In Kigali, the festive decorations, from sparkling lights to carefully designed displays, are transforming the urban landscape. This year, the city’s transformation is particularly striking, as both the city center and districts like Kacyiru and Kicukiro have embraced the holiday spirit with open arms. Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of celebration, anticipation, and warmth, welcoming both locals and visitors into the magic of the season.
The Kigali City Administration, recognizing the importance of creating a festive atmosphere, called for contributions from residents and businesses early in October 2025, asking them to join in beautifying the city for the holidays. This effort has resulted in an explosion of lights, decorations, and holiday cheer that has already begun to capture the attention of the public.
IGIHE took a stroll through some of the most beautifully decorated spots in the city, capturing the holiday vibe. As the decorations take shape, Kigali’s streets are bustling with people stopping to take photos, share moments with loved ones, and enjoy the festive environment.
Pacifique Dushimimana, a resident of Kanombe, was found at one of the main roundabouts in downtown Kigali, which had been adorned with stunning decorations.
“In the city center, there are so many beautiful spots to take pictures. Being here, with friends and family, feels like the perfect way to end the year,” he shared, smiling as he took in the holiday scene.
Soline Nizeyimana, a resident of Muhima, also brought her two children to one of the city’s festive hotspots to celebrate the peaceful end of the year.
“We are finishing the year well, with no sickness, and we’re all in good health. Coming here to enjoy the decorations brings us joy. I brought my children because it’s not just fun for them, but also a great way for them to learn and celebrate,” she said.
At this roundabout, people from all walks of life, including children on their holiday break, were soaking in the holiday spirit. The festive lights and displays were a joy to behold, and the air was filled with the warmth of celebration.
The streets are now filled with even more people, eager to take in the vibrant sights as they prepare for Christmas and New Year 2026.
Curious to explore the city’s vibrancy during this festive season? Take a look at the photos below capturing Kigali’s holiday charm.
Burundi has hosted a massive influx of Congolese refugees fleeing conflict in areas such as Uvira, Katogota, Sange, Kiliba, Luvungi, and Kamanyola.
Authorities in Burundi have stated that the country lacks the resources to sustain such large numbers and have appealed for approximately $33 million in international assistance to manage the crisis.
Refugees who spoke to BBC, have described severe hardships in Burundi, including sharply rising food prices and acute shortages of essential supplies, which have made daily survival increasingly challenging.
Conditions at the Gatumba transit site near the DRC border remain dire, with persistent food shortages and a cholera outbreak exacerbated by inadequate sanitation.
Reports indicate significant loss of life, including dozens of deaths attributed to cholera and hunger over a short period in mid-December.
The AFC/M23 said on December 20, that it had facilitated the return of over 1000 Burundian nationals from DRC territory to Burundi amid the ongoing instability.
However, the group claims that Burundian authorities have blocked the border, preventing Congolese refugees from returning home, and are planning to move them to sites farther inland.
Bertrand Bisimwa, the Deputy Coordinator for Political Affairs, Governance, and Diplomacy at AFC/M23, on December 21, relayed testimonies from refugees voicing frustrations that Burundian soldiers are using force, including beatings with sticks, to prevent refugees at Gatumba from boarding vehicles for the journey back to the DRC.
“We are receiving numerous testimonies from our fellow refugees in the Gatumba camp, who are reporting being beaten and sometimes killed for attempting to return to the DRC. It is reported that Burundian soldiers are the ones carrying out these actions,” he said.
An audio message circulated by Bisimwa on X features a woman recounting repeated attempts to depart, only to be driven back through violence, with pleas for assistance in returning safely to the DRC.
“We are trying to board the vehicles, and people are hitting us with sticks, forcing us to go back. We went there for the second time, and they beat us again, forcing us back. Please speak on our behalf, the commanders are coming in, and they want to kill us. Some have already died, and others are imprisoned here in Gatumba. Please, help us return to Congo. Our ambassador is not saying anything. Please, help us,” the refugee said.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 95,000 Congolese individuals entered Burundi between early December and December 21, 2025, primarily through entry points including Gatumba.
