificial Intelligence Policy and the 1 Million Coders Programme are helping prepare a future-ready workforce, while broader ambitions to develop approximately 1.5 million digitally skilled citizens by 2029 demonstrate the country’s long-term commitment to digital competitiveness.
Rwanda’s digital talent strategy extends well beyond coding. Universities such as Carnegie Mellon University Africa, the University of Rwanda, the African Leadership University (ALU) and Kepler College, together with more than 110 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, coding academies and innovation hubs, are contributing to an expanding ecosystem that now supports approximately 345,000 ICT learners.
This coordinated approach is strengthening the country’s pipeline of AI-ready, cloud-enabled and digitally skilled professionals equipped for modern global service delivery.
This investment is already translating into employment and delivery capability. Rwanda’s GBS sector supported 4,705 jobs in Q2 2026, with 79.2% serving international markets. More than a quarter of the workforce (or 1,238 people) is employed in IT Outsourcing, including software development roles, alongside growing capabilities in data and analytics, testing and quality assurance, IT support, cybersecurity, cloud computing and AI engineering.
“Artificial intelligence is changing far more than technology; it is changing the capabilities businesses expect from their people. Rwanda recognised this shift early and has invested deliberately in building a workforce that can thrive alongside AI, automation and digital technologies.
“Our ambition is not simply to develop technical talent, but to create a globally competitive digital workforce that supports the future of global business services,” says Chantal Kayonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda GBS Growth Initiative.
International operators are already seeing the benefits of this investment. Rwanda’s growing technology and GBS ecosystem includes companies delivering software development, IT and technical support, data and analytics, cloud-enabled services, cybersecurity and other knowledge-intensive digital services to regional and global clients.
As these capabilities deepen, Rwanda has an opportunity to expand beyond traditional business process services and strengthen its position as an emerging regional technology and innovation hub.
“Our experience has shown that Rwanda’s greatest strength is not simply the availability of talent, but the quality of its people and their willingness to learn, adapt and embrace new technologies.
“As AI continues to reshape our industry, having access to a workforce that is developing alongside these technologies creates a significant competitive advantage,” says Aileen Allkins, CEO, TeKnowledge.
A second industry perspective reinforces this trend.
“ Rwanda has created an ecosystem where education, industry and government are working towards a common objective.
“That collaborative approach has enabled us to build capability, scale operations and develop highly skilled digital professionals who are supporting clients across international markets,” Yannick Kabayiza, CEO, Awesomity Lab, noted.
This connection between policy, skills development and employer demand is central to Rwanda’s approach.
National digital priorities, universities, TVETs and specialist training providers are increasingly being aligned with the changing skills requirements of technology employers, creating pathways from education into employment while supporting continuous reskilling as technologies evolve.
According to the Rwanda GBS Growth Initiative, the country’s long-term investment in digital skills, innovation and workforce development is increasingly aligning with the priorities of multinational businesses seeking resilient, future-ready global delivery locations.
As AI continues to transform global business services, Rwanda is positioning itself as an emerging African destination for higher-value, technology-enabled delivery.
By combining a young, bilingual workforce with strong digital infrastructure, progressive national policies and a demand-led skills ecosystem, the country is building capabilities across software development, cloud, cybersecurity, data, AI and other knowledge-intensive services that will increasingly shape the future of global delivery.
The Rwanda GBS Growth Initiative (GBS GI) is the national industry body with a mandate to promote and grow Rwanda’s Global Business Services sector.
Working closely with the Rwanda Development Board, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and industry stakeholders, the GBS GI supports investment promotion, talent development, ecosystem collaboration and market intelligence to position Rwanda as one of Africa’s leading destinations for global business services.
1 Million Coders Programme is helping prepare a future-ready workforce
Gasamagera was selected by the Forum of Political Organisations legally operating in Rwanda to replace Donatille Mukabalisa, who died in July 2026.
Niyonshuti was elected to represent the youth, replacing Venuste Icyitegetse, who resigned from the position in June 2026 for personal reasons.
President Kagame said the swearing-in ceremony was important because it comes with responsibilities to serve the country, reminding the two officials that their work goes beyond matters of legislation.
“Members of Parliament oversee many things, including matters related to government activities, and their work also extends to other institutions. To fulfil these responsibilities properly, they need knowledge, understanding and the right conduct. It is not only about making laws,” he said.
Kagame told the lawmakers that Rwanda’s culture requires leaders to go beyond merely complying with laws, particularly when addressing problems that need to be resolved so that citizens do not continue carrying burdens that could be addressed.
