On Sunday, March 15, 2026, a letter from the City of Kigali circulated, asking AS Kigali to make a decision on whether to dissolve and merge with other teams supported by the city, namely Kiyovu Sports and Gasogi United.
At the time, Kiyovu Sports spokesperson Minani Hemed stated that the plan had been poorly considered and that it would erase the history of the club’s establishment.
Gasogi United also expressed its opposition, claiming that such a merger was not feasible.
Speaking to Radio Rwanda, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, spokesperson for Kigali City, stated that if the teams refuse to merge, the city will stop its support for them.
“If these teams [AS Kigali, Kiyovu, and Gasogi] fail to merge and decide to continue separately, the city will stop providing its support. However, we are still awaiting their response,” she noted.
The teams have been given a deadline of March 30, 2026, to notify Kigali City of their decision.
She added, “If all of them refuse, we plan to start with a new team and build it from the ground up. If they agree to merge, we will continue together in the top league.”
Kigali City emphasizes that the goal of merging these teams is to pool resources and help the new team become stronger and more competitive in fighting for trophies.
Kigali City spokesperson, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya speaking to the press at a past event. The City of Kigali has proposed the merger of AS Kigali and Kiyovu Sports
This fighting comes just two days after FARDC, Wazalendo, and other allied groups blocked the RN5 road, which connects the city of Uvira to Bukavu, citing security concerns.
AFC/M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, reported that as of 06:00 AM on March 17, 2026, FARDC forces began firing heavy artillery in the Kabunambo area, forcing many residents to flee.
Benjamin Mbonimpa, the Permanent Secretary of AFC/M23, stated that Kabunambo residents had been peaceful and safe while under AFC/M23 control, but that the Congolese government chose to threaten their security with artillery strikes.
Kanyuka further emphasized that AFC/M23 is prepared to protect the people of Kabunambo and their property as long as FARDC continues its aggressive actions.
The Ruzizi Plain has been a hotspot for intense fighting since early December 2025, triggered by attacks from FARDC forces against areas controlled by AFC/M23, including the Kamanyola sector.
AFC/M23 responded with force, gaining control of several territories including the city of Uvira, which was vacated in January 2026 to resume peace talks.
As FARDC returned to the city, they made it clear they would stabilize the region once they retake all areas controlled by AFC/M23, including the city of Bukavu, Goma, and Bunagana, which had been captured in December 2022.
The ongoing drone strikes by FARDC forces on Minembwe commune and neighboring regions indicate their intent to continue military operations in areas under AFC/M23 control.
In the early hours of February 24, FARDC launched a drone attack near Rubaya, which killed their former military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma.
On March 11, FARDC conducted another drone strike in the city of Goma, killing three civilians, including French national Karine Buisset, a UNICEF worker.
AFC/M23 reported that from the night of March 16 to March 17, FARDC, Burundian forces, FDLR, Wazalendo, and mercenaries launched additional drone strikes on Minembwe and surrounding regions.
The alliance warned that the Congolese government would be held accountable for the continued bloodshed of innocent civilians under the sielnce of the international community.
Through her book launched on Friday, February 27, at Kigali Genocide Memorial, the author seeks to preserve the memory of the students who were victims of the genocide on the campus of the National University of Rwanda in Butare, while also questioning the moral responsibility of educational institutions in the face of hatred and violence.
A childhood built around education and values
The story begins with the author’s childhood in Kigali, in a family deeply committed to Christian values, solidarity and the importance of education.
Despite economic difficulties and the unstable political context of Rwanda at the time, her parents encouraged their children to pursue their studies and to believe in the future.
Assumpta Numukobwa recalls her early school years with emotion, retracing her educational journey from primary school to her admission to Lycée Notre‑Dame de Cîteaux in Kigali.
At this renowned school, she discovered a world of learning, cultural activities, and youth movements that played an important role in shaping her personal development.
These experiences helped build her character, develop her sense of responsibility, and nurture her ambition to pursue higher education.
