The programme officially opened on September 8 at the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University of China in Beijing, with journalists from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East taking part.
Organised by the China Public Diplomacy Association under the guidance of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the four-month programme combines professional journalism training with field visits, cultural exchanges and discussions on China's economic development, technology, governance and international cooperation.
Participants will visit institutions and communities, interact with experts and explore different aspects of China's economic, technological, cultural and social development as part of the programme.
Since its establishment in 2014, CIPCC has hosted journalists from different regions of the world, providing opportunities for foreign reporters to experience China firsthand and report on developments from direct observation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hong Lei, Assistant Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, linked the changes in journalism over recent decades to China's broader transformation.
He recalled that more than three decades ago, journalists travelling outside Beijing faced long journeys, limited communication tools and slower methods of disseminating news.
Today, high-speed rail and digital infrastructure have changed the working environment for journalists, allowing reporters to travel between major cities within hours and use smartphones to record, edit and publish stories almost instantly.
'This shows the progress in journalism. But more importantly, it is a microcosm of the rapid development of China,' Hong said.
Over the past decades, China has undergone significant economic and social transformation, with its gross domestic product surpassing 140 trillion yuan (more than US$20.8 trillion), making it the world's second-largest economy and accounting for approximately 17 percent of the global economy.
China has also contributed around 30 percent of global economic growth in recent years, becoming one of the major drivers of the world economy.
On poverty reduction, Hong said China had lifted nearly 100 million people out of poverty, achieving the United Nations' poverty eradication target under the Sustainable Development Goals about 10 years ahead of schedule.
Life expectancy has increased from around 35 years in the early 1950s to 78.2 years, while basic medical insurance now covers more than 1.36 billion people.
China has also expanded its global presence in areas including high-speed rail, 5G technology, aerospace, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, said international media exchanges can help countries understand one another and reduce misconceptions.
She said CIPCC's work over the past 12 years has given journalists opportunities to travel across China, experience its culture and document its development.
'China foreign media engagement is not a one-month encounter, but a long-term partnership. Inter-civilizational mutual learning is not one-way output, but two-way empowerment,' Tong said.
Representing journalists participating in the second-half 2026 programme, Mark Longyen, Editor at the News Agency of Nigeria, said journalists have a responsibility to go beyond simply repeating information and instead develop a deeper understanding through observation and investigation.
'Our job is not to repeat what we are told, but to observe, investigate, verify, and tell stories that help our audiences make sense of a changing world,' Longyen said.
He highlighted China-Africa relations as an important area for deeper reporting, with cooperation expanding in infrastructure, telecommunications, education, trade and technology.
Longyen also encouraged journalists to embrace artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies while maintaining the core principles of journalism, including accuracy, independence, ethics and public trust.
Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of China Public Diplomacy Association, addresses participants during the opening ceremonyHong Lei, Assistant Foreign Minister of China, speaks at the opening of the 2026 CIPCC Journalism Training Programme in BeijingProfessor Zhang Donggang, Secretary of the CPC Renmin University of China Committee, addresses participants during the opening ceremony of the 2026 CIPCC Journalism Training ProgrammeJournalists from 101 countries attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 CIPCC programme in BeijingMark Longyen, Editor at News Agency of Nigeria, speaks on behalf of journalists participating in the programme
The deals were signed at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah during President Paul Kagame's two-day official visit to Oman, the first visit by a Rwandan head of state to the Gulf country.
The agreements cover visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, as well as the avoidance of double taxation between the two countries.
The six MoUs provide a framework for cooperation in political consultations, labour, trade and investment, logistics, agriculture, and strategic partnership and investment activation.
The deals were signed at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah during President Paul Kagame's two-day official visit to Oman.
The signing of the eight deals comes a day after Kagame held bilateral talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq as the two countries explored ways to strengthen cooperation in sectors of mutual interest.
According to the Office of the President, the two leaders highlighted the longstanding ties between Rwanda and Oman and opportunities to build on them through closer collaboration.
