The decision was announced by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, during an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique.
The deadline for submitting candidacies closes at the end of April. Mushikiwabo’s current term is due to expire later this year.
If re-elected, Mushikiwabo, who has steered the international Francophone network advancing language, culture, and cooperation since 2019, would join former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to have served three terms.
According to Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s decision to put forward Mushikiwabo for a third term follows consultations with her and reflects what Kigali sees as a strong and widely recognised record of leadership.
“At the last OIF ministerial conference, held in November in Kigali, several member states expressed their wish to see Louise Mushikiwabo run for a third term,” Nduhungirehe said. “This recognition represents a strong political signal, which Rwanda has taken into account.”
“Since 2019, under her leadership, the OIF has embarked on a deep, structured, and coherent transformation that has strengthened its political credibility, institutional clarity, and operational effectiveness. We are therefore fully confident in the success of this proposal,” he added.
Rwanda hosted the 46th Conference of Ministers of La Francophonie (CMF) for the first time in November 2025, bringing together more than 400 delegates from 65 member states and governments.
Held under the theme “Thirty Years After Beijing: The Role of Women in the Francophone World,” the meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women and underscored the OIF’s renewed focus on gender equality and women’s leadership.
Since taking office, Mushikiwabo has overseen a deep institutional transformation of the OIF, aimed at strengthening its political credibility, institutional clarity and operational effectiveness.
Reviewing progress since the 2024 CMF in Paris during the summit, Mushikiwabo highlighted the organisation’s electoral assistance missions and high-impact campaigns against disinformation in countries including Lebanon, Moldova and the Central African Republic.
Under her leadership, the OIF has also stepped up efforts to support Francophone candidates seeking leadership roles in major international institutions such as the African Union, the African Development Bank and UNESCO.
Programmatic initiatives have included a mobility scheme for French-language teachers, which recently brought a third cohort of 50 educators from 15 countries to Kigali to exchange expertise with Rwandan counterparts. Similar deployments have taken place in Ghana and Seychelles, with Cambodia next on the list.
Mushikiwabo also emphasised the growing role of the Francophonie économique, citing successful economic missions, including one to Benin that resulted in several commercial contracts, one valued at €30 million.
On gender issues, she called for increased support to the “Francophonie With Women” fund and invited member states to join a new initiative aimed at training and integrating girls and women into emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
Rwanda’s announcement comes against a backdrop of regional tensions in the Great Lakes area, a subject also addressed by Nduhungirehe in his Jeune Afrique interview.
He defended the Washington and Doha agreements aimed at resolving the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arguing that they provide an adequate framework for lasting peace if implemented in good faith. He also rejected the need for additional mediation efforts, following recent diplomatic initiatives led by Angola.
Asked whether strained relations between Rwanda, the DRC and Burundi could affect Mushikiwabo’s candidacy, Nduhungirehe pointed to the right of every OIF member state to support or nominate a candidate of its choice.
“The principles of the OIF are clear: every member state has the right to present a candidate for the post of Secretary General, and Rwanda is not opposed to an open, healthy and respectful competition,” he said.
He added that Rwanda’s position rests on Mushikiwabo’s “documented and measurable” record, which he noted had been unanimously praised at the OIF summits in Djerba and Villers-Cotterêts.
The agreements were signed in Muscat on Sunday following an official visit by a high-level Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe.
The delegation also included the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa; and the Minister of State in charge of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye.
According to an official statement, one of the MoUs focuses on logistics services, including the development and operation of inland ports, as well as related logistics and supply chain services.
Another MoU covers transportation, specifically the operationalisation of direct flights between Muscat and Kigali.
Under this agreement, Oman Air will begin operating direct flights to Kigali starting in June, with two direct flights per week.
A third MoU, signed between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Oman Airports Management Company, focuses on development cooperation, including potential investments linked to the new Bugesera Airport District.
The fourth MoU addresses ICT and innovation, signed between the Ministries of ICT of Rwanda and Oman. It covers cooperation in data hosting, cloud services, and data centre services.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ambassador Nduhungirehe described the MoUs as a significant step forward in Rwanda–Oman relations, noting that their implementation would deliver tangible benefits to citizens of both countries.
He emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to implementing the agreements in good faith and indicated that further cooperation initiatives are expected in the future.
Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Bin Hamoud Al Maawali, said the agreements would help Oman expand its engagement with East Africa, while also reinforcing the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
He added that the partnerships serve as a bridge for broader cooperation between the Middle East and Africa.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reveal that, between 2019 and 2024, a total of 54,287 people in Rwanda were diagnosed with HIV. The highest numbers were recorded in the City of Kigali and the Western Province.
In 2024 alone, 9,019 people tested positive for HIV, including 3,503 men and 5,516 women, out of 1,026,851 individuals tested that year. In 2023, more than 1.1 million people were tested, with 9,270 positive cases (3,752 men and 5,518 women), marking a slight increase from 2022, when 8,507 people tested positive (3,404 men and 5,103 women) from over 1.1 million tests. In 2021, 9,422 people were diagnosed, comprising 3,673 men and 5,749 women from more than 1.5 million tests.
In 2020, 9,279 people tested positive out of over 2.09 million tests, including 3,577 men and 5,702 women. This was an increase compared to 2019, when 8,790 people were diagnosed (4,040 men and 4,750 women) from 2.6 million tests.
{{Kigali and Eastern Province most affected
}}
The City of Kigali continues to record the highest number of HIV cases in the country. In 2024, 2,883 residents tested positive, compared to 2,811 in 2023 and 2,756 in 2022. Previous years saw 2,983 cases in 2021, 3,136 in 2020, and 3,707 in 2019.
The Eastern Province follows Kigali in new infections. In 2024, 2,439 people tested positive, compared with 2,675 in 2023 and 2022, 2,398 in 2020, and 2,676 in 2019.
The Southern Province also reported significant numbers, with 1,573 positive cases in 2024, compared to 1,543 in 2023, 1,420 in 2022, 1,589 in 2021, 1,665 in 2020, and 1,045 in 2019.
In the Western Province, 1,257 people were diagnosed in 2024, compared to 1,431 in 2023, 1,400 in 2022, 2,460 in 2021, 1,319 in 2020, and 852 in 2019. The Northern Province recorded 867 new cases in 2024, compared with 810 in 2023, 728 in 2022, 932 in 2021, 761 in 2020, and 510 in 2019.
{{Age and gender trends
}}
Over the six-year period, most HIV diagnoses were among people over 25 years old, totaling 41,385 cases, followed by young people aged 15 to 24, who accounted for 11,234 cases. Among pregnant women, 1,221 were living with HIV in 2024, up from 1,141 in 2023, while earlier years recorded 1,420 in 2022, 1,625 in 2021, 1,314 in 2020, and 1,831 in 2019.
In 2024, 5,570 women living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy, representing 99.0% coverage. That year, 67,761 couples were tested, with 3,350 found to be discordant, meaning one partner was HIV positive while the other was not.
{{National HIV landscape
}}
As of December 2025, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) reported that 234,000 people were living with HIV in the country. HIV-related deaths are estimated at around 2,500 annually, while new infections among people aged 15 to 49 stood at 2.7%.
Rwanda has achieved and surpassed the United Nations 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression. The country currently stands at 96-98-98.
The Ministry of Health notes that strong investment in HIV care is yielding positive results. In 2025, people aged 50 and above accounted for 30% of all individuals living with HIV, reflecting improved life expectancy among patients.
In recent days, the DRC government has expressed interest in launching new peace talks in Kinshasa, bringing together Congolese from different groups, with Angola serving as mediator.
To facilitate this, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has visited Angola three times since December 14, 2025, meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss how the process will proceed.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya explained that the planned Kinshasa talks will differ from previous meetings held in Washington, D.C., in the United States, and in Doha, Qatar.
“In Washington, the talks involved us and Rwanda, the father. In Doha, the talks involved us and M23, the son,” he claimed in an allegation that Rwanda has repeatedly refuted.
Sources indicate that representatives of AFC/M23 are expected to participate in the new Kinshasa talks, raising questions about whether the Doha talks will lose relevance.
The DRC government has called for the new talks while continuing to ignore the Doha process. In December 2025, Qatar invited the DRC to two meetings aimed at monitoring compliance with the ceasefire, but the government declined to attend.
On January 11, 2026, Minister Nduhungirehe responded to Muyaya’s comments, saying the DRC government itself is the “father,” while the FDLR terrorist group is the “son.” He described the new talks as a tactic to gain additional leverage, a strategy known as “forum shopping.”
Nduhungirehe emphasised that lasting peace in the DRC depends on genuine political will and that political talks complementing those held in Doha and Washington would be welcomed.