Yet behind this relatively normal school life lay a darker reality: Rwandan society was already marked by deep ethnic tensions and persistent discrimination against the Tutsi.
The dream of university
After completing her secondary education, Numukobwa briefly taught in a primary school. Encouraged particularly by her brother Emmanuel, she decided to pursue her dream of higher education.
Numukobwa eventually obtained a scholarship that allowed her to join the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Rwanda in Butare.
For the young student, university represented the fulfillment of a dream. She imagined it as a space of intellectual freedom, discovery, and the construction of the future.
The Butare campus appeared dynamic and stimulating: university buildings, libraries, gardens, student residences, and meeting spaces created an environment conducive to exchanges and the training of the country’s future leaders.
However, the author quickly realized that the university was not entirely sheltered from the political tensions affecting Rwandan society. Students began to divide along political and ethnic lines, and the influence of political parties increasingly infiltrated university life.
Despite these tensions, student life continued; classes, discussions, friendships, and future plans shaped the daily lives of the young students.
Numukobwa has recounted her heartbreaking journey before, during, and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Warning signs
At the beginning of the 1990s, Rwanda entered a period of deep political turmoil. The liberation war launched in 1990 by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the introduction of multiparty politics, and rivalries between political parties contributed to the radicalization of public discourse.
On the university campus, these divisions became increasingly visible. Students participated in political meetings, and hate speech circulated openly.
Media propaganda, particularly broadcast by Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, fueled hatred against the Tutsi. The climate of mistrust and tension gradually intensified.
On April 6, 1994, when President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, this event was immediately exploited by the extremist faction of Hutu Power as a pretext to trigger the genocide against the Tutsi, which had been planned for long time.
What was meant to be a place of knowledge and dialogue gradually turned into a space of fear and violence.
University turned into a place of betrayal
In her testimony, Numukobwa painfully describes how the university, supposed to protect its students, became a place of denunciation and persecution.
Tutsi students were hunted, isolated, and threatened. Some classmates, as well as members of staff and even teachers, actively participated in their persecution.
This betrayal was particularly painful for the author because it often came from people she knew personally: dormitory neighbors, classmates, or teachers with whom she had previously shared everyday spaces.
Gradually, fear spread across the campus. Meetings organized under the pretext of security were sometimes used to identify Tutsi students. Information broadcast on the radio was used to publicly designate certain individuals as enemies.
Numukobwa also recounts the tragic disappearance of many classmates and friends. Many students were stopped at roadblocks, while others were killed on campus or in nearby areas.
The book pays tribute to those students whose dreams and ambitions were brutally cut short.
Surviving the unspeakable
For several months, the author lived in constant fear of death. Numukobwa had to hide, flee, and attempt to escape militias and killers.
Like many other survivors, she witnessed the loss of members of her family and friends.
Numukobwa speaks about the psychological trauma left by these events; painful memories, nightmares, and the difficulty of rebuilding a life after experiencing such violence. To survive also means carrying the weight of memory and the burden of irreparable loss.
Rebuilding and passing on memory
After the genocide, Numukobwa embarked on a long process of personal reconstruction in a country deeply marked by tragedy.
Institutions gradually resumed their activities, and survivors attempted to rebuild their lives.
The author eventually succeeded in rebuilding a professional and family life, but the memories of the genocide remained deeply embedded in her mind.
This duty of remembrance pushed her to testify regularly, particularly during commemorations organized on the Butare campus, now part of the University of Rwanda.
These testimonies ultimately led her to write ‘L’Université m’a trahie’ in order to preserve the memory of the students who were victims of the genocide and to pass on their story to future generations.
A reflection on the role of education
Beyond personal testimony, the book raises a fundamental question; how could an institution meant to transmit knowledge become a place that participated in genocide?
For the author, the tragedy highlights a profound gap between academic knowledge and human values. She argues that diplomas and scientific knowledge do not inherently guarantee morality or respect for human life. Without ethics and conscience, education, she warns, can be manipulated to serve destructive ideologies.
