Initially, Niewiadoma admitted she arrived with doubts, worried about health risks and focused only on making it safely to race day. But once she began exploring Kigali and its surroundings, her perspective shifted. She described it as a “heart-opening moment” that helped her discover compassion and connection with people she had never met.
She said the joy of children running alongside the roads especially moved her. “Seeing all the kids splits my heart in half. I feel for them, but at the same time I see joy and happiness in their eyes.”
At one point, Niewiadoma and her compatriot Marta Lach were captured on video handing out candies to schoolchildren who cheered them during training. Reflecting on the moment, she remarked, “The more we open up to people, the more smiles.”
Niewiadoma added that while outsiders may believe children in Rwanda need help, the opposite can also be true. “Probably they are actually helping us, softening our hearts,” she reflected.
The Polish star concluded that her experience in Rwanda reminded her of the deeper lessons of sport and travel. “Travelling teaches you life, kindness, love and understanding for others, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Niewiadoma, who rides for Canyon–SRAM, won the Tour de France in 2024 after securing the climber’s jersey in the same race a year earlier. She will line up for Poland in the women’s road race on Saturday, September 27.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 26, 2025, Lappartient praised the successful staging of the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, the first time the event has been held in Africa.
He said the event was “really perfectly organised”, adding that even officials who had doubts were convinced once they arrived: “When they arrived here, they thought, ‘Wow, that’s really perfectly organised.’”
Lappartient also highlighted the hospitality and atmosphere in Kigali: “It’s safe, it’s beautiful, and the people are very friendly, happy to be here. A lot of smiles on their faces… I can feel also the African spirit, and that’s something really nice.”
He noted that many of his colleagues had never been to Africa and came with different expectations: “They had the image of Africa that is not really at the level of Rwanda that we can witness today. They were really impressed by everything here.”
Asked whether Africa could host more major competitions, Lappartient affirmed, highlighting Rwanda as a potential host for the Mountain Bike World Championships.
“Yes, I think it will be possible. I’m sure that mountain biking can be organised one day. You have everything needed to host it.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring that cycling grows beyond Europe, saying the UCI is “always very careful to really have the events worldwide, not only located in Europe.”
Looking ahead, he pointed to Rwanda’s potential to host more regular races as a legacy of the 2025 championships: “It would be good that, as a kind of legacy of these championships, we can even have more races here in the country… You need to compete, and we will not be able to bring everybody to race in Europe. So we need to have races here.”
Lappartient, who was recently re-elected to lead the UCI until 2029, also underlined the federation’s global vision. After Kigali, the next cities set to host the UCI Road World Championships are Montreal, Canada (2026); the French Alps, France (2027); Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2028); Roskilde, Denmark (2029); Brussels, Belgium (2030); and Trentino, Italy (2031).
Adams made the remarks during the official inauguration of the ‘Field of Dreams cycling facility, built in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, Bugesera District.
The event was attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Israel’s Ambassador to Rwanda Einat Weiss; Serge Gasore, founder of the Gasore Foundation; Richard Mutabazi, Mayor of Bugesera District, Shaul Haztir, CEO of Winner Rwanda, and other dignitaries.
The project was launched in February 2022 as part of the #RaceForChange initiative, an effort to advance cycling and promote positive social transformation.
The facility features two cycling tracks, a pump track and a race track, both designed to nurture cycling talent and improve the well-being of children in Bugesera and across East Africa, according to Gasore.
“I remember when we first planned this project this was just an empty field,” Gasore said. “Now you can see exciting activities happening here, from basic skills development to talent growth. Today, we host around 500 children every weekend who come to ride for free.”
“We have children like Uwera Aline, who started riding here and, after just nine months, competed internationally. Alongside her regular studies, she is now skilled in coffee processing and is set to take a leading role in these programs,” he added.
Minister Mukazayire urged the children to make the most of the opportunity: “You must not waste this chance. Sports infrastructure like this is one of our key pillars to promote sports and develop your talents,” she said.
Speaking at the event, Sylvan Adams explained that Rwanda’s past shaped his commitment to investing in sports that bring people together.
“The history of Rwanda, especially the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, calls on everyone to contribute to the unity and reconciliation of its people. Sports are a powerful tool to help communities live together peacefully and thrive. This is something Rwanda and Israel have in common,” Adams said.
The investment, supported by Winner Rwanda, is valued at about $40 million. It includes a school offering education from nursery through the fourth year of secondary school, alongside specialized cycling training.
The center is equipped with a technology-driven cycling training hub, spectator facilities for live races, a bike garage, and administrative offices. The pump track is designed for mountain and BMX bikes, while the race track accommodates traditional road bikes.