'Both leaders highlighted the historical ties between Rwanda and Oman, and the opportunity this visit offers to build on that strong foundation, including through closer collaboration in multiple sectors including energy, logistics, and food security,' the Office of the President said.
Kagame arrived in Salalah on Monday and was received by Sultan Haitham at Al Hosn Palace, where he was accorded an official welcoming ceremony before the two leaders held talks, later joined by their respective delegations.
During the second day of his visit, President Kagame toured the Museum of the Frankincense Land, located within the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
President Kagame tours the Museum of the Frankincense Land, located within the Al Baleed Archaeological Park.
The museum documents the history and heritage of the Dhofar region, including the role of the frankincense trade in shaping its social and economic development, as well as Oman's long history of seafaring and maritime trade.
Rwanda's relations with Oman have gained momentum in recent years, with the two countries expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, transport and investment.
A key development is an arrangement under which Rwanda will receive direct shipments of refined petroleum products from Oman through Tanzania's Port of Tanga.
Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has said Rwanda expects to receive one shipment each month, with the imports aimed at strengthening fuel supply security and helping stabilise prices.
The two countries have also strengthened air connectivity. Oman's SalamAir launched direct flights between Muscat and Kigali on July 21, 2026, creating a direct link between the two countries for travellers, businesses and tourists.
The route is expected to support trade, tourism and investment while giving passengers from Rwanda access to SalamAir's wider network across the Gulf, Asia and Europe.
The agreements cover visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, as well as the avoidance of double taxation between the two countries.The six MoUs provide a framework for cooperation in political consultations, labour, trade and investment, logistics, agriculture, and strategic partnership and investment activation.
Sandro Ferretto, 55, married Sharon Jepng'ok in a traditional Koito ceremony held on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South.
The ceremony brought together the couple's families, elders, local leaders and Jepng'ok's colleagues, as they took part in traditional proceedings that included family meetings, dowry discussions and blessings.
Ferretto, who spent about 12 years serving as a Catholic missionary in Kenya, was ordained for the Diocese of Padua in Italy before travelling to the country in 2008.
He served under the Diocese of Nyahururu, working as a parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi in Baringo County, where he became known locally as Father Sandro.
His work extended beyond parish duties, with Ferretto taking part in pastoral activities, youth programmes and community projects. It was during his years working in Baringo that he met Jepng'ok.
From Kenya back to Italy
Ferretto returned to Italy in December 2020 alongside fellow missionary Father Mariano Dal Ponte, according to Italian newspaper Il Gazzettino.
By 2023, he was overseeing a pastoral unit covering eight churches in Saletto, Borgo Veneto, in the Diocese of Padua.
Later that year, however, Ferretto stepped away from parish duties after celebrating what was reported as his final Mass.
At the time, Il Gazzettino reported that he wanted to take a break from parish work. The Diocese of Padua clarified that he remained a priest and that his decision was not connected to any controversy.
He subsequently volunteered with the Levante cooperative in Padua, an organisation involved in supporting migrants.
A return to Kenya
Ferretto eventually returned to Kenya, where he reunited with Jepng'ok, the woman he had met during his missionary years in Baringo.
Their relationship eventually led to marriage, with the couple choosing to formalise their union through a traditional Koito ceremony.
The ceremony featured traditional attire, family gatherings, negotiations over dowry and blessings from elders, with Ferretto taking part in the proceedings alongside his bride and their families.
Images from the event showed the former priest embracing the celebrations and participating in the traditions of his bride's community.
The unusual journey has attracted attention on Kenyan social media, with many users commenting on Ferretto's transformation from a Catholic missionary known as Father Sandro to a groom returning to Kenya to marry the woman he met during his years of service.
Italian missionary priest Fr. Sandro Ferretto has quit the Catholic priesthood after 12 years serving Baringo County, Kenya — and married Sharon Jepng'ok, a local Tugen woman he met during his ministry. The couple wed in a traditional Koito ceremony in Kasiela on Sept 6. pic.twitter.com/D8P5KpLkCj
The company's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jackeline Wibabara, said the first project, located in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, was successfully completed, with all 90 homes sold and occupied.
