The ministry said Russian troops “remained at previously occupied lines and positions” while Ukrainian troops “attempted to attack the positions of Russian troops” in the Donetsk region overnight.
It added that Ukrainian forces had fired at Russian positions 444 times and counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 26 Russian assault actions have taken place from 00:00 (2100 GMT on Saturday) to noon (0900 GMT), accusing Russia of violating its self-declared ceasefire.
Putin said the truce starts from 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and lasts until midnight on Sunday into Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday). Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine will respond in kind to the ceasefire.
The students, who come from various parts of the country including Kigali, Gicumbi, and Kamonyi, earned these competitive scholarships through ALX’s eight-month Pathway initiative. The package includes full tuition, accommodation, meals, a brand-new laptop, and a monthly stipend.
ALX Pathway is a rigorous program designed to prepare high school graduates with essential skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, mathematics, and career planning, equipping them to thrive in globally competitive academic environments.
The eight selected students expressed readiness to take on the challenge and represent both their families and Rwanda with pride.
“I’m the first in my family to attend university. I still can’t believe it. It feels like a dream. I never imagined this could happen to me,” said Kevin Ikuzwe, one of the recipients.
Pacifique Tumusifu, who is set to study Software Engineering, shared, “When I joined the Pathway program, I told myself I’d take whatever knowledge I could, even if I didn’t get a scholarship. Getting this opportunity is truly an answered prayer. I knew university would be a heavy burden for my parents, and I had no way to ease it.”
For their families, these scholarships come as a huge relief. One parent, who has been unemployed for two years, said, “I was starting to lose hope, but now my daughter is going to an international university. I am so thankful to the ALX Pathway team for making this possible and covering all her needs, even providing her with a monthly allowance.”
Sylvie Umutoni Rutaganira, another recipient who will study International Business, described her weekly commute from Gicumbi to the ALX Hub in Nyarutarama for classes. “If I hadn’t stayed committed to attending every week, I wouldn’t have received this chance to study abroad,” she said.
These students will pursue studies in fields such as Software Engineering and International Business, all sharing a common goal; to become valuable contributors to Rwanda’s development through the knowledge they gain.
Nimie Chaylone, Country Director of ALX Rwanda, highlighted the significance of the program: “For many, attending a world-class university felt like an impossible dream. But through ALX Pathway, and partnerships with institutions like Code University in Berlin, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt, we’re opening new doors for Rwandan students.”
She added that some partner universities offer scholarships worth more than $320,000 over four years, and that the Pathway program will continue to expand its impact.
Applications for the next ALX Pathway cohort are currently open, with the deadline set for April 21, 2025.
Interested students can apply via the ALX Africa website or call 0796 163 394 for more information.
{{About ALX Rwanda}}
ALX Rwanda is a non-governmental organization focused on developing tech talent and cultivating future leaders. It offers fully funded training programs in fields like Data Analytics, Data Science, Cloud Computing, Salesforce Administration, Software Engineering (front-end and back-end), AI Career Essentials, and more.
These courses are free thanks to support from the Mastercard Foundation, offering African youth the opportunity to gain in-demand digital skills that improve their chances of employment. To be eligible, applicants must be African nationals aged 18 or above and have strong English language skills.
Watch the video here:
[Scholarship Announcement Video->https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eFy61Xhh0VT-_LpCqPXsXIgLrKlTbi8_/view]
Among those whose lives were cut short during the darkest chapters of Rwanda’s history was the country’s last queen, Rosalie Gicanda.
Queen Gicanda was killed on a day like today, April 20, 1994, just weeks into the Genocide. She was the widow of King Mutara III Rudahigwa, one of Rwanda’s most prominent historical figures. Those who knew her remember a woman of remarkable humility and moral strength, who lived with quiet dignity even as the monarchy she represented was dismantled.
Born in Rwamagana in 1928, Rosalie Gicanda married King Mutara III in January 1942. After his death in July 1959, she continued to live in Rwanda, even as political change swept the country.
In 1961, amid the shift to a republic, President Grégoire Kayibanda expelled her from the royal palace in Nyanza in an effort to erase traces of the monarchy. She then settled in Butare, now Huye District, where she remained out of the public eye for over three decades.
