According to a statement from the Office of the President , Kagame was given the belt as he received Carlos Takam on the evening of September 28, 2025, shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships hosted in Rwanda.
“Carlos Takam also gifted the President with an original WBC World Champion belt as a tribute to Rwanda and the mission of the Foundation,” reads the statement.
Carlos Takam, is a heavyweight boxer who has competed at the highest levels of the sport against world-class opponents such as Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.
Carlos Takam is a heavyweight boxer, known for his toughness and willingness to face strong opponents, including a world title challenge against Anthony Joshua in 2017.
He is the founder of the Carlos Takam Foundation, which supports education, healthcare, and sports for children in Africa. Born in Cameroon in 1980, he moved to France to pursue his boxing career and is currently considered one of Africa’s leading boxers.
On the same day, President Kagame also met Magdeleine Vallieres Mill, the Canadian cyclist who made history by winning the elite women’s road race at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships — becoming the first Canadian woman ever to earn the rainbow jersey.
Magdeleine Vallieres Mill triumphed in the 164.6 km women’s race, completing 11 laps in Kigali and finishing 23 seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Niamh Fisher-Black. The 24-year-old Canadian crossed the line in 4 hours, 34 minutes, and 48 seconds to claim the gold medal.
The championships, held in Rwanda from September 21 to 28, 2025, marked the first time the prestigious cycling competition took place on the African continent.
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar claimed the elite men’s road race title, followed by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in second place and Ireland’s Ben Healy in third.
Following the week-long race, President Kagame took to X to applaud everyone involved in the event’s success.
“Rwanda is proud to have hosted this historic UCI Road World Championships. I congratulate all the riders who competed across our capital city for their remarkable achievements and resilience.
“My sincere appreciation to my friend, David Lappartient [UCI President] , the UCI team, our partners, the security organs who kept the race route secure and the people of Rwanda whose energy and support made #Kigali2025 [the race] truly unforgettable,” he said.
The men’s road race started with 165 riders but only 30 managed to finish. None of the six Rwandan cyclists completed the challenging race.
According to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), nearly one million fans lined the streets to watch the elite men’s road race finale in Kigali.
UCI President David Lappartient also praised the event’s success on social media, expressing how the global cycling community was deeply moved by Rwanda’s passion and organization.
Pogačar, who successfully defended his world road race title, said the competition in Rwanda stood out for its challenging but well-organised ourse compared to his experience in Australia.
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships are scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada.
Tadej Pogačar etched his name even deeper into cycling history on Sunday, delivering a breathtaking performance to secure back-to-back world road race titles at the UCI World Championships in Rwanda’s capital.
The Slovenian superstar rode with daring and dominance, launching a decisive attack on Mount Kigali more than 100km from the finish and holding off every chase to claim the rainbow jersey for a second year running.
{{Fast and furious from the gun
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The 267.5km men’s elite road race, with almost 6,000m of climbing, wasted no time erupting into action. Grenada’s Red Walters sparked early excitement, but his breakaway quickly dissolved as Germany’s Marius Mayrhofer, Denmark’s Anders Foldanger, the Netherlands’ Menno Huising, Portugal’s Ivo Oliveira and Switzerland’s Fabio Christen formed a new lead group.
France, sensing danger, turned up the heat with Julian Alaphilippe attacking and Julien Bernard bridging across. Spain’s Raúl García Pierna soon joined them, but behind, Slovenia and Belgium, home to favourites Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, kept the peloton measured and steady.
{{Crashes disrupt the chase
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The furious early pace began to take a toll on the peloton. Britain’s Bjorn Koerdt, Spain’s Marc Soler and Belgium’s Ilan Van Wilder, a crucial helper for Evenepoel, were all forced to abandon after crashes, disrupting the chase and momentarily slowing the bunch. Belgium and Slovenia quickly regrouped, trimming the break’s lead back to 2:30 as the race approached its pivotal phase.
By the time riders swung onto a new 42.5km loop featuring the towering Mount Kigali and the fearsome cobbled Mur de Kigali, the gap had shrunk to 1:35, and the tension was building.
{{Pogačar lights up Mount Kigali
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The day’s defining moment came on the steep ramps of Mount Kigali. Julien Bernard crested alone, but just behind, Pogačar surged with trademark power, catching Bernard and taking Spain’s Juan Ayuso and Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro with him.