GIRINZU is a five-year-old real estate company involved in construction and helping people living in Rwanda and abroad access quality housing.
Wibabara said the successful completion and sale of all homes in Umutuzo had encouraged the company to begin a second project, known as Aheza.
'At GIRINZU, as usual, we first conducted an in-depth feasibility study for the Gahanga 2 project, just as we did for the first project. In that study, we pay particular attention to how water flows through the land and the terrain before beginning construction. In Gahanga 2, which we call Aheza, we have already built 33 houses. So far, 85% of the homes have been sold, and the project is planned to have 114 houses,' she said.
She explained that the homes attract buyers even before construction is completed because early buyers can benefit from lower prices.
'The earlier people buy, the greater the opportunity to buy at lower prices. You can see how the international market is performing; transportation has been affected by the war in Iran, causing prices to rise. Although we use many locally produced construction materials, some materials are sourced from abroad,' Wibabara said.
She added that property investment can generate significant returns over time.
'Someone recently sold their house and made a 40% profit. No bank would give you an interest return of that level. Therefore, someone who buys a house early is effectively saving for themselves. For example, in this new Aheza Village that we are building in Gatovu, a 400-square-metre plot used to cost Rwf 15 million, but it now costs at least Rwf 42 million, with some going for Rwf 45 million, without anything else built on them,' she said.
Wibabara said Aheza Village would, like the first Gahanga development, provide adequate parking for residents and their visitors, electric vehicle charging facilities and recreational spaces for children, including different playgrounds.
Aheza will comprise homes with between two and four bedrooms. All houses will have kitchens, indoor toilets and bathrooms, as well as outdoor gardens. Prices start at Rwf 86.8 million.
'When we build estates, we divide them into phases so that a completed phase is not disrupted by other phases that are still under construction. We want people to get their homes as early as possible. In Aheza too, the first phase has been completed and someone has already moved in,' Wibabara said.
Buyers from Rwanda and abroad
Alice Durand Gahunga, who lives in France, is among the people who bought a home early in Umutuzo Village. She said she chose GIRINZU because she wanted to have a home in Rwanda.
'My husband and I wanted to have a place we could call home in this country. But when you live far away, in Europe, building a house is not easy. After learning about the GIRINZU project, we took time to gather enough information and conduct thorough due diligence before buying. We are now living there,' she said.
Gahunga said she was happy to once again live in a community where she could interact with neighbours, hear children playing and enjoy a safe environment, particularly in Rwanda, her home country.
She added that she was also pleased to invest her money in a secure country. According to her, many Rwandans who have lived abroad for years want to own homes in Rwanda, either to live in when they return home or to rent out and generate income.
Mukunzi Rupia Jean, another resident of Umutuzo Village, shared his experience with IGIHE.
He said he had lived in different places and countries but had never found a community quite like Umutuzo because of the many advantages it offers.
'I am getting older, and I wanted a place where I could have neighbours, and I found them here. GIRINZU has brought us together; many of us participate in different activities that we organise. We also share many common values, even though we come from different parts of the world,' he said.
'The challenge we currently have is the road coming from the upper side, but the main tarmac road will also reach here before long.'
Different housing options
Umutuzo Village occupies two hectares and consists of three categories of homes designed to give buyers options based on their needs and financial capacity.
The first category comprises two-bedroom homes with a living room, one modern bathroom, a kitchen and a landscaped garden.
The second category consists of two-storey homes, each with three bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a landscaped garden.
The third category comprises four-bedroom homes with a living room, two bathrooms, a modern kitchen and a spacious garden.
At Aheza Estate, most homes in the first phase have already been sold, while registration for buyers interested in the second phase has started. Buyers are required to make an initial payment of 10% of the home's value.
The project offers different housing options, ranging from two-bedroom homes starting at $59,800 to four- or five-bedroom villas priced at $175,000.
