The conference, which will feature the Policymakers Roundtable, is scheduled to take place in Kigali from September 9 to 10, 2025.
Key topics on the agenda include linking sports with tourism, monetizing sports, advancing sports development, attracting sponsors, and demonstrating the benefits of investing in the sector.
Last year’s edition brought together around 400 participants, including athletes from various disciplines in Rwanda, leaders of sports federations, investors, journalists, and institutions connected to the sports industry.
Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, emphasized that the Forum is helping to reshape African perspectives on the role of sports.
'This Roundtable marks a pivotal step in unlocking the transformative potential of Africa’s sports industry. By strengthening our national policies and aligning them with Agenda 2063, we aim to foster a thriving sports ecosystem that drives job creation, sparks innovation, and accelerates socio-economic development across the continent.
“Together, we are setting the stage for a new era where sports become a powerful catalyst for Africa’s growth and global leadership,' she noted.
Among the prominent figures who attended last year was El Hadji Diouf, the legendary footballer.
Launched last year, the Forum promotes Africa’s sports industry as a key driver of sustainable socio-economic development on the continent.
Last year’s edition brought together around 400 participants, including athletes from various disciplines in Rwanda, leaders of sports federations, investors, journalists, and institutions connected to the sports industry.
Among the prominent figures who attended last year was El Hadji Diouf, the legendary footballer.
Minister of Agriculture Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe and AfDB Rwanda Country Manager Aissa Touré Sarr signed an aide-mémoire on August 12 for a $995,000 grant to support feasibility, environmental, and social studies for the Gabiro Agribusiness Hub expansion.
The second phase of the project will cover 10,000 hectares across Nyagatare and Gatsibo districtsâ”nearly twice the size of the 5,600-hectare first phase. Once complete, the entire hub will span 15,600 hectares, making it one of Rwanda’s largest agribusiness developments.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the studies will assess the viability of establishing a special agro-industrial processing zone at the hub, integrating cold storage facilities, aggregation centers, and other infrastructure to support smallholder farmers. The partnership also aims to strengthen agricultural value chains and reduce post-harvest losses.
The AfDB grant will also benefit Kivu Cold Group, a Rwanda-Japan joint venture developing an environmentally friendly, off-grid cold chain system to promote climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
Aloysius Ngarambe, CEO of Gabiro Agribusiness Hub Ltdâ”the company managing the projectâ”said the feasibility study will determine the investment required for Phase II and help attract financiers.
'This will be a critical step toward implementation,' he told The New Times.
Phase I, located in Nyagatare District, is 98 percent complete and equipped with advanced irrigation infrastructure. The government has invested $118 million (approximately Frw170 billion) in its development, with Israeli firm Netafim overseeing construction. Official handover is expected in September.
For Phase II, Ngarambe said the feasibility study contract is expected to be awarded within the next three months, although the study’s duration has not yet been determined.
The Gabiro Agribusiness Hub is a flagship project aimed at boosting productivity, modernising farming practices, and improving market access for Rwandan farmers, while contributing to the country’s food security and export growth.
Minister of Agriculture Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe and AfDB Rwanda Country Manager Aissa Touré Sarr signed an aide-mémoire on August 12 for a $995,000 grant to support feasibility, environmental, and social studies for the Gabiro Agribusiness Hub expansion.
The Cabinet approved 18 hectares for the campus on July 30, 2025, during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Dr. Edgar Kalimba, Deputy CEO in Charge of Medical Services at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFHR), detailed that the institution aims to transform healthcare not only in Rwanda but across Africa by training skilled professionals and reducing the need for patients to seek specialised care abroad.
'The land provided by the government will allow us to develop a comprehensive campus with all the facilities necessary for workforce training, research, and medical education,' Dr. Kalimba said.
Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU) was launched in September 2024 by King Faisal Hospital Rwanda in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Launched in September 2024 by KFHR in partnership with the Ministry of Health, AHSU is a key component of Rwanda’s '4×4 reform' to quadruple its healthcare workforce, with a vision to serve the broader African region.
The university currently runs residency programs in six specialitiesâ”paediatrics and child health, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, anesthesiology and critical care, emergency medicine and critical care, and internal medicineâ”alongside a school of midwifery, offering a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Midwifery.
The university currently runs residency programs in six specialities.
The first cohort, which began training in September 2024, is expected to graduate in 2028, producing roughly 60 specialists and 40 midwives.
The Rusororo campus, still in the strategic planning phase, will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to establish AHSU as a leading medical school for Africa.
'It’s going to serve as an international medical school,' Dr. Kalimba emphasised. 'The ambition is to set a high standard, making it comprehensive with undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs that attract students from across the region.'
Dr. Edgar Kalimba, Deputy CEO in charge of Medical Services at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFHR), in his office in Kacyiru.
Plans are underway to start additional master’s degrees and introduce Ph.D. programs, including a combined medical and research degree (MBBS-PhD track) to train doctors who will lead medical research and teach future healthcare professionals.