According to State Department officials who talked to AP on condition of anonymity, the diplomats were notified last week that their tenures would end in January 2026, and they are expected to return to Washington for new assignments, should they wish to take them.
This recall marks one of the most extensive personnel shifts in the diplomatic corps since Trump began his second term, emphasizing a policy direction that places a premium on diplomatic officials aligned with the administration’s strategic agenda.
The shake‑up is being felt across multiple regions, but Africa has been most affected, with ambassadors from 13 African countries among those recalled. These include Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
In addition to Africa, ambassadorial changes are also underway in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere, affecting diplomatic missions in countries such as Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, Nepal, and Guatemala.
The demonstration drew large crowds, with participants carrying messages calling for lasting peace in the eastern DRC. One placard read: “Residents of Goma and surrounding areas reject the return of AFC/M23 from Uvira. We also oppose the return of FARDC, Wazalendo, Burundian forces, and militias to Uvira.”
Protesters expressed fatigue from years of conflict and called for urgent dialogue to resolve the region’s long-standing disputes.
AFC/M23 fighters left Uvira on 17 and 18 December after spending a week in the city. The coalition said the withdrawal was made at the request of the United States as a confidence-building measure while peace talks with the DRC government continue.
The group has insisted that neither FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo, nor the FDLR militia should return to Uvira. It has called on the US and other mediators to establish a neutral mechanism to ensure civilian safety.
AFC/M23 has also proposed that Uvira be designated a neutral zone, free from armed forces or monitored by impartial troops, allowing residents to resume daily activities without fear, unlike the situation under previous government deployments.
Jennifer Locetta, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs to the United Nations, indicated last week that AFC/M23’s request could be implemented in areas within a 75-kilometre radius of Uvira.
If the request is honoured, AFC/M23 could return to its previous positions, including the Kamanyola centre, before the clashes that erupted in early December 2025.
Spanning 777 square metres, the Gihanga Institute was designed by Rwandan architect Amin Gafaranga and is located in Kigali’s Kimihurura neighbourhood. It’s equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, exhibition spaces, performance platforms, a screening room, and artist studios, all intended to foster creativity and provide artists with the resources needed to thrive.
The opening exhibition, Inuma, curated by Kami Gahiga, co-founder of GICA, presents works by an impressive lineup of contemporary artists from Rwanda and beyond. Featured artists include Francis Offman, Kaneza Schaal, Innocent Nkurunziza, Feline Ntabangana, Christian Nyampeta, Sanaa Gateja, and Cedric Mizero. Each artist’s work reflects themes of memory, migration, survival, and the intersection of contemporary and traditional practices.
The title “Inuma” (which means “dove” in Kinyarwanda) symbolises the gentle yet powerful nature of the exhibition, which showcases works that communicate across borders and generations. Christian Nyampeta, for instance, explores communal living and cultural memory through a series of zines, charcoal drawings, and a film, while Kaneza Schaal presents a newly commissioned photographic series that challenges conventional perceptions of value and visibility.
Sanaa Gateja, known for his intricate beadwork, explores the intersection of craft, sculpture, and abstraction, while Francis Offman uses repurposed materials to create art that delves into themes of migration and colonial history. Feline Ntabangana adds a live performance piece that highlights gender, violence, and resilience, while Innocent Nkurunziza presents evocative barkcloth paintings that delve into spirituality and ecological reflection. Cedric Mizero merges photography and sculpture to create an immersive experience that engages with memory and material culture.
Sandrine Umutoni, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Youth and Arts, called GICA’s inauguration a “very special moment” for the country’s cultural arts, noting its role as a non-profit platform that makes the arts more accessible to all.
“We have artists from different disciplines and backgrounds, but we all share one thing in common: our relation to Rwanda,” she said.
