Ngororano has over 20 years of experience in sustainable development in leadership roles across the UN system and prior to this in the private sector.
Most recently, he served as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Kenya. Prior to that, he served as UNDP Resident Representative to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Before his role in Mauritania, Ngororano served as Chief of the Executive Board Branch in the Office of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York and he held several posts in UN Women including Country Representative in Haiti and Chief of the Africa Section in New York.
He served as the Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Rwanda with the rank of Permanent Secretary and prior to that he held diverse positions with UNDP including Country Adviser in the Regional Bureau for Africa in New York, and in a range of policy, planning and programme roles in Nigeria, Zambia, and Rwanda.
Ngororano also worked as an investment banker with Citigroup N.A in Kenya and Tanzania after starting his career as an economist in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Uganda.
He holds Master’s degrees in Development Economics and International Relations from the University of East Anglia and the University of Sussex respectively.
Ngororano also holds an MA (Honours) degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Ethel succeeds Etienne Saada, who has led the company with distinction over the past three years.
Ethel Emma-Uche joins BRALIRWA from IBECOR SA/NV in Belgium where she has been the Managing Director since 2022.
During her leadership, Ethel enhanced the organization and processes towards greater customer focus, supporting the company to excel in their market while ensuring good governance and shaping the future through business expansion, people development, and further digitization.
Prior to joining IBECOR, Ethel served as the Supply Chain Director at BRALIMA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where she played a pivotal role in the turnaround of the business, spearheaded the comprehensive transformation of BRALIMA’s supply chain, revamped the supply chain training school, localized key positions, increased the presence of women in the supply chain and achieved notable results in talent development, safety culture and compliance.
Ethel previously worked at Nigerian Breweries Plc for over twelve years where she held several positions in supply chain and became a trailblazer for the HEINEKEN Africa Region.
Commenting on her new role, Ethel said: “I am thrilled to join Bralirwa and build on the strong foundation established by Etienne Saada. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team to continue our journey of innovation and excellence, and to contribute to the company’s ongoing success.”
Her predecessor, Etienne Saada has been the Managing Director of Bralirwa Plc since 2022.
During his 3-year tenure, he led the company to achieve sustained performance and several milestones in business growth and expansion which enhanced market dominance with strong brands, transformational leadership, process digitization and operational excellence including silver certification of the Kigali Soft Drinks plant as well as the Africa safety award from The Coca-Cola Company.
His career with the HEINEKEN Group, spans over 30 years where he continues to take on notable roles in HEINEKEN’s various operating companies.
The response came through a statement from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation following Canada’s decision to impose restrictions on Rwanda over its alleged role in the ongoing crisis.
“Rwanda takes note of the statement by Global Affairs Canada on the situation in eastern DRC and finds the defamatory attribution to Rwanda of alleged atrocities unacceptable. We will be seeking clarification on this from the Canadian government,” the ministry stated.
The Canadian government had in a statement on Monday, March 3, accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebel group operating in the eastern DRC and violating the territorial integrity of the DRC.
In response, Rwanda criticised Canada for what it described as a biased approach that emboldens Kinshasa while disregarding atrocities committed by the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies.
“Canada cannot claim to welcome the efforts of regional actors in the peace process when it places the blame for all kinds of violations on Rwanda and fails to hold the DRC Government accountable. This emboldens it to escalate attacks against its own civilians, including the ongoing daily bombing and attacks on Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu by FARDC, FDLR, and Wazalendo. Canada’s silence on these grave human rights violations is wrong and shameful,” the statement continued.
Rwanda maintained that measures Canada took, including review of existing engagements, would not contribute to resolving the conflict.
“The measures against Rwanda announced by Canada will not solve the conflict. Rwanda will continue to work with the region on the agreed African-led mediation process while we safeguard our national security,” the ministry emphasised.
The diplomatic spat adds to the growing tensions over the prolonged instability in eastern DRC, with regional and international actors divided over the root causes and solutions to the crisis.
Rwanda has consistently denied allegations of supporting M23 and insists that any lasting solution must address, among others, the presence of armed groups in the region, including the FDLR, which it considers a security threat.
The Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) are struggling to contain the advance of the M23 rebels, pointing out the significant issues within the army, including corruption, poor pay, and a lack of equipment. These factors have led to desertions and crimes against civilians.
The rebel’s advanced weaponry captured from the government forces have created a severe imbalance on the battlefield, leaving Congolese soldiers under equipped, demoralized and prompting trials from the military courts of their own government.