“When the father (Congolese government), the son (FDLR genocidaires), and the evil spirit (genocide ideology) attempt yet another ‘forum shopping’ in three years, as a delaying manoeuvre, we simply recall that salvation will first come from Kinshasa’s political will to apply the current peace processes in good faith,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated, adding “Any national political dialogue, which would be complementary to these processes, would then be welcome.”
The AFC/M23 coalition has asked the Angolan president for clarification regarding the new talks, seeking to know whether Qatar will participate, what role it will play, and whether the decisions made during the Doha talks will be honoured.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which collects data from activists inside and outside the country, the fatalities include 490 protesters and 48 security personnel amid two weeks of unrest that began in late December 2025. In that period, more than 10,600 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
The protests, initially sparked by economic grievances including soaring prices and the sharp decline of the Iranian rial, have rapidly evolved into widespread demands for political change, with demonstrators openly criticising the country’s clerical leadership.
The Iranian government has not released its own casualty figures, and international agencies have been unable to independently verify the rights group’s totals. Tehran has imposed a near-total internet blackout, complicating external reporting on the scale of violence and human rights abuses.
State media and official channels have sought to frame the unrest as the work of “terrorists” and foreign agents, with senior Iranian officials accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting trouble. In response to mounting tensions, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that any military strike on Iran would result in retaliation against U.S. and allied targets in the region.
“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are reportedly reviewing a wide range of responses to the crisis, including military options, cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support to help restore internet access for protestors.
As protests continue in cities across Iran, the nation remains in a state of heightened tension, with growing calls for political reform and accountability, even as the authorities threaten severe reprisals against dissenters.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026, Trump said the situation was under close review by both civilian and military leadership and that decisive steps could be taken soon.
“We’re looking at it very seriously,” Trump told reporters. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.”
He added that Iranian leaders had reached out to Washington to seek negotiations following his warnings, and that a meeting was being arranged. However, Trump cautioned that the United States might act before that meeting takes place if conditions on the ground worsen.
The remarks come as anti-government protests enter their third week, sparked initially by economic grievances such as the sharp downturn of the Iranian rial but quickly evolving into broader demonstrations against the country’s clerical leadership.
Rights groups estimate that hundreds of protesters have been killed in the crackdown, while more than 10,000 people have been detained. The ongoing unrest has been compounded by an internet blackout across large parts of Iran, making it difficult to independently verify events inside the country.
Trump’s comments have raised both diplomatic and security concerns. Sources say the options being reviewed could include not only military strikes but also cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support for protest-related communications technology to counter state blackouts.
Trump even mentioned plans to discuss restoring internet access in Iran with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system, which has been used in other conflict zones to bypass government restrictions.
Iranian officials have responded with warnings of their own. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliation, with Israel and U.S. military bases in the region described as “legitimate targets.” Tehran has also accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest and portrayed demonstrators as influenced by foreign powers, a claim rejected by protest supporters and rights observers.
The crisis also reflects a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, which in recent weeks has included heightened pressure on Cuba and Venezuela, as well as renewed strategic discussions about U.S. military presence in other regions. But Trump’s focus on Iran, where demonstrations have become the largest in years, highlights the escalating tension between global powers and domestic unrest inside Iran.
As of today, it remains unclear whether the United States will take military action, expand sanctions further, or pursue diplomatic channels. Trump’s administration has indicated that all possible responses are on the table, and senior advisers are scheduled to meet to shape the next steps amid heightened global attention.
This new chapter brings together Zaria Court Kigali’s distinctive identity, rooted in authentic African excellence and vibrant local culture, with Hilton’s world-class standards, global reach, and the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
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{{A new chapter for Zaria Court Kigali}}
Guests at Zaria Court Kigali can enjoy the hotel’s bold contemporary design, Rwandan craftsmanship, and the comfort of Hilton’s trusted brand experience including Digital Key and direct booking perks.
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Guests can now earn and redeem Hilton Honors points while enjoying the hotel’s signature lifestyle offerings – from the rooftop lounge with beautiful views of Kigali Sports City to the Sports Bar featuring 19 large screens and bold African-inspired cuisine.
{{Elevating the guest experience}}
As a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel, Zaria Court Kigali integrates Hilton’s service culture and operational excellence across every touchpoint, from personalized prearrival communications to thoughtful in room amenities designed for comfort and convenience.
