The session provided updates on Rwanda’s internal and external security situation, as well as the RDF’s ongoing contributions to UN peacekeeping missions and bilateral military operations.
In his welcoming remarks, Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence, emphasised that the security brief held, helps in strengthening mutual understanding and contributes to collaborative approach to promote peace across the region and beyond.
Following a series of presentations, and an extensive interactive session, the representative of the DA Association, Brig Gen Emmanuel Shillingi said that they were grateful for regular security briefings and reiterated that they provide invaluable insights into the host nation’s perspectives, as well as internal and regional security dynamics.
He also affirmed their commitment to strengthening, promoting and preserving cooperation and mutual understanding as partners in development.
The event was attended by 22 Defence Attachés and Associates representing various countries and international organisations.
These include Angola, China, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Japan, Jordan, Mauritania, Namibia, Qatar, South Korea, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the European Union (EU), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Israel intended to take control of all of Gaza to “assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza,” Netanyahu said on Thursday in an interview with Fox News ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting.
“We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life,” he said.
In response, Hamas said in a statement that it considers Netanyahu’s statements to represent “a clear reversal of the course of negotiations and reveal the true motives behind his withdrawal from the final round.”
At least 9,752 Palestinians have been killed and 40,004 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes in Gaza on March 18, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 61,258, and injuries to 152,045, Gaza-based health authorities said Thursday.
The wildfire, dubbed the Canyon fire, broke out around 1:25 p.m. local time (2025 GMT) near Piru, a small historic town located in eastern Ventura County and around 77 km northwest of Los Angeles. The blaze grew rapidly to over 1,000 acres (around 4.05 square km) in hours with no containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Local officials issued multiple evacuation orders and warnings for some communities near the fire in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
“Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access,” said Cal Fire in its evacuation orders.
“The Canyon Fire is spreading fast under extreme heat and dry conditions near Ventura-LA County line,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger in a post on X, urging residents in the area to “take evacuation orders seriously — when first responders say GO, leave immediately.”
The temperature in the area reached 37.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with 15-17 percent humidity, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.
The arrest took place on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Kigali. RIB confirmed that the suspects are currently being held at Kimihurura and Kicukiro RIB stations as investigations continue.
The suspects are accused of abusing their positions for personal gain and engaging in practices that violate both the law and ethical standards in public service.
Prof. Munyaneza had served as WASAC’s CEO until July 2025, when he was replaced following concerns over the corporation’s management and service delivery.
RIB said the arrests followed credible reports and evidence provided by citizens and stakeholders, commending members of the public who came forward to report the alleged misconduct.
If found guilty, the suspects could face penalties under Rwanda’s anti-corruption laws, which impose heavy prison sentences and fines for public officials found guilty of abusing their office.
RIB reiterated its commitment to fighting corruption and unethical practices in all public institutions, calling on the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities that undermine transparency and good governance.
Prof. Munyaneza, born in 1973, holds a PhD in Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Management from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.
He has extensive experience in water management, having taught the subject for many years at the University of Rwanda. He also previously served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors at WASAC.
President Tshisekedi described the new cabinet as a “government of national unity,” highlighting that it includes members of the opposition who agreed to work with him in addressing the pressing challenges facing the country.
Several ministers from the previous administration have been reappointed. These include Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita as Minister of Defense, and Jacquemain Shabani who returns as Minister of Interior.
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was reappointed as Minister of Transport and Communications, while Patrick Muyaya continues in his role as Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson.
New faces in the cabinet include opposition figure Adolphe Muzito, now appointed as Minister of Finance; Guillaume Ngefa-Atondoko Andali as Minister of Justice; Eliezer Ntambwe, who will oversee veteran affairs; and Floribert Azuluni as Minister of Regional Cooperation.
Notably, no members of the ECIDé party, led by opposition politician Martin Fayulu, were included in the new government, despite earlier expectations following their June 2025 agreement to cooperate in addressing national issues.
