Blog

Hosted by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Command and Staff College, this year’s conference, which kicked off on Monday, November 11, is being held under the theme “The Future of African Military Training and Education: Bridging the Digital Divide.”

The three-day meeting brings together Commandants of African Command and Staff Colleges, senior defence representatives, and security experts from 24 nations to deliberate on how to harness technology and digital learning in building a more self-reliant and interoperable African defence architecture.

In his opening remarks, Brigadier General Andrew Nyamvumba, Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, welcomed delegates to what he described as a gathering of Africa’s “intellectual and professional military leadership.”

“This forum is more than a meeting of institutions; it is a convergence of Africa’s intellectual and professional military leadership,” Brig Gen Nyamvumba said. “It is where ideas are exchanged, doctrines refined and partnerships strengthened in pursuit of interoperable regional and African standby forces for a more secure, resilient and self-reliant Africa.”

Highlighting the significance of this year’s theme, Brig Gen Nyamvumba underscored the need to integrate digital tools and innovative methodologies into Africa’s military education systems.

“Over the next three days, we shall deliberate on critical issues affecting our military education systems, from standardisation of curricula and exchange programmes to integrating technology and leveraging digital learning platforms,” he added.

He also announced the handover of the ACoC chairmanship from the RDF Command and Staff College to the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) Command and Staff College, commending the forum’s continued role in harmonising doctrines and training across the continent.

Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, officially opened the conference, commending ACoC’s work in promoting unity of purpose among African military education institutions. He described the forum as a cornerstone in building Africa’s collective defence capacity through shared learning and collaboration.

“The threats facing Africa are multifaceted, from terrorism and cyber warfare to illegal migration, transnational crime and climate-related insecurity,” Minister Marizamunda said. “Addressing these requires a generation of officers who are not only tactically capable but also digitally literate, ethically grounded and strategically agile.”

He lauded the RDF Command and Staff College for its “exemplary stewardship” as the current chair of ACoC, noting that Rwanda’s leadership had strengthened cooperation among member institutions and prepared the ground for a smooth transition to Tanzania.

Maj Gen Stephen Mnkande, Commandant of Tanzania’s TPDF Command and Staff College, emphasised that education and training were the backbone of Africa’s readiness to respond to emerging security threats under the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.

“For the African Standby Force to remain ready, education and training are essential,” he said. “Forums like the ACoC allow Commandants to harmonise doctrines and ensure that all our forces speak the same language when it comes to African Union operations. As the world moves fast into digitisation, we too must embrace technology in our training and preparedness.”

Air Commodore N. Maghidir of Libya’s Command and Staff College, which hosted the previous edition of the conference in Tripoli, commended Rwanda for its hospitality and organisational excellence. He noted that such gatherings provide “a very important opportunity for Africa’s military academies to discuss complex security and strategic challenges” facing the continent.

The ACoC, established as a continental platform for Commandants of African Command and Staff Colleges, aims to enhance professional military education, promote harmonisation of training doctrines, and strengthen interoperability among member states.

As discussions continue in Kigali, participants are expected to develop actionable recommendations to modernise military education, foster digital transformation, and build a new generation of African military leaders equipped to respond to both traditional and emerging security challenges.

The ceremony took place on November 8, 2025, recognising achievements across several categories: best young writer, best female writer, best male writer, best African writer, and best writer of all time.

Divine Akimana, who received the award for best young writer, described it as her first major recognition. She credited her book, Scars That Shape Us, for the accolade.

“What I wanted to convey through this book, I have achieved. I published it in 2020 to offer comfort to people who have experienced conflicts and show them that there is hope for the future,” Akimana said.

Judence Kayitesi, awarded best female writer, reflected on the challenges women face in pursuing writing alongside other responsibilities.

“Women have many roles, including giving birth, raising children, managing the household, and other daily duties. It can be difficult to find time to write, but I want to say that women are strong, they can achieve everything they set out to do and should never be afraid to pursue their passions,” she said.

Antoine Mugesera, named best writer of all time, brings over 20 years of experience, focusing on Rwanda’s history and the lives of its people across different periods.

“I was well prepared. I started writing while at university and continued even during my 15-year career in government. Since then, I have kept writing,” he said.

He noted that some of his works, especially those on religious topics, were published under a pseudonym to avoid potential conflicts with the church. He also explained that writing involves extensive research, allowing an author to gain deep knowledge on a subject and then share it with readers.

