Telesphore Munyembabazi, a resident of Burera District in Kagogo Sector, Nyamabuye Cell, explained that he admired Vladimir Putin’s commitment to justice, resistance to war, and support for African development. Comparing Putin favourably against America and Europe, he decided that if he ever had a son, he would name him after Putin.
In September 2023, when Munyembabazi’s expectant wife visited a health centre, he gave her a note specifying that if the baby was a boy, he should be named Vladimir Putin; if a girl, Maria Zakharova.
After the birth of his son, when it came time to officially register the baby’s name, healthcare workers were taken aback by the choice and refused to proceed with the registration.
According to the 36-year-old Munyembabazi, a doctor immediately called him, questioning, “What kind of name is this? I cannot register a child with this name,” and added, “Putin is a terrorist.” Munyembabazi responded, “Do not insult my child; such comments upset me.”
Munyembabazi went to the health centre to understand why his chosen name was rejected. The healthcare staff challenged him, asking why he wanted to name his child after someone they saw as a warmonger. He stood his ground until the issue escalated to the health centre’s management, who also could not resolve it and eventually reached out to district officials.
Frustrated with the response, Munyembabazi threatened to leave the child at the health centre, saying, “I will keep pursuing this until a solution is reached; if it becomes impossible, I’ll continue calling for action.”
He stated, “Naming him Vladimir Putin reflects my admiration for Putin and his country’s stance of non-interference. The world is changing, and the era of colonial dominance will eventually end. If people can name their children Queen or Elizabeth without any problem, why should naming my child Vladimir Putin be an issue?”
Currently, Munyembabazi’s son, Vladimir Putin, is one year and nearly two months old. In the community, he has become well-known, and wherever his parents take him for church services or other functions, people are intrigued by his name, often providing quick assistance.
Munyembabazi says that when his son grows up, he will explain that he was named after Putin for his bravery and encourage him to stand for truth, reject arrogance, and fight against injustice.
She was announced as the winner after a hard-fought race to replace Rishi Sunak, under whose leadership the Conservative Party was dethroned after 14 years in power. The 44-year-old defeated Robert Jenrick in the final round of voting, garnering 53,806 votes to Jenrick’s 41,388.
Here are 10 things you need to know about the new leader of the Tories, now the opposition party in the UK.
{{1. Nigerian Descent
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Kemi was born in January 1980 in Wimbledon, London, to Nigerian parents Femi and Feyi Adegoke. She spent much of her childhood in Nigeria and the United States before returning to the UK at the age of 16.
She is one of three children born to her Yoruba parents. Her father was a medical doctor, and her mother was a university lecturer. Kemi’s father passed away in February 2022.
{{2. Software Engineer and Lawyer
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Kemi studied Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sussex, completing her MEng in 2003. She then worked as a software engineer at Logica from 2003 to 2006.
While at Logica, she studied law part-time at Birkbeck, University of London, and graduated in 2009.
Kemi also worked as a systems analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group before pursuing a career in consultancy and financial services, serving as an associate director at Coutts & Co from 2006 to 2013 and later as a digital director at The Spectator from 2015 to 2016.
{{3. Joined the Conservative Party at Age 25
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The 44-year-old politician first showed interest in politics at the tender age of 25 when she joined the Conservative Party in 2005. She later contested the 2010 general election for the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency against Labour’s Tessa Jowell and finished third.
Not one to be discouraged, she tried again in 2012 and stood for the Conservatives in the London Assembly election, where she was placed fifth on the London-wide list. The election saw the Conservatives win three seats from the London-wide list, with Kemi narrowly missing out.
{{4. Elected to the London Assembly in 2015
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Kemi assumed her London seat three years later during the 2015 general election, following the election of Victoria Borwick to the House of Commons, which prompted her to resign from the London Assembly. The fourth-placed candidate on the list, Suella Fernandes, was also elected as an MP, making Kemi the new Assembly Member. She retained her seat in the Assembly at the 2016 election.
{{5. Elected to Parliament in 2017
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In 2017, Kemi was shortlisted as the Conservative Party’s candidate for the marginal Hampstead and Kilburn constituency but was unsuccessful. However, she was selected as the Conservative candidate for Saffron Walden and won the election with 37,629 votes, achieving a majority of 24,966, representing 41.0% of the total.