On the bone-rattling Mur de Kigali, Ayuso cracked and slid back, leaving Pogačar and Del Toro as the last men standing up front. With 90km remaining, they held just 44 seconds over a disorganised peloton struggling to find rhythm.
{{Evenepoel’s troubles, Pogačar’s freedom
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Belgium’s hopes wavered when Evenepoel was forced into two costly bike changes, visibly frustrated as precious seconds ticked away. At the head of the race, Del Toro began to fade, and once back on the city circuit, Pogačar struck out alone.
A spirited chase tried to form, Ireland’s Ben Healey linking with Denmark’s Mikkel Honoré and France’s Pavel Sivakov, and briefly cut the gap to 35 seconds. But the Slovenian’s tempo proved unmatchable. Their move died, the peloton splintered, and Pogačar’s lead stretched past a minute.
Evenepoel, refusing to surrender, attacked late to salvage silver, but the victory was long gone.
After 6 hours, 21 minutes, and 20 seconds of racing, Pogačar crossed the line alone, arms wide in triumph, as Kigali’s fans roared in celebration. Evenepoel took second at +1:28, and Ben Healy powered to Ireland’s first men’s elite road race medal in years, finishing +2:16 behind.
“I was chasing this for the whole year… I am so happy to retain this beautiful jersey. It’s been an amazing last few days, an incredible experience, I am super happy and super proud of this week,” said Tadej Pogačar, proud to defend his crown in Kigali.
Pogačar’s victory cements him as the first rider ever to win the Tour de France and world road race title in consecutive years, confirming his place among cycling’s all-time greats.
{{Rwanda’s brave but painful day
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For the home nation, it was a race of pride and heartbreak. Rwanda fielded six riders — Nsengiyumva Shemu, Manizabayo Eric, Muhoza Eric, Masengesho Vainqueur, Byukusenge Patrick, and Nkundabera Eric — each cheered passionately on the punishing climbs. One by one, though, they slipped out of contention, victims of the unrelenting gradients and brutal race tempo.
Of the 165 starters, just 30 made it to the finish. Eritrea’s Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier was the final man across the line and the sole African to survive to the end.
Sunday’s race marked a thrilling conclusion to the weeklong UCI World Championships in Kigali, the first ever held in Africa. The event drew global attention and showcased Rwanda’s growing reputation as a premier cycling destination.
The closing ceremony was attended by President Paul Kagame, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, and UCI President David Lappartient, who presented medals to the finalists.
Watters made the comments during Jesse Watters Primetime on Tuesday while discussing U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to world leaders at the General Debate of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA). His remarks came after Trump experienced technical difficulties with an escalator and a teleprompter at the UN headquarters.
“What we need to do is either leave the UN or we need to bomb it… maybe gas it… we need to destroy it,” Watters said during the broadcast.
After the UN contacted Fox News about his remarks, Watters issued a private apology to Melissa Fleming, UN under-secretary-general for global communications.
Dujarric emphasized during a briefing that such language was unacceptable. “There is nothing funny or ironic in calling for the bombing, the gassing, the destruction of this building,” he said.
Regarding the technical issues, the UN confirmed that the escalator malfunction occurred after Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto it, because a White House videographer likely triggered the safety mechanism that caused the escalator to stop. A UN official said the teleprompter was being operated by the White House, according to Reuters.
“If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” White House Press Secretary Leavitt wrote on X on Wednesday.
The General Debate of the 80th UNGA officially opened at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Nearly 150 heads of state and government attended the high-level week of the UNGA.
Kabuga, a former Rwandan businessman and financier of the genocide, remains in detention in The Hague, Netherlands, as no country has agreed to host him. In 2023, the IRMCT suspended his trial, citing his inability to participate because of illness.
His lawyer, Me Emmanuel Altit, said Kabuga wishes to spend his remaining years in France, where his family lives, and has requested court approval for his transfer. Me Altit noted that if approved, the process would require authorisation from the French government and could take 8 to 10 months.
The CPCR denounced the request as an insult to survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“This act is an affront to the victims and a disgrace to anyone committed to justice,” the association said. It emphasised that France has a history of granting refuge to some officials involved in the genocide, giving them confidence that they could evade justice.
The organisation also urged that, beyond denying Kabuga entry, France should strengthen efforts to prosecute those still in the country, providing sufficient resources to ensure suspects are tried before age or illness prevents justice.