Her book serves as a powerful reminder that memory is crucial for understanding the past and preventing such tragedies from recurring.
Education, she asserts, should not only transmit knowledge but also shape citizens who are equipped to defend human dignity and resist hatred.
These services, which are generally unavailable in provincial hospitals, often require patients to travel to Kigali, where specialized professionals provide such treatments.
The surgery was performed by a team of experts from Germany. These specialists examined 40 people and performed surgeries on 25, including 17 individuals who received plastic surgery to correct various body deformities.
The event began on March 8th, with an expected end date of March 17th, 2026. However, it was concluded on March 13th due to the passing of one of the specialists’ child.
Among the patients treated were those with hypertrophic scars. Augustin Sibomana, who had a raised scar on his chest, was one of the beneficiaries of body contouring surgery.
“I had previously visited Kanombe Hospital but I was told that surgery was not possible because the scar might return. I am grateful to the Ministry of Health for thinking of us and sending these specialists. After the surgery, I feel much better and am hopeful that things will continue to improve,” he said.
Benimana Joyeuse, who had suffered from an enlarged abdomen for five years, expressed her gratitude to the specialists after her surgery. “I am so happy because I didn’t have the money to go to Kigali for treatment.”
Dr. Laura Thomara, who led the surgical team, mentioned that some of the patients had scars from previous burns. “We have shown our colleagues working here how they can treat such patients.”
Osée Ntavuka, the founder of Rwanda Legacy of Hope, an organization that has been bringing international specialists to Rwanda for 14 years to provide plastic surgery services, stated that over 8,500 patients have benefited from these services.
“When we come, we bring our own equipment. Here at Kibuye Hospital, we brought equipment worth 45 million Rwandan Francs, and after we finish, we will leave it for the hospital.”
Jean Claude Muhirwa, the head of the surgery department at Kibuye Referral Hospital, thanked the specialists for their knowledge and noted that the new equipment was different from what they normally use.
“This new equipment adds to what we already have here at Kibuye Referral Hospital, and it will help us deliver better services.”
Over the past 10 years, Kibuye Referral Hospital has seen a growth in the number of specialized surgeons, now totaling around 30, not including those who come temporarily.
The surgeries were performed by a team of experts from Germany. The specialists diagnosed 40 patients and performed surgeries on 25, with 17 receiving plastic surgery to address various body deformities.
The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) at Mövenpick Kigali, is part of the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative, an annual, worldwide event that takes place around International Women’s Day to spotlight how financial markets can advance gender equality.
Speaking at the ceremony, RSE CEO Pierre-Célestin Rwabukumba emphasised that gender equality is central to Rwanda’s development.
“When women rise, economies rise. When women succeed, societies prosper. Investing in women is not charity, it is nation-building,” he said.
The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) atMövenpick Kigali, is part of the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative.
This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” reflects the need for measurable progress and collective responsibility to achieve equality.
Rwabukumba noted that stock exchanges are more than trading platforms. “They shape corporate behaviour, mobilise investment, and promote transparency and good governance. Inclusive capital markets lead to stronger economies,” he said.
The RSE boss added that companies with gender-diverse leadership perform better and that women’s access to finance drives innovation and entrepreneurship, aligning with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the ambitions of the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).
“If we educate women, we educate a nation,” he remarked, adding, “At the Rwanda Stock Exchange, we strongly believe that inclusive capital markets lead to stronger economies. When companies promote gender diversity in leadership, they perform better.”
Speaking at the ceremony, RSE CEO Pierre-Célestin Rwabukumba emphasized that gender equality is central to Rwanda’s development.
Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, highlighted persistent gaps in women’s participation in Rwanda’s private sector, despite the country leading in political decision-making, with women holding 64% of parliamentary seats. While women occupy 32% of decision-making positions and own 34% of businesses, their representation remains low in sectors such as transport, construction, and mining.