Previous trials in Musienene and Bukavu have brought attention to the dysfunction within the army. Over 300 soldiers faced charges for crimes such as theft, rape, and murder, allegedly committed as they fled from the rebels.
Many soldiers denied the charges, stating they were separated from their units during fighting. The trials resulted in severe penalties, including death sentences for over 260 soldiers.
The M23 rebels, have made substantial gains since late December, escalating the conflict to its highest level in over a decade.
Critics argue that Tshisekedi’s reliance on regional forces and mercenaries has made matters worse. Despite increasing military spending, soldiers are still underpaid and under equipped, contributing to low morale.
As the conflict continues, the indiscipline within the army fuels clashes, particularly in cities like Uvira near the Burundian border. These clashes have led to many casualties, leaving residents anxious.
The government has announced operations to track down soldiers accused of committing atrocities, but the root problems remains unresolved. The future of the FARDC and the region’s stability depend on addressing these deep issues to restore peace and order in the DRC.
“Our troops have entered Mahagi town, and we are in control,” Defense and Military Affairs spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told AFP Sunday.
The deployment was requested by the Congolese army following alleged massacres of civilians carried out by a militia known as the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), he said, without providing further details.
Mahagi is in Ituri province, which borders Uganda, where at least 51 people were killed on February 10, 2025 by armed men affiliated with CODECO, according to humanitarian and local sources.
CODECO claims it defends the interests of the Lendu community, mainly composed of farmers, against the Hema community, who are mainly herders.
Uganda already has thousands of troops in other parts of Ituri under an agreement with the Congolese government. Last month, Uganda announced its troops had “taken control” of the provincial capital, Bunia.
Ituri is just north of the provinces of North and South Kivu, which at the end of January fell under the control of the anti-government M23 armed group.
Katz outlined the plan during a tour of the Jordan Valley, stating in a video message that the 425-km barrier will stretch from the southern part of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, through the occupied West Bank, to the Samar sands, north of Eilat, in the south of the country.
The project, expected to be completed within three years, aims “to prevent weapons smuggling and terrorism, and strengthen settlements,” Katz said.
He also announced plans to establish new military outposts along the barrier’s route to “reinforce our hold on the area.”
According to Katz, weapons smuggled from Jordan to the West Bank have been used in attacks against Israelis.
Israel has long considered a new fence along the Jordanian border. In November 2024, the Defense Ministry began detailed engineering plans following a September attack at the Allenby Bridge Crossing that killed three Israelis and a Jordanian assailant.
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces continued operations, killing dozens and causing widespread destruction over the past weeks. Meanwhile, talks appear to have stalled on the second phase of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Held at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center in Spain and hosted by the GSMA, the four-day event carries the theme “Converge, Connect, Create,” emphasizing the integration of mobile technologies with AI-driven innovations.
Mats Granryd, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA)’s director general, highlighted the swift global adoption of 5G, which has now surpassed 2 billion connections, making it the fastest-growing mobile generation in history.
He urged for the removal of barriers to further growth, calling for an acceleration in 5G’s development.
In conjunction with the event, the GSMA released the Mobile Economy Report 2025, which found that mobile technologies and services contributed 5.8% to global GDP in 2024, equating to $6.5 trillion.
The report projects this figure to rise to $11 trillion by 2030, driven largely by the growth of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI.
MWC 2025 has attracted over 2,800 exhibitors and 1,200 speakers, with expectations of more than 100,000 attendees.
Among the many exhibitors are over 300 Chinese companies, including industry giants such as China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE, and Xiaomi, all showcasing their latest innovations in mobile technology.
The call to action was made on Monday, marking World Wildlife Day.
Edith Kabesiime, wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection, highlighted that Africa’s iconic wildlife is under immense pressure from human activities, climate change, exploitative policies, and chronic underfunding of conservation efforts.
“Every year, thousands of animals are poached, trafficked, and kept in cruel conditions,” Kabesiime stated in Nairobi, urging stronger protections for wildlife in their natural habitats, rather than exploiting them for sport hunting or social prestige.
The campaigners also emphasized the critical need for adequate funding to sustain wildlife conservation efforts in Africa.
This year’s World Wildlife Day theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” stressed the importance of securing financial resources for long-term conservation.
The call for action includes halting the expansion of captive farming for commercial purposes, promoting ethical tourism, and strengthening wildlife protection laws.
World Animal Protection advocates for a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and communities and called for a stronger commitment to ending the exploitation of wild animals.