{{6. Held Key Roles in Johnson, Truss, and Sunak Governments
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In July 2019, she was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In February 2020, she became Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities.
In September 2021, Kemi was promoted to Minister of State for Equalities and appointed Minister of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in a government reshuffle.
On July 6, 2022, she resigned from the government in a joint statement with fellow Ministers Alex Burghart, Neil O’Brien, Lee Rowley, and Julia Lopez, citing Boris Johnson’s handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.
After Liz Truss became prime minister in September 2022, she appointed Kemi to her Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Trade. Following Truss’s resignation the following month, Kemi endorsed Rishi Sunak in the leadership election, stating that he was “the serious, honest leader we need.”
She later served in Sunak’s administration as Secretary of State for International Trade and First Secretary of State at the newly created Department for Business and Trade.
{{7. Lost Bid to Succeed Johnson as Conservative Leader in 2022
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Following Johnson’s resignation, Kemi launched a bid to succeed him as Conservative Party leader, stating that she wanted to “tell the truth” and advocated for “strong but limited government.” However, she was eliminated in the fourth round of voting and did not endorse another candidate.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Kemi revealed that the experience of Nigeria’s economic and social upheavals shaped her political outlook.
“I grew up somewhere where the lights didn’t come on, where we ran out of fuel frequently despite being an oil-producing country,” Kemi stated.
“I don’t take what we have in this country for granted. I meet a lot of people who assume that things are good here because they always will be. They don’t realize just how much work and sacrifice was required to get that.”
{{8. Gender-Critical Feminist
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Kemi describes herself as a gender-critical feminist and has been an outspoken critic of moves to amend legislation to allow for self-certification of transgender identity.
As Minister of State for Equalities, Kemi opposed plans by the Financial Conduct Authority to allow trans employees to self-identify in the workplace, opposed gender-neutral toilets in public buildings, and has spoken in favour of retaining single-sex spaces such as toilets, professional sports, changing rooms, and domestic violence shelters for women.
{{9. Hacked a Labour MP’s Website
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In 2018, Kemi was involved in a controversy regarding the hacking of Labour MP Harriet Harman’s website, where she admitted to altering its content to claim that the then-Deputy Leader was backing Boris Johnson in the race to become London mayor.
“This was a foolish prank over a decade ago, for which I apologise,” she told broadcaster Sophy Ridge in response to a question about the “naughtiest” thing she had done.
Following her admission, she faced backlash. The incident was part of a broader narrative about her political past, but it did not appear to have a long-lasting negative impact on her career. She continued to rise through the ranks of the Conservative Party, ultimately becoming a Member of Parliament and serving in various ministerial roles.
{{10. Wife and Mother of Three
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Kemi tied the knot with banker Hamish Badenoch in 2012. They have three children—a son and two daughters.
Anti-government protests have rocked Maputo since the October 9 presidential election, which the ruling Frelimo party won. The ruling party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, secured a 70.7% victory according to the official results, but opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane has dismissed the polls as fraudulent and is calling for street protests.
With the rising tension, a social media user shared a video of the police battling protesters on X, claiming that the Rwandan troops were among the security forces.
South African journalist and international news editor for SABC Sophie Mokoena sought clarification from the Rwandan authorities over the clip.
“Rwanda must quickly respond to these allegations. This will create a huge problem. A swift response is needed. The @SADC_News can’t look away. This political and security crisis is not good for the region,” she wrote on X.
Responding to the journalist, Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan government spokesperson, dismissed the claims, clarifying that there are no Rwandan security forces in Maputo; rather, they are in the Cabo Delgado Province, where they are engaged in anti-terrorism operations.
“Hello, Sophie. This is a lie. There are no Rwandan troops in Maputo. Rwandan Security Forces are deployed strictly in Cabo Delgado province, in joint operations with Mozambican forces against extremist Islamist fighters that have been terrorizing residents in the province,” Makolo stated.
Rwandan forces are helping Mozambique’s army fight militants who launched an armed uprising in 2017.
Rwanda deployed its security forces to Mozambique in 2021 after the insurgency escalated, with the militia employing violent tactics, including attacks on civilians and security forces and destruction of property.
