According to the Office of the President, during the talks on Thursday, the two leaders reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relations between Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville and exchanged views on challenges facing the African continent.
They also discussed the need to advance effective and sustainable solutions led by African countries.
The meeting came as the two countries continue to strengthen diplomatic and political relations and cooperation across several areas.
Rwanda opened its embassy in Congo-Brazzaville in August 2016, further formalising diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
In November 2021, Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville signed a series of agreements covering military cooperation, collaboration in improving teaching and learning at universities, land management, sustainable development and environmental protection.
The agreements also covered the promotion of bilateral trade and expansion of cooperation in air transport development.
According to the Office of the President, during the talks on Thursday, the two leaders reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relations between Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville and exchanged views on challenges facing the African continent.
Musonye made the call in Kigali on the sidelines of the SportsBiz Africa Forum, where he outlined a vision of AFCON 2027 as a regional event extending beyond the three host countries.
“We are preparing AFCON for the region, not for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania alone. We are preparing AFCON to cover the entire region. We want Rwanda to be part of it because Rwanda has played a big role in changing football in this region,” Musonye told IGIHE on Thursday.
He identified Rwanda’s qualification as his first priority, but also wants the country to benefit from the tournament by hosting teams for training camps.
“I want Rwanda to qualify for AFCON 2027. That’s number one. Number two, I want to see many teams coming to train in Rwanda here even if Rwanda doesn’t qualify,” he explained.
Rwanda is yet to begin its qualification campaign. The Amavubi were drawn in Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia, with the first two matchdays scheduled for September 24 to October 6.
Rwanda will open its campaign against Liberia before facing Cape Verde away. The remaining group matches against Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia will be played across the November 2026 and March 2027 international windows.
Under CAF’s qualification format, the top two teams in groups without a co-host qualify for the finals. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania already have places secured as hosts, meaning the highest-ranked team alongside each host will advance from those groups.
Rwanda therefore faces a competitive route, with Mali and Cape Verde both in its group. But Musonye believes the country’s contribution to the tournament should not depend solely on whether the Amavubi secure a place on the pitch.
Kenya’s AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye during an exclusive interview with IGIHE on the sidelines of the SportsBiz Africa Forum in Kigali on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Infrastructure remains key
Musonye also expressed confidence that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will have their infrastructure ready for the tournament, dismissing concerns over stadium preparedness as the main remaining risk.
“The risks were the infrastructure. Now we are working to mitigate it. That is the only risk,” he said.
He noted that the three hosts are working together to ensure the venues meet the required standards.
“We are ready. The stadiums will be ready. Uganda, Tanzania, we are working as a team of Pamoja to make sure that the venues are ready for AFCON,” he added.
AFCON 2027 will be played from June 19 to July 17, with East Africa hosting the tournament for the first time in more than five decades. The competition will feature 24 teams.
Musonye sees the tournament as an opportunity to leave a lasting infrastructure and football development legacy across the region.
He projects that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania could generate about $20 billion from the wider tournament, with the ambition of reinvesting the proceeds in infrastructure and grassroots football.
“We don’t want to make money and drop it. We want to make money and put it back in society to improve the infrastructure further and also to develop youth football from the grassroots,” he stressed.
‘An authentic African AFCON’
Beyond infrastructure and investment, Musonye wants the tournament to offer a different experience from previous editions by making movement around the region easier for fans.
“We want to make it open. We want people to come free in our region to watch football. There will be no restrictions about visa or what. We want to make it open. You come and enjoy football. You enjoy tourism and enjoy yourself,” he said.
He described the planned tournament as an “authentic African AFCON”, with East African hospitality at its centre.
For Rwanda, Musonye believes the tournament provides an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation in football, whether the Amavubi qualify or not.
Kagame made the remarks while addressing the International Space Summit in Paris, a two-day gathering convened by French President Emmanuel Macron that brought together Heads of State and Government, space agency leaders, and industry representatives to discuss governance, security and sustainable development frameworks for the space sector.
Thanking President Macron for convening the summit, Kagame said the space economy is evolving rapidly, driven by lower costs, new technologies and greater private sector engagement, and that Africa intends to be a contributor to science, research and global decision-making, not only a user of space capabilities.
“For a continent with a young and increasingly connected population, this sector offers enormous potential,” he said, adding that with the right support, African talent can develop the relevant expertise and build businesses that create real value for the continent.
