The changes also affected the structure of government, including the number of ministries and state ministers. Following the restructuring, Rwanda now has 20 ministries led by 20 ministers, down from 21 previously. The number of State Ministers has also increased from 11 to 12.
The Ministry of Infrastructure has been reorganised and now includes a minister and two state ministers, making it one of only two ministries with more than one state minister, alongside the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
The Minister in the Office of the President reviews all legislation before promulgation by the President of the Republic. The Minister is also charged with resolving the citizen complaints addressed to the President and supervises implementation of Presidential pledges; and serves as liaison between Cabinet and Parliament.
The dissolution will not affect the handling of citizens’ complaints, which will continue to be addressed.
The role had been held by Judith Uwizeye since 2017. Following the latest changes, she has been appointed Minister of Public Service and Labour, a post she had previously held between 2014 and 2017.
Before Uwizeye, the position was held by Venantie Tugireyezu, who served from 2011. He currently serves as a judge at the Court of Appeal.
These changes form part of ongoing adjustments within President Paul Kagame’s fourth-term. The most recent reshuffle prior to this took place in December 2025, when Dr Telesphore Ndabamenye was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources and Dr Solange Uwituze was named State Minister.
In the same period, Dr Usta Kaitesi was appointed State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, replacing Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe.
Earlier, in September 2025, Yves Iradukunda joined the cabinet as State Minister in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation.
These remain the only changes recorded since July 2025, when Dr Justin Nsengiyumva was appointed Prime Minister.
Before that, a reshuffle in December 2024 affected the Ministry of Sports, where Nelly Mukazayire became Minister, Rwego Ngarambe was appointed State Minister, and Godfrey Kabera took up the role of State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, responsible for Treasury.
The Ministry in the Office of the President has been dissolved.
Among the most notable appointments is that of Damien Murwanashyaka, who was named Minister of Infrastructure, a ministry that has recently been under scrutiny over delayed projects, including roads, dams, and buildings that have led to significant financial losses.
Murwanashyaka joins the government from the private sector, where he brings more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. A Professional Civil Engineer and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Murwanashyaka most recently served as the Managing Director of Preferred Contractors.
Before that, his senior leadership career included roles as the CEO of UDL, Chief Quantity Surveyor at Real Contractors Ltd, and Projects Manager at ROKO Construction Ltd. He also held consultant leadership roles at Century Engineering and Contractors Ltd and Gasabo 3D Design Ltd.
He graduated with a First Class Honors Degree in Civil Engineering and later earned an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University.
The Ministry of Infrastructure also welcomed Armand Zingiro as State Minister. Zingiro previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), a position he held since September 2023 after leading the Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL) from 2020.
He was replaced at REG by Maximilien Byilingiro, who has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the energy utility.
Another new entrant to the ministry is Col Claudien Bizimungu, who was appointed State Minister for Infrastructure. Since 2022, he has served as Deputy Commander of the Rwanda Defence Force’s Engineer Brigade. He was also part of a Rwandan military mission that assisted Jamaica in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.
In the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Marie Antoine Kajangwe was appointed Minister, replacing Prudence Sebahizi. Kajangwe is no stranger to the ministry, having served as Permanent Secretary since August 2024.
Prior to that, she was Director General in charge of Trade and Investment Promotion at the ministry.
Her former position as Permanent Secretary has been filled by Chantal Tuyishimire.
Meanwhile, Judith Uwizeye was appointed Minister of Public Service and Labour, replacing Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka. Uwizeye previously served as Minister in the Office of the President following the formation of a new Cabinet in July 2025.
This is not her first time leading the Public Service and Labour Ministry. She held the same portfolio between 2014 and 2017. A lawyer by training, Uwizeye graduated from the former National University of Rwanda in 2006 before earning a master’s degree in International Economic and Business Law from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She also taught in the university’s Faculty of Law.
