The ceremony was attended by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, and members of the AfDB Group’s Board of Governors.
Ould Tah delivered the oath of office with solemnity. After taking the oath, he signed the written version, which was officially certified by Ludovic Ngatse, minister of economy, planning, and regional integration of the Republic of the Congo, also chair of the Board of Governors of the AfDB.
Ould Tah was elected the ninth president of the bank on May 29, securing more than 76 percent of the vote, the highest first-term margin in the bank’s history.
Elected for a five-year term, the new AfDB president outlined four strategic pillars — to unlock Africa’s financial resources, to reform and strengthen the continent’s fiscal sovereignty, to turn demography into a dividend, and to build resilient infrastructure.
Ould Tah, 60, is introduced on the AfDB website as a seasoned economist and development banker with more than 40 years of experience in banking, as well as economist and ministerial roles in Africa and the Global South.
Founded in 1964, the AfDB has 81 member countries, comprising 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries.
Of the 106,418 candidates who registered, 106,079 sat for the exams, and 89 percent achieved a pass mark of at least 50 percent. Among them, the pass rate for boys was 93.5 percent, compared to 85.5 percent for girls.
The announcement was made on September 1, 2025, with officials noting that overall performance across all categories was encouraging.
Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana explained that the results were released earlier than in previous years to prevent students from losing valuable time.
Previously, results were published in November or December, often preventing unsuccessful candidates from retaking exams in time and delaying successful students from starting university.
He emphasised that announcing the results in September allows those who passed to proceed directly to higher education without interruption, while those who failed have sufficient time to prepare and retake the exams alongside their peers.
Performance varied across different categories of study. In the general education stream, 61,737 students sat for the exam, with 83.8 percent passing. In the Technical, Vocational, and Education Training (TVET) stream, 36,141 students took the exam, with 35,393 passing, resulting in a 98 percent success rate.
Among professional courses, 8,201 candidates sat for the exam, and 89.8 percent passed. All 438 nursing students passed, while in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), 3,829 candidates sat for the exam, and only seven failed to meet the 50 percent pass mark. In the accounting stream, 3,916 students were examined, and 825 did not reach the pass mark.
By academic stream, 41,182 students specialized in sciences, with 81.45 percent passing. In humanities, 10,091 candidates sat for the exam, achieving a pass rate of 90.78 percent. For language studies, 10,410 candidates were examined, and 86.1 percent achieved the passing score.
The Ministry also recognised top-performing students in each field. In sciences, Arengerwe Merci Alliance from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Rwamagana achieved the highest score with 96.06 percent.
In humanities, Kagemana Jean Lambert from ES Cyabingo in Gakenke scored 95.73 percent, while in languages, Mugisha Abayo Jennifer from Collège du Christ-Roi in Nyanza topped with 93.49 percent.
District performance varied significantly. Kayonza led with a 96.9 percent pass rate, followed by Kirehe at 95.6 percent, Rulindo at 94.9 percent, Ngoma at 93.8 percent, and Nyamasheke at 93.6 percent.
On the other hand, Kamonyi recorded the lowest performance at 85 percent, while Nyarugenge scored 87.1 percent. Gatsibo, Rutsiro, and Karongi each registered a pass rate of 88.6 percent.
The contribution is part of a long-term partnership between Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Imbuto Foundation, aimed at protecting the memory of the genocide through education and the use of digital technology.
Activities include teaching young people about Rwanda’s history through initiatives such as Igihango cy’Urungano and applying modern technology to conserve evidence and artifacts stored at memorial sites.
The partnership, now in its fourth year, is based on a 10-year commitment in which Liquid pledged to contribute up to USD 1 million toward these efforts.
Sam Nkusi, Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, emphasized the importance of digital preservation in ensuring younger generations understand and remember the country’s past.