In partnership with Bugesera District, the initiative also established the Bugesera Women’s Cycling Team, affiliated with the Gasore Serge Foundation.
At just 18 years old, Hudson stunned a world-class field and an electric Rwandan crowd by attacking from 36 kilometres out and never looking back. He crossed the finish line alone in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 19 seconds, becoming the first British rider ever to take the junior men’s road race rainbow jersey.
{{High speed, relentless early action
}}
The 119.3-kilometre race, comprising eight punishing laps of Kigali’s hilly, cobbled circuit, started fast under brilliant sunshine. Big nations like France, Italy, Belgium, and Austria immediately drove the pace, while fans lined the streets, waving flags and ringing bells.
Early on, American Beckham Drake made the first serious move, stretching his lead to over a minute. Behind him, riders including France’s Johan Blanc and Austria’s Heimo Fugger tried to organise counters. The peloton was restless, with constant surges and break attempts.
By the halfway mark, Drake was still clear but fading, and the main group, including heavy favourites Spain’s Benjamin Noval and Italy’s Mattia Agostinacchio, closed the gap. The race was wide open.
{{Hudson seizes his chance
}}
Spotting a moment of hesitation after another flurry of attacks, Hudson launched. “I just saw the pace drop a bit, so I went,” he explained after the finish, still catching his breath. What began as a bold gamble quickly turned into a solo masterclass.
Behind, frantic organisation tried to form — with the Netherlands’ Daan Dijkman pulling, Italy responding — but nothing stuck. Hudson’s lead grew to nearly 40 seconds as the crowd fired him up.
{{The final test: Noval’s charge and heartbreak
}}
With one lap remaining, Spanish powerhouse Benjamin Noval surged on the Côte de Kimihurura climb, clawing Hudson’s gap down to just fifteen seconds. But disaster struck: Noval suddenly crashed on a straight section with less than three kilometres to go, ending his medal hopes.
France’s Johan Blanc was left alone to chase, while Poland’s Jan Michal Jackowiak tried a desperate late bridge. But Hudson, gritting his teeth and hammering the cobbled rise into downtown Kigali, refused to break.
Hudson entered the finishing straight alone, soaking in deafening cheers before punching the air in triumph. He clocked 2:55:19, with Blanc arriving for silver at 2:55:35 (+16 seconds) and Jackowiak matching that time but taking bronze. Britain’s dominance was clear with Max Hinds and Matthew Peace in fourth and fifth.
“It’s still sinking in,” Hudson said, smiling through exhaustion. “I thought I’d be caught with a lap to go… but somehow, I stayed away. Winning my first world title here, in Africa, is just unbelievable.”
{{Home pride for Rwanda
}}
Rwanda, hosting its first Road World Championships, had plenty to cheer for. Moïse Ntirenganya battled through the demanding race and was among just 66 finishers out of 142 starters, crossing in 3:09:32 (+14:13). Fellow Rwandan Jackson Nkurikiyinka rode bravely but abandoned on lap five after an intense opening half.
{{Men’s Junior Road Race — Top 10 Results
}}
1. Harry Hudson (GBR) – 2:55:19
2. Johan Blanc (FRA) – 2:55:35 (+0:16)
3. Jan Michal Jackowiak (POL) – 2:55:35 (+0:16)
4. Max Hinds (GBR) – 2:55:41 (+0:22)
5. Matthew Peace (GBR) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
6. Édouard Claisse (BEL) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
7. Elias Wandel (SWE) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
8. Daan Dijkman (NED) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
9. Moritz Mauss (GER) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
10. Benedikt Benz (GER) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, it was officially confirmed that Mugisha would be replaced by Patrick Byukusenge on Rwanda’s national team for the road race scheduled on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
During the Tour du Rwanda 2025 held in February, Mugisha was involved in a crash that left a shock on two front teeth, though he continued racing afterward.
Despite the pain, he resumed training with the goal of competing at the ongoing UCI World Championships in Kigali. He even took part in the opening day of the event, finishing 31st in the Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial.
However, after that race, his pain intensified significantly, making it impossible to continue training. On Thursday, September 25, he was admitted to King Faisal Hospital in Kigali to receive treatment for the infection in his teeth.
Speaking to IGIHE, Mugisha expressed disappointment but said he is shifting his focus to upcoming continental competitions: “It happens, but I’m really sad. I have a serious problem. My target now is the African Championships,” he said.
For Sunday’s main road race — the highlight event of the UCI Road World Championships taking place in Kigali — Rwanda will be represented by Eric Manizabayo, Vainqueur Masengesho, Patrick Byukusenge, Eric Muhoza, Eric Nkundabera, and Nsengiyumva Shemu.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ahead of Netanyahu’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I will not allow it. It’s not gonna happen.”