Other major opposition parties, such as the PPRD of former President Joseph Kabila and Ensemble led by Moïse Katumbi, were also excluded from the new cabinet. The government has accused these groups of collaborating with what it calls “the enemy” of the Congolese state.
The Congolese government has been fighting the M23 rebel group which re-emerged in late 2021, claiming to fight for rights of marginalized Tutsi communities in DR Congo.
Since then, the rebel group has taken control of large parts of eastern Congo, including key cities such as Goma and Bukavu.
Residents in the occupied areas report a sense of restored peace, with M23 pledging to continue providing protection amid ongoing attacks from the Congolese armed coalition that was previously expelled from the region.
U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa made the remarks after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace.
He said the United States will “work directly with the Israelis to ensure a full withdrawal in exchange for the Lebanese army’s deployment,” which, he said, is “essential to prevent southern Lebanon from being a launchpad for rockets and to protect its residents.”
The United States will continue to provide equipment, training, and diplomatic backing — under the leadership of the Lebanese government alone, the congressman added.
Responding to questions about Hezbollah’s rejection of disarmament, Issa stressed that there is only one government, one president, and one legal armed force — the Lebanese army.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Andrea Tenenti, announced in a statement Thursday that its forces, in coordination with the Lebanese army, discovered “an extensive network of fortified tunnels” in the vicinity of the villages of Tayr Harfa, Zebqine, and the town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon.
“The discovery included a number of bunkers, artillery pieces, multiple rocket launchers, as well as hundreds of shells and rockets, anti-tank mines, and other explosive devices.”
The UNIFIL had previously reported the discovery of more than 225 weapons and ammunition caches at various locations.
In an updated statement on Thursday, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, said one Syrian was killed, and two Lebanese injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Deir Seryan in southern Lebanon a day earlier.
The official Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes launched intense airstrikes Wednesday night on multiple areas in southern Lebanon, targeting Lebanese Hezbollah sites. Firefighting and ambulance teams faced difficulties in reaching the area due to the intensity of the strikes.
Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by the United States and France, has been in effect. It ended the confrontations that erupted between the two sides due to the war in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are to eliminate Hezbollah “threats.” It has also maintained its forces in five key positions in the Lebanese border area after a deadline for full withdrawal expired on Feb. 18.
Ingabire faces six criminal charges, including forming a criminal group, inciting unrest, undermining the government, disseminating false information intended to discredit the state abroad, spreading rumours, and planning acts intended to destabilise public order.
On August 4, Ingabire appeared before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court to appeal the lower court’s July ruling, seeking provisional release. She submitted eight arguments in support of her request, challenging the legality of her continued detention.
Her appeal cited, among others, alleged procedural violations, the expiration of statutory limits on certain charges, inconsistencies between the law used to detain her and constitutional provisions, and the assertion that she had not been granted adequate legal representation. Ingabire argued that her preferred lawyer from Kenya had been denied temporary practice rights in Rwanda.
In its ruling, the court found that Ingabire had been adequately represented by Me Gatera Gashabana throughout all proceedings, and dismissed claims of legal misrepresentation. It further ruled that the Prosecution had acted within its rights in submitting its response through the court’s electronic filing system, even if submitted late.
The court also rejected Ingabire’s challenge to the constitutionality of Article 106, which was used as the legal basis for her detention. It held that the issue was not directly relevant to the decision taken by the lower court.
Addressing the defence’s claim that certain charges, such as inciting public disorder and spreading rumours, were time-barred, the court concluded that investigations were ongoing and that the alleged offences continued to have legal effect, particularly in the case of online content that remains publicly accessible.
The court cited several elements to justify continued detention, including audio recordings allegedly involving Ingabire and others discussing protest planning, testimony from associates, and digital evidence linked to platforms such as YouTube and Umubavu TV. It also referenced communication between Ingabire and alleged co-conspirators, including messages instructing the distribution of anti-government leaflets.