“The purpose is to make sure we always remember, especially the youth. We are all growing older. Tomorrow, if this history is not strengthened, documented, and preserved in accessible places, how will Rwanda’s future generations, or even foreigners, know it? The goal is to make sure the truth endures forever,” he said.
Nkusi also noted that the partnership has already borne fruit, as four Rwandan genocide memorials have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. He called on other private sector actors to join efforts in safeguarding Rwanda’s history.
Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, reiterated the significance of protecting national memory.
“This collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Imbuto Foundation is important because it is our responsibility, as Rwandans, to protect and preserve our history. In this digital era, where social media gives space to those who distort and deny facts, repeated lies can have lasting effects. That is why we must ensure the truth is preserved and widely shared,” he said.
Dr. Bizimana stressed that it is the duty of today’s generation to leave behind a strong legacy for the youth.
“We must hand down to young people and future generations a truthful record of our past. That is why part of our strategy is to continue developing genocide memorials into complete repositories of history. It is not easy, but it is possible, making sure evidence is preserved and accessible to anyone who visits,” he noted.
Shami Elodie, Director General of Imbuto Foundation, welcomed the continued collaboration, praising its impact in educating youth and supporting memorial conservation.
As part of the ongoing program, the Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Bugesera District has already been upgraded.
The next project will focus on the Nyange Genocide Memorial in Ngororero District, which holds significant historical records of atrocities in that area.
The works, estimated at Frw 100 million, are expected to be completed by June 2026.
Speaking at a press briefing in Goma on Monday, Nyarugabo alleged that the Burundian troops are reinforcing local militias and the Congolese army in operations aimed at wiping out his community, a campaign he says began in 2017.
Nyarugabo, who hails from the Minembwe highlands, explained that the attacks were started by Mai-Mai militias from the Fulero, Bembe, and Nyindu communities, who swore to end their attacks only once the Banyamulenge were exterminated.
He accused the Congolese government of initially ignoring the violence until the creation of MRDP-Twirwaneho, a self-defence group formed to protect the Banyamulenge.
“More than 400 villages have been burned, thousands of people killed, and around half a million cattle looted. Many survivors fled to refugee camps in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, while others sought safety abroad,” he said.
{{Burundi’s role questioned
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Burundi and the DRC signed a 2022 agreement to jointly combat armed groups such as RED Tabara and FOREBU. But Nyarugabo said the Banyamulenge were shocked to see Burundi, once a haven for their community, now cooperating in operations against them.
“The Burundian state was once a refuge for us. They received us, hosted us. Even after the Gatumba massacre, despite no real accountability, people continued to flee there whenever conflict erupted in Uvira or the highlands, and they were treated well. Even now, some remain there,” he added.
He said there are currently between 12 and 15 battalions, comprising more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers, stationed in the highlands.
“You may wonder, what are more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers doing in those mountains? They claim they came to hunt down RED Tabara, their enemies. But strangely, RED Tabara in that region allied with the Mai-Mai against us. And when the Burundians arrived, they too joined forces with the Mai-Mai.
“Between 12 and 15 Burundian battalions, comprising over 10,000 soldiers, are now stationed in the highlands. Officially, they claim to be pursuing RED Tabara, but in reality, they have joined forces with Mai-Mai groups and FARDC to attack our people,” he said.
According to him, Burundian forces fought RED Tabara, which then fled into Mwenga forests. But instead of pursuing them, Burundi joined the FDLR, the DRC army, and Mai-Mai militias in attacking and looting Banyamulenge communities in Minembwe and beyond.
Nyarugabo claimed Burundian troops are deployed in Bijombo, Gahuna, Kagogo, Mugeti, Irango, Nyakirango, Murambya, Gatanga, Gitaka, Kanono, Mitamba, Marimba, Rurambo, and other locations.
He further alleged that drones launched from Kisangani and Bujumbura have carried out repeated strikes in Minembwe, killing civilians and destroying villages. On August 31, he said, drones mistakenly hit an FARDC base in Karunga, killing between 36 and 48 Congolese soldiers, including a battalion commander.