Kagame pointed to Rwanda’s national space policy as an example of how the country is positioning itself in the sector, saying it was designed to foster investment and innovation.
He told the delegates that Rwanda is currently using space technologies and artificial intelligence to strengthen agriculture, infrastructure, disaster management and other critical areas, and that the country also hosts satellite ground infrastructure serving global operators.
On the growing competition for spectrum and orbital resources as satellite constellations expand, Kagame warned that developing countries risk losing access.
He noted that Rwanda, alongside other partners, supported the African Telecommunications Union’s efforts to regain several orbital slots for the continent, describing the experience as proof of how coordinated African action can protect the continent’s interests.
Kagame called for the pace of change in the space sector to be matched by clear international rules, saying frameworks should recognize both the civilian and security applications of space technologies and enable responsible collaboration. He said this requires an inclusive process that gives developing countries a meaningful voice and ensures their priorities are fairly represented.
He also raised the issue of technology transfer, saying export restrictions continue to limit access to knowledge and modern technologies, and welcomed partnerships that advance research and build local capacity. He cited the company E-Space as an example, saying it is working with a growing number of African countries to develop and deploy satellite-based solutions.
“Ultimately, we should avoid reproducing in space the inequalities that exist in other domains,” Kagame said, adding that Rwanda stands ready to work with France, Europe and other partners to deepen space cooperation.
Opening the third SportsBiz Africa Forum in Kigali on September 10, Mukazayire noted that the global sports industry was valued at between $2.3 trillion and $2.65 trillion, while Africa accounted for only about 0.5% of the global market.
The gap, she argued, was difficult to ignore given the continent’s youthful population and its long record of producing athletes whose talent has helped drive sports industries elsewhere.
“What are they doing that we are not doing?” Mukazayire asked as she outlined three areas she believes Africa must address to unlock more value from its sporting potential: data, people and the commercial side of sport.
The first is data.
Mukazayire argued that Africa needs to collect and use more data suited to African athletes, markets and conditions rather than relying entirely on research and systems developed elsewhere.
Science and technology, she explained, must also reflect the realities of African athletes, including factors such as altitude, climate and local environments.
The minister pointed to the limited availability of data on women in sport, noting that much of the research developed over the years has been based largely on men despite the growing participation and performance of women athletes across Africa.
“We need to discuss how we start looking at data, collecting data that is meant for African athletes and that is going to be created, put together by African companies, entrepreneurs and interpreted in that way,” she said.
The two-day SportsBiz Africa Forum brings together policymakers, investors, sports leaders, entrepreneurs and athletes to explore ways to grow Africa’s sports economy.
The second priority is people.
Mukazayire stressed that African sports systems need to look beyond an athlete’s natural ability and understand the wider factors that determine high performance and long-term success.
Health, mental wellbeing, nutrition, sleep, recovery and the environment surrounding athletes all require greater attention, she argued.
She also highlighted fan engagement as an increasingly important part of the sports economy. Sport, she noted, can create opportunities beyond competition by supporting entertainment, fashion, creative industries and other businesses.
The third priority is commercial value.
Mukazayire questioned who benefits from broadcasting rights, merchandising and other revenue streams generated by African sport, arguing that the continent needs to take a greater role in building businesses around its sporting assets.
She also called for a different approach to investment in sports infrastructure. Stadiums, pitches and arenas should not be viewed only as facilities for developing athletes, but as centres around which businesses and communities can grow.
“By building pitches you’re creating community. By adding all those services you’re creating value,” she told delegates.
Her message was echoed by Christian Gakwaya, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Events Group, who argued that Africa has spent years supplying talent to the global sports economy without capturing a proportionate share of the value created.
Christian Gakwaya, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Events Group, speaks during the forum held at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) on Thursday.
Africa has produced athletes, coaches and stories that have helped shape global sport, Gakwaya observed, but much of the economic value generated from those contributions has been captured elsewhere.
He urged the continent to move beyond measuring sporting success solely through participation, performance and trophies and instead confront questions around ownership.
“Who owns our media rights?” he asked. “Who owns the intellectual property in the sports sector in the continent?”
Gakwaya also questioned who manufactures sports apparel and technologies used on the continent, manages African athletes, collects sports data and builds African sports brands.
For him, the next phase should focus on ensuring that more of the economic value generated by African sport remains in Africa.