The CPCR noted that, since the start of this year, no new trials of the genocide suspects have been launched, though around 35 individuals remain accused of genocide-related crimes.
“North Kordofan State is witnessing major operational gains, including the killing of hundreds of militia fighters, the seizure of more than 100 combat vehicles, and the liberation of several areas,” the SAF spokesperson’s office said in a statement.
The statement also noted that Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and commander of the SAF, visited the strategic city of Bara, which the military recaptured on September 11.
Fierce fighting has continued since Friday night between the SAF and the RSF on the western outskirts of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State.
Field sources said the SAF, backed by allied joint forces, recaptured the town of Um Sumaima, west of El Obeid near the border of North and West Kordofan. The area has changed hands several times between the two sides.
The SAF Special Forces said in a statement that it had expelled RSF units from Um Sumaima, pushing them about 50 km west of El Obeid toward the outskirts of Al-Khuwei, a town in West Kordofan.
The Joint Forces of armed movements allied with the army stated Saturday: “Military operations in the Kordofan area are proceeding according to plan, with precise implementation on the ground driven by determination and resolve. We have achieved significant victories, and the sacrifices of our heroes will bear fruit in a victory worthy of Sudan’s dignity.”
For its part, the RSF said it had repelled an SAF-led attack on multiple fronts west of El Obeid.
“We inflicted heavy losses in personnel and equipment on the attacking forces,” the RSF said. “Our forces remain stationed at their positions and are determined to advance toward new fronts in preparation for continuing the march toward enemy strongholds.”
Meanwhile, in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, the SAF’s 6th Infantry Division reported that it had repelled a new RSF assault on the besieged city.
“The militia attempted to infiltrate and attack El Fasher from the north and southwest, but our forces repelled them and inflicted significant losses in personnel and equipment,” the division said. “In the evening, the militia shelled residential neighborhoods with heavy artillery, suicide drones, and light weapons, but no civilian casualties were reported.” It added that the situation in the city remains “stable.”
Since May 10, 2024, violent clashes have been ongoing in El Fasher between the SAF and its allies on one side, and the RSF on the other, with the fighting intensifying in recent days.
Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
The positions of the Wazalendo Lunyuki group in Uvira were reportedly heavily shelled by FARDC troops.
André Byadunia, a civil society leader in Uvira, said those killed included one soldier and members of the Wazalendo Lunyuki group, while others were wounded.
“The figures show that two civilians were killed by gunfire, one FARDC soldier was also shot dead by the Lunyuki group, and one member of Wazalendo from the Lunyuki faction was injured,” he said.
FARDC forces and Wazalendo fighters have frequently clashed despite being allies in the fight against AFC/M23 rebels.
Addressing President Paul Kagame, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, and international delegates, Lappartient said the 2025 edition in Kigali had exceeded all expectations.
“This week in Kigali has not just met our expectations. It has, of course, done more than that. It has taken our breath away,” he said. “In love with its countryside, in love with its people, in love with its beauty, in love with its vitality — we will never forget your country’s welcome.”
The UCI President hailed the historic significance of this year’s championships, the first to be hosted in Africa. He highlighted two milestones: the debut of dedicated women’s under-23 races and the crowning of 12 world champions before Sunday’s men’s elite road race.
“Quite simply, we have never experienced an event like this before,” he said.
In recognition of Rwanda’s role, Lappartient presented President Kagame with a framed rainbow jersey and the UCI Order, the federation’s highest distinction.
“This is the highest award given to people who make an outstanding impact on the sport of cycling,” he said.
President Kagame, in his own remarks, welcomed the honour and congratulated Lappartient on his election as UCI President. He also acknowledged the warm presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
With humour, Kagame noted the symbolic value of the gift: “So, for me, I won’t necessarily have to participate in the competition. I have more or less already won.”
The President emphasised the unifying power of sport and its role in inspiring Africa’s youth.
“The chants, the crowds, and the smiles are a true testament to the unifying power of sports,” he said.
“For our young and talented people, this is an inspiration for them to follow their own dreams with a spirit of sacrifice and endurance, like true champions.”
He added that investment in sports across the continent is part of investing in Africa’s future.
“It all comes down to giving everyone a fair chance, not out of sympathy, but because everyone has something good to give back and because the sport is stronger for it,” Kagame said.