Bridgevision CEO Joe E. Sully said the awards aim to encourage literary pursuits in Rwanda and across the continent.

“These awards were initially intended for Rwandans only, but we realised there is a wider need across the continent. That’s why we introduced the category for the best African writer. Our goal is to inspire participation from across Africa and beyond, making this an international recognition,” he said.

Other winners included Adut Loi Akok, who was recognised as the best African writer, and Dr. Christian Ntizimira, who received the award for best male writer.

The Radiate Rwanda Literacy Excellence Awards are in their second edition, following the inaugural event in 2024.

He was seen leaving the prison this afternoon, according to local media reports.

On Sept. 25, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. Although he has appealed the verdict, the judges ordered the sentence to take immediate effect, citing the “exceptional seriousness” of the offenses.

Sarkozy was imprisoned on October 21, becoming the first former French president in modern history to serve a prison sentence. His lawyers immediately lodged an appeal and requested his release.

During Monday morning’s hearing, the former head of state appeared via videoconference from his cell. He described his detention as “hard, very hard, certainly for any prisoner.”

The court of appeal ruled that his continued detention was no longer the only means of preventing the risks outlined in the Code of Criminal Procedure, such as pressure on witnesses, collusion, flight risk, or reoffending.

It therefore ordered his release, subject to strict judicial supervision, including a ban on leaving French territory. In addition, the court imposed extended contact restrictions, noting his “capacity to influence various government departments” as a former president.

The African Development Fund (ADF) is the concessional window of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

Established in 1972, it became operational in 1974. The ADF-recipient countries include those that are increasing their economic capacities and heading toward becoming the new emerging markets, as well as those that remain fragile and need special assistance for basic levels of service delivery.

According to a statement released by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project aims to build climate resilience in flood-prone catchments of Rusizi and Karongi districts by implementing nature-based flood adaptation and promoting community-led soil conservation and catchment restoration.

Expected outcomes include reduced flood and landslide exposure, decreased soil erosion and water siltation, and improved land productivity.

An estimated 1.2 million residents are expected to gain from improved early warning systems and better protection of key water resources, while over 620,000 people will benefit from reduced flood risk.

Other activities include the reforestation of 10,000 hectares, construction of vegetated flood barriers, and rehabilitation of degraded riverbanks and hillsides.

More than 6,000 people will receive climate adaptation training and 120 technical students will gain practical experience in eco-engineering and water management.

“By using nature as our first line of defence, we are helping Rwandan communities adapt to a changing climate while creating jobs, restoring ecosystems, and securing their future,” said Lazarus Phiri, Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer and project task manager.

Flooding and landslides have repeatedly devastated this region, claiming lives, damaging schools and water systems, and undermining livelihoods.

Through nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, terracing, and riverbank stabilisation, the project will reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and increase agricultural productivity.

According to recent data from the Rwandan Prosecutor General’s Office, over 1,100 people are still wanted for their roles in the Genocide against the Tutsi. Many of them have found refuge in different countries in the region and Europe.

Among them are former businessmen, leaders, and individuals who studied in these countries. Many of them continue to instill hatred and genocide ideology in their children, even in the countries they sought refuge in.

Denial and trivialization of the Genocide against the Tutsi is predominantly led by the children of those directly or indirectly involved in the Genocide, such as members of Jambo ASL, and individuals who support their ideology, including Filip Reyntjens, Pierre Pean, Robin Philpot, Bernard Lugan, Serge Desouter, Madeleine Raffin, Luc De Temmermann, Peter Erlinder, Peter Verlinden, Judi Rever, Charles Onana, and others.

The IBUKA-Europe meeting held on November 1-2, 2025, discussed topics such as combating the increasing genocide ideology, ways to fight it, justice, educating young people about history, and more.

Currently, IBUKA has branches in Belgium, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

In an interview with IGIHE, the President of IBUKA in Italy, who also leads IBUKA-Europe, Honorine Mujyambere, explained that they have plans to fight genocide ideology, including delivering talks and testimonies that clearly explain Rwanda’s history, focusing on the youth to prevent any misleading narratives.

“We continue to strengthen our efforts in combating genocide denial, we collaborate more, and we also expand our activities. Being able to reach many people and present the truth about the Genocide against the Tutsi, especially using technology, is another tool in fighting those who deny or distort the Genocide.”

Mujyambere emphasized that all of their activities are closely tied to the youth, as they are the strength of the future and make extensive use of social media. They educate them about history to ensure they play a part in confronting genocide deniers hiding behind social media platforms.