Since 2021, Mozambique has also received military support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but SADC forces began withdrawing in April 2024 as their mandate ended. This withdrawal has left Rwanda with a greater share of responsibility in assisting local forces in addressing the ongoing security crisis in the northern province.
The Sudanese Doctors Network reported that 15 people were killed and five injured in an RSF attack on the Bardik area and nearby villages.
Separately, Ibrahim Khatir, director-general of North Darfur State’s health ministry, told Xinhua that three people were killed in an artillery attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State. Medical staff at the hospital were unharmed.
Fierce clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF have been ongoing in El Fasher since May 10. The city, home to approximately 1.5 million people, including 800,000 internally displaced persons, has been severely affected by the conflict.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in mid-April 2023, has resulted in over 24,850 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to the latest estimates from international organizations.
What began as a controversy involving Donald Trump’s camp soon spread to include Democratic President Joe Biden, reflecting the hostile and fear-driven tone that has come to define this unusual and tension-filled campaign season.
{{Trump Camp’s Controversial Rally Incident}}
At a major Trump rally held on October 27 at Madison Square Garden, the campaign found itself on the defensive.
During the event, a comedian shocked the crowd with a tasteless joke, referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
The backlash was swift, with Puerto Rican celebrities and Latino community leaders condemning the remark. This incident risked alienating a crucial Latino electorate, especially the sizable Puerto Rican community in Pennsylvania—a key battleground state.
Vice President Kamala Harris quickly seized on the moment, criticizing Trump’s team for insulting Puerto Rico, which forced Trump to distance himself from the comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe.
{{Biden’s Verbal Slip-up}}
Just as the controversy seemed to settle, President Joe Biden found himself in hot water after appearing to call Trump supporters “garbage” on October 29.
Although Biden clarified that he was criticizing the comedian’s offensive remarks, not Trump’s supporters, the damage was done.
According to The Guardian, this blunder undermined the unifying message Harris had delivered that same day. Republicans were quick to capitalize on the gaffe, with echoes of Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment from 2016.
Trump’s campaign seized on the opportunity, sending out a fundraising email titled, “You are not garbage! I love you!” Trump even appeared the next day in a sanitation worker’s vest, dramatically posing on the front of a garbage truck.
{{From “Stupid” to “Petty Tyrant”}}
In this closing stretch, the campaign has devolved into a series of personal attacks and outright insults.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric has included calling Kamala Harris “stupid,” questioning her sobriety, and dismissing her as a “garbage vice president.”
Harris responded by labeling Trump a “petty tyrant.” The Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Henninger lamented that the 2024 campaign has deteriorated into “pure hostility” with no substantive discussion, featuring endless personal attacks and vulgarity.
{{A Campaign of Fear}}
Both candidates have increasingly played on negative emotions, particularly fear, to mobilize voters.
As the Wall Street Journal noted in an article translated by Courrier International, this election season has sparked a “national panic attack” just days before the vote.
With dramatic twists—including Biden stepping back, assassination attempts on Trump, and Harris’s late entry into the race—the race to the White House has remained extremely close, fueling anxiety on both sides.
For many Americans, the stakes feel existential, with the future of the nation resting on the outcome of Tuesday’s vote.
The hackathon, which began on November 2, 2024, brings together a diverse range of participants, including university students, recent graduates, and professionals, all eager to address Kigali’s unique climate challenges such as flooding, heat waves, and infrastructure strain.
During the launch, Justice Oyakhilome Anthony, the Team Leader of UNLEASH Hack Kigali, highlighted the importance of the event in building awareness and fostering collaboration around urban resilience.
“UNLEASH Hacks Kigali is a call to action for young minds to come together and co-create sustainable solutions that can withstand climate impacts. This platform not only raises awareness about climate resilience but also builds the skills and capacity needed to develop actionable solutions for Kigali’s urban spaces.” Anthony stated.
“We aim to create practical, innovative strategies that can contribute to a better quality of life for the city’s residents,” he added.
The hackathon, themed “Climate Resilient Urban Areas,” encourages participants to develop solutions tailored to the challenges faced by Kigali and similar urban centers in developing countries.
The event structure includes ideation workshops, team-building exercises, mentorship sessions with climate experts and urban planners, and a final pitch session where teams will present their solutions to a panel of judges.