When pressed by journalists on whether he had personally discussed the issue with Netanyahu, Trump was non-committal: “Whether I spoke to him or not, I’m not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank.”
The comments came just months after the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a non-binding motion in July 2025 supporting annexation of parts of the occupied territory, a move championed by far-right Israeli leaders such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
These leaders have also been pushing for settlement expansion that critics warn could end any remaining prospects for a two-state solution.
Trump’s remarks directly contradict this momentum and have the potential to strain U.S.–Israel relations.
According to Al Jazeera, analysts cautioned that while the president’s statement was significant, it did not include details of how he would enforce such a policy if faced with an Israeli annexation plan.
Some observers warned that without clear diplomatic or economic measures, the pledge could remain symbolic.
The annexation issue has drawn global concern. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and must be dismantled, urging the return of occupied land to Palestinians.
In February 2025, M23 captured the area of Kitsombiro in Lubero after intense clashes with the DRC’s armed forces (FARDC).
More than eight months later, on the morning of September 25, 2025, various media outlets reported that M23 had deployed additional troops and weapons in this territory to strengthen its control over areas such as Kipese, Katondi, Munyakandomi, Vulera, and Kirumba.
Residents of these areas have expressed concern that the group could once again engage in heavy fighting with the Congolese army, with the aim of seizing key commercial towns including Butembo, Kanyabayonga, and Lubero.
M23 has not only increased its presence in Lubero but has also bolstered its forces in the localities of Rusamambu and Bukumbirwa, signaling plans to expand its control to other parts of South Kivu Province.
The AFC/M23 continues to strengthen its capabilities and influence. In recent days, the group recruited 7,437 new fighters who had undergone six months of military training at the Rumangabo military base in North Kivu Province.
These recruits include former FARDC soldiers as well as members of the Wazalendo coalition who joined M23 after capturing cities such as Goma and Bukavu.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s 80th session in New York, he voiced concern over the DRC’s renewed militarization and alliances with groups such as the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, accusing them of using attack drones and fighter jets against civilians, especially the Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi communities.
“This goes against the letter and spirit of the Washington peace agreement,” he declared, referring to the comprehensive framework signed in June 2025 under the mediation of the U.S. President Donald Trump.
[The agreement->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-drc-sign-historic-peace-agreement-in-washington], encompassing security, political, and economic components, was hailed as a “golden opportunity” to end a decades-long conflict rooted in bad governance, marginalization, and genocide ideology.
Despite promising meetings in Washington to implement the agreement, Nduhungirehe lamented that “progress has been moving slowly.” He accused the DRC of violating international conventions, including the 1977 OAU – Organisation of African Unity and 1989 UN conventions against the use of mercenaries, by supporting a coalition backed by foreign forces.
“Rwanda condemns these developments and calls on the DRC to reject the military solution and implement in good faith the Washington peace agreement which is a golden opportunity to end this conflict that has lasted for far too long,” he urged, emphasizing that peace in Eastern DRC is in everyone’s best interest.
{{MONUSCO’s failure and the rise of genocidal militias}}
The minister sharply criticized the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, for failing to curb the proliferation of armed groups since its establishment in 1999.
He highlighted its collaboration with a military coalition that includes the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group subject to over 20 Security Council resolutions calling for its neutralization.
“There is an urgent need to review the legal conformity of MONUSCO’s mandate,” Nduhungirehe stated, pointing to the mission’s ineffectiveness in addressing the DRC-backed FDLR.
Of particular alarm was the emergence of the Wazalendo militia, armed and supported by the DRC government, which Amb. Nduhungirehe accused of committing atrocities reminiscent of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
“Their brutality, methods, and ideology bear an alarming resemblance to that of the genocidal militia of 1994, in Rwanda” he warned, citing abuses such as burning villages, lynching civilians, and arming children for ethnic cleansing. He called for “strong action” to halt this dangerous development before it escalates further.
{{Genocide ideology and international complicity}}
Drawing on Rwanda’s own history, Amb. Nduhungirehe underscored the persistence of genocide ideology in Eastern DRC, particularly targeting Congolese Tutsi and the Banyamulenge community.
“The targeting, persecution, and massacre of Congolese Tutsi, including the Banyamulenge community amounts to crimes against humanity which have all the early warning signs of a genocide,” he said, stressing that genocide follows clear stages defined by international law.
He condemned the international community and the UN for turning a blind eye to these atrocities, accusing the DRC of complicity by financing and arming groups with a “proven genocidal record.”
“No amount of calculated cynicism can rewrite the truth and recast perpetrators as victims,” he asserted, dismissing claims of economic motives as “corruption, bad governance, and embezzlement of public funds.”