She stated that the only effective tool to eliminate genocide ideology among the youth, especially those from genocidaires’ families, is to educate them and show them the crimes committed by their parents and the severity of those crimes.

She continued, “We show them the crimes their parents committed in Rwanda. Many of them have been convicted by the Gacaca courts or other international criminal courts.”

She added, “In all the countries where IBUKA operates, we have long taken measures to encourage the youth to participate in activities to remember the Genocide, and this is part of what we have discussed, and it is already being done and yielding results.”

Mujyambere explained that their efforts go beyond just awareness campaigns; they also go into schools to teach the history of the Genocide, with some schools beginning to implement these lessons.

She said, “Through delivering talks at universities and higher learning institutions, we now have students writing their final theses about the Genocide. They come to us looking for information. All of this is the result of IBUKA’s discussions in schools.”

{{Europe’s weak commitment to fighting genocide denial}}

In 2015, a British court ruled that five Rwandans charged with involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi would not be sent back to Rwanda for trial.

The court argued that these individuals could not receive fair justice in Rwanda. The individuals involved were Vincent Bajinya, Celestin Ugirashebuja, Charles Munyaneza, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, and Celestin Mutabaruka.

Mujyambere highlighted that the lack of political will is one of the challenges they face in combating genocide denial.

She continued, “These European countries mistakenly believe that Rwanda does not offer human rights protections, which is why they are hesitant to send genocide suspects to Rwanda. In some instances, they even apply minimal effort in following up on these cases, but we will not give up; we will continue to fight.”

However, she noted that some countries, like France, have started to make significant strides in tackling genocide crimes. Recently, France confirmed the involvement of Munyemana Sosthène in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and sentenced him to 24 years in prison.

IBUKA President in Rwanda Dr. Philbert Gakwenzire also highlighted that genocide ideology remains a serious issue in Europe. They work together with IBUKA branches globally to share information, especially since much of the evidence is stored in Rwanda.

He said, “When it comes to fighting genocide ideology, we collaborate with IBUKA branches in various countries. Witnesses, memorial sites, and physical evidence of the Genocide are based in Rwanda. What we do is work with our colleagues representing IBUKA in the diaspora to send them the necessary information.”

He further stated that all countries still harboring genocide suspects should strengthen their efforts to prosecute them so that justice can be served to the victims.

He added, “Although genocide crimes do not expire, the perpetrators age, and the victims also grow older. It is truly tragic that victims of the Genocide may pass away without ever seeing justice done.”

Yoon, who was impeached and removed from office after declaring martial law on December 3, 2024, is currently on trial for several charges, including leading a rebellion.

His successor, President Lee Jae Myung, has approved investigations into Yoon’s martial law actions and other alleged criminal activities involving Yoon’s administration and family.

The charges stem from alleged drone flights that occurred months before martial law was declared. South Korean prosecutors claim that Yoon and his defense officials intentionally heightened the risk of conflict with North Korea.

These flights allegedly involved dropping propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang, a move that North Korea criticized and which South Korea initially denied, later offering no confirmation.

Yoon had cited threats from North Korea in justifying his martial law declaration, but his real motivation appeared to be a conflict with the liberal-led parliament.

According to AP, investigators now allege that the drone flights were part of a strategy to create a pretext for emergency measures.

Yoon, along with two key defense officials, is charged with abuse of power and jeopardizing military security, but his defense has denied his involvement in the drone operation.

In January, state prosecutors indicted Yoon for allegedly directing a rebellion. It’s a grave charge whose conviction only carries the sentence capital punishment or life imprisonment.

The resignations came ahead of the BBC’s expected apology over the controversy on Monday.

“I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years,” Davie said in his resignation statement, adding that “there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility.”

The controversy centered on the Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?” aired last year. The program was criticized for splicing together clips of Trump’s speech on Jan. 6, 2021 in a way that allegedly gave the misleading impression that he urged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol and “fight like hell.”

The Telegraph reported on Nov. 3 that a leaked internal BBC memo by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to the broadcaster’s editorial standards committee, flagged the issue.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Sunday that there were a series of “very serious allegations” that had been made about the BBC, “the most serious of which is that there is systemic bias in the way that difficult issues are reported at the BBC.”

“I’ve spoken to the chair (of the BBC) this week, I am confident that he is treating this with the seriousness that this demands,” she said when appearing on a BBC current affairs program.