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Nyarugabo appealed to Burundi to withdraw from what he described as “Kinshasa’s plan to annihilate the Banyamulenge” and urged the international community to step in.
“We have no quarrel with Burundi. They should not allow Tshisekedi’s politics to stain Burundian history with the blood of innocent Banyamulenge,” he said. “If they are truly fighting RED Tabara, let them work with us, not with Congo, Mai-Mai, and the Interahamwe.”
He vowed that the Banyamulenge would continue to defend themselves if targeted.
“I swear, the Banyamulenge will never allow themselves to be exterminated,” he declared.
{{Lt Gen Masunzu and others accused of ‘Stockholm Syndrome’
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Although the Banyamulenge formed Twirwaneho for self-defense, some of their leaders chose to remain aligned with the Congolese government. These include Lt Gen Pacifique Masunzu, commander of the 3rd military region, and Urban Development Minister Alexis Gisaro.
Both have publicly denied that atrocities are being committed against the Banyamulenge, undermining the very rationale for MRDP-Twirwaneho’s existence.
Nyarugabo claimed their stance is driven by a form of “Stockholm Syndrome.”
“In short, they are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a mental condition where victims sympathise with their abusers. That’s their illness,” he said.
He added that despite their denials, they are well aware that their communities in South Kivu have been uprooted by attacks from Mai-Mai, government forces, and allied militias.
“When Sukhoi jets and drones strike Minembwe, they do not discriminate between kin. Those who die are our people—and theirs too. Among the dead we bury every day are our own relatives as well as theirs.”
Nyarugabo urged Banyamulenge collaborating with Kinshasa to “wake up, abandon delusion, and return to truth,” warning that anyone complicit in harming South Kivu civilians would also be held accountable.
“If they cannot speak the truth for their own safety, that I can understand. But they should remain silent rather than deny reality. One day they will be questioned, and they will feel shame—because what I am saying is the truth.”
Through the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), community members undergo six months of training designed to empower villagers to make decisions, manage resources, and implement development projects of their choice.
The process ensures that every resident has a voice in village planning, while grants provided by Spark support initiatives in economic development, governance, and social cohesion.
Each participating village receives between Frw 8 million and Frw 12 million, disbursed in two phases — 60% upfront and 40% later based on performance. The funds are invested in community-selected projects ranging from farming to housing and income-generating activities.
Vestine Yansayidiye, a resident of Musekera village, is among members who described how Spark changed their lives.
“When Spark came to our village in 2014, I joined a savings group and borrowed Frw 20,000. I bought two piglets and some rabbits. As they reproduced, I sold the livestock and earned about Frw 500,000, which I used as capital for business,” she said.
Yansayidiye explained that the profits allowed her family to stop renting and build their own house through the community group Twihute mu Iterambere.
“Now I also contribute to household needs, not everything depends on my husband,” she said.
Vestine has since purchased six plots of land worth Frw 8 million, and her assets from Spark-supported projects now exceed Frw 12 million.
Maria Nyirabarinegura, also from Musekera, shared a similar journey: “Before Spark, I lived in a house with a tiled roof. Today, I own a beautiful house worth Frw 5 million and rear livestock.”
She borrowed Frw 100,000, invested it in farming and pig rearing, and used the profits to build her home and expand into poultry and cattle. She emphasized that livestock farming boosted crop yields through access to manure, which was previously unavailable.
According to Alphonse Sikubwabo, president of Twihute mu Iterambere, Spark’s support enabled the roofing of 142 houses, each family receiving 20 roofing sheets.
“Beyond Spark’s support, we also contributed, with every household adding Frw 1,000. This helped us achieve even more,” he said.
The roofing initiative saw each family receiving 20 roofing sheets, costing over Frw 21.9 million, funded through group lending, farming, and savings.