The SportsBiz Africa Forum, now in its third edition, he announced, is evolving into the SportsBiz Africa Platform, a shift intended to move beyond periodic discussions towards investment facilitation, business development, market intelligence, entrepreneurship, policy engagement and talent development.
“A forum brings people together. A platform will help them to do something together,” Gakwaya said.
The call for stronger African participation in the global sports economy was also reinforced by Sir Paul J. Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Esports Federation.
Foster described connectivity as a form of infrastructure capable of creating economic opportunity, particularly for young people, entrepreneurs and creators who can use technology to access global markets.
Sir Paul J. Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Esports Federation, was among the leaders who graced the event.
Rather than focusing on bringing the world to Africa, he argued that the continent should concentrate on connecting African talent, businesses, intellectual property and ideas directly to global opportunities.
“For too long, the conversation has been about bringing the world to Africa. I’m much more interested in the reverse. Africa to the world,” Foster told the forum, describing it not simply as a slogan but as an economic proposition.
He urged African governments, universities, entrepreneurs, investors and sports organisations to build the infrastructure, competitions, academies, investment pathways and commercial networks needed to support that ambition.
Foster noted that the global gaming industry had grown into a major economic force, placing esports at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, entertainment, media, education, commerce and youth.
The challenge, he suggested, was to build systems that allow young Africans to move from being players to developers, fans to creators, students to entrepreneurs, and local businesses to global companies.
Dr Decius Hikabwa Chipande, Coordinator and Head of the African Union Sports Council, similarly framed sport as a strategic sector for economic growth, youth empowerment, job creation and innovation.
He urged stronger partnerships between governments, the private sector, sports organisations, development partners and communities to unlock opportunities across the sports value chain.
The African Union, he noted, sees sport as more than recreation and competition, with potential to support entrepreneurship, employment, skills development and continental integration.
Félicité Rwemarika, an International Olympic Committee member, also emphasised that talent and passion alone would not be enough for Africa to realise its sporting potential.
The continent needs strong institutions, good governance, investment, skills and expertise, she conveyed in a message from IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
Investment in sport, the message argued, should ultimately be understood as an investment in people, creating opportunities for young people through education, skills development and employment.
Together, the speakers returned repeatedly to a similar question: how can Africa retain more of the value generated by its sporting talent?
For Mukazayire, the answer begins with understanding African athletes through African data, investing in the people around sport and building stronger commercial ecosystems capable of creating value at home.
The task now, she told delegates, is to move beyond recommendations and develop practical measures that can create jobs, businesses and investment for future generations.
“We have to be intentional in terms of what is the legacy we are leaving for the next generations,” she said.
The two-day SportsBiz Africa Forum brings together policymakers, investors, sports administrators, business leaders, entrepreneurs and athletes to discuss ways of strengthening Africa’s sports economy through investment, innovation and collaboration.
Opening the third SportsBiz Africa Forum in Kigali on September 10, Mukazayire noted that the global sports industry was valued at between $2.3 trillion and $2.65 trillion, while Africa’s share remained at about 0.5%.The two-day SportsBiz Africa Forum brings together policymakers, investors, sports leaders, entrepreneurs and athletes to explore ways to grow Africa’s sports economy.
In a ruling on September 9, 2026, the country’s highest court rejected an appeal seeking to reopen an investigation into the possible complicity of French soldiers in the massacres of Tutsi at Bisesero in western Rwanda.
The case was brought in 2005 by six Genocide survivors and human rights organisations including Survie, Ibuka, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the French League of Human Rights (LDH) and Licra.
The complainants accused French soldiers serving under Opération Turquoise of knowingly failing to protect Tutsi civilians who had sought refuge in the Bisesero hills, where hundreds were killed between June 27 and 30, 1994.
They argued that the soldiers were aware of the killings but did not intervene despite having the capacity to do so.
The investigation was halted in 2018, and the decision was subsequently upheld by investigating judges in October 2023 and by the Paris Court of Appeal in December 2024. The civil parties then appealed to the Court of Cassation.
The court has now confirmed the dismissal, bringing the long-running legal case to an end.
Eric Plouvier, a lawyer representing Survie, had argued that the French court decisions denied justice to those killed in Bisesero and the survivors, and called for the investigation to continue to establish the role of the French soldiers.
However, the Court of Cassation found that the French soldiers could not be expected to act without precise orders from their chain of command, particularly the Ministry of Defence.
