The new cabinet, dubbed “Mambe II,” comprises 35 members, including the prime minister, a newly created deputy prime minister, several ministers of state, ministers, and ministers delegate.
In a significant structural shift, the government now includes the post of Deputy Prime Minister. This strategic position is held by Tene Birahima Ouattara, the brother of President Ouattara, who also retains his critical portfolio as Minister of Defense.
The new lineup places several women in high-profile roles. Notably, Anne Desiree Ouloto as minister of public service and Niale Kaba as minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
While the core of the previous administration remains, several former ministers were retained with adjusted portfolios.
The reshuffle also introduces technocratic expertise into the cabinet. Among the newly appointed figures are Yacouba Hien Sie, previously the head of the Abidjan Port Authority, and Jean-Louis Moulot, known for his work in airport development. Other new entrants include Djibril Ouattara, Abou Bamba, and Bernard Kini Comoe.
In recent weeks, reports have pointed to a growing rift between President Ndayishimiye and the CNDD-FDD Secretary-General, Révérien Ndikuriyo, stemming from disagreements over who should be nominated as the party’s candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
A faction of CNDD-FDD members calling themselves “Bene Samurarwa” has emerged in support of Ndayishimiye. On December 6, 2025, the group held a meeting in the former Cankuzo Province, where they resolved to endorse him as the party’s presidential candidate.
The meeting was attended by Minister Marie-Chantal Nijimbere, CNDD-FDD Deputy Secretary-General Cyriaque Nshimirimana, members of parliament from the Buhumuza Province, senior military officers, and business leaders.
However, Révérien Ndikuriyo, Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca, and National Assembly Speaker Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe were notably absent. They are reportedly opposed to Ndayishimiye representing the CNDD-FDD in the upcoming presidential election.
Political analysts in Burundi argue that when Ndikuriyo resigned from his position as senator in early December 2025, it was a strategic move aimed at giving himself more time to prepare for his political future within the CNDD-FDD.
Sources indicate that Ndikuriyo has been actively campaigning within the party to consolidate support among its members, particularly influential figures with significant sway.
Among the arguments used by critics of Ndayishimiye’s leadership are the country’s continued economic decline since 2022 and his decision to deploy Burundian troops to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where they have suffered setbacks against AFC/M23 forces.
During the launch of the book “Une Nation en Marche” at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel on January 14, 2026, President Ndayishimiye suggested that some people around him deliberately refuse to advise him properly, hoping that he would fail so they could replace him.
“Some refuse to advise me, thinking that if I fail, they will take my place. But if I fail, the whole country fails,” he said.
President Ndayishimiye is also reported to be attempting to sideline Ndikuriyo, whom he reportedly views as a serious threat capable of challenging him during the party’s internal selection process.
On January 25, CNDD-FDD members are set to convene for a General Assembly meeting expected to reshuffle some party leaders and national security officials. The meeting could also approve the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview in Davos, Switzerland, Trump suggested that the United States had “never really needed” its NATO allies and claimed that troops from other NATO countries “stayed a little back” from frontline combat in Afghanistan. The comments came amid ongoing tensions regarding NATO cooperation and Trump’s controversial statements about the alliance’s future role.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacted sharply to Trump’s remarks, calling them “insulting” and “appalling.” Starmer emphasized that the sacrifices made by British and other NATO forces deserve respect and recognition. He stated that such comments are deeply hurtful to the families of service members who died or were wounded during the nearly 20‑year conflict.
Starmer expressed sympathy for those affected by the war and highlighted the shared history of cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States. While he did not explicitly demand an official apology, his strong language suggested that such a step would be appropriate in light of the backlash.
The reaction was not limited to political leaders. Veterans of the Afghanistan campaign, as well as public figures like Prince Harry who served in Afghanistan spoke out against Trump’s characterization of NATO forces. Critics pointed out that NATO’s collective defence clause, Article 5, was invoked for the first time after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and allies responded alongside the U.S. to support operations in the region.
Many noted the actual human cost of the conflict: thousands of allied military personnel served in Afghanistan, with significant casualties and lasting impacts on families and communities across NATO countries.
In reaction to the criticism, a White House spokesperson defended the president’s comments by stating that the United States has made substantial contributions to NATO and that his focus remains on encouraging allies to increase their defence responsibilities. However, this response did little to ease tensions with European partners.