Claims that the evidence was unlawfully obtained were also dismissed, with the court noting that such matters would be considered at the substantive trial stage rather than during the remand process.
The court ultimately found that the prosecution had presented sufficient grounds to justify Ingabire’s continued detention as investigations proceed, and ruled that she remain held at Nyarugenge Prison in Mageragere.
Scheduled for 28–30 October 2025, the course marks a significant milestone in the continent’s development of para-sport coaching capacity.
This hands-on course, also known as “Part B,” is designed for club coaches and national team assistants who have completed or will complete “Part A,” the online theoretical module, by 1 October 2025.
Held at the NPC Rwanda Gymnasium in Remera, the training will be led by Dr. Mosaad Rashad Elaiuty (Egypt) and Nathan Pretorius (South Africa), both certified World ParaVolley coaching tutors.
Rwanda has emerged as a continental leader in Sitting Volleyball, with national teams earning recognition for their outstanding performances across Africa.
However, the number of certified Rwandan coaches and African coaches in general with advanced knowledge of the sport remains low. Many still rely on techniques from regular volleyball rather than Sitting Volleyball-specific training.
To address this gap, the National Paralympic Committee of Rwanda (NPC-Rwanda), in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, approached World ParaVolley to request permission to host a specialised training course aimed at building the capacity of African coaches and others interested from beyond the continent.
“We have been granted the opportunity to host this training, and it’s a chance to elevate our coaches from Level 1 to Level 2,” said Jean Baptiste Murema, President of NPC-Rwanda, the organising body.
“This means we’ll have Rwandan coaches with proper knowledge of the game, rather than relying on what they’ve seen on TV or elsewhere. We hope that at least 30 coaches will emerge from the training with solid expertise, which will help establish Rwanda as a hub for this sport, as we envision.”
Participants are expected to arrive in Kigali by the evening of 28 October. The two-day course will run from 29 to 30 October, with departures set for the evening of 30 October.
The USD 220 fee, payable to the Rwandan Paralympic Committee, covers tuition, accommodation (at the Five to Five Hotel in Remera), meals, and local transport. International travel and visa expenses are the responsibility of participants. Those who have not yet begun the online “Part A” must also pay a €100 course registration fee to World ParaVolley.
The course will be conducted entirely in English and is open to both African and international participants.
He made the remarks during a training session held in July 2025, which brought together district-level representatives of nurses and midwives affiliated with RNMU.
Gitembagara pointed out that the nursing and midwifery professions remain economically underdeveloped, making it vital for professionals in these fields to explore alternative sources of income to boost their financial security.
“When you look at many nurses, they earn around 200,000 Rwandan Francs, whether in rural or urban areas, and this amount is often insufficient to invest in even a small side business,” he said. “We are currently in discussions with Muganga SACCO to explore support programmes that can facilitate these projects.”
He further emphasised that supporting professionals in this field also contributes to women’s empowerment, as approximately 65% of nurses and midwives are women.
The training also covered key topics related to labour rights and the legal frameworks governing the nursing and midwifery professions. Participants were equipped with knowledge on how to protect and advocate for their rights in the workplace.
Legal expert Hobess Nkundimana highlighted that nurses and midwives often dedicate the majority of their time to work, which can make them vulnerable to unfair treatment due to limited legal awareness.
“Understanding labour laws will help them contribute meaningfully to human resource management processes, ensuring that decisions are made fairly — whether in favour of the employer or the employee,” Nkundimana said.
Rwanda currently has over 14,000 nurses and midwives in active practice, with more than 12,000 registered under RNMU.
The two-day training was attended by representatives from all 30 districts across the country.
The membership was formalised on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, during a charter signing ceremony at SONARWA Life’s headquarters in Kigali. The event brought together senior executives, financial sector leaders and partners, marking what participants described as a “critical step” towards more inclusive leadership in the industry.
