Under the revised entry policy, first hinted at by the government in January and now fully in effect, travellers from eligible countries are no longer required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), complete visa forms, or pay any fees.
The exemption allows them to enter the country without prior authorisation and stay for up to 60 days. Nationals of East African Community (EAC) member states like Rwanda will continue to enjoy longer stays of up to six months, as provided for under regional free movement agreements.
A cabinet dispatch issued in January noted that while the broader goal is to facilitate travel across the continent, exceptions had to be made due to prevailing security risks in the two affected countries.
“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and promote tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant exemptions from e-visas to all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, for security reasons,” the statement read in part.
Kenya introduced its eTA system in January 2024 as a replacement for traditional visas. Although intended to simplify travel, the system attracted criticism for imposing what many saw as hidden fees and bureaucratic steps on travellers from previously visa-exempt countries.
The backlash was reflected in Kenya’s sharp drop in the Africa Visa Openness Index, falling 17 places to rank 46th out of 54 countries.
To address the concerns, the government promised further reforms, including a new passenger information system to streamline entry procedures and strengthen border security.
Authorities also plan to fast-track eTA approvals for travellers still subject to the system, with processing times expected to be reduced to 72 hours or less.
The high-level summit will convene under the theme “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace” and is expected to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the Catholic Church in Africa.
Held every three years, the SECAM Plenary Assembly is the most significant gathering of African Catholic leaders, bringing together Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from all 54 African countries and island nations.
The Kigali meeting will host approximately 250 delegates, as well as dignitaries and partners from other continents, making it a truly continental and global ecclesial event.
The Assembly, which coincides with the Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church, will be presided over by His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM.
Building on the work of the 19th Assembly held in Accra in 2022, the Kigali summit will focus on strengthening synodality, theological depth, institutional autonomy, and regional collaboration within the Church in Africa.
{{Setting a vision for the next 25 years
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A central outcome of the Kigali Assembly will be the adoption of a strategic vision document for 2025–2050, titled “The Vision of the Church–Family of God in Africa and its Islands.”
The document is the result of extensive consultations led by SECAM’s Standing Committee and Secretariat since 2022. It lays out a roadmap for the Church’s pastoral mission, institutional development, and engagement with the continent’s evolving realities.
The vision is anchored in twelve foundational pillars. These include evangelisation through Catholic education and theological formation, the development of a self-reliant Church, promoting family-based leadership models, and advancing missionary discipleship and synodality. It also emphasises strengthening care for creation, increasing youth engagement, and driving ecclesial renewal.
Other pillars focus on promoting justice, peace, and integral human development; fostering ecumenism and interfaith dialogue; expanding digital evangelisation efforts; improving health and well-being for all; enhancing liturgical life in African contexts; and deepening the Church’s role in political and civic life.
{{Addressing cultural and social realities
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One of the more complex topics to be discussed is the pastoral accompaniment of Catholics in polygamous unions. Recognising this as a deep cultural reality in many parts of the continent, SECAM has invited theologians to study the issue from both theological and pastoral perspectives. A pastoral document on this topic will be presented during the Assembly.
Other key presentations include a theological reflection on the Assembly’s theme, departmental and regional Church reports, and group working sessions. The event will also feature liturgical celebrations and conclude with a final message addressed to both the Church and the wider society.
{{Engaging Africa’s broader challenges
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In addition to its ecclesial focus, the Assembly will confront several pressing social, political, and economic issues affecting Africa today. These include governance and public leadership, human rights and social justice, poverty and debt, environmental sustainability, interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, and the protection and safeguarding of young people.
Through this historic gathering, SECAM aims to reaffirm the Church’s mission of being a prophetic voice in society and a source of hope, reconciliation, and peace for Africa and its people.
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) of the Catholic Church was officially established on July 29, 1969, during the first-ever papal visit to Africa by Pope St. Paul VI. The Pope also presided over the closing ceremony of the inaugural SECAM meeting on July 31, 1969.
The continental body was born out of the desire of African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) to establish a unified voice on matters concerning the Church in Africa and Madagascar. July 29 is now observed as SECAM Day by the Catholic Church across the continent.