The appointments also included several diplomatic and institutional changes. Lt Gen (Rtd) Karenzi Karake was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, while Emmanuel Bayingana was named Ambassador to Israel.
Jeannot Ruhunga was appointed Ambassador to Poland, and Christine Nkulikiyinka was named Ambassador to Spain.
Among others, Louise Kanyonga was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Zigama CSS, while Michelle Umurungi was named Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Investments at RSSB at Rwanda Social Security Board.
The changes bring a mix of experienced public servants, private-sector professionals and security experts into leadership positions as the government seeks to strengthen service delivery across key sectors.
Murwanashyaka was appointed as Minister of Infrastructure, replacing Dr. GasoreKajangwe was named Minister of Trade and Industry, replacing SebahiziJudith Uwizeye was appointed Minister of Public Service and Labour, a position she previously held from 2014 to 2017Zingiro, former REG CEO, is now State Minister in MININFRA
Initial reports indicated that U.S. ships near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by missiles and drones launched by Iranian armed forces.
Blasts were also heard in the counties of Sirik and Minab and the port city of Bandar Abbas, all in Hormozgan province, as well as on Qeshm and Hengam islands, while air defense systems were activated west of the capital Tehran and in the southern province of Fars, the semi-official Mehr news agency said.
Following the incidents, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all kinds of vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, owing to security threats in the waterway.
The headquarters cited the continuation of the U.S. “malicious acts” and attacks earlier in the day in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, saying any vessel trying to pass through the strait will be targeted.
The developments followed an announcement by the U.S. Central Command on social media platform X, stating its forces had begun launching “additional self-defense strikes” against multiple targets in Iran in response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows merchant vessels stranded in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, near Khasab, a small town in northern Oman, May 29, 2026. Clashes erupted early Thursday between Iranian and U.S. forces in the waters of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s main military command, announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva on June 10, pursuant to Articles 111, 112 and 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda.
In the Ministry of Infrastructure, Damien Murwanashyaka was appointed Minister, replacing Dr. Jimmy Gasore, who had served in the position since September 2023.
Damien Murwanashyaka is set to take over as the Minister of Infrastructure.
Murwanashyaka joins the government from the private sector, where he brings more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. A Professional Civil Engineer and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Murwanashyaka most recently served as the Managing Director of Preferred Contractors.
Before that, his senior leadership career included roles as the CEO of UDL, Chief Quantity Surveyor at Real Contractors Ltd, and Projects Manager at ROKO Construction Ltd. He also held consultant leadership roles at Century Engineering and Contractors Ltd and Gasabo 3D Design Ltd.
He graduated with a First Class Honors Degree in Civil Engineering and later earned an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University.
He will be assisted by two Ministers of State, Armand Zingiro and Col. Claudien Bizimungu. Zingiro moves from the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), where he served as Chief Executive Officer, while Bizimungu previously held senior command responsibilities within the Rwanda Defence Force’s engineering structures.
The new structure also reflects a shift in the ministry’s leadership arrangement, as Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, who previously served as State Minister in charge of Infrastructure, is no longer in the lineup.
Judith Uwizeye has been appointed as the Minister of Public Service and Labour.
In the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, Judith Uwizeye returns to Cabinet as Minister, replacing Christine Nkulikiyinka, who has been nominated as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Spain. Uwizeye previously served as Minister in the Office of the President.
In the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe has been promoted from Permanent Secretary to Minister, replacing Prudence Sebahizi, who had held the portfolio since August 2024. Kajangwe previously served in senior roles within the same ministry, including overseeing trade and investment functions.
Antoine-Marie Kajangwe has been appointed as the Minister of Trade and Industry, replacing Prudence Sebahizi.
The President also made a series of diplomatic appointments, nominating retired Lt Gen Karenzi Karake as Rwanda’s ambassador to China, Maj Gen Emmanuel Bayingana as ambassador to Israel, and retired Col Jeannot Ruhunga as ambassador to Poland, while Chantal Tuyishimire was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In state-owned institutions, Louise Kanyonga, who has been serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Zigama CSS. Kanyonga previously held several senior positions at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), including Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer and Registrar General.