Trump’s remarks have reignited debates about the future of NATO and the strength of trans‑Atlantic alliances. With differing views on security commitments and shared defence responsibilities, the incident highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining strong cooperation among member states.
Scattered across lake shores, hillsides, and discreet city neighbourhoods, these hidden gems trade modern opulence for character, intimacy, and a sense of calm that lingers long after you leave.
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On the gentle shores of Lake Muhazi in Rwamagana sits Vintage Cottage, a retreat that feels like it has stepped out of another era. Its appeal lies in simplicity: weathered wooden floors that creak softly underfoot, stone fireplaces, and gardens that resemble a long-kept family estate.
Nights here are quiet, broken only by lake sounds and conversations around the rustic firepit. Twin cottages now start around $135 per night, while more spacious Luxury Rooms (roughly $150) offer a bright, airy feel.
Not far away, UMVA Muhazi offers a more architectural interpretation of serenity. Built with rammed-earth walls, woven textures, and open-air spaces, it embodies a refined “New African” aesthetic.
In 2026, it remains a sanctuary for connection, often hosting “Family Days” where children are welcomed with specific programming. Guests sleep in birdhouse-style pods starting around $149, while dining remains a shared, farm-to-table experience at long wooden tables.
For those heading north, Kanna Residence in Musanze is the definition of understated classy. This colonial-style villa, with its high-pitched roofs and stone accents, feels like staying at a wealthy relative’s country estate. It’s a quiet, 1-bedroom sanctuary (starting at $44 USD) that offers total seclusion before a day of exploring the volcanoes.
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Set amid the hills of Kigali, The Hideaway Boutique Hotel lives up to its name. Tucked away from the city’s bustle, it feels like a secret garden designed for privacy. High ceilings and hushed corridors lead to rooms like “Hidden Cove” ($280/night) or the elite “Penthouse” ($1,300/night). Its Sunday brunch, priced at Rwf 40,000, remains a local favorite for those looking to experience Kigali at a slower pace.
In the leafy diplomatic quarter of Kiyovu, Inside Afrika Boutique Hotel offers a soulful, art-filled sanctuary. With rooms starting at a modest $55, it feels more like a private collector’s home than a hotel. It features a small, quiet pool and individual room patios that provide a peaceful backdrop for unwinding away from the corporate centers.
Mythos Boutique Hotel brings a different mood altogether. With Greek-inspired stone pillars and ironwork, it feels like a Mediterranean villa quietly transplanted into Central Africa. Rooms typically start at $200 per night and feature kitchenettes. Mornings are best spent at their Atmosphere Restaurant, pairing a famous chocolate croissant with panoramic views of the city hills.
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Long before boutique hotels became fashionable, Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel set the tone. Its lush, jungle-like terrace remains one of Kigali’s most inviting spaces, known for modern African cuisine made with ingredients from their onsite organic garden. Boutique rooms range from $85 to $120, offering access to a solar-heated saltwater pool and an outdoor yoga deck.
Equally warm is Amata n’Ubuki Boutique Hotel, whose name translates to “Milk and Honey.” This property is a masterclass in design-forward decor and authentic hospitality.
At roughly $215 per night, guests enjoy a refined atmosphere filled with local art and a highly praised breakfast that remains a cornerstone of the experience.
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Serenity in Rwanda is not limited to where you sleep. For those seeking a literal high-altitude escape, Le Petit Chalet in Rebero feels like a European mountain lodge.
With checkered tablecloths and candlelight, it is a “hidden” favourite for romantic, slow-paced dinners (mains range from 22,000–35,000 Rwandan francs).
In the heart of the city, Baso Pâtissier offers an “Old World Europe” morning. It is the preferred spot for a quiet garden coffee and artisanal pastries like their famous almond croissants (starting at Rwf 2,500). Nearby, Casa Keza in Kacyiru offers a vibrant, Spanish-inspired backyard vibe with mismatched vintage tiles and a cozy library, perfect for intimate tapas dates.
Traditionalists still flock to Pasta & Basta for old-school Italian comfort, while 14th Avenue continues to serve as the city’s most relaxed Mediterranean wine bar.
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Further west, near Lake Kivu, Maison St Benoit in Kigufi offers perhaps the purest form of quiet. Once a nunnery guesthouse, it retains an austere beauty with immaculate gardens and a private beach. With rates starting as low as $35 to $50 per night, it is the ultimate budget-friendly retreat.