Aheza Estate has been designed as a modern and environmentally conscious residential community. It will include a swimming pool, basketball court, outdoor gym, children's playground, shops, pedestrian and cycling paths, a car wash and electric vehicle charging facilities.
The estate will also have 24-hour security and two access gates. GIRINZU offers flexible payment arrangements while homes are under construction. Construction of an individual house takes between seven and eight months.
The company also has partnerships with Rwandan banks, including Bank of Kigali and I&M Bank, to help buyers access housing loans at preferential interest rates.
To make it easier for buyers, particularly Rwandans living abroad, GIRINZU offers virtual home viewing and allows contracts to be signed electronically. Plots and houses are allocated based on the order in which buyers make their requests.
The company also offers discounts to buyers who pay at least 75% of the home's value upfront when signing the purchase agreement, as well as buyers who purchase an entire building comprising two homes.
Alice Durand Gahunga, who lives in France, was among the early buyers at Umutuzo Village. Alice Durand Gahunga, a resident of Umutuzo Village, is pleased with her home in the GIRINZU community. She lives in France.The interior of one of the homes purchased at Umutuzo Village.GIRINZU founder and CEO Me Jackeline Wibabara welcomes IGIHE journalist on siteChildren and adults can be seen enjoying the swimming pool and other shared facilities at the village.Residents of GIRINZU homes can enjoy views of different parts of Kicukiro District, Bugesera District and beyond.GIRINZU places the safety and security of residents and their property among its priorities.Mukunzi Rupia Jean, head of residents' association at Umutuzo Village, speaks to IGIHE.GIRINZU CEO Me Jackeline Wibabara explains the Gahanga 2 development to IGIHE journalist.
The apparently AI-generated map, posted on his Truth Social platform, shows the American flag covering the United States along with Canada, Mexico, Cuba, as well as Greenland — a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark — and several other countries and territories in North America and the Caribbean.
Trump offered no caption or explanation for the image.
The post followed a message on Sunday, in which Trump shared an image bearing the words 'THE MOON IS OURS' alongside a U.S. flag.
In another post on Sunday evening, the president labeled New Mexico, a mountain state in the U.S. Southwest, as 'New America,' though a president lacks unilateral authority to rename a state.
Trump signed an executive order last month directing the Department of the Interior to rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America' amid heightened trade tensions with Canada.
The change does not alter Canada's usage or constitute an internationally binding renaming.
In January 2025, Trump signed a separate executive order directing the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' a move that remains unrecognized internationally.
President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The network is part of a wider plan by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) to establish a federated regional Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, linking universities across the East African Community through specialised institutional nodes.
The Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, Prof. Idris Rai, highlighted the development on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the 15th East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference in Kigali.
The institutions named include the University of Rwanda, the University of Dodoma in Tanzania, Dedan Kimathi University in Kenya, SIMAD University in Somalia, the University of Burundi and Kabale University in Uganda.
The Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, Prof. Idris Rai, speaks on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the 15th East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference in Kigali.
Prof. Rai said discussions were still ongoing with two EAC partner states that are yet to identify representative institutions to join the collaborative network.
The regional network was officially launched in Nairobi in July and is expected to form the foundation for the future East African Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research.
Prof. Rai said the initiative builds on discussions held during an IUCEA conference in Kigali in 2023, which focused on higher education in the age of artificial intelligence and data science.
The discussions identified the need for universities to build institutional capacity while developing a collaborative platform for teaching, research and innovation in AI.
'In 2024, our Executive Committee approved the establishment of a regional centre of excellence in AI — a federated regional centre of excellence, whereby each partner state will identify one node or university to take part in developing that regional collaborative framework on AI,' Prof. Rai said.
He revealed that the network will support the development of benchmarks and curricula in areas including data science, artificial intelligence and robotics, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate education.
The forum has brought together university leaders, higher education regulators, academics and development partners.
AI literacy for university students
Among the major initiatives being developed is an AI foundational module that could introduce basic artificial intelligence literacy to university students across East Africa.