Maximilien Byilingiro was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), while Michelle Umurungi, who currently serves as Chief Investment Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, was named Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Investments at RSSB.
The latest appointments come as the government continues efforts to strengthen leadership across strategic sectors including infrastructure, trade, energy, public service, and diplomacy.
The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva on June 10, pursuant to Articles 111, 112 and 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda.
Researchers tested several AI models using a classic psychology exercise called the Stroop task. The test is designed to measure attention and self-control in humans.
In the task, people see color words like “red” or “blue” written in different ink colors and must name the ink color instead of reading the word. This becomes harder when the word and color do not match.
The AI systems performed well on short lists of words, but their accuracy dropped sharply as the lists became longer. Some models went from over 90 percent accuracy to below 20 percent in longer tests.
When matching and conflicting words were mixed together, performance dropped even more. Researchers say the systems often returned to simply reading the words instead of following the instruction.
The study suggests that unlike humans, who can usually control attention and ignore distractions, AI systems still struggle with this kind of mental control, especially in longer and more complex tasks.
The findings highlight that despite impressive abilities, AI still has limits when it comes to focus and resisting distraction.
A simple color-word test showed that today’s smartest AI models can unexpectedly lose focus and fall apart on longer tasks.Credit: Shutterstock
Speaking in an interview with B&B Kigali on June 10, 2026, Nduhungirehe said Rwanda remains willing to restore normal relations, but accused Burundi of repeatedly undermining efforts to stabilise bilateral ties.
Relations between the two neighbouring countries deteriorated significantly in 2015 following an attempted coup against then-President Pierre Nkurunziza. Several individuals involved in the attempt fled to Rwanda, after which Burundi closed its borders with Rwanda.
In 2022, both countries moved to normalise relations and reopened their borders. However, tensions resurfaced in late 2023 following an attack in the Gatumba area of Bujumbura Province by the armed group RED Tabara. Burundi subsequently closed its borders again in January 2024.
At the time, Burundi accused Rwanda of supporting RED Tabara, an allegation Kigali denied, insisting it does not cooperate with groups intent on destabilising neighbouring states.
Renewed tensions and diplomatic engagement
According to Nduhungirehe, further strain followed statements and developments in the region, including remarks made by regional leaders and renewed accusations exchanged between Kigali and Bujumbura.
He cited comments made in January 2024 in Kinshasa by Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who, during a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressed support for efforts to mobilise Rwandan youth against the government.
The minister also referred to earlier remarks by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, who in late 2023 said his country’s forces would act against Rwanda, describing this as part of a broader regional climate of hostility.
He argued that such statements contributed to worsening relations, particularly given the regional context and ongoing insecurity in eastern DR Congo.
Nduhungirehe further noted that Burundian troops deployed to eastern DR Congo were cooperating with the FDLR militia group, alongside Congolese forces.
He stated that while the Burundian deployment was officially framed as part of operations against armed groups, including RED Tabara, their activities instead indicated coordination with the FDLR.
“They were not deployed against RED Tabara. They were deployed to assist the Congolese army and the FDLR in the plan that President Tshisekedi mentioned during his campaign, and the same plan President Ndayishimiye spoke about in Kinshasa in January 2024,” he said.
He added that Burundian forces had operated in areas closer to the Rwandan border in North Kivu, despite RED Tabara being mainly active in South Kivu, suggesting, in his view, a different operational focus.
Attempts at dialogue
The minister noted that following the capture of Goma and Bukavu by the AFC/M23 coalition in early 2025, Burundi requested dialogue with Rwanda in an effort to ease tensions.
He said intelligence and security officials from both countries met at the border on three separate occasions and reached a number of understandings aimed at de-escalation.
