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The FCAP equips community members with the skills to work collaboratively, make transparent decisions, and lead their own development.

Through weekly FCAP meetings, village members identify challenges, select profitable projects, and receive a seed microgrant from Spark Microgrants to bring their plans to life.

This process provides both financial assistance and expert guidance, helping residents gain the confidence to drive their own initiatives.

Community members happily report gaining valuable skills in financial management and in designing effective development plans.

Clémentine Nyirakamagaza explained that she was among the first in Bucyaba village to attend training sessions part of the FCAP. Today, she leads FCAP activities in her community.

“When FCAP started in our village, some people did not understand it and participation was low. We were trained first, then we went out to sensitize others. Those who accepted joined the groups, and together we started solving problems,” she said.

“The program gave us confidence. I realized that taking care of the household does not only mean providing food, but also paying attention to cleanliness. The training became a starting point for self-development. Today, I have been able to buy two plots of land and renovate my house,” added Nyirakamagaza.

Phineas Rwamanywa, who is differently abled, testifies how the skills he gained through the FCAP and the microgrant he received from Spark Microgrants transformed his life.

“Through FCAP and Spark Microgrants’ support, our village chose cattle farming. I was lucky to be among those selected to receive a cow. It calved, and the money from the calf, funded other development projects while continuing to rear cattle,” he said.

“As a person with a disability, FCAP did not exclude me. Instead, it showed me that anyone, no matter their condition, can work and achieve the development they aspire to,” added Rwamanywa.

Aime François Niyonsenga, the Deputy Mayor of Gakenke District in charge of Economic Development, confirmed that the project has transformed citizens’ attitudes and participation in government programs.

“This project has changed many things, especially the mindset. Citizens now actively take part in government initiatives and community projects. For example, when it comes to subscriptions for community-based health insurance [Mutuelle de Santé], they now achieve 100% coverage,” he noted.

Residents commonly use the grants provided by Spark Microgrants to invest in farming, small businesses, tailoring, and digital services including those offered through platforms such as Irembo, among others.

M Hotel, one of Rwanda’s leading hotels, has stepped up its readiness to welcome guests who will arrive for the championship. The hotel has also introduced a range of new offers and services designed to enhance the experience of visitors during this historic event.

Michael Ho, M Hotel’s Operations Manager, explained that preparations have been ongoing for months to ensure world-class service.

“We have spent more than two months preparing to welcome our guests during the championship period, in line with the tradition of excellence at M Hotel,” Ho said.

To make the event even more enjoyable for guests, the hotel has unveiled special promotions, including discounts on food and beverages.

M Hotel has long established itself as a top destination for high-profile visitors. It has hosted distinguished guests attending major international gatherings in Rwanda, such as the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the 73rd FIFA Congress.

The hotel is particularly renowned for its fine dining options, including the Panda Restaurant, which meets international standards, and two stylish bars—the “Lark” lobby bar and the “Heron” pool bar. Its modern kitchen, run by professional chefs, offers a wide variety of expertly prepared dishes.

Management has also invested in staff training to ensure exceptional service throughout the championship period.

M Hotel features 114 rooms, including both standard and VIP options, fully equipped with amenities to meet guests’ needs.

The hotel also boasts 11 conference rooms, with capacities ranging from six to 500 people, each equipped with amenities to host meetings and events smoothly.

With these preparations and innovations, M Hotel aims to be a key hub of hospitality during the UCI Road World Championships, ensuring visitors enjoy both the thrill of world-class cycling coming to Africa for the first time, and Rwanda’s renowned warmth in service.

Since the group took control of Goma late January, the operating hours of the La Corniche border post had already been extended, running from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

However, the Governor of North Kivu Province appointed by AFC/M23, Bahati Musanga Erasto, announced that starting from Friday, September 19, 2025, the crossing will operate from 6:00 a.m. until midnight.

“All residents of North Kivu, particularly those in Goma, are informed that beginning Friday, September 19, 2025, the main border post will be open daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight.”

Governor Bahati also instructed border service providers to comply with this new directive.

In July, authorities in Rubavu District noted that traffic across both the main and smaller border posts had significantly increased since M23 took control of Goma. Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 20,000 people crossed the border daily.

In 2025, that figure rose to 43,000 excluding those crossing through Kabuhanga, according to Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa.

Users of the main and small border include traders, buyers, workers, visitors, and tourists traveling between the two sides.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the party intends to bring back the plan during a recent interview with GB News, where he responded to questions about the scheme’s effectiveness.

Asked how many migrants had been sent to Rwanda while Conservatives were last in government, Philp noted that none were removed due to a protracted legal battle that delayed the process, except for four who moved voluntarily.

Philp added that preparations were completed and the government was ready to begin removals in July 2024. However, the plan was halted two weeks before its scheduled launch by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.

“And the reason no one ended up going to Rwanda is that the scheme was cancelled by Keir Starmer and Labour, two weeks before it was due to start.”