“Problems that can be resolved should be removed from people’s way, difficult ones should continually be addressed through collaboration,” he said.
The President said resources are often available to enable leaders to address challenges facing the country, but where they are insufficient, leaders should start with what can be done while seeking additional resources to address what cannot immediately be handled.
He said the swearing-in of Gasamagera and Niyonshuti should also serve as a reminder to others currently holding public responsibilities, as well as those who will take up such responsibilities in the future, to carry out their duties properly.
Gasamagera holds a PhD from Monarch Business School in Switzerland and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Université du Québec in Canada.
Between 1997 and 2001, he served as Prefect of the former Kigali Ngari Prefecture.
He has held various positions, including Rwanda’s Ambassador to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, Senator from 2003 to 2011, and Director General of the Rwanda Management Institute (RMI).
Gasamagera served as Secretary General of the RPF-Inkotanyi from 2023 until December 2025.
President Kagame presides over swearing-in of Senator Gasamagera, MP NiyonshutiSenator Gasamagera Wellars and MP Niyonshuti take oath of office
Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva told Parliament on October 2, 2026 that changing weather conditions and a livestock disease outbreak had contributed to a decline in milk production, particularly over the past two months.
He said the outbreak had been brought under control, allowing livestock markets to reopen, while prices of livestock products such as meat had started to decline. “We also expect milk to become available again because the rains have started,” Dr. Nsengiyumva said.
Milk shortages have been reported on the market for some time. In early September, an inspection of nine shops in Gishushu, Nyarutarama and Gisimenti found that only one had milk in stock. Inyange Industries had also attributed the decline in milk supplies to a prolonged dry spell that significantly reduced milk production.
Farmers in different parts of the country also reported that a lack of water and pasture had reduced milk production.
A farmer in Nyagatare said the amount of milk he sold each day had fallen from nearly 100 litres to less than 20 litres. Another farmer in Gicumbi said a cow that previously produced 10 litres of milk was producing about two litres.
Earlier last month, IGIHE visited Nyabugogo and found that the price of a carton of Inyange milk had reached Rwf19,000 in some places. Traders who were asked about the price said their purchase costs had increased.
One trader, who requested anonymity, said they normally sold a carton to customers for Rwf8,500, but prices had changed because of higher prices charged by their suppliers.
A survey of different markets in Kigali also found that Inyange milk was being sold at significantly higher prices in some ordinary shops, although it was still available at Rwf8,500 in some supermarkets.
The government expects milk shortages that have affected the market in recent months to ease after an outbreak that had affected livestock was brought under control.
Jean De Dieu Habimana, Senior Officer for Cancer Diseases at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, said breast and cervical cancers are among the most common cancers affecting women in the country.
He was speaking at the launch of activities marking Pink October, a month dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 700,000 women die from breast cancer globally each year.
The Pink October activities were launched in Kicukiro District, where RBC, in partnership with the High Commission of Nigeria in Rwanda, also officially launched Labscroll Medicals, a Nigerian medical laboratory company that will provide diagnostic services, including cancer screening.
The event coincided with October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, which marks the country’s independence from British rule in 1960.
Labscroll Medicals has brought advanced laboratory equipment to Rwanda that will be used to screen for different types of cancer.
Habimana said early detection is one of the key measures that can increase the chances of successfully treating and managing cancer.
He said about 600 men in Rwanda are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, accounting for approximately one in four cancer cases among men.
“We should not look at these figures as mere statistics. They include mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers,” he said.
Habimana said Rwanda is continuing to strengthen efforts to reduce cancer-related deaths by bringing screening services closer to communities and encouraging people to undergo regular screening.
He said countries with well-established screening programmes and greater awareness of the importance of early detection have recorded better survival rates, with about eight out of 10 women diagnosed with cancer surviving when the disease is detected early.
Ibrahim Zanna, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Rwanda, said cancer is among the diseases causing growing concern globally and remains a particularly serious challenge in Africa.
He said late diagnosis among African patients is one of the factors contributing to low cancer survival rates on the continent.
“Together, we should work to overcome misconceptions about cancer screening. We need to overcome the fear and stigma that prevent many people from seeking screening,” Zanna said.
He noted that some people avoid cancer screening because they associate a positive diagnosis with imminent death.
Health professionals, however, emphasise that knowing whether one has cancer early is an important step towards accessing treatment and reducing the risk of dying from the disease.
Dr Paul Ogbole Peter, Managing Director of Labscroll Medicals, said the company aims to screen 200 women for breast and cervical cancer and 200 men for prostate cancer in Rwanda during the month.