Nearby in Gisenyi, Paradise Malahide (around $88) offers a “Rwandan-vintage” feel, with bungalows built from local volcanic rock right on the water’s edge. In Kibuye, the Inn on the Lake provides the definition of “quiet intimacy” with only 6 rooms, each featuring a private balcony overlooking the emerald water.
Finally, Cormoran Lodge remains one of the region’s premier rustic-luxe hideaways. It’s all-wood chalets cling to a cliff and, while the vibe is deeply nostalgic, the rooms are updated with modern essentials.
At around $200 per night, guests are rewarded with uninterrupted views and, on clear evenings, the distant orange glow of the Nyiragongo volcano.
Did we leave out a place that captured your heart? Let us know your top picks in the comment section.
The decision was announced on Thursday in a joint statement by US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cited what they described as the WHO’s failures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They said US engagement with the organisation will now be limited to finalising withdrawal procedures and protecting the health and safety of Americans, adding that all US funding to the WHO has stopped.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s announcement on January 20, 2025, the first day of his second term, that the US would leave the Geneva-based agency.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the US is no longer participating in the WHO’s work, although some legal and administrative details remain unresolved. He said the UN would welcome a full return of the US, stressing that global health threats such as pandemics and non-communicable diseases require international cooperation.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously said the organisation has already made budget cuts to manage funding shortfalls linked to the US exit.
The WHO’s chief legal officer, Steven Solomon, noted that the organisation’s founders had not originally included a withdrawal clause, viewing it as a universal body essential to global safety.
Public health experts have criticised the US decision. Health advocate Lucky Tran said the WHO has played a critical role in reducing disease and saving lives worldwide, warning that withdrawal weakens collective responses to global health threats.
Before the US exit, the WHO had 194 member states and has long coordinated international responses to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises across borders.
The motions, filed separately on Tuesday by left-wing parliamentary groups including La France Insoumise, the Democratic and Republican Left group (GDR) and the Ecologists, as well as by the far-right National Rally and its ally, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), accused the government of abusing constitutional powers to force the state budget through parliament.
The motion put forward by the left-wing deputies garnered 269 votes, falling 19 votes short of the 288 required for adoption, according to the National Assembly. The second motion, tabled by the right-wing, was also rejected, receiving 142 votes, well below the threshold needed to bring down the government.
Lecornu announced Monday that he would resort to Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows legislation to be adopted without a parliamentary vote, to break the 2026 state budget deadlock.
According to France’s BFM TV, Article 49.3 effectively allows the opposition to table a motion of censure, which allows them to reject the adoption of the text passed using this constitutional provision and to bring down the government.
The state budget comprises two main components: revenues and expenditures. Lecornu has already invoked Article 49.3 Tuesday in the National Assembly on the revenue side of the budget bill.
With the no-confidence votes out of the way on Friday, the government can now resort to Article 49.3 a second time to adopt the expenditure side of the budget.
The bill would then move to the Senate before returning to the National Assembly for a third and final use of Article 49.3. The subsequent two uses are also expected to be followed by no-confidence motions.
Lecornu’s minority government has little room for manoeuvre in France’s fractious parliament, where budget disputes have already ousted his two predecessors over cost-cutting measures in a little over a year.
The contribution was officially handed over to Kayonza District authorities on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The funds will be used to pay Mutuelle de Santé premiums for beneficiaries selected from different sectors of the district.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, BPR Bank Rwanda’s Business Manager for Eastern Region Jean de Dieu Gakara, said Kayonza was deliberately chosen because of its historical significance to the bank.
“Kayonza District is where BPR was founded, specifically in Ruramira Sector, Nkamba Cell. This initiative was funded by employees themselves, who wanted to help residents access health insurance. The contribution exceeds Rwf 4 million and will benefit more than 1,400 people,” he said.
Gakara noted that the bank values its long-standing partnership with Kayonza District and emphasized that the donation is part of BPR Bank Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to improving the welfare of local communities.
The Acting Mayor of Kayonza District, Fred Hategekimana, expressed appreciation for the support, saying it will enable many vulnerable residents to access medical care when needed.
He reaffirmed the district’s commitment to continued collaboration with BPR Bank Rwanda, including support for the expansion of the bank’s activities, particularly in the area where it was first established.
In August 2025, as part of activities marking 50 years since its founding, BPR Bank Rwanda returned to its roots where it donated sewing machines to the Ruramira tailors’ cooperative and provided 3,000 roofing sheets to the district to support vulnerable households in accessing decent housing.