The next UK general election is scheduled for 2029, and Philp indicated that if the Conservatives return to power, the Rwanda migration scheme could be reinstated.

“We’re definitely going to bring that back,” he added.

The UK’s Labour government formally scrapped the plan last year to remove migrants who enter the UK illegally for further processing, citing legal and ethical concerns. Since then, it has faced mounting pressure for not offering a credible alternative to manage irregular migration.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration remains under scrutiny domestically for the absence of a replacement policy.

Meanwhile, the European Union is reportedly warming up to a similar scheme, and the United States has also signed an agreement with Rwanda to address its own migration challenges.

A first group of seven migrants from the US arrived in Rwanda in mid-August under a bilateral agreement to resettle up to 250 migrants. The Rwandan government has stated that all individuals will receive support, including accommodation, healthcare, and workforce training, to help them integrate into Rwandan society or potentially relocate to other countries.

On August 6, U.S. Border Chief Tom Homan defended the agreement while openly criticising Britain’s failure to follow through on its own arrangement with Rwanda.

“They’re not the United States of America. They don’t have President Trump running the show,” Homan said, blaming what he described as weak leadership in London for the UK plan’s collapse.

The agreement was concluded in Beijing during a meeting between Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and Admiral Dong Jun, China’s Minister of National Defence, on the sidelines of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s leading annual security and defence dialogue, is held at the Beijing International Convention Center from September 17 to 19.

This year’s theme is “Safeguarding the International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development Together.”

The forum brings together more than 1,800 participants, including government officials, military representatives, scholars, and observers from over 100 countries and international organizations.

Its programme features plenary and parallel sessions, high-level dialogues, youth seminars, closed-door academic meetings, exhibitions, and cultural exchanges designed to foster mutual understanding.

Discussions focus on safeguarding the legacy of the World Anti-Fascist War, defending the post-war international order, and exploring effective approaches to conflict resolution.

Speaking at the opening, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun reaffirmed China’s commitment to world peace and welcomed all participants.

He emphasized the importance of dialogue, consultation, and consensus-building in safeguarding the international order and advancing global development.

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Rwanda and China share 76 years of diplomatic relations, characterized by close collaboration in various sectors. Economically, trade between the two nations reached a record US$670 million in 2024, with China maintaining its role as Rwanda’s leading source of foreign direct investment.

Military cooperation has also grown steadily. In August 2024, Rwanda hosted a Chinese delegation led by Lt Gen Huang Xucong, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the PLA Central Theater Command.

The four-day visit included discussions with Minister Marizamunda and RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen MK Mubarakh, on ways to further strengthen ties between the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

At the celebration of the 98th anniversary of the PLA on July 11, 2025, Maj Gen Alex Kagame, Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Reserve Force, praised China’s contribution to RDF’s professionalization and capacity building.

“I wish to reiterate that Rwanda’s commitment deepens our cooperation and promotes mutual understanding. With that in mind, the upcoming signing of an MOU on defence cooperation will further strengthen our defence capabilities,” he said.

Over the past decade, more than 300 RDF officers have graduated from Chinese military institutions, with many more currently pursuing training in China.

The meeting brings together military commanders deployed along the shared border to address key security challenges and enhance cross-border cooperation.

The RDF delegation is led by Brigadier General Justus Majyambere, Commander of the RDF 5th Infantry Division, while the TPDF delegation is headed by Brigadier General Gabriel Elias Kwiligwa, Commander of the TPDF 202 Infantry Brigade.

The first day of the meeting included field visits to key border areas to assess the security challenges facing communities on both sides. The delegations jointly visited the Mitako–Rusumo area in Ngara District, which borders Nyamugali Sector in Kirehe District, Rwanda.

They also visited a tri-border point shared by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi; locations known as hotspots for smuggling and other illicit cross-border activities.

In addition, the commanders visited the Akagera River, which forms a natural boundary between Rwanda and Tanzania.

They observed the need for urgent action to protect the wetland from unsustainable farming practices that threaten the river’s ecosystem.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced in a statement that the company’s owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for the foreseeable future beginning with Wednesday night’s show.

Nexstar owns America’s largest local television broadcasting group comprising top network affiliates, with more than 200 owned or partner stations reaching 220 million people, according to its website.

“Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets,” the statement read.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.

Shortly after the release of the statement, NBC News quoted an ABC spokesman as saying that “‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ will be pre-empted indefinitely.”

In Monday night’s monologue, Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk’s killing, could have been a pro-Trump Republican.

“The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

U.S. President Donald Trump and senior administration officials have accused the “radical left” of being responsible for the death of Kirk, while rejecting the Democrats’ argument that political violence has been a problem from both sides.

In an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson earlier Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr threatened to take action against Disney and its subsidiary ABC over the comments, noting that the FCC could consider revoking licenses of ABC affiliate stations as a penalty.

Criticizing the FCC chair on the social platform X, FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the panel, said, “An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship and control.”

“This Administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression,” said Gomez.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” is one of the several nationally recognized late-night talk shows in the country.