About one million people globally were diagnosed with cancer in 2026, highlighting the need for stronger efforts to address the disease.
Peter called for greater investment in cancer prevention and control across Africa, saying the response requires the involvement of different stakeholders.
“These deaths are linked to limited awareness, inadequate screening programmes and delays in caring for people diagnosed with cancer. Other factors include consuming food crops treated with pesticides and processed foods that do not meet required quality standards,” he said.
Peter said Labscroll Medicals decided to establish operations in Rwanda after being impressed by efforts by the country’s health sector to improve healthcare services.
The company has brought its laboratory facilities to Rwanda to provide screening for various types of cancer.
Early detection is one of the key measures that can increase the chances of successfully treating and managing cancer.
The achievements were highlighted on September 30, 2026, during the official closing of the three-year project, which was implemented in Rubavu, Musanze, Gatsibo and Huye districts.
The closing event brought together officials from line ministries, vice mayors in charge of social affairs from the four districts, representatives of the private sector, development partners and beneficiaries.
The project was implemented by UPHLS in partnership with the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD) and Dutch organisation See You Foundation, with funding from the European Union (EU).
It aimed to strengthen the capacity of people with disabilities to engage in advocacy, equip young people with disabilities with vocational skills to improve their competitiveness in the labour market, and increase access to sexual and reproductive health information among women and girls with disabilities.
Beneficiaries from different districts said the project had helped them build confidence, recognise their abilities and contribute to the development of themselves, their families and the country.
They said the skills and knowledge acquired had helped them pursue income-generating activities, compete in the labour market and make informed decisions about their health.
MUB Project Manager Munezero Marie Médiatrice said one of the major challenges faced by people with disabilities was limited access to inclusive sexual and reproductive health information, alongside difficulties in accessing employment.
To address these challenges, MUB worked with health facilities, vocational training schools and other partners to train service providers on how to receive and serve people with disabilities in an inclusive manner, including through the use of sign language.
“We worked with health facilities to assess whether people with disabilities could access services in a way that was convenient for them. We first looked at the information they had and the challenges they faced, with the aim of jointly finding solutions,” Munezero said.
She said the project also sought to reach women and girls with disabilities and train some of them to become peer educators who could help others access sexual and reproductive health information.
UPHLS Executive Secretary Karangwa François Xavier said the priority after the three-year project was to sustain and expand the achievements to other districts.
“This meeting is aimed at discussing the achievements of the project on all fronts, particularly from the perspective of the people it was designed to serve. We are also thinking about how to sustain what has been achieved, build on it and extend it to other districts that we were unable to reach,” he said.
See You Foundation representative Niska Stoker thanked the people with disabilities who participated in the training for their commitment and encouraged them to put the knowledge they acquired to use.
“I have appreciated your commitment to the professions you are now pursuing, and I wish you success as you put the knowledge you have gained into practice, use your abilities, improve your lives and demonstrate change,” she said.
Project data shows that 37 percent of the people with disabilities reached by the project had secured jobs, mainly in private companies or through self-employment, while 7 percent remained unemployed.
People with different disabilities have attended the event to highlight some of the challenges they continue to face.MUB Project Manager Munezero Marie Médiatrice has highlighted that the project aimed to train people with disabilities on sexual and reproductive health.UPHLS Executive Secretary Karangwa François Xavier has said the organisation will explore ways to extend the project to other districts.See You Foundation representative in Rwanda, Niska Stoker, has thanked partners involved in the project for their commitment and dedication.Vincent Murenzi, who was involved in the project, has said the project has left 93% of its beneficiaries employed.
Ingabire and nine others are on trial at the High Court in Kigali in a case that began on September 18, 2026. The prosecution has presented audio recordings and other evidence which it says demonstrate plans to overthrow the Government.
Two recordings from May 2020 featured conversations between Ingabire and Ntamuhanga. One concerned alleged military training in Burundi, while another discussed a possible demonstration at a major roundabout in Kigali.
In the recording played on September 21, Ntamuhanga is heard discussing what he called “Tura Tugabane” insinuating ‘take over of something by force’.
Ingabire asks whether there was capacity to develop a plan to overthrow the Government. The prosecution interpreted some coded expressions used by Ntamuhanga, including references to “heavy scales” and calabashes, as referring to heavy weapons and grenades.
The prosecution also said Ntamuhanga’s reference to “men at the feet of Africa” referred to people based in South Africa, including Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Prosecutors further alleged that the two discussed training fighters in Mutaga, Burundi, and that Ingabire asked Ntamuhanga to contact a person identified as Placide to develop the matter further.