One of the participants, Tahel Imena, a student from Bridge2 Rwanda Academy, shared her passion for climate action, reflecting on her past experiences and aspirations.
“I was a facilitator in the Climate Economy class at school, where I learned about the global urgency of climate change mitigation. It’s something we all need to act on,” Imena said.
She explained that developing countries are faced with climate change issues, from air pollution to floods, especially in vulnerable areas like slums. “I’m here to learn more and understand how we can address these challenges. It’s intriguing to think about what people need and how governments can help,” she pointed out.
As participants dive into solution development, mentors and facilitators guide them through design thinking and problem-framing workshops.
By the end of the event, the goal is to produce innovative solutions and actionable plans to improve climate resilience in Kigali. Selected solutions will receive recognition and potential support for implementation.
The UNLEASH Hacks Kigali has garnered support from multiple partners, including the government, local universities, and sustainability-focused companies, signaling the city’s commitment to fostering a climate-resilient future.
The event, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the International Trade Center, provides Rwanda with a unique platform to strengthen its foothold in one of the world’s largest markets.
Since its inception in 2018, the CIIE has been a catalyst for Rwanda’s trade engagement with China, contributing to significant growth in both exports and investment. Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, H.E. James Kimonyo, underscored the importance of the expo in fostering economic ties between the two nations.
“Our participation in the China International Import Expo is not just about showcasing our products; it’s about building strong bridges for lasting partnerships and opening more doors for Rwandan businesses in one of the world’s largest markets,” he said.
“This event symbolizes China’s commitment to global economic cooperation, and Rwanda is seizing the opportunity to deepen its trade relationships,” he added.
Rwanda’s participation has seen marked success in previous years, with export values to China increasing from $39 million in 2018 to $131.2 million in 2023. China has also emerged as Rwanda’s top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the past five years, underscoring the robust economic partnership between the two nations.
The 2024 expo will feature a strong presence from Rwanda’s agribusiness sector, with exporters keen to capitalize on China’s demand for high-quality agricultural products.
The Rwandan delegation, led by Hon. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry, aims to secure further investment opportunities while promoting tourism through side meetings, live-streaming events, and roadshows.
Rwanda’s relationship with China has flourished over the past five decades, culminating in a recent upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a milestone achieved in September when leaders from both countries met at the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing.
This strengthened partnership reflects the enduring and multi-faceted cooperation between Rwanda and China, spanning education, health, infrastructure, manufacturing, and trade.
In addition to highlighting Rwanda’s distinctive exports, such as specialty tea, coffee, and chili, the expo offers Rwanda the chance to engage directly with Chinese consumers and e-commerce platforms.
“Since 2019, Rwanda has used creative marketing approaches like live streaming to attract e-commerce users in China, which has led to valuable market opportunities for our products,” noted Ambassador Kimonyo.
The strategic collaboration through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has further solidified China’s commitment to African development.
As the trade volume between Rwanda and China reached an impressive $551.9 million in 2023, up from $300.1 million in 2019, both nations anticipate continued economic growth and closer cooperation.
The CIIE provides Rwanda an invaluable platform to showcase its potential and strengthen its economic engagement with China.
With the groundwork already laid through years of bilateral cooperation and strategic investments, Rwandan businesses are set to leverage this expo as a gateway to even greater economic opportunities.
While speaking at a high-profile discussion on African agriculture held in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 30, 2024, Samia unveiled a strategic roadmap focused on three main pillars: irrigation infrastructure, technology access, and market expansion.
Her commitment is clear: Tanzania aims not just to feed its own people, but to play a key role in securing food for the region.
“The first cornerstone in this agricultural revolution is a massive investment in irrigation infrastructure. By prioritizing large-scale irrigation projects, the Tanzanian government seeks to transform seasonal farming into year-round productivity,” she said.
This approach not only bolsters resilience against erratic rainfall patterns but also enables a stable supply of crops, addressing both local consumption needs and the potential for export. With this infrastructure, Tanzania is preparing to increase food production sustainably and efficiently, aiming to put more Tanzanian crops on African tables.
With eyes also set on innovation, President Samia’s administration is driving initiatives to connect farmers with cutting-edge agricultural technology and high-quality inputs. By collaborating with development partners, Tanzania plans to supply farmers with tools and methods that promise better yields and healthier crops.