In his remarks, Isaïe Muhoza, Acting CEO of Rwanda’s leading life insurance company, said the company’s decision to join WIFR was not symbolic, but a strategic and values-driven move to institutionalise gender equity across all levels of its operations.
“This membership is not a ceremonial act—it is a serious commitment to systemic change,” Muhoza said. “Today, as SONARWA Life, we make a public commitment to ensuring that women have equal opportunities to grow, lead, and shape the future at our organisation and in the financial sector.”
Muhoza said gender inclusion is embedded in the company’s recruitment, assessment, and promotion practices, noting that building diverse teams was key to delivering sustainable business impact and serving customers better.
SONARWA Life’s entrance into WIFR also presented an opportunity to empower the company’s young female professionals. Three staff members, Esther Mugisha, Ingrid Isimbi, and Chantal Ikirenga, were awarded scholarships to pursue professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI).
Muhoza celebrated the awarding of scholarships to three female employees, calling them “the future of ethical leadership in the sector.”
Speaking on behalf of the scholars, Esther Mugisha, a Corporate Business Officer at SONARWA Life, expressed gratitude to both WIFR and the company’s leadership.
“This gesture is not only a testament to your commitment to empowering young women professionals in the finance sector, but also a great encouragement for us to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Rwanda’s financial industry,” Mugisha said.
WIFR, a non-profit network launched in 2023, champions diversity and inclusion within Rwanda’s financial services industry. Its work spans banking, insurance, investment, and microfinance, with a focus on, among others, building capacity, promoting mentorship, and advocating for gender-responsive policies.
Annie Nibishaka, CEO of Old Mutual Rwanda and an institutional member of WIFR, welcomed SONARWA Life into the network with a pointed reminder that Rwanda’s financial sector is at a turning point, where good intentions on gender equality must now give way to concrete action.
“The path towards gender balance in the financial sector has reached a critical moment where intention must translate into accelerated action,” Nibishaka said. “Gender balance enhances decision making, improves governance and ultimately delivers better outcomes for all.”
She highlighted some of the Foundation’s key achievements to date, including a research study on the state of women in the financial sector, mentorship cohorts with a pipeline of over 60 mentees, and partnerships with public institutions such as the Gender Monitoring Office and the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), all aimed at supporting the organisation’s mission.
Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Gatera, Director of the National Standards Division at RSB, announced that Rwanda will, in October, launch the world’s first standalone gender equality certification standard during the ISO General Assembly, which the country will host.
The certification, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Gender Monitoring Office, will be free of charge and available to both public and private institutions that meet the criteria for gender equity in operations and governance.
“We’ve seen transformational change when women are empowered in the workplace,” Gatera said…I would be happy to recognise some organisations that have demonstrated their compliance with gender equality requirements, including members of Women in Finance.”
Jessica Igoma, CEO of Mayfair Insurance, said SONARWA Life’s inclusion comes at a pivotal time, as WIFR prepares to launch a dedicated insurance sector chapter. She pointed to low insurance penetration in Rwanda, currently at 2.1% compared to the global average of 7%, as a challenge that could be tackled through targeted inclusion and awareness strategies.
“Looking at some of the statistics, we have about 92% of women with no insurance in this country, but also 38% of women do not know what insurance is or how insurance works. So, this will give us a good opportunity as women in insurance to be able to create a difference,” Igoma remarked.
SONARWA Life is the fifth insurer and the fifteenth institution to join the growing list of organisations aligned with WIFR’s mission, including Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), Bank of Kigali, BRD, NCBA Rwanda, Access to Finance Rwanda, Ecobank, I&M Bank, Umwalimu Sacco, Old Mutual Insurance, Coopedu, Mayfair, Sanlam, and Zep-Re.
As part of its membership, SONARWA Life will be expected to uphold the WIFR Gender Charter, monitor internal progress, and participate in sector-wide efforts to achieve parity.