Dr. Ngabitsinze’s appointment, made during the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP14) in April 2025, ARC’s highest decision-making body, also grants him the title of United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, underscoring the strategic importance of his new role at both continental and global levels.
In its official statement, ARC described his appointment as the dawn of a “new era” for the Group, highlighting his expertise and leadership credentials.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze on board as he steps into his new role as ARC’s Group Director General,” the organization stated.
“As an applied economist and seasoned policymaker with a background in agricultural economics, he brings a wealth of experience that will help elevate the ARC Group to new heights,” the statement adds.
ARC further emphasized his proven leadership in government, deep understanding of Africa’s development challenges, and strong commitment to sustainable development, qualities it believes will be instrumental in driving the institution’s future direction.
Dr. Ngabitsinze has held multiple senior positions in Rwanda, including serving as Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, and as a Member of Parliament, where he chaired the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a body responsible for overseeing the effective use of public funds.
Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas said she was “really sad” the sanctions didn’t get approved, adding that “the ball is in Slovakia’s court.”
The European Commission unveiled its 18th sanctions package last month, targeting Russia’s energy sector, banking operations, and defense industry. Among the proposed measures is a ban on financial transactions involving Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipelines.
Slovakia, which relies heavily on Russian gas, objected to the proposed package, citing fears of supply disruptions and rising energy costs linked to a separate EU proposal to phase out Russian gas imports by early 2028.
On the topic of military support for Ukraine, Kallas said the EU would like to see the United States “share the burden” of supplying arms.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a plan for European allies to purchase billions of dollars’ worth of American military equipment for transfer to Ukraine.
“If you promise to give the weapons, but say that somebody else is going to pay for it, it is not really given by you,” Kallas said, referring to Trump’s proposal.
The statement did not offer further details, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the airstrike.
This came as the Israeli military issued a new statement warning residents of several areas in Gaza City and in Jabalia, northern Gaza, to evacuate immediately to the western areas and then to the southern areas towards Al-Mawasi amid escalating military operations.
On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza. At least 7,656 Palestinians have been killed and 27,314 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 58,479, and injuries to 139,355, Gaza-based health authorities said Tuesday.
Constructed on a site measuring over 7,000 square meters, the factory specializes in manufacturing high-quality wooden products using pinewood.
According to the company’s management, the processed pinewood is a viable and often superior alternative to many imported wood products.
Theophile Ndoreyaho, the Managing Director of MT Woodtec Solutions, emphasized the plant’s potential to reduce reliance on imports.
“We manufacture furniture from pinewood, which offers unique quality and can replace many products previously sourced from abroad. Our main limitation has been the lack of modern equipment, which we have now addressed,” he noted.
The plant employs 20 full-time staff and 10 part-time workers, with the capacity to produce up to 200 beds or 200 doors per month. The company’s primary market is Kigali City, though its reach is expected to grow.
The product range includes beds, living room furniture, and doors, which are in high demand by institutions and individual clients alike.
The plant is the result of a joint investment between Theophile Ndoreyaho, a native of Karongi District, and Prof. Dr. Mathias Schaefer from Germany.
Karongi District Mayor, Gerard Muzungu, noted that the plant also offers opportunities for hands-on training and employment to graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools.
“This facility provides a platform for vocational graduates to gain practical skills, and some have already been employed here. It’s an important step toward boosting local development and contributing to the national economy,” he stated.
The Minister of Public Service and Labour, Christine Nkulikiyinka, urged Rwandan entrepreneurs to be proactive in attracting international investors.
“If Ndoreyaho was able to convince a German investor to commit $1 million, it’s an example others should follow. Rwanda is a promising country for investment.”
Construction of the plant is valued at $500,000, with machinery and equipment making up the remaining $500,000, totaling an investment of $1 million.
The motion was passed with 299 votes in favor, above a required minimum of 226, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said in a post on Telegram.
The government-run Ukrinform news agency said one of the reasons for this decision is “the asymmetric conditions,” given that Russia is not a party to the convention, adding that the suspension would last until the complete cessation of the conflict.
Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to withdraw the country from the treaty.
Buhari, who served as Nigerian president from 2015 to 2023, died Sunday in a clinic in London where he had been receiving medical treatment. He was aged 82.