“This shift to modernized farming will empower Tanzanian farmers to produce higher-value crops with quality that meets both local demands and global standards. It’s a vision that sees farmers at the forefront of economic progress, using technology to build prosperity and independence,” said the Head of State.
For Tanzania’s agricultural growth to reach its full potential, President Samia says that market access is key. By opening up both domestic and international markets for Tanzanian products, her administration is creating pathways for farmers to earn more from their efforts.
According to her, expanding markets means more than economic gain; it’s about creating a dynamic agricultural sector that can fuel Tanzanian development, attract global partnerships, and position Tanzania as a food powerhouse in Africa.
“We intend to position Tanzania as a central player in the quest for food security in Africa. With strategies that encourage sustainable practices, promote innovative technology, and open new market opportunities,” she emphasized.
She said that her country’s agricultural transformation is more than a national agenda it’s a plan to uplift communities across the continent and through her leadership, President Samia intends not only to transform Tanzania’s agricultural sector but is also set a powerful example of how strategic action in agriculture can be a cornerstone for growth and resilience across Africa.
Tanzania’s international trade has experienced a striking 84% increase, rising from USD 17.4 billion to USD 31.4 billion in just over three years. Exports have nearly doubled, from $8.4 billion to $15 billion. Imports have also increased from $9 billion to $16.4 billion. The country’s external debt increased from $24.4 billion to $32.6 billion, a 33% rise.
Globally, emerging economies have recently adopted calculated borrowing as it supports critical investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and technology. This benefits not just today’s population but also generations to come.
In addition to giving established celebrities a platform to reach an even wider audience, the app continues to create overnight sensations, turning simple acts into captivating performances that showcase talent and charisma.
From famous Senegalese-Italian influencer Khaby Lame to Uganda’s rising star Rango Tenge Tenge, Turkish chef Salt Bae, Kenya’s beauty Azziad Nasenya, and Rwanda’s content creator Judy, TikTok’s influence is truly astonishing.
In recent weeks, Rwanda’s taxi moto rider Sadi Bizumuremyi has emerged as a rising star on TikTok. The 26-year-old has leveraged the short video platform to promote his business while captivating his growing audience with engaging content that entertains and highlights life in Rwanda.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Sadi shared that he has been in the taxi moto business for about six months after quitting his job as an Arabic course tutor at Ashakirina Academy in Nyanza to start his own enterprise. He secured his previous position after completing online courses offered by an institution based in Saudi Arabia.
According to Sadi, the decision to quit his teaching job was influenced by his strong desire for self-employment and financial freedom.
“I realized I needed to be financially stable before pursuing anything else. Even if I decide to return to teaching, I must first secure my finances, as it will allow me to perform my job much better,” Sadi remarked.
However, like many people keen to venture into self-employment, his main obstacle was capital, as he did not have enough money to start his long-harboured dream of a motor vehicle taxi business.
After some soul-searching, he borrowed money from a friend and added it to his savings to purchase a motorcycle and kickstart his business.
Initially, as a newcomer in the taxi moto sector, Sadi found it challenging to attract customers. However, necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s when he turned to social media, primarily WhatsApp, to connect with potential clients.
“It was really hard to get customers despite having over 600 friends on WhatsApp who could see my status. I realized many people in my country prefer motorcycles because they’re cheap and fast, yet they didn’t know I was in this business. So, I started posting on my WhatsApp status to let them know: ‘I’m riding motorcycles now—please give me some work!’” Sadi explained.
“That’s how I began posting every day before heading to work. I would stand in front of my door, wearing my jacket and helmet, and shoot a short video saying, ‘I’m ready for work—please give me some jobs!’”
Soon after, he started receiving requests from friends for rides or deliveries around Kigali. In the process, he also met two sisters from Nigeria who were running a startup in the city. They advised him to elevate his business by opening a TikTok account in early October.
“The Nigerian sisters gave me a job and encouraged me, saying, ‘You’re doing well! Why not share what you do on TikTok and other social media platforms? Show others your work and become a professional.’ I thought that sounded great!” he added.
Most of his TikTok videos have gone viral, with his growing community of followers praising him for his professionalism, business acumen, and humorous character.