“To bridge the gap, we do not only pledge, but we will act,” she said, urging financial institutions, development partners, and private sector actors to develop actionable roadmaps for women’s economic transformation.
Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, highlighted persistent gaps in women’s participation in Rwanda’s private sector, despite the country leading in political decision-making.
Romeo Ngarambe, CEO of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), stressed the multiplier effect of empowering women.
“When you empower a woman, you empower her children, her household, her community,” he said, urging capital markets to open doors for women entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders.
Ngarambe added that financial literacy, investor education, and products designed with women in mind are critical steps toward inclusive markets.
Global partners, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), UN Women, and the UN Global Compact, reaffirmed the importance of leadership, accountability, and accelerated action to close the global gender financing gap, estimated at over $360 billion annually.
As Marie Claire Dushimumukiza of the UN Global Compact noted, “Progress requires more than intention; it requires accelerated action, leadership, and accountability. It signals that markets matter in advancing gender equality.”
A highlight of the event was an awards ceremony, recognising outstanding achievements in finance and financial literacy. Hortense Mudenge, CEO of KIFC, was honoured as the 2026 Women Achiever in Finance, while students from Gashora Girls Academy, part of the Gashora NexGen Investors Program, were recognised for their efforts in financial literacy, receiving a cash prize of 2 million Rwandan francs to support their journey as future investors.
Students from the Gashora Girls Academy received a cash prize of 2 million Rwandan francs to support their journey as future investors.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic ringing of the bell by the Guest of Honour alongside representatives from RSE, IFC, UN Women, and UN Global Compact, marking the opening of economic opportunities for women in Rwanda and reinforcing the nation’s commitment to inclusive growth.
The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) atMövenpick Kigali, is part of the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative.Representatives from various institutions, including security agencies, attended the event.
IGIHE has learned from reliable sources that Rwanda will be represented at the meeting.
The talks will mark the first direct engagement between the two sides in the U.S. capital since Washington imposed sanctions earlier this month on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and several senior Rwandan military officials, prompting protest from Kigali, which described the measures as “unjust” and “one-sided.”
In a statement released on March 2, Kigali argued that the sanctions ignore violations by the DRC and misrepresent the broader dynamics of the conflict in eastern Congo in light of the Washington Accords signed in December last year.
“The sanctions issued today by the United States unjustly targeting only one party to the peace process misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement read.
“Consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements by the DRC, and continue to cost many lives. Protecting Rwanda is a badge of honour which the Rwanda Defence Force carries very proudly,” it added.
Rwanda and the DRC signed the Washington Accords in Washington, D.C., in early December 2025, in a bid to restore peace in eastern Congo.
Despite the agreement, DRC-allied coalition, including the FDLR militia, mercenaries, Burundian soldiers and Wazalendo fighters, has continued launching attacks on AFC/M23 positions and densely populated areas using ground and drone offensives.
Rwanda maintains that its defensive measures along the border with the DRC will remain in place until the FDLR militia group is dismantled, as committed to under the Washington Accords.
The FDLR was formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled to eastern Congo after the genocide. Kigali has repeatedly accused the Kinshasa administration of harbouring FDLR forces, which pose a major security threat to Rwanda’s security.
The planned meeting in Washington could provide an opportunity to revive diplomatic engagement between Rwanda and the DRC under the framework of the Washington Accords. The agreement aims to address security concerns in eastern Congo while advancing regional economic cooperation.
The talks are expected to take place as dozens of African officials and private-sector representatives gather in Washington for the annual Powering Africa Summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Energy ministers from several African countries are expected to attend the summit alongside investors and U.S. officials.
The Washington Accords, signed by the two countries in the U.S. capital in December 2025, aim to address security concerns in eastern Congo while advancing regional economic cooperation.
As per figures released on March 16, 2026, the country’s GDP in 2025 was estimated at over 23 billion Rwandan francs (Rwf), up from Rwf 19.9 billion in 2024.