The United Nations established World Wildlife Day in 2013 to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife in human survival and the urgent need to protect these species.
This was a key focus of discussions at the Africa Health International Conference Agenda (AHAIC 2025), currently taking place in Rwanda.
The conference has brought together over 1,400 participants from 56 countries worldwide.
Among the attendees are 51 delegates from the United States, 40 from South Africa, 20 from India, 29 from the United Kingdom, 309 from Kenya, 160 from Rwanda, 74 from Ethiopia, 42 from Nigeria, and 50 from Uganda, among others.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, emphasized the urgent need for African countries to build resilient healthcare systems by prioritizing investments in the sector.
“We are in a critical phase where financing for global health in general is being affected, sometimes abruptly. We’re seeing programs for maternal and child health, malaria, disease prevention and control, very critical programs being stopped overnight by traditional supporters and funders,” he noted.
“And this looks like it’s going to continue. And we must be ready, as of yesterday, that if this happens, what are the options we have? […] The reality is that these are abrupt decisions. There will be effects, mainly to the poor communities across. But we also have the means, and we have the courage and the commitment to prevent these damages and the impact to happen to our communities and our programs,” Dr. Nsanzimana added.
Dr. Nsanzimana stressed that these challenges should serve as a wake-up call for African nations to explore self-sustaining solutions rather than relying solely on external aid.
He highlighted the need to rebuild Africa’s healthcare system with a focus on self-reliance and innovative solutions to existing challenges.
The Minister also pointed out that African countries should make strategic choices to cushion the effects of reduced foreign aid while minimizing negative consequences.
Additionally, Dr. Nsanzimana called for greater focus to take bold decisions to address the rising burden of diseases across the continent amid financing decline.
“Even if the disease burden is increasing, we must deal with it from the best. And even if we think that our traditional sources of financing are getting away, we can raise new financing mechanisms, starting from within and also from other partners who are willing and seeing this as an important investment for humanity,” he said.
He also emphasized the role of technology in healthcare, urging African nations to leverage digital innovations to improve healthcare delivery.
Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of AMREF Health Africa, the organization behind the conference, encouraged Africans to view the decline in foreign aid not as a crisis but as an opportunity to develop long-term solutions.
“Today, therefore, we will say we must not have a mourning tone at this conference, because the health system in Africa has not died. We can’t mourn it. It’s been wounded because of a small bump that we expected ahead of the road, but we know where we are taking our communities,” he stated.
“And I think that the most important thing for us to reflect on in this conference is not the survival of our institutions, is not the survival of ourselves, it is what shall we do with the communities for whom global solidarity exists,” added Dr. Githinji.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who addressed the conference virtually, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening their healthcare systems.
He urged African nations to work together to boost both domestic and international investment in healthcare to ensure long-term resilience and sustainability.
This contradicts earlier claims by FARDC spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge and other DRC government officials, who alleged that Brig Gen Gakwerere was a Rwandan government employee and had never been in their country.
On March 1, 2025, Brig Gen Gakwerere and 13 other FDLR fighters were handed over to Rwanda by the M23 armed group via the La Corniche border in Rubavu.
M23’s deputy spokesperson, Dr. Oscar Balinda, stated that Brig Gen Gakwerere was captured in Goma, while the other fighters were arrested in various locations in January 2025.
FDLR spokesperson Cure Ngoma has told the BBC that Gakwerere was indeed a senior leader within the group and had been hiding in Goma due to illness.
“I can confirm he had been sick for a long time and was hiding in Goma. He had not been seen for some time because of his illness,” Ngoma stated.
Ngoma also acknowledged that the other captured fighters were FDLR members but expressed doubts about one individual, suggesting he may have been used for propaganda.
Brig Gen Gakwerere, also known as Sibomana Stany, Sibo Stany, and Julius Mokoko, was formerly the Secretary-General of FDLR and the group’s third-highest-ranking official, after its president and top military commander.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he held the rank of Lieutenant and served at the ESO/Butare military academy under Captain Ildephonse Nizeyimana, the school’s deputy commander.
Reports indicate that Gakwerere led a group of newly recruited soldiers, known as the “New Formula,” responsible for mass killings at roadblocks and other locations in Butare.
He is also believed to have been among the soldiers dispatched by Captain Nizeyimana to assassinate Queen Rosalie Gicanda on April 20, 1994.
Additionally, he is suspected of involvement in the murder of Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, the former governor of Butare Prefecture.