The late former president’s body, draped in the national colors, arrived in Katsina from London on Tuesday afternoon. His body was lowered into the grave at 5:50 p.m. local time, preceded by a military parade and a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.
The atmosphere in Daura was a mix of sorrow and reverence as thousands paid their last respects to a leader who significantly shaped Nigeria’s contemporary history. Security was exceptionally tight, with a heavy presence of military and police personnel ensuring a smooth and dignified proceeding.
President Bola Tinubu, who had earlier declared a seven-day national mourning period with flags flown at half-mast, attended the final rites of passage of his predecessor. Dignitaries, including serving and past West African leaders, family members, and a mammoth crowd of mourners, witnessed the burial rites.
Earlier, in his eulogy, Tinubu described Buhari as a “patriotic statesman” whose contributions to national unity and development would forever be etched in the annals of Nigerian history. “He served our nation with dedication and an unyielding spirit,” the president said, emphasizing Buhari’s legacy of discipline and service.
Born on Dec. 17, 1942, Buhari had a distinguished career in both the military and civilian governance. He spent years in political activism before successfully contesting the presidency in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president in Nigeria’s history. He was re-elected in 2019 and handed over power to Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
During his two terms as president, Buhari’s administration focused on three key areas: security, anti-corruption, and economic diversification. He launched significant campaigns against the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and worked to recover looted public funds.
His tenure also saw efforts to boost agriculture and infrastructure development, though it was marked by economic challenges.
In May 2025, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) imposed a three-month suspension on the monthly prayer gatherings held at Kwa Yezu Nyirimpuhwe, citing the sanctuary’s failure to meet certain regulatory standards.
RGB instructed the Kabgayi Diocese to implement specific measures before activities could resume. These included ensuring freedom of worship for all attendees, creating adequate parking facilities, establishing separate routes for pedestrians and vehicles, and providing quiet spaces where vulnerable individuals could participate in prayers undisturbed.
To comply with these requirements, the management of the sanctuary has launched comprehensive renovation works aimed at upgrading the facilities and improving safety for the large crowds who visit the site.
Father Dominique Ngendahayo Tumaine, Acting Director of the Kwa Yezu Nyirimpuhwe Sanctuary, has told IGIHE that the renovations officially started on July 7, 2025.
“Visitors deserve freedom of movement, with clear pathways for people and designated areas for vehicles,” Father Tumaine explained. “A new road is being constructed from the main tarmac road, passing beneath the shrine and connecting to a parking area being developed on diocesan land.
This infrastructure is expected to significantly enhance security and order.”
In addition, four large digital screens are set to be installed at various points around the sanctuary, enabling worshippers to follow services even from a distance. These will especially benefit vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and others who may find it difficult to access the main prayer grounds.
“One giant screen will be inside Ruhango Parish Church, another at the main entrance visible to people outside, a third in the parking area, and a fourth will be placed wherever else it might be required,” Father Tumaine noted.
Security measures will also include installing surveillance cameras to monitor all activities within the sanctuary premises.
Addressing concerns about the possible purchase of land from residents living near the Peace Plain, Father Tumaine clarified that for now, land acquisitions have been paused since the current available space is sufficient for implementing RGB’s recommendations. However, he indicated that additional land may be acquired in the future for further expansion of the site.
Prayer gatherings at the sanctuary in 1991. Today, the sanctuary is an important religious tourism destination, attracting pilgrims from across Rwanda and internationally. The site regularly hosts crowds exceeding 100,000 worshippers on the first Sunday of each month.
Resolution 2785 extends the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti for six and a half months, until January 31, 2026. It expresses the council’s intention to consider the UN secretary-general’s February 2025 recommendations on options for the possible role of the United Nations in Haiti, notably regarding the establishment of a UN support office to provide logistical and operational support to the multinational police force in Haiti.
Resolution 2786 extends for six and a half months the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until January 28, 2026.
The resolution expresses the council’s intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA’s mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise as may be required by developments on the ground, including a durable nationwide ceasefire.
It requests UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present to the Security Council a further review of UNMHA before November 28, 2025.