Prof. Rai said the module is in its final stages of development and could eventually become part of university education across the region.
'We are in the final stages of development of what we call an AI foundational module,' he said.
'Imagine you have a foundational module in AI whereby all students who go through our universities must take it, so that they know about AI, provide AI literacy.'
IUCEA is also developing learning pathways for lecturers who will teach the module and a policy framework to guide the use of AI in teaching, learning and other areas of higher education.
The network will further support collaborative and multidisciplinary research among participating universities.
For Rwanda's Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, the rapid growth of AI is raising fundamental questions about whether universities are adequately preparing students for a changing world.
'The world for which our universities are preparing our graduates is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence is transforming how knowledge is produced, taught and applied,' Nsengimana said.
Rwanda's Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, said the rapid growth of AI is raising fundamental questions about whether universities are adequately preparing students for a changing world.
He noted that the urgency was particularly significant for East Africa, where more than 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25, saying higher education will play a major role in determining whether the region's young people are equipped to turn their talent into opportunities in a rapidly changing economy.
'Will the education we receive today prepare us for the world of tomorrow?' Nsengimana said, referring to what he described as an urgent question facing young people across the region.
'Our answer must be a resounding yes.'
He said digital transformation and artificial intelligence should be central to efforts to modernise higher education, while universities and regulators must ensure that technology is used responsibly.
'Technology alone is not enough,' he stated, stressing the need to equip academic staff and regulators with the capacity to use emerging technologies responsibly while protecting data, maintaining ethical standards and ensuring equitable access.
Future-ready universities
Dr. Edward Kadozi, the Director General of Rwanda's Higher Education Council, said universities could no longer focus only on preparing students for the jobs that exist today.
'Higher education is no longer preparing students simply for the jobs of today. It must prepare them for jobs, technologies and challenges that are still emerging,' he remarked.
Kadozi said technological development, digitalisation and AI were changing how knowledge is created and delivered, while also reshaping the skills required by economies.
He warned that qualifications alone would not be enough if graduates leave universities without the practical skills, adaptability and critical thinking required in the workplace.
'If graduates leave our institutions with qualifications but without practical skills, adaptability and critical thinking required by the workplace, then we have not fully delivered on our responsibilities to them,' Kadozi said.
He added that quality assurance systems must also evolve alongside changes in higher education.
'We must modernise our evaluative tools. We must strengthen our technical capacities. We must embrace appropriate technologies. And we must continuously review our regulatory processes to ensure that they keep pace with the sector we oversee.'
Dr. Edward Kadozi, the Director General of Rwanda's Higher Education Council, said universities could no longer focus only on preparing students for the jobs that exist today.
The regional push for AI-ready higher education has also attracted support from international partners.
A representative of the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, announced plans to establish a new African Centre of Excellence for Applied and Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Kenya, which is expected to serve the wider East African region.
Dr. Dorothee Weyler, Regional Director, DAAD, said the centre will focus on strengthening institutional capacity in applied and responsible AI research while integrating teaching, research, early-career development and knowledge transfer.
The development comes as Rwanda's higher education sector increasingly positions itself within regional efforts to strengthen digital skills, research and innovation.
Through its role in the new network, the University of Rwanda is expected to contribute to the development of AI expertise and collaborative research while helping build the institutional capacity needed to support the responsible adoption of the technology across East Africa.
Prof. Didas Kayihura, Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, said such regional collaboration has already proven valuable for staff and institutions engaging with partner universities across East Africa.
'That exposure itself changes the staff quite a lot,' he said, adding that lessons learned abroad are typically brought back and shared with colleagues at home.
Prof. Didas Kayihura, University of Rwanda Vice Chancellor, said regional university collaboration is already benefiting staff and institutions across East Africa.
The Regional AI Network follows a federated model in which participating universities contribute their individual strengths while collaborating on joint programmes, research and other regional initiatives.
Meanwhile, DAAD also announced plans to host a Master of Science in electrical power systems scholarship programme at the University of Rwanda for the next three years, with applications opening on September 24.