Despite her quiet life under both the First and Second Republics, Queen Gicanda was consistently denied the honour and protection that her status warranted. A devout Catholic, she lived modestly with her elderly mother and a few companions who assisted with household chores.
When the Genocide began, Queen Gicanda sought protection from Butare Prefect Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, a man known for resisting the massacres. But following Habyarimana’s arrest and assassination on April 17, fear spread rapidly through her household. She turned to Ngoma’s mayor, Joseph Kanyabashi, for help—but he declined.
On April 20, soldiers led by Lieutenant Pierre Bizimana stormed her residence under orders from Captain Ildephonse Nizeyimana, who was then Head of Intelligence and Operations at the ESO military school.
They abducted Queen Gicanda and six other women, taking them to a site behind the former National Museum of Rwanda, where they were executed. Her 80-year-old mother and a young caretaker, initially left behind, were also killed shortly after. A local priest intervened to ensure she was buried with dignity, and Mayor Kanyabashi later dispatched prisoners to carry out the burial near her home.
Queen Gicanda’s legacy is not only remembered through history books but also through personal testimonies, including one from President Paul Kagame. In 2017, he shared in an interview with Jeune Afrique how the queen had once helped save his life.
In 1961, during attacks on Tambwe Hill, where his family lived, a letter from Queen Gicanda arrived inviting them to seek refuge in Nyanza. They escaped just before attackers reached their home, later fleeing to Mutara and eventually into exile in Uganda.
President Kagame also revealed in a 2024 interview that he returned to Rwanda in secret during his years in exile to visit the queen in Butare.
This year’s commemoration takes on renewed significance following the arrest of Brigadier General Jean Baptiste Gakwerere, one of Queen Gicanda’s alleged killers. Gakwerere, once Secretary-General of the FDLR militia group, was recently handed over to Rwanda by the M23 rebel group after being captured during fighting around Goma.
At the time of the Genocide, he was a lieutenant at ESO/Butare and a close associate of Captain Nizeyimana. He reportedly led a notorious unit known as the “New Formula” soldiers, responsible for many of the massacres in Butare, including the killing of Queen Gicanda and Prefect Habyarimana.
Three decades on, Queen Rosalie Gicanda remains a potent symbol of grace, resilience, and national tragedy. Her life and death continue to remind Rwandans of the human cost of hate, and the enduring need to uphold dignity, memory, and justice.
The solemn event took place in Mwima, Nyanza District, where Queen Gicanda is buried.
The event was preceded by a memorial Mass held in remembrance of Rwanda’s last queen, bringing together her family, friends, and officials from various institutions. The group, led by Minister Bizimana, later proceeded to Mwima Hill, where they laid wreaths at her final resting place and offered prayers in her honour.
Queen Rosalie Gicanda, the widow of King Mutara III Rudahigwa, was tragically killed on April 20, 1994, just weeks into the Genocide. Revered for her humility and quiet dignity, she remains a powerful symbol of resilience and national identity. Her killing marked one of the many painful losses Rwanda endured during the Genocide.
This year’s commemoration is part of the broader 100-day national mourning period honouring more than one million lives lost in 1994.
In a letter dated April 17, 2025, to the President of the House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp outlined a strategic realignment of the Netherlands’ global diplomatic footprint. The move, which aims to trim the mission network’s budget by 10% (equivalent to €70 million), comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and a broader government effort to cut costs.
Under the plan, the embassies in Burundi, Cuba (Havana), South Sudan (Juba), Libya (Tripoli), and Myanmar (Yangon) will be closed, along with consulates-general in Antwerp (Belgium) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The closure of these seven missions is expected to save €25 million.
Minister Veldkamp said the decision was driven by a need for a “realistic foreign policy” that balances values, economic interests, and national resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.
“Far-reaching changes are under way around the world,” he noted, citing the rise of new power blocs, the assertiveness of China, the resurgence of Russian influence, and the evolving foreign policy orientation of African states.
