Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Ishiba acknowledged the disappointing results and expressed a strong sense of responsibility.
“What is most important right now is to avoid causing stagnation in national politics,” he said, vowing efforts to fulfill the responsibilities as the leading party.
His remarks came amid growing public dissatisfaction over rising living costs and policy missteps, which analysts say contributed to the poor performance of the ruling bloc.
According to the final vote count completed in the early hours of Monday, the LDP secured only 39 seats of the 125 contested seats in the upper house election, while Komeito took eight, below their combined target of 50.
Even with their existing non-contested seats of 75, they now held fewer than the 125 seats needed for a majority in the 248-member upper chamber.
Despite the setback, Ishiba emphasized the need for stability and continuity in government, and formally declared his intention to continue serving as prime minister.
Her installation ceremony was held in Kigali on the evening of July 18, 2025.
Mukanyange succeeds Aimable Rumongi, who led the club during the previous year. Reflecting on his term, Rumongi highlighted key accomplishments, particularly the club’s support to two primary schools in the Masaka and Kimihurura sectors. These schools received water harvesting systems and filtration equipment to improve access to clean water.
Additionally, the club extended financial support to women’s groups in Rugando, Kimihurura Sector, and offered assistance to teenage mothers in Gicumbi District.
In her remarks, the new President Mukanyange stressed the importance of collaboration with other Rotary Clubs both in Rwanda and internationally. She affirmed her intention to continue existing projects while initiating new ones to address pressing community needs.
“We are guided by our national vision to empower citizens and help them break free from poverty,” she said. “Our goal is to promote sustainable change. We’re currently supporting teenage mothers through vocational training programs, covering tuition and providing tools. We also help those who wish to return to school. This initiative has primarily been based in the Byumba Catholic Diocese, but we plan to expand it nationwide through partnerships.”
Mukanyange also announced that the fight against child stunting will be a key focus during her tenure.
“We aim to contribute to the country’s efforts to eliminate stunting by working closely with Gasabo District. Together, we will identify existing programs and determine how we can best support them,” she added.
The handover ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including guest of honor Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Governance (ASG) university. Although not a Rotary member, Prof. Moghalu praised the club’s structured and impactful work around the globe.
“I’m not a member of Rotary Club,” he said, “but I deeply admire how Rotary brings together a strong network of men and women doing meaningful work worldwide. That’s why I married a woman who’s in Rotary!”
Other notable guests included Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, and Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa.
Rotary Club Kigali Seniors is one of 12 Rotary Clubs operating in Rwanda. The club has been active for the past four years.
According to a statement from the army, the first operation took place on July 15 in coordination with air forces from the Alliance of Sahel States, resulting in the elimination of around 40 terrorists in the Anderamboukan area in the north.
The second operation, conducted two days later, led to the destruction of a terrorist logistics and training base in the Niono area in central Mali, and the death of about 30 terrorists, the statement added.
Mali has been facing a multifaceted crisis since 2012, marked by separatist rebellions, jihadist incursions and intercommunal violence that have claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The young royal, then a student at a military college in the British capital, was critically injured in the crash, sustaining severe brain haemorrhaging. He never regained full consciousness.
After initial treatment in the UK, he was transferred to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained under continuous medical care.
Despite recommendations from medical professionals in 2015 to withdraw life support, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, steadfastly refused, maintaining hope that his son would one day recover.
“Life and death are in God’s hands,” the elder prince often remarked during the long years of uncertainty.
A brief flicker of hope emerged in 2020 when a video circulated on social media showed Prince Al-Waleed moving his fingers and lifting his hand in response to a voice. The moment gave renewed strength to those who had followed his story closely, though no significant recovery followed.
Prince Al-Waleed’s death was announced on social media by his father, prompting a wave of condolences across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The hashtag #TheSleepingPrince quickly trended on X, as thousands paid tribute to his life and the steadfast devotion of his family.
Born on April 18, 1990, Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal and the nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. He was also a great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.