The hotel features unique spaces including a heated pool overlooking the multipurpose court, a sophisticated lobby bar, a globally inspired all-day dining restaurant, and a rooftop lounge, perfect for elevated evenings.
Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said, “We are excited to open our first hotel in Rwanda, Zaria Court Kigali, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which will join Hilton’s growing portfolio in Africa as we plan to nearly triple our presence across the continent in the coming years.
Tapestry Collection by Hilton celebrates independent hotels with distinct personalities and strong local connections, and Zaria Court Kigali embodies this perfectly; it’s deeply rooted in Rwandan culture and the energy of Kigali Sports City, while offering the kind of contemporary, lifestyle-focused experience that today’s travelers seek.”
{{A destination, not just accommodation}}
Zaria Court Kigali’s location within a mixed-use sports and entertainment development reinforces its role as a cultural and social hub.
The property seamlessly integrates with retail spaces, event facilities, and recreational amenities including a community basketball court and five-a-side football pitch. Guests don’t simply stay at Zaria Court Kigali; they step into the vibrant rhythm of Kigali’s most dynamic district.
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Every element of the property celebrates African innovation and community, be it the locally-crafted artwork adorning the walls or eco-friendly design principles that earned EDGE certification. The hotel features vibrant, locally-inspired interiors showcasing Rwandan craftsmanship and contemporary African art, creating an authentic cultural experience that celebrates the continent’s creative spirit while meeting international standards of comfort and quality.
Zaria Court Kigali, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, offers guests seeking authentic experiences and genuine connections, a memorable, locally-inspired stay. The hotel’s diverse venues create destinations within the destination: the Sports Bar offers an unmatched viewing experience with international football, rugby, F1, and basketball; MANSELA’s All-Day Dining restaurant serves energizing international breakfast buffets alongside vibrant fusion cuisine for lunch and dinner; ANUVO lobby bar provides an intimate spot for coffee breaks and casual meetings; SOLIA pool bar blends relaxation with entertainment, overlooking the multipurpose court where guests might catch a live game while swimming; and The JARO rooftop lounge delivers sophisticated ambiance with crafted cocktails and breathtaking panoramic views.
{{Partnership vision: Global strength meets local ownership}}
“We’re not changing who we are, but rather becoming more of who we’ve always been,” emphasizes Walid Choubana, Zaria Court Kigali’s General Manager. “This partnership gives us the platform to showcase authentic African hospitality on a global stage. Our guests will experience the same vibrant energy and warm welcome, the same commitment to celebrating Rwandan culture, now with the added confidence that comes from being part of a trusted international brand.”
Future plans include rotating art installations featuring local artisans, curated cultural programming, and expanded partnerships with Rwandan entrepreneurs through the hotel’s retail concepts. The vision remains consistent: creating spaces that inspire the next generation of African leaders while offering world-class hospitality.
{{Significance for Rwanda’s hospitality landscape}}
The partnership reflects growing international confidence in Rwanda as a premier destination for business, leisure, sports, and lifestyle travel.
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The hotel sits at the epicenter of Africa’s emerging sports tourism boom, hosting international teams, artists, executives, and fans attending major events at adjacent world-class venues.
{{Closing 2025 with momentum}}
Zaria Court Kigali now offers guests access to Hilton Honors – Hilton’s award-winning loyalty program with over 235 million members and a portfolio of 9,000+ hotels across 25 world-class brands – delivering a richer, more rewarding travel experience.
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{{About Zaria Court Kigali, Tapestry Collection by Hilton}}
Zaria Court Kigali is Kigali’s first urban lifestyle hotel, located in the heart of Rwanda’s Sports City and premier sports and entertainment district. The 80-room property features vibrant, locally-inspired interiors, multiple food and beverage outlets, meeting and event spaces, and a heated pool.
Inspired by the vision of Masai Ujiri and rooted in authentic African excellence, the hotel celebrates the continent’s creative spirit while delivering world-class hospitality. Now part of Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Zaria Court Kigali offers guests access to Hilton Honors benefits while maintaining its distinctive character and community-driven approach.
{{About Tapestry Collection by Hilton}}
Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a portfolio of more than 180 independent hotels each with an original, vibrant personality, encouraging guests to enjoy off-the-beaten-path experiences in destinations worth exploring.
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“The government has returned to the national capital,” Idris said in a speech to a crowd following his arrival in Bahri, north of Khartoum.
