East

President of the Republic of Rwanda  Paul Kagame on Friday commissioned more than one thousand new officers at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, officially welcoming them into the Rwanda Defence Force. The graduates completed different military training programmes and were all awarded the rank of Second Lieutenant during the ceremony attended by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, military officials and families of the cadets.

In his address, President Kagame reminded the new officers that their achievement comes with responsibility. “No one should think that just because we are making progress, there is room for complacency. We are not where we want to be yet, the journey is still long. There is still a lot of work to do, and it still requires your service and resilience.” He emphasised that Rwanda expects full commitment from its young generation of officers.

Biniam, a famous African cyclist, said that having the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda is a special moment for all of Africa. The races took place in Kigali, a city known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” This was the first time this event was ever held on the continent of Africa.

Biniam Girmay is a hero to many young riders. He has made history before. He was the first Black African to win a stage at the Giro d’Italia. He also won a stage and the Green Jersey at the Tour de France.

The inauguration of the Home of Dreams in Rwanda’s Bugesera District marks a monumental shift for cycling across Africa, positioning the nation as a leading hub for talent development on the continent. Launched on September 24 by the Israel Premier Tech cycling team in collaboration with the Gasore Serge Foundation and Bugesera District, the multi-level youth center is a groundbreaking addition to the Field of Dreams bike facility.

Significantly, this new hub, located in Nyatarama Sector, is the first of its kind in Africa to feature both a race track and a pump track and has been officially recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as a Regional Training Center. This recognition isn’t merely symbolic, it places Rwanda at the heart of the UCI’s strategy to expand cycling’s footprint across the globe.

President Paul Kagame has praised Egypt as a strong partner for Rwanda, as the two countries signed new cooperation agreements during his official visit to Cairo on Tuesday 23rd September 2025.

President Kagame was received by his host, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, before the two leaders presided over the signing of agreements covering investment promotion, water resource management, reciprocal land allocation, and urbanisation.

Speaking at a joint press conference, President Kagame said the new pacts represent another milestone in the growing partnership between Rwanda and Egypt.

The hills of Kigali delivered history today as Megan Arens from the Netherlands won the Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships.

The 18-year-old stopped the clock at 25 minutes 47 seconds on the 18.3-kilometre course, which started at BK Arena and ended at the Kigali Convention Centre. The route included steep climbs and a hard cobbled finish on the Côte de Kimihurura, where Arens made the difference.

The streets of Rwanda’s capital came alive on Saturday, September 20, as hundreds of cyclists took part in a vibrant social ride ahead of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, which officially begin today, September 21, and run until September 28 2025.

The event drew riders of all ages and backgrounds, including toddlers under three, children up to five, and professional cycling fans who rode side by side in a spirit of celebration. Each participant received a medal of participation, turning the ride into a memorable experience for families and cycling enthusiasts alike.

The African farmer is moving from subsistence to business. This message came out strongly at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) in Algiers, where Agro-processing companies from Malawi and Nigeria presented their work.

The National Bank of Malawi PLC joined the exhibition to show how local banks are backing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The bank is supporting farmers in rice, tea, macadamia, honey, potatoes, and chili processing.

“We finance the whole value chain, from production to processing and finally to market,” said Mr. Chimweme Chijere, Business Development Manager at National Bank of Malawi. He added that African banks must play a big role in food security by giving farmers access to funds and trade tools.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun hearings against Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, even though he remains at large. This is the first time the ICC has held such proceedings in absentia.

Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), is accused of killing more than 100,000 people and abducting at least 60,000 children during his decades-long insurgency in Uganda and across Central Africa. He faces 39 charges, including murder, rape, torture, enslavement, and sexual slavery.

The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) is underway in Algiers, Algeria. The fair started on 4 September and will end on 10 September 2025. It is the 4th edition, bringing together all African countries in one place.

At the previous IATF 2023 held in Cairo, Rwanda faced challenges with packaging. Their products were often more expensive compared to others. This was due to Rwanda’s ban on single-use plastics, which made packaging harder to find.

A fireside chat at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) on Saturday brought together two leading voices shaping Africa’s trade landscape; H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, and Prof. Benedict Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of Afreximbank.

The session, held under the theme “The First Mile to the Future: Reflections on IATF, AfCFTA, and the Power of Partnership,” explored how African partnerships, policy, and finance are driving the continent’s trade transformation.