Funeral prayers for the prince are scheduled for Sunday. The men’s prayer was to be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh following the Asr prayer, while the women’s service was planned after Dhuhr prayer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
In a recent interview on Top Congo FM, Muyaya stated that the withdrawal of the M23 rebels would be carried out in the same spirit as the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), established under the Washington Peace Agreement of June 27, 2025, on dismantling the FDLR militia group.
However, in a post on X, Minister Nduhungirehe termed Muyaya’s remarks as a “blatant disinformation” aimed at misleading the Congolese public.
Nduhungirehe clarified that the JSCM is a strictly bilateral mechanism between Rwanda and the DRC, responsible only for neutralising the genocidal FDLR group and overseeing the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive security measures along the border with the DRC.
According to the minister, the AFC/M23 rebel group is not covered by the mechanism, neither in its wording nor in its spirit.
Unlike the JSCM’s mandate, which focuses on the “neutralisation” of a cross-border security threat and the lifting of related defensive measures, Nduhungirehe said the issue of the M23 will be resolved through political dialogue.
The dialogue aims to “address the root causes of the conflict” and find an “effective resolution,” which would logically follow the restoration of state authority.
“These points are clearly stated in the Doha Declaration of Principles,” he added.
The Doha Declaration was signed on Saturday in Qatar between representatives of the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebels, marking a significant step towards ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
The agreement is part of ongoing peace efforts facilitated by the State of Qatar, with support from the United States, the African Union, and regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Following the June 27 Washington agreement between Rwanda and the DRC, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Doha signing as “a significant step forward towards the peaceful resolution” of the conflict in eastern DRC. The ministry praised Qatar’s mediation role and called for continued support to conclude the peace process.
Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable peace and economic development in the Great Lakes region, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict to restore security and stability.
It is “not possible to equate” the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with “outlawed rebel armed groups,” read a statement by the ministry, urging the EU to adopt a more balanced approach that takes into account Sudan’s unique national circumstances.
On Friday, the EU adopted sanctions against two individuals and two entities affiliated with the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including asset freezes, prohibition of the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, and travel bans.
Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a joint statement to formally reject the WHO’s 2024 International Health Regulations Amendments.
The statement accused the amendments of being “vague and broad” in terminology, claiming that U.S. agencies “put Americans first in all our actions” and “will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans’ speech, privacy or personal liberties.”
The pact, which was adopted in Geneva in June 2024, aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic occurs.
The event took place on the evening of Friday, July 18, 2025, in Kayonza District. It was attended by customers representing others from the districts of Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, and others who came from Gatsibo District.
Xavier Shema Mugisha, Executive Director Commercial Businesses at BPR Bank Rwanda, expressed delight at joining the customers of the Eastern Province to celebrate the achievements of the 50 years since BPR Bank Rwanda was founded, especially as they were celebrating in the place where the bank originated. He assured customers that the bank will continue to get closer to them and support their development.
Eulade Bayingana thanked BPR Rwanda for helping him progress from working at a car wash to buying a car, all with the support of this bank.
Rehema Uwamahoro expressed gratitude to BPR Bank Rwanda for giving her the courage to take out a loan and improve her life.
“It encouraged me, gave me courage to take a loan. Now I have reached this point, whereas before I used to be afraid and stay behind at home. But they encouraged me to take a loan and improve myself,” she said.
Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza, Head of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in the Eastern Province, thanked BPR Bank Rwanda for taking the time to celebrate with their customers.
He pledged cooperation on many projects where businesspeople need funding and encouraged the bank to get even closer to them and collaborate more.
John Bosco Nyemazi, the Mayor of Kayonza District, said that the fact that this bank started in their district means a lot both for the district and for BPR Bank Rwanda.
He said, “It is an honor to have the unique distinction that the history of this bank began in our district. Now we are pleased that they are coming back to the source to renovate where it all started along with many other great planned projects.”
Patience Mutesi, the CEO of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, thanked BPR Bank customers in the Eastern Province.
She said that currently, they have the capacity to provide a customer with up to 40 billion Rwandan Francs.