The campus in Rusororo is expected to be operational within five years, according to Dr. Kalimba, and will complement KFHR’s ongoing expansion, which aims to triple its capacity by early 2028. The expansion will introduce specialised services previously unavailable in Rwanda, reducing the need for patients to seek care elsewhere in East Africa.
To ensure sustainability and regional reach, AHSU is adopting a mixed funding model. Rwandan residents are sponsored but commit to five years of service in public and teaching hospitals under a Ministry of Health retention contract.
Meanwhile, AHSU is actively recruiting students from across the continent, with growing interest evident in application statistics.
'This is not just for Rwanda. It’s an African medical school, and we want it to grow into a proper international institution,' Dr. Kalimba said.
International students will pay fees, ensuring long-term financial viability while training professionals who can elevate healthcare standards across the continent.
AHSU’s impact is already taking shape through partnerships with level 2 teaching hospitals and district hospitals like Kibuye, Kibungo, Kacyiru, and Muhima, where 30 faculty specialists have been deployed to train residents and enhance care.
'This has reduced referrals to tertiary hospitals and improved patient care, creating a model that can be replicated regionally,' Dr. Kalimba explained.
Global collaborations with several institutions like the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, and specialized hospitals in India and in other overseas centers are strengthening AHSU’s programs, with residents gaining exposure through external rotations at advanced medical centres. These partnerships position AHSU to share expertise and resources with other African nations.
Despite the progress, Dr. Kalimba acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in recruiting qualified faculty and developing infrastructure.
'Getting skilled personnel is a challenge everywhere,' he said, emphasising that training a medical specialist can take more than ten years, from undergraduate studies through postgraduate residency.
At the same time, Rwanda’s growing population, with approximately 300,000 births annually, epidemiological shift of diseases and progressively higher demand on the healthcare providers underscores the urgency of closing the doctor-to-population gap (and healthcare provider-to population gap), which remains far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one doctor per 1,000 people.
Dr. Kalimba noted that support from the Government of Rwanda, along with the involvement of expatriate specialists, is helping to address these hurdles. Meanwhile, the KFHR expansion, scheduled for completion by late 2027 or early 2028, will provide a state-of-the-art environment for training and healthcare, benefiting both Rwanda and the wider region.
Dr. Kalimba envisions AHSU and KFHR as catalysts for making Rwanda a healthcare hub for Africa.
'Instead of people having to travel overseas from within African countries, why wouldn’t they come to Rwanda and be given equally good services that they would get from elsewhere?” he asked.
By combining world-class infrastructure, comprehensive training, and a focus on research, the Rusororo campus aims to reduce reliance on overseas care, boost medical tourism, and train professionals who will serve across the continent.
As construction plans advance, AHSU is set to play a pivotal role in elevating healthcare standards in Rwanda and beyond, fulfilling a vision of regional excellence.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must be directly involved in the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Everything that concerns Ukraine should be discussed exclusively with Ukraine, he said, calling for preparations for a trilateral dialogue involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Zelensky underscored the need for a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine.
He also urged the imposition of stronger sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree to a ceasefire.
According to Zelensky, he and Merz had a video meeting on Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte, among others.
Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in the U.S. state of Alaska.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that leaders from Europe and the United States agreed on five principles for the talks with Russia, the Ukrinform news agency reported.
Ament, 18, plays for Tennessee Basketball in the United States known for nurturing top talent. He has been in Rwanda for several days on holiday, also taking time to explore his mother’s homeland.
During their discussions, Minister Mukazayire and Ament explored opportunities to develop basketball, as well as the importance of sports in fostering values, inspiring youth, and highlighting talents.
While in Rwanda, Ament visited children playing basketball in Kayonza and joined them in training sessions. He also visited Volcanoes National Park.
Recently ranked fourth among the top 100 young basketball players in the U.S., Ament is considered a rising star, with speculation already suggesting he could be in the 2026 NBA draft.
With a Rwandan mother, Ament recently unveiled a custom-made shoe by Reebok featuring the colors of the Rwandan flag.
Last year, he represented Team USA in the 2024 FIBA U-18 Americas Championship, where the team won the gold medal.
The Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has received Nate Ament, one of the most promising young basketball players.
The massacre, carried out on the night of 13 August 2004, was orchestrated by the armed group FNL-PALIPEHUTU, with alleged support from elements of the Congolese army. Two decades later, the Banyamulenge say justice has never been deliveredâ”while killings, displacement, and persecution persist.
Justice denied, persecution continues
Speaking on behalf of the Coordination des Mutualités Banyamulenge, community leader Jules Rutebuka said countless efforts to seek justice have been ignored.
'We filed cases in Burundi against those who admitted responsibility, including Agathon Rwasa and Pasteur Habimana, but they still walk free. We also appealed to the DRC, where Congolese soldiers were implicated, yet nothing was done. Every authority we approached has failed us,' he said.