She added that GICA’s location and accessibility are central to its impact. “To see the arts come back to Kigali and be presented to such a large audience in an affordable manner allows everyone to access and enjoy the arts. Art connects, it educates, and it has a powerful impact on society. This space brings a higher level to how art should be presented, following global standards, and it sends a strong message that art belongs to everyone, not just the elite,” she said.
Othman Lazraq, the founder of Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech, Morocco, expressed his excitement about the space and its potential.
“Art is a universal language, and this space will give more visibility to artists from Rwanda and beyond. It creates hope for the next generation of artists, offering them a platform where they can build their careers. I’m very proud to be here and support this initiative. It’s an immense addition to the cultural landscape of Rwanda,” he said.
Lazraq highlighted GICA’s role in fostering an international exchange, especially for artists from the region.
“This space provides an alternative, non-commercial environment that will be crucial for young artists starting their careers. The neutral, non-profit model here at GICA offers a platform that gives emerging artists the opportunity to think about the future of their craft, and I look forward to returning to see how it evolves.”
Kami Gahiga, co-founder of GICA, reflected on the institute’s journey and the support it has received from the community.
“This has been a real labour of love for me, for Kayneza, and for Amin Gafaranga, the architect. It took a village to build this place, and we are so thankful for the support from the community,” she shared.
“This is a place for Rwandans, by Rwandans. It’s about showcasing our talent, our love for the country, and giving a voice to perspectives that may otherwise be quieter.”
Gahiga emphasised the importance of GICA as an educational and cultural space. “We want to create a rich program focused on conversation, education, and the visibility of African art. This is Rwanda’s first non-profit institute dedicated to contemporary art, and it’s about time we had something like this. People often ask, ‘How can we think so high in Rwanda?’ But this is what Rwanda deserves. We have so much beauty in this country, and it’s time to showcase it.”
At the heart of the Gihanga Institute is its commitment to promoting African art globally while fostering intellectual and artistic exchanges. The institute’s name, “Gihanga,” honours the legendary Rwandan hero who is credited with introducing essential cultural practices and technologies that shaped Rwandan society. The institute’s founders hope to continue this legacy by offering a space where artists can reflect on Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage while pushing boundaries in contemporary art.
The institute’s debut exhibition, Inuma: A Bird Shall Carry the Voice, which ran from December 20-21, 2025, was a powerful introduction to the rich and evolving world of contemporary African art.
The call was made at a one-day regional summit in Uganda’s Entebbe, which brought together leaders and envoys to address the rapidly worsening security situation in eastern DRC and its spillover across the Great Lakes region.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs John Mulimba said participants agreed that the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should spearhead peace efforts to address the escalating conflict.
“We have agreed that, whereas we have initiatives such as the Doha and Washington peace process, the region must take center stage, and the region we are talking about is EAC and SADC,” Mulimba said.
According to Mulimba, the summit also directed that its communique be revised within 10 days, with a follow-up meeting to be convened within two weeks to incorporate a proposed regional peace framework.
In a statement issued during the summit, Rwanda said there was no need to establish new peace mechanisms, arguing that existing frameworks were sufficient to resolve the decades-long conflict.
Rwandan Minister of Interior Vincent Biruta said the main challenge lay in the lack of implementation of agreements already reached. He described the Washington accord and the Doha peace initiatives as the most viable frameworks for addressing both the internal and regional dimensions of the conflict.
Biruta also reiterated Rwanda’s concern over the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a dissident group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, warning that failure to address this issue “undermines trust and continues to pose a serious threat to regional security.”
Earlier this month, Rwanda and the DRC signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington aimed at ending decades of fighting. However, clashes have since intensified in eastern DRC, with the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group advancing to new positions.
The M23 said this week it had begun withdrawing from Uvira, a strategic eastern Congolese city it captured days earlier, adding that the move was made at the request of U.S. mediators as a confidence-building measure to support the peace process.
“Over the last two days in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings with the American delegation to advance President Trump’s peace plan on Ukraine,” Witkoff said in a post on social platform X.
“Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine,” he said. “Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security.”