As the evening drew to a close, both leaders praised the organisers, the Rwandan Cycling Federation, and hundreds of volunteers whose smiles and energy were credited for much of the event’s success.
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships conclude on Sunday with the highly anticipated men’s elite road race, set to feature some of the world’s top riders in what promises to be a historic finale.
Speaking at the gala dinner in Kigali, Kagame thanked UCI President David Lappartient, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, and cycling fans worldwide for supporting the championship.
“Today, we stand here because the leadership at UCI put their trust in our country and our people to provide you with the best possible experience,” Kagame said.
“Rwanda is proud to be contributing to such an important moment in cycling history, and we are happy to be sharing it with you all as one team.”
The President described the week-long championships as a source of inspiration for Africa’s youth.
“The chants, the crowds, and the smiles are a true testament to the unifying power of sports,” he said. “For our young and talented people, this is an inspiration for them to follow their own dreams with a spirit of sacrifice and endurance, like true champions.”
Kagame stressed that investing in sports on the continent goes hand in hand with creating opportunities for the next generation.
“It all comes down to giving everyone a fair chance, not out of sympathy, but because everyone has something good to give back and because the sport is stronger for it,” he said.
UCI President David Lappartient, in his remarks, hailed Rwanda’s successful staging of the first Road World Championships ever held in Africa.
“This week in Kigali has not just met our expectations. It has, of course, done more than that. It has taken our breath away,” Lappartient said.
“The cycling family has fallen in love with your country, Your Excellency — in love with its countryside, in love with its people, in love with its beauty, in love with its vitality.”
Lappartient highlighted the historic nature of Kigali 2025, which included dedicated women’s under-23 races for the first time and the crowning of 12 world champions so far.
He presented Kagame with a framed rainbow jersey and the prestigious UCI Order, the federation’s highest distinction, in recognition of his role in advancing cycling and supporting the championships.
Both leaders paid tribute to organisers, the Rwandan Cycling Federation, and the volunteers who ensured the success of the event.
“They are always ready with a big smile and assistance,” Lappartient noted, to applause.
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships conclude on Sunday with the men’s elite road race, a highly anticipated finale that will feature some of the sport’s top riders after an unforgettable week in Kigali.
Speaking at the event, Lappartient praised Rwanda for staging a championship that “took our breath away,” describing it as an unforgettable milestone for the global cycling community.
“The cycling family has fallen in love with your country, Your Excellency, Rwanda, this week,” he said. “In love with its countryside, in love with its people, in love with its beauty, in love with its vitality. These UCI World Championships are not over, but we can already declare them an immense success.”
The UCI President also noted the groundbreaking nature of the Kigali edition, highlighting that it was the first time the Road World Championships were held on the African continent, and the first time women in the under-23 category had their own dedicated races.
“Quite simply, we have never experienced an event like this before,” he said.
In a gesture of appreciation, Lappartient presented President Kagame with a framed rainbow jersey, the same awarded to world champions during the week, along with the UCI Order medal.
“This is the highest distinction awarded to people who make an outstanding impact on the sport of cycling,” he said. “We will leave Rwanda with unforgettable memories, and we sincerely hope that you will also have unforgettable memories of the UCI World Championships.”
For his part, President Kagame welcomed guests, including His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, senior officials, and the wider cycling family.
He congratulated Lappartient on his recent election and thanked him for the honour bestowed upon him. “So, for me, I won’t necessarily have to participate in the competition. I have more or less already won,” Kagame joked, drawing applause.
The President emphasised the power of sport to unite and inspire, particularly among Africa’s youth. “The chants, the crowds, and the smiles are a true testament to the unifying power of sports,” he said.
“For our young and talented people, this is an inspiration for them to follow their own dreams with a spirit of sacrifice and endurance, like true champions.”
Kagame added that investing in sport on the continent is part of investing in Africa’s future. “It all comes down to giving everyone a fair chance, not out of sympathy, but because everyone has something good to give back and because the sport is stronger for it,” he said.
The evening closed on a celebratory note, with both leaders commending the tireless work of organisers, volunteers, and the Rwandan Cycling Federation in delivering what has already been hailed as one of the most memorable championships in UCI history.
The UCI Road World Championships conclude on Sunday with the highly anticipated men’s elite road race, bringing together some of the world’s best talent after an unforgettable week in sporting history.