However, he revealed that progress was later undermined by renewed public accusations from the Burundian leadership.
“What happened after that? After that, President Ndayishimiye went on BBC and France 24… accusing Rwanda of planning to attack Burundi. We then asked our Burundian counterparts what had changed, given that we had reached agreements,” he said.
He added that further meetings were facilitated by the United States after AFC/M23 captured Uvira in early December 2025, during which security officials from both countries again met twice at the border and reached additional understandings.
Nduhungirehe said that despite these engagements, Burundian forces remain present in eastern DR Congo and continue, in Rwanda’s view, to cooperate with elements of the FDLR.
He reiterated Rwanda’s position that it seeks peaceful relations with Burundi through dialogue, but argued that Bujumbura has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to sustaining diplomatic progress.
“Rwanda wants good relations with Burundi, dialogue, and resolution of outstanding issues, but Burundi does not show the willingness,” he said, calling on Burundi to end any cooperation with the FDLR militia group, which was formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwandan and Burundian diplomats agreed to ease tensions, but President Ndayishimiye later worsened the situation.
Speaking in an interview with B&B Kigali on June 10, 2026, Nduhungirehe said Rwanda remains willing to restore normal relations, but accused Burundi of repeatedly undermining efforts to stabilise bilateral ties.
The new technology combines two types of propulsion that spacecraft normally use separately: chemical rockets, which provide strong bursts of power, and electric thrusters, which use less fuel and allow precise movements over long periods.
Traditionally, spacecraft need different fuel systems for each type of propulsion, making them heavier and more complex. MIT researchers have found a way to use a single fuel for both systems.
The fuel, known as ASCENT, was originally developed by the U.S. Air Force as a safer alternative to toxic rocket fuels. Researchers discovered that it can also power tiny electric engines called electrospray thrusters.
Electrospray thrusters work by using electricity to charge particles in a liquid fuel and then releasing them into space to create thrust. While they do not provide the powerful push of chemical rockets, they are highly efficient and ideal for long journeys and precise maneuvers.
MIT scientists tested ASCENT in these miniature thrusters and found that it performed just as well as fuels commonly used in electric propulsion systems.
The technology is now set for its first real-world test through a NASA-backed mission called Green Propulsion Dual Mode. A small CubeSat satellite equipped with both chemical and electric thrusters will use fuel from a single shared tank.
Researchers say the system could one day help small satellites travel much farther than they do today, including missions to Mars and the asteroid belt.
The technology could also improve Earth observation missions, allowing satellite operators to quickly or gradually reposition satellites depending on the task, such as monitoring storms or tracking climate-related events.
These four flight-unit electrospray thrusters were delivered by the MIT Space Propulsion Laboratory to NASA for the upcoming Green Propulsion Dual Mode (GPDM) mission. Credit: Amelia Bruno
“Iran is all talk and no action,” Trump said on Truth Social. “They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price.”
Trump also suggested he may order new strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges, Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing a phone interview.
“I may keep going,” Trump said during the interview. “They had a chance to sign a deal and survive.”
The president claimed Tehran has been “tapping the U.S. along” in peace talks that have ultimately made little progress.
The U.S. military reportedly hit about 20 targets in its strikes on Iran on Tuesday in response to the downing of a U.S. Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
The targets included Iranian air defenses, radar sites and ground control stations, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran has “taken too long to negotiate a deal” over the Mideast conflict and will now “have to pay the price.”
Many cancer treatments work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. However, some tumors survive because they have powerful DNA repair systems that allow them to fix the damage and continue growing. This ability often makes cancers resistant to drugs over time.
A team of researchers has now found a way to disrupt those repair systems. Their study focused on a small molecule called UNI418, which reduces the levels of key proteins that cancer cells need to repair damaged DNA.
Without these proteins, cancer cells struggle to recover from DNA damage, making them more vulnerable to treatment.