Earlier on Sunday, Witkoff also described separate talks held over the past three days among the United States, Ukraine and Europe representatives in Florida as “productive and constructive.”
According to Witkoff, the U.S.-Ukraine discussions focused on four key documents: further development of a 20-point plan, alignment of positions on a multilateral security guarantee framework, alignment of positions on a U.S. security guarantee framework for Ukraine, and further development of an economic and prosperity plan.
“Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,” he said.
“Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace,” Witkoff said. “Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity.”
Witkoff noted the Ukrainian delegation included Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, and Andriy Hnatov, chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The U.S. delegation in separate talks with Russia and Ukraine included Witcoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum.
“Key European National Security Advisors also joined the discussions to align on a shared strategic approach between Ukraine, the United States, and Europe,” Witkoff noted, saying Ukraine would continue “close coordination” with both the United States and Europe.
During his annual year-end press conference in Moscow on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia agrees to end the Ukraine crisis through negotiations, while underscoring Russia’s battlefield advantages in Ukraine. He added that now “the ball is entirely in the court of Ukraine and its European sponsors.”
“Another 130 Abducted Niger State Pupils Released, None Left In Captivity,” Sunday Dare, a spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said on X, without giving details.
More than 300 students and teachers were kidnapped following the attack on the St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri area of Niger on Nov. 21. Earlier, security forces had rescued at least 51 students a few days after the incident, while continuing efforts to rescue other victims.
On Dec. 8, Tinubu announced that at least 100 schoolchildren were further rescued, reassuring parents that the government will continue efforts to reunite all the kidnapped students with their families. He also stated that he has directed security forces to rescue all remaining abducted students and other Nigerians across the country and bring them home safely.
Representing Rwanda at an Extraordinary Summit on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), held at Uganda’s State House in Entebbe and chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, Interior Minister Vincent Biruta emphasised the need for coordinated action under established frameworks.
“Rwanda believes the Doha and Washington frameworks remain the most credible pathways to lasting peace in the region,” Biruta said, urging all actors to honour prior commitments rather than creating new mechanisms that could slow progress.
A key concern highlighted was the continued presence of the FDLR, a militia group made up of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, collaborating with DRC forces.
“The neutralisation of this force is important for regional security,” Biruta said.
The Washington Accord, signed on December 4 by Presidents Kagame, Félix Tshisekedi, and U.S. President Donald Trump, formalised a June agreement calling for the neutralisation of the FDLR, which Kigali maintains poses a security threat to Rwanda.
On the other hand, the Doha process brings together the Kinshasa administration and the AFC/M23 group for dialogue. Earlier this year, the group expanded its control in eastern DRC, capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu. The M23 accuses the Congolese government of marginalising Kinyarwanda-speaking communities and of poor governance.
The Doha process has been hampered by ceasefire violations, resulting in renewed violence.
In his address, Minister Biruta urged operationalisation of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, noting that the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC reflects gaps in the implementation of previous agreements.
“Rwanda stands ready and fully committed to playing its part and calls upon all parties involved to honour and implement the agreements they have signed in the interest of lasting peace and stability in our region,” the minister stated.
The summit brought together regional leaders and representatives to discuss coordinated approaches to ending violence and promoting stability in eastern DRC, with Rwanda emphasising political will and genuine commitment as critical to sustainable peace.
Under the new guidelines, all business establishments, including shopping centres, hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, will be allowed to operate until 3:00 am from Monday to Thursday. Venues are also permitted to remain open throughout the night on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays during the festive period.
Although hospitality venues will enjoy longer hours, RDB stressed that all existing regulations continue to apply.
“Existing measures, such as noise pollution restrictions, venue safety and health guidelines, and the prohibition on serving or consuming alcohol to persons under the age of 18, remain in effect,” RDB said in a public notice issued on Sunday.
The board also reminded consumers to drink responsibly and avoid driving under the influence, noting that alcohol should not be served to anyone who appears intoxicated.
The temporary adjustments are part of RDB’s efforts to support festive season activities while maintaining public safety and order.