BPR Bank Rwanda was established in 1975 in Nkamba Cell, Ruramira Sector, Kayonza District, as a cooperative. It later became Banque Populaire du Rwanda before merging with KCB Bank Rwanda to form the current BPR Bank Rwanda Plc.
At the ceremony on Thursday night, Ndayizigiye Jean Marie Vianney, permanent secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, praised Chinese medical teams for their services. “Whether in hospitals, clinics, or communities, your work embodies resilience, excellence, and selflessness. Your service does not go unnoticed,” he said.
He said that their contribution represents the strong and growing partnership between Rwanda and China, particularly in the health sector, adding that this collaboration has brought skills and knowledge exchange, as well as a lasting impact, “strengthening our shared vision of healthier and more resilient communities.”
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the medical teams stand as a powerful testament to the deep bonds between the two peoples, noting that this year, more doctors and nurses have arrived in Rwanda, elevating the bilateral health cooperation to new heights.
Wang Yongxiang, head of the 25th Chinese medical team in Rwanda, said that team members have worked side by side with Rwandan colleagues in clinics, operating rooms, and wards.
Over the past year, the Chinese medical teams have helped build an orthopedic specialty system and a standardized pain management clinic at Kibungo Hospital, and have transferred techniques such as traditional Chinese acupuncture, painless labor, and infection control to local doctors, bringing sustainable benefits to both the local healthcare system and the Rwandan people, Wang said.
Li Junsheng, a member of the 25th Chinese medical team in Rwanda, has participated in several batches and received a special award from the Ministry of Health in grateful recognition of his “11 years of dedicated service to the people of Rwanda.”
According to Han Hongyang, head of the newly arrived 26th Chinese medical team, the team consists of 19 members covering eight clinical departments like surgery, orthopedics, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, nursing, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Since 1982, China has dispatched 26 medical teams to Rwanda, providing daily medical services at Masaka Hospital and Kibungo Hospital.
The partnership agreement was signed by the president of the two institutions, Ahmed Yahya and Fabrice Shema Ngoga on Thursday, January 22 at the headquarters of the Mauritanian Football Federation after a three-day working visit which started on January 20.
The agreement between the FERWAFA and FFRIM will focus on improving administrative leadership and governance, internal financial management, audit and evaluation procedures within both federations, technical development, infrastructure development, training of referees, including for VAR technology, as well as the organization of friendly matches, notably for women’s football.
Other areas of partnership include; structuring and organizing national competitions, organizing international competitions and sporting events, developing strategic frameworks and target contracts binding the two federations to FIFA and CAF, digitalization, marketing and communication and exchange of best practices.
During the visit, the FERWAFA delegation participated in presentations by various departments of the Mauritanian Football Federation namely, SG office, DTN, Finance, Refereeing, Women’s Football, Beach Soccer and Futsal, TV. The visit provided an in-depth exchange of organizational methods, mechanisms of action, and strategic projects of the federation.
The two parties also agreed to establish a framework and mechanisms for ongoing consultation and regular monitoring.
Additionally, both parties have mandated their respective administrations to monitor the implementation and execution of the various agreements reached.
The move comes after years of regulatory battles over concerns that U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government.
The new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will see American and global investors hold 80.1% of the company, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. Key investors include cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, each with a 15% share. Additional investors include the Dell Family Office, Vastmere Strategic Investments, Alpha Wave Partners, and several others.
Former TikTok executives Adam Presser and Will Farrell have been appointed CEO and chief security officer, respectively, with TikTok CEO Shou Chew joining the venture’s board.
Under the agreement, TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm will be retrained on U.S. user data and hosted on Oracle’s U.S. cloud infrastructure. The venture will manage U.S. user data, content moderation, and related operations, while ByteDance will continue to oversee revenue-generating activities such as advertising and e-commerce. This separation is intended to meet U.S. regulatory requirements while preserving ByteDance’s intellectual property.
The deal is a significant milestone for TikTok after years of scrutiny. In August 2020, President Donald Trump attempted to ban the app over national security concerns, citing fears that user data could be misused by the Chinese government.
A 2024 law later required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 2025 or face a ban, a provision upheld by the Supreme Court. The deadline was repeatedly extended, with the Biden administration and Trump ultimately agreeing to a joint venture structure.
Trump praised the agreement on social media, describing the new ownership as “Great American Patriots and Investors, the Biggest in the World,” and thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for approving the deal.