The researchers found that UNI418 activates a natural process inside cells that removes specific proteins. As a result, important DNA repair proteins are broken down, effectively shutting down one of the cancer cell’s main defense mechanisms.
The discovery could be particularly important for improving the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors, a group of cancer drugs used to treat certain tumors. While these drugs can be highly effective, many cancers eventually become resistant to them.
In laboratory tests, UNI418 made cancer cells far more sensitive to PARP inhibitors. The effect was especially noticeable in cancer cells that had already stopped responding to treatment. In those cases, the molecule helped restore the drugs’ effectiveness.
The approach also showed encouraging results in animal studies, where tumor growth slowed significantly when UNI418 was combined with the PARP inhibitor Olaparib.
Researchers say the findings reveal a new way of fighting cancer—not by altering genes, but by dismantling the repair systems that help tumors survive treatment. While more research is needed before the approach can be tested in patients, the study offers fresh hope for developing treatments against drug-resistant cancers.
DNA repair proteins inside cells are constantly being produced and removed to maintain a healthy balance.
The new brand was officially launched in Rabat, Morocco, during the bank’s 45th Annual Meetings, marking a major milestone in the institution’s evolution and long-term strategic repositioning within Africa’s development finance landscape.
Speaking at the unveiling, Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique Development Bank, said the rebranding represents far more than a cosmetic change.
“Rebranding means more than a name change. It is not only changing the institution’s framework of operations. The transition is expanding the role of the institution into a development bank, making it more nimble and impactful across the housing value chain while creating jobs,” he said.
The bank has in recent years pursued a deliberate strategy to expand its financing capacity in response to rising demand for affordable housing and urban infrastructure across the continent. With a membership of 44 African states and institutional shareholders including the African Development Bank and the African Reinsurance Corporation, Shelter Afrique says it is increasingly aligning its operations with Africa’s broader development priorities.
Board Chairman Lionel Zinsou said the institution’s success will be measured by its tangible impact rather than policy declarations or strategic plans.
“Our success will not ultimately be measured by strategies adopted, policies approved or meetings held. It will be measured by homes financed, cities improved, jobs created and lives transformed. The reform phase of the institution must now become the delivery phase,” he said.
The transition to a Multilateral Development Bank is expected to place Shelter Afrique in the same category as other pan-African lenders, strengthening its ability to mobilise capital for large-scale housing and urban development projects.
The institution is now targeting Africa’s estimated 53 million housing deficit, which requires approximately $1.3 trillion in investment to address, according to the bank.
Hann said the next phase of the bank’s strategy will focus on scaling impact across the housing ecosystem.
“Our vision for the next five years and beyond is to lead the transformation of the African housing sector to address urban infrastructure challenges and create jobs,” he said.
The rebranding also comes amid increased collaboration among African multilateral development banks aimed at unlocking greater pools of capital for infrastructure and housing.
This year’s Annual General Meeting was held under the theme: “The Future of Cities: Financing Inclusive, Green, and Resilient Urban Development,” reflecting the growing urgency around sustainable urbanisation across Africa.
Established in 1981 in Lusaka, Zambia and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Shelter Afrique Development Bank is a Pan-African MDB dedicated to financing sustainable housing, urban development, and related infrastructure. It is owned by 44 African governments alongside institutional shareholders including the African Development Bank and Africa-Re.
The institution, of which Rwanda is a member, operates through four business lines: the Financial Institutions Group (FIG), the Project Finance Group (PFG), the Sovereign and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Group, and the Fund Management Group (FMG).
Speaking at the unveiling, Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique Development Bank, said the rebranding represents far more than a cosmetic change.The new brand was officially launched in Rabat, Morocco, during the bank’s 45th Annual Meetings, marking a major milestone in the institution’s evolution and long-term strategic repositioning within Africa’s development finance landscape.The rebranding also comes amid increased collaboration among African multilateral development banks aimed at unlocking greater pools of capital for infrastructure and housing.