The judges also found no evidence showing that the officers intended to facilitate crimes against Tutsi civilians.
According to the court ruling, the three-day delay before the rescue operation reflected the time needed to clarify a situation that remained confused, while the soldiers had limited information about what was happening and the nature of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The court also noted that the force led by Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Rémi Duval was too small to conduct a secure intervention at the time.
Regarding General Jean-Claude Lafourcade, who commanded Opération Turquoise, the judges found that he had sought additional information before deciding on possible action and that doubt remained over his knowledge of what was taking place.
France’s top court has upheld dismissal of case against soldiers accused of failing to protect Tutsi in Bisesero.
Figures released on Thursday, September 2026, indicate that food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded a 16.3% annual increase in August and rose by 3.7% compared with July.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 20.4% year on year, while prices in the category rose by 0.2% on a monthly basis.
Transport prices increased by 24.2% annually and by 0.2% compared with the previous month.
Prices in restaurants and hotels rose by 15.6% year on year and increased by 2% on a monthly basis.
The data show that prices of local products increased by 17.4% year on year and by 2.1% month on month. Prices of imported products increased by 10.8% annually and by 0.7% monthly.
Fresh product prices increased by 20.9% year on year and by 5.8% compared with July.
Energy prices recorded the largest annual increase, rising by 45.4%, while increasing by 0.2% on a monthly basis.
Meanwhile, the general CPI excluding fresh products and energy increased by 11.5% year on year and by 0.7% month on month.
Transport prices rose by 24.2% year on year in August 2026, contributing to Rwanda’s overall inflation rate of 15.7%.
People who drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage every day may face a substantially higher risk of developing stomach cancer, according to new research from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute.
The study, which analyzed data from 112,284 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, found that people who consumed at least one serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage each day had 2.45 times the risk of developing gastric cancer compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month.
The researchers followed participants over several decades, collecting detailed information about their diets, lifestyles and health. During the follow-up period, 278 participants developed gastric cancer.
The association was observed in both men and women. Among women in the Nurses’ Health Study, those who consumed more than one sugar-sweetened beverage per day had a 3.04-fold higher risk of gastric cancer compared with women who rarely consumed such drinks.
The study also found that higher overall consumption of fructose, the main sweetener in many sugar-sweetened beverages, was associated with a higher incidence of gastric cancer.
Researchers defined sugar-sweetened beverages as carbonated drinks, punch, lemonade and sports drinks.
By comparison, greater consumption of artificially sweetened beverages was not associated with an increased incidence of gastric cancer after accounting for other factors.
The researchers also examined whether infection with Helicobacter pylori, commonly known as H. pylori, could help explain the association.
The bacterium is a known risk factor for gastric cancer. However, among the 940 participants for whom H. pylori information was available, researchers found no association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and H. pylori infection.
Andrew T. Chan, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and the study’s senior author, said the research was the first to demonstrate an association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and gastric cancer in a US population.
However, the researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer.
The study was observational, meaning it identified an association rather than establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.
Other factors may have contributed to the higher cancer rates among people who consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages.
The researchers also noted limitations, including limited information about participants’ H. pylori status and family histories of gastric cancer.
In addition, most participants were white, meaning the findings may not apply equally across all racial and ethnic groups.
Despite these limitations, the researchers said the study benefited from its large population and the detailed health, diet and lifestyle information collected over many years.
Daily consumption of sugary drinks was associated with a higher risk of stomach cancer in a long-term study.
The appointment was announced in a statement signed by Bishop Mwumvaneza on September 8, 2026.
In the statement, Bishop Mwumvaneza said the appointment was made after considering the weight of the responsibilities involved in administering Nyundo Diocese and the abilities of the person selected to carry them out.
He cited Father Habarugira Karekezi’s integrity, spiritual and intellectual abilities, theological knowledge and dedication to Church service.
“We appoint Father Léonidas Habarugira Karekezi as Vicar General of our Diocese of Nyundo,” Bishop Mwumvaneza said.
As Vicar General, Father Karekezi will oversee the ordinary administrative affairs of the diocese, except matters specifically reserved for the bishop or those requiring the bishop’s prior authorization.
Bishop Mwumvaneza called on clerics and Catholics in Nyundo Diocese to welcome and support Monsignor Karekezi in his new responsibilities.