The 15th East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference is being held at the Kigali Serena Hotel under the theme, 'Transforming Quality Assurance for Future-Ready Higher Education Systems in East Africa.'
The four-day forum has brought together university leaders, higher education regulators, academics and development partners to discuss how East Africa can prepare its universities and graduates for emerging technologies and the changing demands of the labour market.
The forum has brought together university leaders, higher education regulators, academics and development partnersThe stakeholders are discussing how East Africa can prepare its universities and graduates for emerging technologies and the changing demands of the labour market.
The visit marks the first official visit by a Rwandan president to Oman.
Kagame's visit began with an official welcoming ceremony before he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
The two leaders were later joined by delegations from both countries for bilateral talks aimed at advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
On the second day of his visit, Kagame is scheduled to tour the Museum of the Frankincense Land, located within the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The museum has two main sections. The Heritage Hall explores Dhofar's archaeological history, the region's heritage and the role of the frankincense trade in shaping the area's social and economic development. The Maritime Hall presents Oman's history of seafaring and maritime trade.
Kagame will also visit Razat Royal Farm, which covers more than 404 hectares. The facility is among the major agricultural establishments in Dhofar Governorate and is also used for agri-tourism and educational activities.
Sultan Haitham will host Kagame and his delegation at a dinner during the visit.
Rwanda and Oman have longstanding ties. During the visit, the two countries are also expected to sign agreements and memoranda of understanding in various sectors as part of efforts to broaden bilateral cooperation.
Rwanda and Oman are expected to sign agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in various sectors.President Paul Kagame began his first official visit to Oman with a formal welcome ceremony in Salalah.Rwandan and Omani delegations hold bilateral talks during President Kagame's official visit to Oman.
Amb. Kayonga made the remarks in an interview with Report's Türkiye bureau after attending an international conference in Baku organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), which focused on the legacy of Belgian colonialism and calls for reparations.
Asked whether Rwanda plans to establish an embassy in Azerbaijan, Kayonga said the plan was already being considered.
'It will definitely happen in the future, and we are currently planning it. Azerbaijan is a very important country,' he said.
'Azerbaijan is in the South Caucasus, in Eurasia, while Rwanda is in Central Africa. We want Rwanda and Azerbaijan to be brotherly countries,' Amb. Kayonga added.
Amb. Kayonga, who is based in Ankara, has represented Rwanda in Azerbaijan since 2024. He said relations between the two countries have developed significantly, particularly at the political level.
'Our relations with Azerbaijan are very good at the political level,' he said.
Amb. Kayonga noted that President Paul Kagame has visited Azerbaijan twice since he began his diplomatic assignment there — in November 2024 for the COP29 climate summit and in September 2025.
During Kagame's 2025 visit, Rwanda and Azerbaijan signed five agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas including public service delivery through the ASAN Service model, agriculture, education, trade and air services.
The implementation of the ASAN Service model in Rwanda is currently being studied, while Azerbaijan has allocated 20 scholarships for Rwandan students in military education, Amb. Kayonga said.
He added that the two countries are also discussing cooperation in oil, trade and other sectors.
Beyond political and economic ties, Amb. Kayonga said Rwanda wants to promote its tourism and products among Azerbaijani citizens.
He highlighted the Virunga Mountains, home to mountain gorillas, Nyungwe Forest, which hosts chimpanzees, primates and diverse bird species, and Akagera National Park, where tourists can see the Big Five.
Rwanda also plans to organise a Rwanda Culture Day in Baku next year to showcase the country's culture and deepen people-to-people ties.
'We are planning to organize a Rwanda Culture Day in Baku next year,' Amb. Kayonga said.
Rwanda's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Gen (Rtd) Charles Kayonga, has said Rwanda plans to open an embassy in Azerbaijan to strengthen bilateral relations.
In a message posted on X on Monday, Kagame extended his sympathy to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania.
'My sincere condolences to my sister, President Samia Suluhu, her family, and the people of Tanzania on the passing of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan,' Kagame said.