Services made up the largest portion of this growth, contributing 52% to GDP, while agriculture and industry followed closely behind, contributing 20% and 22%, respectively.
Agriculture saw a 7% increase, with food crop production growing by 3%. Export crops like coffee and tea grew significantly, with coffee production rising by 60%. Other crops, including pyrethrum and sugarcane, also increased by 4%.
The industrial sector showed strong growth, with mining and quarrying rising by 17%, construction increasing by 11%, and manufacturing growing by 10%. Manufacturing was particularly boosted by a 35% increase in cement production, 21% growth in metal products, machinery, and equipment, and a 24% rise in the production of chemicals, rubber, and plastic products.
The services sector expanded by 9%, with wholesale and retail trade up by 15%, and transport activities growing by 7%. Financial services and public administration services also saw growth.
The figures were released at a time when the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, involving Iran and countries such as the U.S. and Israel, is creating instability. This conflict is also impacting other nations, including the United Arab Emirates, where Rwanda has a significant market presence.
Dr. Yusuf Murangwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, assured that the country is prepared to address the economic consequences of the war, with efforts already underway to manage the situation.
Dr. Murangwa mentioned that Rwanda is working closely with traders and government agencies to find alternative markets for affected goods including vegetables and fruits.
Although the conflict has only been ongoing for two weeks, he pointed out that the full impact will not be immediately felt, and it may take up to three months to assess the situation properly.
One of the steps being taken to mitigate the effects of the conflict is ensuring that Rwanda has enough petroleum supplies, preventing shortages of gasoline and diesel.
The Minister also reassured the public that Rwanda would not be severely affected by the war, emphasizing that the country has managed to overcome difficult situations in the past.
This photo shows the view of Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Gasabo District.
Minister Nduhungirehe made these remarks in a conversation shared on X by Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairson Monday, March 16, 2026.
Rwanda’s involvement in Cabo Delgado has caught public attention again following a report by Bloomberg, which revealed that the European Union’s €20 billion contribution to this mission could end in May 2026, with no plans to renew the support.
Following this information, Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo and Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that Rwanda has contributed significantly to this mission and is ready to halt its involvement if its troops continue to be undervalued or if the EU’s support stops.
In the statement shared on Monday, Minister Nduhungirehe clarified that Rwanda has not yet made a final decision to end its mission but emphasized that this was more of a reminder.
“It is not a decision we have made, but rather a principle we wanted to bring to limelight, as Rwanda’s troops were deployed in Mozambique in July 2021 at the invitation of the Mozambican government to assist in combating the Ansar al-Sunna terrorist group, which has links to the Islamic State.”
He further noted that during Rwanda’s deployment in Cabo Delgado, calm was restored, allowing citizens to return to their work, and investment resumed in the region.
“For the past four or five years, the Rwandan troops have done outstanding work. The people have returned to their homes, students have gone back to school, businesses have resumed, and significant investments, particularly in the gas sector, have been revitalized. All of this was achieved by Rwanda’s soldiers, in collaboration with the Mozambican army, and with the support of the European Union,” he said.
Rwanda’s commitment and the conditions for continuation
Minister Nduhungirehe made it clear that Rwanda has made substantial contributions, both in terms of financial resources and the sacrifice of lives, in its effort to bring stability to the region which should be recognized.
“Therefore, we reminded them that Rwanda has made a significant contribution, providing financial support ten times more than that of the European Union, and we have also lost soldiers who were killed in the battle to bring peace to that region,” he said.
He also stressed that the Rwandan army cannot continue with this mission if it is under constant pressure or subjected to sanctions.
“Therefore, we gave a reminder that Rwanda’s troops, in carrying out this mission, are serving Mozambique, its people, and the international community at large, which has companies that invest in the region; cannot continue this work if they are constantly criticized, sanctioned, or placed under pressure.”
Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that the Rwandan army would continue its mission as long as there is no setback.