The community also invested Frw 6.5 million for further improvements including sand flooring.
Founded in 2010, Spark Microgrants is a U.S.-based international NGO operating in eight countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi.
He made the remarks on Monday, September 1, during a Youth Town Hall session at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal, where he joined host President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and leaders in agri-food systems from across the continent.
Kagame cautioned against Africa’s overreliance on external support despite its abundant resources, noting that the continent’s vast arable land, water, and technology should be enough to achieve food security if coupled with strong political will and youth-driven innovation.
“We have conferences, we have forums, we’re everywhere, saying the right things. But in the end, what can we measure? What results are there to show for the efforts? We must start working the talk and move from talking to doing,” Kagame said.
He emphasised that governments, youth, and women all have shared responsibilities in driving change, pointing to Rwanda’s demographic structure—where women make up over half of the population and 75% are under 35—as proof that inclusive action is essential.
Kagame also highlighted Rwanda’s partnerships in agriculture, citing initiatives such as the Rwanda Institute of Conservation Agriculture (RICA), which trains young innovators from across Africa, and the Rwanda Ireme Invest fund, which mobilised $100 million at COP27 to support climate-smart agriculture.
The President urged young people to complement their demands for support with active participation in entrepreneurship, innovation, and responsible leadership.
“You can’t hold people accountable when you are not playing your part,” he noted. “Young people must feel an obligation. There is no sitting back and waiting until someone comes to help—you must be actively engaged.”
This year’s Africa Food Systems Forum is being held from August 31 to September 5, 2025, at the CICAD and Diamniadio Expo Center in Dakar under the theme “Africa’s Youth Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.”
The summit has drawn over 5,000 delegates, including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, researchers, farmers, and young entrepreneurs. Discussions are focusing on youth-led agribusiness, digital innovation, agricultural financing, and building resilience against climate change, while also addressing the inclusion of marginalized groups.
The AFSF, formerly known as the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), has been held annually since 2010. Last year’s edition took place in Kigali, Rwanda.
The index, which assesses the capability and effectiveness of governments across 120 countries worldwide, placed Mauritius at 51st globally, maintaining its position as Africa’s top performer for the fifth year in a row despite slipping from 36th in 2021. Rwanda followed at 59th, while Botswana secured 61st place.
Other African countries that made the continent’s top ten include Morocco (75th), South Africa (77th), Tanzania (78th), Egypt (81st), Senegal (83rd), Ghana (86th), and Algeria (90th).
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The report notes that Rwanda scored particularly well in Financial Stewardship, Global Influence & Reputation, and Helping People Rise, placing it ahead of most of its regional peers.
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The CGGI reveals that Africa continues to face significant governance challenges, with the region posting the lowest average score globally. Nonetheless, there was a modest improvement between 2024 and 2025, after declines during the pandemic years.
Of the 28 African countries ranked, only Rwanda and Tanzania improved their positions between 2021 and 2025, while the rest recorded declines.
Tanzania, in particular, rose from 82nd in 2021 to 78th this year, making it the most improved in the region. Its progress is attributed to reforms under the Digital Tanzania Project, new data protection laws, and a surge in foreign investment.
The CGGI is designed not only to measure performance but also to provide practical benchmarks that governments can use to identify gaps and adopt good practices from peers. The seven pillars assessed include Leadership and Foresight, Robust Laws and Policies, Strong Institutions, Financial Stewardship, Attractive Marketplace, Global Influence and Reputation, and Helping People Rise.
Speaking on September 1, 2025, at the opening of the 2025/26 judicial year, Mukantaganzwa noted that courts handled more than 109,000 cases out of over 182,000.
During the year, 106,254 new cases were filed, adding to 76,273 unresolved from the previous year, bringing the total workload to 182,527.
Of the new cases, 63,457 (60%) were registered in Primary Courts, while 42,797 (40%) went to Intermediate Courts, the Commercial Court, and High Courts. Substantive cases accounted for 85% (90,044), while bail hearings made up 15% (16,210).