The closure of the Dutch embassy in Bujumbura is particularly significant, given the Netherlands’ longstanding development cooperation with Burundi. While the letter acknowledges the political and development ties in the Great Lakes region, it notes that the country’s relative geopolitical weight and the scope for diplomatic influence were key considerations in the decision to close the mission.
Security and high operational costs were also factored into the closures of embassies in places like Juba and Tripoli. In these locations, mitigating security risks has become increasingly expensive and complex.
Despite the closures, the Netherlands intends to maintain its diplomatic presence through alternative structures. In Brazil, for instance, the Dutch network includes the embassy in Brasília and two Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSOs), allowing for continued engagement even after the closure of the consulate-general in Rio de Janeiro. In Belgium, the proximity of the principal mission in Brussels will compensate for the Antwerp consulate’s closure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that all closures will be carefully managed to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities. Other Dutch embassies will assume co-accreditation for countries affected by the closures to maintain consular services and diplomatic relations.
Minister Veldkamp also hinted at the possibility of opening new missions in other parts of the world, including Syria, depending on future geopolitical developments. Details on additional closures and potential expansions are expected to be included in the ministry’s 2026 draft budget.
The complexity of preparing essays, securing recommendations, managing multiple deadlines, and understanding financial aid options can leave even the most capable students uncertain of how to move forward.
Recognizing these challenges, ALX Rwanda introduced the ALX Pathway Program, an eight-month initiative that aims to bring clarity, strategy, and support to students applying for universities around the world.
Rather than relying on motivational slogans or vague guidance, the program takes a structured, skills-based approach to helping learners make informed and realistic decisions about their educational futures.
A key feature of the program is the way it redefines how students think about university selection. This helps students create university shortlists that reflect both their aspirations and practical needs.
In one of the early sessions, known as the University application power hour, students are encouraged to move beyond name-brand institutions and consider factors like academic fit, affordability, campus environment, and post-graduation opportunities.
To support this process, ALX Pathway trains learners in digital tools such as google sheets to track and compare universities. Instead of passively absorbing advice, students collect and analyze their own data, from tuition costs to faculty profiles and student reviews.
This creates a clearer picture of where they are most likely to succeed. The program’s methodology transforms what is often a chaotic and emotional decision into one grounded in research and critical thinking.
The timeline of the Pathway program mirrors the stages of a real application process. Participants begin by researching schools and narrowing their choices. Over time, they move into standardized test preparation, drafting and revising essays, gathering recommendation letters, and preparing for interviews.
This step-by-step approach eliminates last-minute stress and teaches students how to manage large, long-term tasks, skills that will serve them well in university and beyond.
Beyond tools and timelines, the program also emphasizes collaboration. Weekly sessions allow learners to work through common application components together. Office hours provide one-on-one guidance, and a community learning model ensures that students regularly exchange feedback and insight.
For many, it’s the first time they’ve had structured peer support in the context of education planning.
Cedric, one of the Pathway Program coordinators, says the goal is to maintain consistent communication and guidance throughout the process.
“We know this journey can be long and difficult, especially for students navigating it for the first time. That’s why we provide regular updates, toolkits, and reminders, and we make ourselves available for support based on each learner’s individual needs,” he said.
Many participants report that by the end of the program, their understanding of higher education has expanded significantly. Some students shared that they initially applied with only two high-profile schools in mind, but now have a list of five universities.
Importantly, the ALX Pathway model doesn’t promise guaranteed admission or shortcut success. What it offers is a way to navigate a difficult process with discipline, support, and strategy.
In regions where systemic obstacles have historically limited access to quality education, this kind of structured preparation can have a transformative effect.
With the May cohort now open for applications, the program continues to attract learners from across Rwanda who are seeking more than just scholarships, they are looking for a practical route through the confusion of international admissions.
For students ready to apply or parents looking for a reliable support system for their children’s higher education journey, the ALX Pathway Program is accepting applications until April 21, 2025.
Interested individuals can visit [alxafrica.com/join-pathway->https://www.alxafrica.com/join-pathway/] or call 0796 163 394 for more information.