“This cannot continue, which is why we gave a reminder that Rwanda will continue its mission as long as the support it receives continues. However, if that support is stopped, it is clear that we will leave the country, and then those countries will have to find other troops or another country to carry out the mission,” he noted.
Rwandan troops were deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, which sought assistance in countering terrorist activities that had severely disrupted the region since 2017. Since then, multiple rotations of troops have taken place.
On March 13, 2026, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) announced that it is preparing to rotate out soldiers and police officers who have been deployed in the mission for over a year.
Minister Nduhungirehe clarified that Rwanda has not yet made a final decision to end its mission in Mozambique. Rwandan troops were initially deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government.
On Sunday, March 15, 2026, the final leg of the “WRC Safari Rally 2026” took place in Naivasha, Kenya. Two Rwandan cars completed the race, out of the four representing the country in the event.
The final day was challenging for Davite Giancarlo and Yoto Fabrice, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4 D, as they retired from the race after Stage 17 of 20 in the four-day event.
Christian Kanangire and Kevin Shyaka were the only remaining Rwandan duo in the competition, and they performed exceptionally well, finishing third in the second category of the African Rally Championship (ARC).
This marks a historic achievement, as it is the first time a Rwandan driver has participated in and completed a WRC event. In 2023, Giancarlo Davite took part in the WRC Safari Rally in Kenya but did not finish, despite competing alongside Sylvia Vindevogel in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 (R5) in the WRC2 category.
Kanangire said that the rally was tough, but the key to their success was perseverance and pride in representing Rwanda.
“The rally was extremely challenging, and we thank God we were able to finish. I believe you can see that just finishing was an achievement in itself, and we ended up in a great position in our category. We could have finished first, but we encountered some issues, and we are proud that Rwanda’s flag was raised in a positive position,” he said.
This international rally driver placed ninth in the first category of the African Rally Championship (ARC), which was won by Kenya’s Patel Karan, and finished 27th in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
Christian Kanangire and Kevin Shyaka were the only remaining Rwandan duo in the competition, and they performed exceptionally well.Kanangire and Shyaka finish strong in the WRC Safari Rally 2026, finishing 27th in the overall competition.Christian Kanangire alongside co-driver Shyaka Kevin in a Subaru Impreza WRX STi after the final leg. Kevin Shyaka was a co-driver of Kanangire throughout the race.
The move comes as the tech giant ramps up investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and looks to boost efficiency through AI-powered tools.
No official date for the layoffs has been announced, and the total number of affected employees has yet to be finalised. Sources told Reuters that senior leaders at Meta have been instructed to begin planning for potential reductions.
A spokesperson for Meta described the report as “speculative” and said the company had not made any final decisions.
If implemented, the job cuts would mark the largest workforce reduction at Meta since late 2022 and early 2023, when the company carried out a series of layoffs under a restructuring it called the “year of efficiency.”
At the end of last year, Meta employed nearly 79,000 people globally. In 2022 and 2023, previous rounds of layoffs affected more than 21,000 employees in total.
The potential staff reduction coincides with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strong push into generative AI. Meta has offered lucrative multi-year compensation packages to attract top AI talent and is investing heavily in new infrastructure, including plans to spend $600 billion on data centers by 2028.
The company has also acquired Moltbook, a social networking platform for AI agents, and the Chinese startup Manus for around $2 billion.
Zuckerberg has said that AI could dramatically improve efficiency within teams, with some projects now achievable by a single skilled employee rather than large groups.
Meta’s move reflects a broader trend in the U.S. tech industry. Companies like Amazon and Block have recently announced significant layoffs, citing increased productivity from AI tools.
However, some analysts warn that these cuts may partly be “AI-washing,” a term used to describe reductions masked as AI-driven efficiency but also motivated by previous over-hiring.
Meta’s AI projects have faced challenges, including criticism of the Llama 4 models and delays with its Behemoth model. The company’s superintelligence team is now focusing on a new model called Avocado.
The potential staff reduction coincides with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strong push into generative AI.