He pledged to improve basic services, particularly in the health and education sectors, and to rebuild hospitals and rehabilitate schools and universities, foremost among them the University of Khartoum.
The prime minister added that 2026 would be “the year of peace in Sudan,” pointing to plans for reconstruction and development, as well as efforts to improve the economic situation by increasing gross national product, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the exchange rate of the national currency.
The government’s return is part of official efforts to restore administrative functions and public services to the capital, following announcements in recent months of gradual plans to reinstate state institutions, alongside a relative improvement in security conditions in some areas, despite persistent security and humanitarian challenges in several parts of the country.
Khartoum witnessed fierce battles that caused widespread damage to government institutions, infrastructure, and basic services.
The Sudanese government relocated to Port Sudan in late April 2023, days after fighting broke out in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The move took place gradually, with the headquarters of the Sovereign Council, the Council of Ministers, and several ministries and sovereign institutions transferred to Port Sudan, which later became a temporary seat for managing state affairs amid deteriorating security conditions in Khartoum.
In May 2025, the SAF declared Khartoum State cleared of RSF forces, paving the way for the city to gradually reclaim public spaces and resume normal life.
The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, both inside Sudan and across its borders.
Indonesia announced on Saturday that it was temporarily blocking access to Grok, citing serious concerns over the production of sexualized deepfakes. A day later, Malaysia followed suit, saying it had suspended access to the chatbot while regulators assess whether adequate safeguards are in place.
“The government views the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity and the security of citizens in the digital space,” Indonesia’s minister of communications and digital affairs, Meutya Hafid, said in a statement. Indonesian authorities have also reportedly summoned representatives of X, the social media platform owned by Musk that is closely integrated with Grok, to discuss the issue.
In Malaysia, the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the temporary block followed repeated misuse of Grok to generate “obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive, and non-consensual manipulated images,” including content involving women and minors. The regulator said it had previously issued notices to X Corp and xAI on Jan. 3 and Jan. 8, demanding technical protection measures that were not sufficiently implemented.
“This temporary ban is imposed as a reasonable precautionary measure while the legislative and regulatory process is still ongoing,” the MCMC said, adding that access to Grok would remain restricted until effective safeguards, particularly to protect women and children, are in place.
The actions by Malaysia and Indonesia represent the most aggressive response so far to a controversy that has drawn attention from regulators worldwide. In recent weeks, Grok has generated sexualized AI images, sometimes depicting violence, when prompted by users on X. X and xAI are part of the same corporate group.
Elsewhere, India’s IT ministry has ordered xAI to take steps to prevent Grok from producing obscene content, while the European Commission has instructed the company to preserve documents related to the chatbot, potentially paving the way for a formal investigation. In the United Kingdom, media regulator Ofcom has said it will conduct a swift assessment to determine whether there are compliance issues that warrant action, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer voicing support for regulatory intervention.
In the United States, however, the Trump administration has remained largely silent on the issue, even as Democratic senators have urged Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores. Musk, a major Trump donor who previously led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, has pushed back against criticism, writing in one post that regulators “want any excuse for censorship.”
xAI initially issued an apology via the Grok account, acknowledging that certain posts violated ethical standards and potentially U.S. laws related to child sexual abuse material. While the company later restricted AI image generation to paying X subscribers, the standalone Grok app reportedly continued to allow unrestricted image generation, prompting further backlash.
The announcement was made during the official visit of Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, to the Sultanate of Oman. The event was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali; Rwanda’s Minister of State for Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Owehenganyi; Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire; and Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Owehenganyi said Rwanda’s vision is centred on expanding direct air connectivity to facilitate international cooperation and position Kigali as a key hub for aviation, economic and social activities.
The planned Muscat–Kigali route is expected to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between Rwanda and Oman, while enhancing Rwanda’s access to the Middle East and other international markets. Rwanda has emerged as one of East Africa’s fastest-growing destinations for tourism and business travel, particularly in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.
According to Oman Air, the new route will offer travellers greater choice and improved connectivity between Africa and the Middle East, while also providing access to the airline’s wider network across India, Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Oman Air has been expanding its destination network during 2025 and plans further growth in 2026, including new routes to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Besides the direct flight, the four MoUs signed during Nduhungirehe’s visit cover logistics services, including inland port development and supply chain operations; development cooperation between the Rwanda Development Board and Oman Airports Management Company, with planned investments around the Bugesera Airport District; and ICT and innovation, covering data hosting, cloud services, and data centre development.