'The Government and people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with President Samia Suluhu and our brothers and sisters in Tanzania as they honour the life and legacy of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan,' he added.
Hafidh Ameir Hassan died on Monday, September 7, at the age of 76 while receiving treatment for a heart condition at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.
His death was announced by Tanzania's Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi.
He said funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, where the family was preparing to honour the late First Gentleman.
Hafidh became Tanzania's First Gentleman in 2021 when Samia assumed the presidency following the death of President John Magufuli. He largely maintained a low public profile and was known as an agriculturalist.
He and President Samia married in 1978 and had four children; three sons and a daughter. Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician who has served in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
President Paul Kagame has expressed condolences to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the death of her husband.
Bishop Kalisa was installed during a ceremony held at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), attended by Christians, church leaders and guests from Rwanda and other countries, including Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States.
The ceremony was marked by prayers, praise and worship as Christians gathered to celebrate the beginning of Bishop Kalisa's leadership.
The installation was also attended by church leaders, including Dean Dr. Ntidendereza David.
Speaking to IGIHE after the ceremony, Bishop Kalisa said one of his key priorities will be building a church that can sustain itself rather than depending heavily on support from churches in Western countries.
'Our vision is to equip members with education and build infrastructure for the church. We want to be a self-sustaining church,' he said.
He noted that African churches have historically relied on financial and other forms of support from Western churches, but said his leadership would seek to change this approach by empowering church members to contribute to the development of their communities and the church.
Empowering members instead of creating dependency
Bishop Kalisa identified dependency among some church members as one of the major challenges facing churches today.
He explained that some Christians expect the church to provide them with direct financial or material assistance, a situation he believes can create long-term dependency.
'We want to teach them to support themselves,' he said, adding that assistance should focus on giving people the ability to become independent rather than simply providing temporary help.
He compared the approach to teaching people how to fish rather than continually giving them fish.
According to the bishop, the Lutheran Church in Rwanda will therefore seek to support its members in developing skills and opportunities that can help them become self-reliant.
Focus on young people and community development
Bishop Kalisa also highlighted the importance of young people in the future of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda.
He said the church is already implementing programmes that involve youth in areas including gender equality and justice, environmental protection and education.
The church also supports young people who want to pursue education in different fields beyond theology.
'We send young people for, not only for theology, but in different areas. That's how we engage young people,' he said.
He added that young people have representation on the church's executive council, allowing them to contribute their views to decisions affecting the church.
The bishop also said the church is open to young people expressing themselves through music, provided that their artistic choices remain consistent with the Christian faith.
As he began his new responsibility, Bishop Kalisa encouraged Christians and Rwandans to combine prayer with action.
He said faith should be accompanied by practical action and responsibility in addressing challenges facing individuals, communities and the country.
The bishop also expressed appreciation to President Paul Kagame for his leadership and for encouraging churches to improve their infrastructure and ensure that church buildings meet required standards.
He said the Lutheran Church in Rwanda has been renovating its churches to meet those standards, arguing that places of worship should be well maintained and provide an appropriate environment for Christians.
Bishop Kalisa also welcomed recent efforts to address the consumption of illicit alcohol among young people.
He said churches should have been among the first institutions to speak out on the issue, acknowledging that religious institutions had sometimes remained silent when they should have raised their voices.
He pledged that the Lutheran Church in Rwanda would seek to be more active in offering advice and contributing to solutions whenever issues affecting society arise.
The installation of Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince marks a new chapter for the Lutheran Church in Rwanda, with his leadership expected to focus on strengthening the church's capacity, empowering members, engaging young people and increasing its contribution to community development.
Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince was officially installed as a bishop of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda on September 6, 2026.Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince speaks to Christians during his installation ceremony at Kigali Convention Centre.Guests from Rwanda and abroad, including the United States, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, attended the ceremony.Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince says empowering church members is key to building a self-sustaining Lutheran Church in Rwanda.Church leaders and guests attend the installation ceremony of Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince.
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