“Since then, they text me, ‘Hi Motari, can you pick me up?’ I’ve gained so many customers that I can’t even keep track. For example, today, people are already reaching out for tomorrow. I plan my day based on these requests, knowing exactly who I’ll pick up until my day ends.”
Sadi is also fluent in English, and his mastery of the Queen’s language has set him apart from his colleagues in the moto taxi sector, who mainly converse in Kinyarwanda. This has made him a favourite among foreigners, who are increasingly sharing his videos and giving him errands around the city.
Rwanda is among the few countries that have successfully regulated the taxi moto business, attracting admiration from neighbouring countries and beyond. Sadi believes that the measures put in place by the government have helped instil discipline and order in the taxi moto sector, significantly reducing road carnage.
“It’s all about our safety. For example, when they tell you to wear your helmet, it’s for your protection. Similarly, the rule about not carrying more than one passenger on your motorcycle is also for your safety,” Sadi advises.
The rider hopes that his newfound fame will propel him to even greater heights of financial freedom, enabling him to start a taxi business or driving school.
“If I earn more money, I plan to start a driving school or a taxi business with multiple cars, helping people get to their destinations.”
He encourages young people to dream big and embrace any opportunities that come their way with open arms.
“You can start small and grow bigger because you know where you want to be,” he concludes.
The refugees, from various African countries facing instability, were unable to secure the peace and freedom they sought, with many failing in their attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Instead, they found themselves detained in Libya.
A temporary camp was established in Rwanda, where they received various forms of assistance while awaiting permanent resettlement options, including relocation to other countries.
In August, the Government of Rwanda and its partners renewed the agreement to receive more refugees and asylum seekers. In collaboration with the European Union, the capacity of the Gashora transit center was expanded, raising its accommodation limit from 500 to 700 people.
Since the program began, UNHCR reports that by September 2024, Rwanda had hosted 2,474 refugees. Most of them are from Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, though a few also come from West African countries.
By the end of September 2024, UNHCR statistics show that 1,817 refugees had been resettled in other countries, while 698 remained at the Gashora transit center, including 119 refugees and asylum seekers who just arrived in Rwanda on 26 September. The main resettlement destinations include Canada, Sweden, the United States, Finland, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Their well-being is monitored daily by the Rwandan Government, through the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), and UNHCR, with support from partners including the European Union and Denmark.
{{A New Life Begins
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Many refugees have varied reasons for fleeing their home countries, with war, insecurity, and persecution being the primary drivers. These challenges forced them to seek passage from Libya to Europe by sea. However, for many, these hopes tragically ended, as they either fell into the hands of armed groups in Libya or suffered from dangerous boat journeys.
Abdallah Mohamed Altahir, a father of three from Sudan, currently lives at the Gashora transit center with his wife and children. He told IGIHE that he decided to leave Sudan due to the ongoing civil war.
“In 2023, my wife, our three children, and I decided to leave Sudan for Libya because of insecurity,” he said. “Once we reached Libya, the situation was no better than in Sudan, as armed groups constantly threatened us. Each day, new dangers arose, with no one to help us.”
Abdallah explained that he sought asylum with UNHCR in Libya and was eventually selected for resettlement in Rwanda, an option he had not anticipated.
“Coming to Rwanda was a surprise,” he said. “Arriving here felt like being lifted from a blazing fire to a safe place. For the first time, I felt genuinely welcomed, and it restored my hope in life.”
Similarly, Hussein Fakeya Abader, a young woman from Ethiopia, arrived at the Gashora camp in late 2022. She left Ethiopia for Libya due to conflict and endured hardships, including losing sight in one eye.
“Life in Libya was terrible. I saw people suffer, people killed on the streets, and others assaulted. I never want to return to Libya,” she shared.
Since arriving in Rwanda, Fakeya says her life has transformed. “When I learned I was going to Rwanda, I was very happy. After arriving, we were welcomed, settled, and even received medical care.”
At the Gashora transit center, asylum seekers and refugees live freely, receive food, and engage in recreational activities. Children attend regular classes, and adults can study English, French, Kinyarwanda, and vocational skills like driving, hairdressing, tailoring, and computing.
Although grateful for the warm welcome in Rwanda, many still hope to resettle in Western countries, where they believe they can secure a better future for themselves and their families.