The appointment follows the death of Monsignor Nsengumuremyi, who had served as Vicar General of Nyundo Diocese since 2001. He continued serving in the position after Bishop Mwumvaneza became Bishop of Nyundo Diocese in 2016.
Monsignor Nsengumuremyi was ordained priest in 1977 and died on August 30, 2026, aged 76, succumbing to low blood pressure.
Father Léonidas Habarugira Karekezi has been appointed as the new Vicar General of Nyundo Diocese.
Mushikiwabo was elected Secretary General of the OIF in 2018 and took office in January 2019. She was re-elected for a second term in 2022 in Djerba, Tunisia, with the support of all member states, becoming the first African woman to lead the organisation.
The OIF currently brings together 90 states and governments representing more than 396 million French speakers worldwide.
As Mushikiwabo’s second term approaches its end, she is seeking a third mandate in an election that also features candidates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania and Romania.
It is also a moment to look at what her seven years at the helm have delivered, with the figures highlighting programmes and reforms that have strengthened the OIF’s existing foundations and continue to shape its future priorities.
Since 2019, the OIF says it has mobilised €336 million, with 97% of its activities implemented.
During the same period, the organisation introduced annual financial audits conducted by an independent external body as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in its financial management.
Women’s economic empowerment has been another major area of activity. In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the OIF launched the “La Francophonie avec Elles” fund to support women’s economic independence.
The programme has since reached nearly 100,000 women through 354 projects implemented in 36 countries. According to the OIF, the average income of women benefiting from the initiatives has tripled.
The organisation has also increased its engagement with young people. Through “La Francophonie de l’avenir”, more than 10,000 young people in 134 countries were consulted on the priorities they want the OIF to address in the coming years.
The Covid-19 pandemic also prompted the organisation to create initiatives connecting young people and supporting technology-based responses to challenges created by the crisis. Within two weeks, about 60 youth-led projects were identified, including initiatives focused on transport, food delivery and access to medicines.
Digital skills have since become a central area of the OIF’s work through the D-CLIC programme, which aims to increase the number of young people receiving technology-related training from 20,000 to 100,000.
The organisation has also launched CAP Innovation to support young entrepreneurs in Francophone countries as they develop innovation-based projects. Artificial intelligence has emerged as another area of focus as the OIF considers technologies likely to shape the future of French-speaking countries.
Education and language have also featured prominently in its programmes. Through ELAN, the OIF has reached 12 million students, using 46 African languages and working with about 230,000 teachers. The programme promotes early literacy and learning in children’s mother tongues before they transition to French.
The focus on Africa is particularly significant for the OIF, with projections indicating that by 2050, the majority of French speakers worldwide will be on the continent.
Mushikiwabo’s seven years at the OIF have also brought changes to the way its Secretary General is elected. The organisation previously relied heavily on consensus among member states, while the revised system gives each country one vote and allows candidates to compete more openly.
The new system will be applied in the 2026 election. On June 30, all four candidates appeared before foreign ministers of OIF member states to present their visions and answer questions, an exercise that had not previously taken place in the organisation’s 56-year history.
Mushikiwabo is competing against Juliana Amato Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritanian candidate Coumba Ba and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș.
Her bid for a third term has attracted support from many countries. At the Francophonie Ministerial Conference held in Kigali in November 2025, the call for her to seek another mandate initially came from two countries before the number of countries expressing support rose to more than 15 by the end of the meeting.
Rwanda has also stepped up efforts to rally support for her candidacy, with senior officials travelling to Francophonie member states, carrying messages from President Paul Kagame to heads of state.
Louise Mushikiwabo was elected OIF Secretary General in 2018 and took office in January 2019, becoming the first African woman to lead the organisation.
The players, coaches and accompanying officials arrived at Kigali International Airport in Kanombe in the early hours of Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The team arrived in Rwanda a day after another delegation representing the club had travelled to Kigali to prepare for its arrival.
The first leg, played in Cameroon, ended in a 1-1 draw. The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at Amahoro Stadium.
The winner between Rayon Sports and Panthère Sportive du Ndé will face the winner of the second-round tie between Comoros’ Atomic Ngomé and Mozambique’s African Black Bulls in the second preliminary round, scheduled for October.
The Cameroonian side touched down in Kigali ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter at Amahoro Stadium.Panthère Sportive du Ndé players arrive at Kigali International Airport ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup return leg against Rayon Sports.Panthère Sportive du Ndé coaches arrive in Kigali with players.