Rwanda, having risen from the ashes of the 1994 genocide, has placed human dignity and accountability at the core of its governance.
Amb. Nduhungirehe thanked the UN for establishing April 7 as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and commended the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for prosecuting perpetrators.
However, he urged the international community to act decisively to prevent a repeat of related atrocities in the DRC.
{{Rwanda’s broader vision for peace and development}}
Beyond the DRC crisis, Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to global peace and sustainable development.
He called for UN Security Council reform, noting that Africa, with its 1.2 billion people, deserves permanent membership given its centrality to the Council’s conflict agenda.
He also emphasized Rwanda’s alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, advocating for a shift from aid to trade to foster self-reliance among developing nations.
“Development aid must serve as a tool for solidarity and progress, not as a weapon of coercion,” he said.
The minister highlighted Rwanda’s leadership in peacekeeping, including its championing of the 2015 Kigali Principles on civilian protection and the revitalization of the African Union Peace Fund, which has mobilized over $400 million.
Rwanda’s bilateral peace efforts in the Central African Republic and Mozambique have also advanced South-South cooperation and Pan-African solidarity.
In closing, Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda’s readiness to work with UN member states to strengthen the organization’s role in peace, justice, and sustainable development.
“While the challenges and solutions for multilateralism are clear, it is political will that must guide us today to build a UN fit for purpose,” he said, urging collective action to address human rights abuses, climate change, and global interconnectedness for future generations.
“Its expiry would not only undermine those gains, but also remove the link to the Generalized System of Preferences, which has been so critical to many of our exporters,” Ramaphosa said.
Speaking at the South Africa-U.S. Trade and Investment Dialogue on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa said industries such as agriculture and automotive manufacturing have significantly benefited from AGOA.
Implemented by former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s administration in 2000, AGOA provides duty-free treatment to goods from designated sub-Saharan African countries.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the problems between South Africa and the United States, particularly since January this year. “New challenges have emerged in our trade relationship, not least the reciprocal tariffs recently imposed on South African exports. These measures have already disrupted supply chains and created uncertainty for both our exporters and American importers,” Ramaphosa said.
At the 20th AGOA Forum in Johannesburg in November 2023, leaders and trade ministers called for a longer extension of the act and for its expansion to support greater investment, including the building of factories. However, the recent imposition of the U.S. tariffs on African countries has cast uncertainty over the future of AGOA.
The final stretch of the race proved to be a nail-biting conclusion. Gery, who started in 13th place after lap 1, steadily improved her position with each passing lap. By lap 5, she was already in 3rd place, but a challenging 6th lap saw her drop to 15th. Undeterred, Gery fought back and surged to the front in the final laps. Supported by her teammate Marion Bunel, who finished 5th, just 12 seconds behind Gery, the two French riders worked together to hold off the competition, allowing Gery to claim victory.
“It’s unbelievable. It was a long wait, but it’s amazing. It was a masterpiece for the team. There were only three of us, but we managed to race perfectly. We had three very strong girls, and Marion was amazing at the finish,” Gery said.
Slovakia’s Viktoria Chladonová took the silver medal, finishing just 2 seconds behind Gery with a time of 3:24:28. Chladonová had a strong start and led for much of the race, but despite a valiant early effort and her sprint finish, she couldn’t hold off the relentless pace set by Gery and her teammate.
Spain’s Paula Blasi Cairol earned the bronze medal with a time of 3:24:38, just 12 seconds behind Gery. Blasi Cairol maintained a steady pace throughout the race, ultimately securing her spot on the podium.
Italy’s Eleonora Ciabocco had a brief moment in the lead at lap 5, but she struggled to hold onto her position as the race progressed. She eventually finished 4th in the same time as Blasi Cairol, 3:24:38.
One of the standout moments of the race came from Sweden’s Kagevi Stina, who made a daring breakaway with 10 kilometers to go, gaining a 26-second lead. However, as the race reached its climax, the pack reeled her in, and she finished 11th.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Malwina Mul made a stunning comeback after initially falling behind. With incredible acceleration at kilometer 24, she gained a 10-second lead and briefly set herself apart from the field. However, she too fell short of the podium, finishing outside the top 10.
{{Tough day for local riders
}}
It was a tough day for Rwanda’s local riders, as none of them managed to finish the race. Mwamikazi Jazilla, Nyirarukundo Claudette, Ntakirutimana Martha, and Iragena Charlotte all dropped out at various points in the race. Jazilla left on lap 7, Nyirarukundo on lap 6, Ntakirutimana on lap 5, and Iragena on lap 3. Only 35 riders out of the starting field managed to complete the demanding race.