Rutebuka noted that although the commemoration looks back to 2004, Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi remain targets today. Livestock are seized, homes burned, and people killed or displaced simply for speaking Kinyarwanda.
'This is why we chose self-defense. We cannot continue to offer our necks to the killers,' he added.
Survivors’ testimonies
For survivors like Michel Gahakanyi, the memory of Gatumba is still vivid. Then just 22, he recalled how attackers stormed the camp, surrounding it before targeting Banyamulenge refugees who had been deliberately separated from others.
'They came prepared, poured gasoline on our shelters, and burned people alive. Anyone who tried to run was shot. My sister was killed in front of me and set on fire. I escaped through piles of bodies,' he said.
Reflecting on the present, Gahakanyi argued that the same forces that killed them in 2004 are still activeâ”now working alongside President Félix Tshisekedi’s government in DRC.
'The Burundians who killed us then are the same ones killing us today, this time with official backing. We want justice, but if it doesn’t come, we will defend ourselves until peace is restored. This is our country, and we will not give it up,' he warned.
A fresh wound
The community was recently shaken by the arrest of Laurent Ruboneka Musabwa, a Gatumba survivor and embassy staff member in Burundi. On 27 July 2024, Burundian security forces detained him and flew him to Kinshasa in a chartered plane arranged by the DRC government.
Rutebuka condemned the arrest: 'Musabwa was a lifeline for refugees and vulnerable people. Now he joins many others unjustly taken simply because they are Banyamulenge, Tutsi, or suspected of ties to M23. They are innocent, yet they are persecuted for their identity.'
Community members fear more arrests could follow, as many Banyamulenge live under constant threat.
Who will deliver justice?
The Gatumba Refugees Survivors Foundation (GRSF) filed a case with the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging prosecution of those responsible for the massacre. Similar complaints were lodged in Burundi and the DRC. But nearly 21 years later, impunity prevails.
Former FNL fighters were shielded by immunity under the Dar es Salaam ceasefire agreement of 7 September 2006.
Lawyer Innocent Nteziryayo, who represents GRSF and other Congolese Tutsi groups, said: 'We submitted all the evidence required. For two years, we have been gathering additional proof, linking it with independent reports, and presenting it to courts. Burundi, the DRC, and even the ICC have our files. They acknowledged themâ”but no court has acted. We will keep reminding them.'
Gratitude and determination
The Banyamulenge community expressed gratitude to Rwanda for hosting many survivors and providing safety and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Still, Rutebuka stressed that this does not replace their right to return home: 'We thank Rwanda for sheltering us. But the Congolese government must recognize that we have the right to live in our own land.'
The Banyamulenge’s plight stretches back decades. Since colonial times, they have been denied recognition as full citizens of Congo. They suffered massacres during the Mulele rebellion in 1964, and waves of violence returned in the 1990s.
Since 2017, violence has intensified once more, with Mai-Mai militias collaborating with Burundian groups like Red Tabara and FNL-PALIPEHUTU. Attacks have ravaged South Kivuâ”killing civilians, torching homes, looting livestock, and forcing thousands into displacement.
At the 21st commemoration of the Gatumba massacre, where 166 Banyamulenge were brutally murdered in a refugee camp in Burundi in 2004, survivors and community leaders once again raised their voices, accusing both Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of continuing a campaign of persecution and violence against them.
The community was recently shaken by the arrest of Laurent Ruboneka Musabwa, a Gatumba survivor and embassy staff member in Burundi.
Survivors of Gatumba massacre have renewed a call for justice
The commemoration event took place at Dove Hotel in Gisozi sector.
Singer Israel Mbonyi also attended the commemoration event
In a press statement, the council members also expressed grave concern about the implications of such actions, which represent a direct threat to Sudan’s territorial integrity and unity and further risk exacerbating the ongoing conflict in Sudan, fragmenting the country and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
They unequivocally reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. They stressed that any unilateral steps that undermine these principles threaten not only the future of Sudan but also the peace and stability of the broader region.
They reiterated that the priority is for the parties to resume talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and “create the necessary conditions for a political resolution on the conflict.”
They also recalled Security Council Resolution 2736, which demands that the RSF lift the siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around the city. They also expressed grave concern about incoming reports of a renewed RSF offensive in El Fasher and urged the RSF to allow unhindered humanitarian access to the city.
The council members condemned reported attacks in the Kordofan region in recent weeks by the parties, which have caused the deaths of large numbers of civilians. They also expressed deep concern over the impact of the conflict, including attacks on humanitarian operations. They called on the parties in Sudan to allow and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access in a manner consistent with the relevant provisions of international law.
They urged all UN member states to refrain from external interference that seeks to foment conflict and instability, to support efforts for durable peace, to abide by their obligations under international law, and to implement relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday rejected the announcement of the establishment of a parallel governing authority in areas controlled by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
