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Polling stations are set to open this Saturday in Ivory Coast, but the excitement of a democratic exercise is being eclipsed by mounting political tension. The nation, West Africa’s economic anchor, is bracing for a presidential election widely expected to hand 83-year-old incumbent Alassane Ouattara a controversial fourth term.

The final days of campaigning have seen President Ouattara, in power since 2011, appeal directly to the country’s massive youth demographic. He touts his administration’s strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development, urging young citizens to vote for the candidate committed to their future.

For years, the home of Bizimana Damascene and Tuyishimire Valerie in Cyahinda Sector, Nyaruguru District, was filled with pain and conflict. Constant family fights, often caused by alcohol abuse, created fear and sadness in their household.

Today, that same home is a story of peace, love, and progress, all thanks to training and support from the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE).

Valerie Tuyishimire, 38 years old, recalls those dark days with emotion.

A simple, yet powerful farming method is driving huge increases in crop production for small-scale farmers in southern Province of Rwanda. Members of Urumuri Cyamukuza Cooperative in Gisagara District are celebrating bumper harvests after adopting Pfumvudza, a climate-smart agriculture technique promoted through the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE).

This shift from traditional to modern, sustainable practices is reshaping food security, boosting incomes, and giving rural women a stronger voice in community development.

A quiet revolution is transforming the lives of rural women across five districts in Rwanda, turning smallholder farmers into confident entrepreneurs and community leaders. Through the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE), a global initiative bringing together key UN agencies and the Government of Rwanda to strengthen women’s livelihoods and resilience in agriculture.

The program’s impact is vividly clear in Gisagara District, Southern Province, where women are moving beyond traditional subsistence farming to embrace modern, climate-resilient agricultural practices and market access.

At a roundtable held on the sidelines of the Africa HealthTech Summit 2025 in Kigali, innovators, policymakers and development leaders came together to discuss one urgent question. How can technology secure Africa’s food and nutrition Future. The session, organized by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, brought practical solutions, bold ideas and a call for stronger integration across sectors.

Jean Claude Akarikumutima, CEO and founder of Faminga Ltd, emphasized that Africa does not lack innovation it lacks integration.

At the Africa Healthtech Summit 2025, innovators from across the continent showcased life-changing digital health solutions. But beneath the progress lies a stubborn challenge slowing down impact poor internet access.

Joel Aderinto, Country Lead for Talamus Health in Nigeria, explained how their platform connects patients to pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, radiology centers and policymakers.

“Our solutions help patients find and access the right care when they need it and how they need it,” he said.

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.