However, appearing before court on October 1, Ingabire challenged the recording and said the conversation did not constitute an agreement.
“Regarding that audio about Burundi and Mutaga, nowhere did I tell Cassien that I agreed with what he was telling me. Let them examine whether those coded expressions were mine or Cassien’s. I told Cassien that I was not available,” she said.
Ingabire said Ntamuhanga had called her and that they discussed the issues, but denied agreeing to his proposals. She said referring him to Placide, who lives in Belgium, was intended to distance herself from the alleged plan.
She also said she spoke to Ntamuhanga despite his having fled Rwanda because, as a politician, she needed to understand the positions and activities of different people.
“As a politician, you need to know all the information. Where do you stand? How do you stand? What are others thinking? What are they doing?” she said.
The presiding judge asked whether Ntamuhanga was a politician, and Ingabire said he belonged to a political party called RANP Abaryankuna.
Kigali demonstration
A second recording played on September 22 featured a discussion about a possible demonstration in Kigali.
Ntamuhanga said they had three experienced motorcycle taxi operators who could participate. Ingabire suggested recruiting others from Nyabugogo, Remera, Muhima and Nyamirambo, reaching 50 riders.
She is heard discussing a vehicle fitted with a loudspeaker that would reach a major roundabout, appear to break down and then play a song by the late singer Kizito Mihigo. She also described roads being blocked as people gathered around the vehicle.
Ntamuhanga responded that the plan would require caution and suggested using a sealed cargo vehicle with a generator.
Ingabire told court on October 1 that the discussion was actually about the possible impact of Covid-19 on governments and had been prompted by a report published in France.
She said the conversation involved discussing how weaknesses in government could be exposed during the pandemic, including issues surrounding food distribution.
Ingabire maintained that the conversation ended without an agreement to implement the ideas discussed.
“What happened was that we had a discussion based on that report. Nowhere did we conclude by saying, ‘We are going to do this,’ for the prosecution to use it to say that Ingabire and Cassien agreed to establish a criminal organisation,” she said.
She added that the prosecution could have relied on the conversations differently if Ntamuhanga had been a member of her political party, DALFA Umurinzi.
The court recently listened to recordings of conversations between Cassien Ntamuhanga and Ingabire Victoire.Ingabire Victoire said she did not reach any agreement with Cassien Ntamuhanga on the issues discussed in either of the two recordings.
A total of 5,096 homes were constructed or rehabilitated under the project. Of these, 3,522 were newly built, while 1,574 were renovated.
The project began in Ngororero and Nyabihu districts in Western Province.
The disasters occurred during the night of May 2-3, 2023, affecting the Northern, Western and Southern provinces.
They claimed 135 lives, while more than 2,100 houses were partially damaged and another 2,763 were completely destroyed.
Rubavu District was among the hardest-hit areas, with 1,564 houses affected, including 855 that were completely destroyed.
Among the homes rehabilitated or constructed, Rubavu accounts for 461 renovated homes and 870 newly built ones.
Rutsiro has 381 renovated homes and 435 newly built homes, while Nyabihu has 288 renovated homes and 710 newly built homes.
Karongi District has 171 renovated homes and 399 newly built ones, while Ngororero has 241 renovated homes and 255 newly built homes. Burera has 32 renovated homes and 579 newly built homes.
Muhanga has 141 newly constructed homes, while Musanze has 115. Overall, the project resulted in 5,096 homes being made available to families, accommodating 25,480 people.
Minister in Charge of Emergency Management, Gen Maj (Rtd) Albert Murasira, said the homes were built in fulfilment of a commitment made by President Paul Kagame to residents of Rubavu who were affected by disasters caused by River Sebeya.
“Rubavu was among the areas severely affected by the disasters. The Head of State visited the area at the time and promised residents that they would be given new homes. That is the project we implemented, and today we are completing it and officially beginning the process of handing over the homes. The residents have already moved in, and we are also checking that the houses were properly constructed,” Maj Gen (Rtd) Murasira said.
He said the government had a responsibility to support residents affected by disasters and that the houses were built to withstand future disasters.
“The residents faced difficulties, and the country had to come to their aid. That is why they were given strong houses that can withstand disasters. This is a beginning, not an end. They should work to improve their lives. Since the disaster occurred, we had been renting houses for them,” he said.
Residents who were relocated from areas where their lives had been at risk expressed relief after receiving the new homes.
Tuyishime Valentine from Ngororero District said she had been living in a dangerous area in a house that was in poor condition.