Courts managed to conclude 109,192 cases, including 92,880 substantive cases and 16,312 bail-related hearings. On average, each judge resolved 26 cases per month.
Mukantaganzwa highlighted that when mediation and plea bargaining are included, a total of 124,204 cases were resolved in 2024/25.
Despite this achievement, 58,323 cases were left unresolved by year’s end, with nearly half (26,862) pending for more than six months and therefore considered backlog.
Mukantaganzwa pointed to public perceptions as a key driver of persistent backlogs: “Many citizens believe disputes can only be settled through full trials that produce winners and losers. Others refuse to accept court rulings and push cases through every stage of appeal, which extends delays.”
According to judiciary reports, backlogged cases stood at 44,799 in 2023/24 (59% of the total), showing a 10% reduction over the past two years. Mediation and plea bargaining have also grown, with 15,012 cases settled this way in 2024/25, representing 14% of new filings.
Justice Minister Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to alternative dispute resolution.
Cases handled through court-based mediation rose from just 243 in 2021 to more than 3,000 in 2024/25. Since 2022, over 7,000 cases have been resolved through mediation.
He said the government aims to reduce backlog to 30% and expand mediation and plea deals to cover at least 30% of cases.
“Citizens must embrace a culture of amicable dispute resolution, which delivers faster, less costly justice and avoids overburdening the courts,” he said.
The mission, which began on August 25, 2025, was organized under a cooperation agreement between the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and Congo-Brazzaville’s Société de Promotion Immobilière (SOPRIM).
It was led by Dr. Julio Nganongo Ossere, Director of the Ministry’s Office of Construction and Urban Housing, accompanied by four technical experts.
Throughout the visit, the delegation toured several institutions and projects across the country, including Rubavu District, the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), and the Rwanda Housing Authority, where they were received by Director General Alphonse Rukaburandekwe.
They also visited Kigali City, where they were introduced to the KUBAKA platform, a digital system designed to simplify, speed up, and improve the process of applying for and obtaining building permits.
Dr. Nganongo praised Rwanda’s use of digital platforms in service delivery, noting that Congo-Brazzaville intends to adopt a similar system beginning in 2026.
“This system used in Rwanda has been a valuable lesson for us, as we also have plans to roll out such a platform. We are impressed and confident that the knowledge shared by our Rwandan counterparts will guide us in making this a reality,” he said.
The partnership between RHA and SOPRIM was formalized on November 24, 2021, with the aim of strengthening collaboration in housing, urban planning, and the development of affordable, modern housing.
The visiting officials described the exchange as an opportunity to draw inspiration from Rwanda’s achievements in sustainable urbanization and citizen-focused service delivery.
Gen Omega, who once vowed he would only return to Rwanda “when no Tutsi lives there,” has escaped death during numerous offensives against the FDLR. These operations claimed the lives of several senior commanders, including Sylvestre Mudacumura, who was killed in 2019.
Since 2022, when M23 rebels intensified attacks, Gen Omega and the FDLR fighters protecting him have frequently shifted positions. They moved from Tongo in Rutshuru Territory, located within Virunga National Park, to Rusayo, then advanced to Bambiro in Masisi Territory, and to several other locations.
In September 2024, the Congolese army (FARDC) launched large-scale assaults in Rusayo and Shovu, claiming the operations targeted senior FDLR commanders, including Gen Omega. At the time, the Congolese government was under mounting international pressure to dismantle the terrorist organization.
However, it later emerged that, before the offensive began, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, then governor of North Kivu Province, secretly warned the FDLR.
As a result, the group’s fighters and senior leaders, including Gen Omega, managed to escape quietly toward Kanyamahoro. Instead, the strikes ended up hitting fighters from the APCLS militia led by Janvier Karairi, rather than the FDLR’s top command.