“Kayonza District is historic for BPR Bank Rwanda because it is where our bank started. We remember and cherish this, which is why we are here to thank you for being with us. Today, we are a major investment institution in the East African Community [EAC], and we are here to help you develop. We have many excellent services that can assist everyone who comes to us, both those requiring collateral and those who do not,” she noted.
BPR Bank Rwanda was founded on August 4, 1975, in Nkamba village, Ruramira sector, Kayonza District as a cooperative. It later became Banque Populaire du Rwanda, which merged with KCB Bank Rwanda Plc to become BPR Bank Rwanda Plc.
This new loan complements the initial Frw 20 billion agreement signed between BRD and Umwalimu SACCO in early 2023, bringing the total amount injected into the program to Rwf 50 billion. Initially, the program aimed to benefit approximately 1,900 teachers, but due to high demand, over 5,000 teachers have already received housing loans under “Gira Iwawe.”
Gaspard Hakizimana, Chairperson of Umwalimu SACCO’s Board of Directors, emphasized that the additional Rwf 30 billion will significantly improve teachers’ ability to access home loans.
“This loan will continue to boost the Gira Iwawe initiative and enable more of our members to secure permanent housing without struggle,” Hakizimana said.
He expressed deep appreciation to BRD for increasing the loan amount, noting the positive impact of the previous funding and the responsible use of the initial Frw 20 billion.
“We are pleased with the strong partnership with BRD, which allows us to continue providing Gira Iwawe loans to our members. It is a major step in improving the well-being of Rwandan teachers,” he noted.
Umwalimu SACCO now counts over 160,000 members, with around 5,000 new members joining in 2024 alone, all serving in various capacities within Rwanda’s education sector.
The members of Umwalimu SACCO who attended the meeting discussed the future of the cooperative.
The Chairman of the Board of Umwalimu SACCO, Gaspard Hakizimana, stated that the 30 billion Rwandan Franc loan granted by BRD will continue to help members acquire homes.
The declaration was signed on Saturday, Juny 19 in Doha, Qatar, under the facilitation of the Qatari government, with backing from the United States.
The Rwandan government lauded the agreement as a significant development in advancing regional peace and security, noting that it builds upon recent momentum, including the Peace Agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC in Washington last month.
“Today’s declaration in Doha is a significant step forward towards the peaceful resolution of conflict in eastern DRC, by addressing the root causes of the conflict and restoring security and stability in our region,” read a statement released by the Government of Rwanda.
Rwanda also acknowledged the pivotal role played by Qatar in mediating the discussions, alongside support from the U.S. government. The efforts were commended as a continuation of Africa-led peace initiatives, including those by the African Union (AU) and the joint efforts of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“The Government of Rwanda appreciates the crucial mediation role of the State of Qatar with the support of the United States Government, which builds on the efforts of the African Union, as well as the joint EAC/SADC initiatives,” the statement added.
Rwanda reiterated its commitment to supporting the peace process and contributing to long-term stability and prosperity in the Great Lakes region.
“We all have to support the continuation of progress to the conclusion,” the government urged, reaffirming its dedication to sustainable peace and regional economic development.
The DRC was represented by President Félix Tshisekedi’s envoy, Sumbu Sita Mambu, while AFC/M23 was represented by its Executive Secretary, Benjamin Mbonimpa. Both parties signed the principles in Qatar on July 19, 2025.
Key elements include a mutual agreement to a permanent ceasefire and refraining from seizing new territory, preparation for the release of detainees on both sides, facilitation of voluntary refugee repatriation, and the protection of civilians.
Both parties also agreed that restoring state authority across all regions of the country would help address the conflict through a peace agreement, and thus committed to discussing mechanisms to make this possible.
The DRC Government and AFC/M23 pledged to begin implementing these principles immediately upon their announcement on July 19, or within 10 days of signing.
They also agreed to launch comprehensive negotiations within 10 days of beginning implementation of the principles. These talks will be aligned with the peace agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC in Washington on June 27, 2025.
Finally, both sides agreed that talks leading to a concrete peace agreement should be treated as a priority and carried out in a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding, with the final agreement to be signed within a minimum of seven days and no later than ten days after talks begin.