“I lived in a dangerous area, in a leaking house. I was left there alone after my husband abandoned me, and I felt that I would die there. My house eventually had to be demolished and I was forcibly removed from it. They rented a house for me until today, when I have been given a good house that does not leak,” she said.
Iribagiza Fatuma Olive said she had never imagined living in such a house.
“I had never dreamed of living in a house like this. The house we were removed from had already collapsed on us, but fortunately no one died. They rented a house for us for two and a half years until the houses they were building for us were completed and they moved us in. The children now sleep peacefully because we are no longer living in a dangerous area,” she said.
Ngororero was among the districts where the handover of homes to families affected by disasters began. A total of 255 families received newly built homes, while 241 families had their houses rehabilitated, and all have now moved into them.
Residents have received newly built, disaster-resilient homes.Residents of Nyabihu expressed joy after receiving new homes.Minister in Charge of Emergency Management Gen Maj (Rtd) Albert Murasira delivers a message from the President to residents affected by disasters in Ngororero.Residents are provided with lightning protection systems to protect their homes.
The ships, jet fighters, Marines and sailors will arrive in the region by the end of November, the report cited U.S. officials as saying.
Two carriers — the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington — are already in the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt left its home port of San Diego on Sunday for a scheduled deployment.
If the Washington stays after the Roosevelt arrives, it will bring the region to three carrier strike groups for the first time since April, the report noted.
Also on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said at the White House that Iran “won’t exist any longer” unless it signs “a very fair deal,” renewing his threats amid stalled negotiations.
In a Time magazine interview published on the same day, Trump said that it’s “possible” that he will ramp up bombing against Iran after the midterm elections. He dismissed a report on munition shortages as “fake news.”
Reports indicate that The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt left its home port of San Diego on Sunday for a scheduled deployment.
The announcement was made on September 30, 2026, during a ceremony in Kigali at which 137 secondary school teachers were awarded the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) after successfully completing a one-year professional training programme.
The programme, known as the Continuous Professional Development–Graduate Diploma in Education (CPD-GDE), was developed and implemented by the University of Rwanda–College of Education (UR-CE), in collaboration with REB, under the Rwanda Quality Basic Education for Human Capital Development (RQBEHCD) Project, financed by the World Bank.
The 137 teachers held A1 qualifications in non-education subjects before joining the programme. Through the CPD-GDE programme, which comprises 180 academic credits, they acquired pedagogical knowledge, skills and competencies required for effective teaching and learning.
The certification ceremony marked a step in efforts to strengthen teacher professionalism and improve the quality of basic education in Rwanda.
Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, Director General of REB, said strengthening teachers’ knowledge and professional skills is essential to improving the quality of education.
He said the demands of 21st-century education require teachers to continuously develop their capacity and adapt to new approaches and technologies.
“Teachers who have studied education know how to follow up on all the children they teach, ensuring that no child is left behind. We are now also in a technological era where audio is used together with visual materials. There is a part of the brain that helps children retain information when they learn through images and other visual materials,” Dr. Mbarushimana said.
He said professionally trained teachers are expected to play a greater role in improving the quality of education, while additional professional development programmes can further strengthen the skills they have acquired.
Dr. Mbarushimana said the certification of the 137 teachers represents an important step towards ensuring that Rwanda’s teaching workforce has received formal training in education.
“We no longer have teachers who have not studied education. We have also trained all those who were teaching in primary schools without having studied education, and we will soon award them education qualifications.
“Going forward, we are only recruiting people who have studied education. Those who remained are the ones who have now received these qualifications, and we hope they will contribute to improving the quality of education,” he said.
Prof. Florien Nsanganwimana, Principal of the University of Rwanda–College of Education (UR-CE), said the college has played a significant role in providing professional training to teachers who were already working in the education sector.
He said that since 2019, UR-CE has trained more than 3,200 secondary school teachers in Mathematics and Science, as well as more than 25,000 primary school teachers in various subjects, alongside other categories of teachers.
However, the training of teachers in education is not considered the end of efforts to strengthen professionalism and improve the quality of teaching.
UR-CE and REB say teachers will continue to undertake additional short-term training and professional development programmes in areas including artificial intelligence, technology, languages and other emerging areas.
According to Ministry of Education figures for the 2024/25 academic year, Rwanda had 122,828 teachers working in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, an increase of 9,280 compared with the 2023/24 academic year.
Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, Director General of the Rwanda Education Board (REB), has highlighted the importance of strengthening teachers’ professional skills to improve the quality of education.The certification ceremony has brought together 137 secondary school teachers who have completed the CPD-GDE programme and received Professional Diplomas in Education.