{{Is Gen Omega still alive?}}
On January 25, reports circulated widely on social media claiming that Gen Omega, the Commander of FDLR-FOCA, had been killed by AFC/M23 fighters.
At first, the reports were widely believed, but later accounts indicated that he might still be alive.
The FDLR/FOCA spokesperson, Cure Ngoma, dismissed the claims of his death, saying: “The reports about our military leader’s death are false. He is perfectly fine, at work, and carrying out his duties as usual.”
On the morning of March 1, new reports emerged that AFC/M23 was preparing to hand over captured FDLR fighters to Rwanda, including one with the rank of General, though his identity was not immediately confirmed.
The senior officer handed over at that time turned out to be Brig Gen Gakwerere Ezechiel, former Secretary-General of the FDLR. He was accompanied by Major Ndayambaje Gilbert, also known as Rafiki Castro.
Following this handover, journalists were eager to ask AFC/M23 leaders whether Gen Omega was among those in custody. The coalition’s deputy spokesperson, Dr. Balinda Oscar, responded that they had never captured him.
Speaking to IGIHE, Dr. Balinda said: “As for Gen Omega, you will know his fate soon. We are still looking for him. I personally reached his bunker at Kanyamahoro, beneath Mount Nyiragongo. It was empty, neither he nor his body was found there.”
These conflicting accounts, from Cure Ngoma’s claims of Omega’s survival to Dr. Balinda’s assertion that he was missing but not confirmed dead, suggest that, with the support of the Congolese government, Gen Omega may still be alive. Nevertheless, his whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery.
{{Where is Gen Omega?}}
As confusion continued to surround the fate of Gen Omega; Rwanda Defense Force spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, told Jeune Afrique in March 2025 that he had not been handed over to Rwanda. At the time, there were reports that AFC/M23 had captured another senior FDLR officer.
On August 21, 2025, the Commander of RDF forces in Western Province, Maj Gen Eugène Nkubito, addressed residents of Rubavu District, saying that Gen Omega should return to his homeland instead of hiding in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The children and wife of FDLR leader, Pacifique Ntawunguka, are here in Rwanda. Did you know that? … I would advise him, as his children often say, to come back home if he truly wants to live, rather than dying miserably in the bush. Tell me, what is he doing in those forests? What does he hope to achieve?” Maj Gen Nkubito wondered.
According to a United Nations group of experts’ report published on July 3, 2025, intensified AFC/M23 offensives forced Gen Omega and other top FDLR commanders to abandon their positions near Mount Nyiragongo and inside Virunga National Park.
Currently, FDLR fighters are reported to be scattered across several areas including Binza in Rutshuru Territory, parts of Walikale Territory, Uvira in South Kivu Province, and even in Bujumbura. However, the UN experts did not disclose the whereabouts of Gen Omega himself.
Pacifique Ntawunguka was born in 1964 in Gasebeya Sector, Gaseke Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture, today part of Ngororero District in Rwanda’s Western Province.
He attended primary school in Gaseke and secondary school at Rwankeli in the current Nyabihu District before enrolling at Collège Christ Roi in Nyanza. Later, he pursued military training at ESM (École Supérieure Militaire) in Kigali. After ESM, he furthered his education in aviation in Egypt, Greece, and France.
As an officer in the defeated Ex-FAR, Ntawunguka was sent abroad for further aviation training in Egypt, Greece, and France. Between 1990 and 1994, he held the rank of Lieutenant.
When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi began, Omega was leading the 94th Battalion operating in Mutara. He was defeated by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and sustained a leg injury during the fighting before retreating to Kigali.
Following the defeat of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), Omega fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with other ex-FAR members.
They later established the FDLR in 2000. Since the killing of Sylvestre Mudacumura in 2019, Ntawunguka has served as the commander of FDLR/FOCA.
Over the years, efforts were made to persuade Ntawunguka to return to Rwanda, but he consistently refused.