In a statement dated Friday, April 18, the Ministry of Justice announced that it had instructed both the Auditor General of the Armed Forces (FARDC) and the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to initiate criminal proceedings against Kabila.
The ministry accuses Kabila of playing a direct role in the ongoing insurgency by the AFC/M23, which has, in recent months, resulted in the capture of strategic areas in eastern Congo, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
“In addition, the seizure of all the former Congolese Head of State’s movable and immovable assets has been ordered,” the statement reads.
Additionally, the Ministry of Justice has imposed movement restrictions on what it describes as Kabila’s “collaborators involved in this case of high treason against the Nation.”
The latest development follows Kabila’s recent visit to rebel-controlled Goma after his return to the DRC. The rebels seized the city in January, citing poor governance, ethnic cleansing, and the persecution of minority Kinyarwanda-speaking communities.
Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, had been living in exile in South Africa and Zimbabwe. His return came after he pledged to help address what he described as “serious security issues and challenges in all other sectors of national life.”
Kabila remains an influential figure in Congolese politics, with a loyal base of supporters across the country.
Recently, his wife, Olive Lembe, claimed she is being targeted by the country’s security agencies, following reports that security forces had raided the former president’s residence.
“It is persecution that we are suffering at the hands of the security services and this regime,” Lembe said in an interview with local media on Thursday, April 17.
“They are persecuting us and deliberately damaging the image of our activities.”
Addressing students and faculty of the Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC), Intake 13, at RDF Headquarters in Kimihurura on Saturday, April 19, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe emphasised that Rwanda’s national security continues to depend on the RDF’s enduring spirit of readiness and resilience.
“During his remarks, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe emphasised the significance of the study tour, noting that it had provided students with vital insights and information for their research,” RDF said.
“He underscored that Rwanda’s national security relies on the RDF’s readiness, an enduring quality that defined RPA soldiers during the Liberation War. He urged students to preserve and uphold that legacy in the face of foreign interference and emerging threats.”
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe made the remarks during a closing session of a five-day RPA Liberation War Study Tour.
The tour, which is part of the Military History Module, offered participants an immersive examination of key battles, strategic decisions, and operational challenges faced by RPA forces during the 1990–1994 war.
Participants visited historic sites and engaged in analytical sessions designed to draw tactical and strategic lessons from the Liberation War. Discussions centred on the early stages of the war, which began on October 1, 1990, in Kagitumba and traced major turning points throughout the campaign.
Students also interacted with RDF generals and senior officers, who shared firsthand accounts of planning, execution, and setbacks encountered during major operations. The discussions offered opportunities for critical engagement, allowing students to ask questions, clarify issues, and gain a deeper understanding of the planning and execution of key military operations.
The Senior Command and Staff Course is designed to prepare mid-level officers for higher command and strategic responsibilities within the RDF and beyond.
In a speech shared by the state-owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday, Museveni said Uganda already has alternative markets for its exports.
“Trump has put a tax, what shall we do? You have Africa, work on Africa,” Museveni said, emphasizing the continent’s vast geographic size and large population.
“In the next 30 years, the population of Africa will be the biggest in the world. It will be one quarter of the human race,” the president said.
Earlier, Odrek Rwabwogo, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, told local media that Uganda is already diversifying its export destinations, with promising prospects in Europe and Asia.
Britain has shown strong demand in the grain and coffee sectors, Rwabwogo said, adding that with Uganda Airlines set to launch flights to the European country this or next month, there are hopes of expanding market access for Ugandan products — not only coffee but also grains and bananas, which are already being exported there.
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, total goods trade between the United States and Uganda reached 238.9 million U.S. dollars in 2024, with Uganda exporting 132.6 million dollars worth of goods to the United States and importing 106.3 million dollars.
The truce will start from 6:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and last until midnight on Sunday into Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday).
“I have ordered a complete cessation of hostilities during this period,” Putin was quoted by the Kremlin’s Telegram account as saying at a meeting with Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Putin also noted that Russia hopes Ukraine will follow suit and cease hostilities during the period.
“Our armed forces must remain on high alert to repel possible ceasefire violations, provocations and any aggressive actions by the enemy,” the Russian president added.
