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The AI, named Diella, meaning 'sun' in Albanian, will oversee all public tenders, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced at a party assembly in Tirana on Thursday.

Diella was first introduced earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens access government services and navigate the system. Her avatar appears as a young brunette woman dressed in traditional Albanian attire.

Since her launch, Diella has assisted in issuing over 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform.

'Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present but is virtually created by AI,' Rama said. 'Public procurement must be transformed, and we need to gradually transfer it to AI, making Albania a country where public tenders are 100 percent free from corruption.'

Enio Kaso, head of Albania’s Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency Licensing, introduces AI ‘minister’ Diella, in Albania’s capital Tirana, on Friday, 12 September, 2025.

Albania has long struggled with corruption, consistently ranking low on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, coming 80th out of 180 countries last year. Graft scandals have frequently erupted around public contracts, complicating the country’s bid for European Union membership, for which it was officially granted candidate status in 2014.

Recent corruption cases, including a major waste management scandal in April that saw seven former officials convicted of abuse of power, have added urgency to the government’s anti-graft agenda.

While Rama has framed Diella as a transformative tool for transparency, the move has raised questions about its legality and effectiveness. Albania’s constitution requires government ministers to be mentally competent citizens aged at least 18, leaving Diella’s official ministerial status ambiguous.

Opposition figures have criticised the appointment, with Gazmend Bardhi, parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, calling it 'unconstitutional' and labelling it 'buffoonery.'

Despite scepticism, some experts see potential in using AI to curb corruption.

'AI is still a new tool—but if it is programmed correctly, when you put a bid in online, you can see clearly and more closely if a company meets the conditions and the criteria,' said Dr Andi Hoxhaj of King’s College London, who specialises in the Western Balkans and corruption.

Rama has emphasised that Diella is more than a symbolic gesture. 'We’re working with a brilliant team, both Albanian and international, to develop the first full AI model in public procurement,' he told the BBC. 'Not only will we remove every potential influence on public bidding, but we will also make the process faster, more efficient, and totally accountable.'

Though reactions are mixed, the government hopes the move will encourage other agencies to modernise and rethink traditional ways of working.

As Albania pushes to accelerate EU accession negotiations, with a target completion by 2027, the success of Diella could set a precedent for other nations seeking innovative solutions to entrenched corruption.

Albania has made history by appointing an artificial intelligence (AI) bot as a virtual minister in what authorities describe as an attempt to tackle corruption in public procurement.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Scheduled for 22—29 November 2025 in Kigali, the festival is also expanding beyond the capital, with activities lined up in different provinces. More than 160 nominees are in the running across 23 categories, selected through the Iziwacu Cinema programme.

Festival CEO and founder Trésor Senga said the changes were designed to push the event to new heights and give more value to the individuals behind Rwanda’s fast-growing film industry.

Alongside the new car prizes for the People’s Choice categories, the festival has introduced a slot for film technicians, shining a spotlight on often-overlooked creatives. Winners in most categories will be picked by a jury, but fans will have their say through online voting, which opens on Monday, September 15. Voters will even get 20% of their money back for each vote cast.

Among the actors vying for Best Actor (People’s Choice) are familiar names such as Mugisha Emmanuel, a.k.a. Kibonge (Deceiver), Benimana Ramadhan, better known as Bamenya (Bamenya Series), and Niyitegeka Gratien, popularly known as Papa Sava. On the actresses’ side, contenders include Mumararungu Joyeuse (Micky in Igihome), Dusenge Clenia (Madedeli in Papa Sava), and Irakoze Ariane Vanessa, who fans know as Kate/Maya in Hurts Harder.

The week-long event will also feature Mashariki Market, a three-day industry forum expected to draw more than 500 film representatives from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and across Africa. For local creatives, it’s a chance to plug into international networks through platforms like Mashariki Residence and Mashariki Academy.

But the festival isn’t just about red carpets and awards. This year, film stars will tour five districts across Rwanda to connect with audiences, showcase their work, and take part in community service.

With bigger prizes, fresh categories, and wider reach, Mashariki African Film Festival 2025 promises to be its most exciting edition yet.

Key figures from the film industry recently met with the organisers of the festival.

Trésor Senga, CEO and co-founder of the Mashariki African Film Festival, met with various film industry stakeholders to discuss the festival’s new journey this year.

Festival CEO and founder Trésor Senga said the changes were designed to push the event to new heights and give more value to the people behind Rwanda’s fast-growing film industry.

IGIHE

The match, held on Saturday night, September 13, 2025, at Cairo’s Hassan Mostafa Hall, saw Rwanda start strongly, taking the first set 25-20. However, Morocco responded by winning the second set 25-16.

The North African side carried their momentum into the third set, overpowering Rwanda 25-13. Rwanda bounced back in the fourth set, winning 25-21 to force a decisive fifth set. Morocco ultimately clinched the match with a 15-11 victory in the tie-break.

Rwanda will face Cameroon in their second Group B match on September 15, before closing their group stage against Kenya on September 17, 2025.

Rwanda U-20 volleyball team opened their African Championship campaign with a 3-2 loss to Morocco.

Rwanda started the match strongly but dropped the second set.

Rwanda’s campaign got off to a rocky start at the African U-20 Championship.

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The UN General Assembly, in its 79th session, adopted a resolution on UN-AU cooperation, emphasizing that strengthening the cooperation will contribute to the advancement of the principles of the UN Charter and of the Constitutive Act of the AU.

“This resolution is a strong endorsement of Africa’s leadership and of the vital partnership between the UN and AU in advancing peace, security, and sustainable development,” the AU Commission chief said in a statement issued Saturday.

“Together, we will translate this commitment into concrete action that delivers for Africa’s people and contributes to global stability,” he added.

The resolution, among other things, emphasized that the AU’s 50-year continental development blueprint Agenda 2063 “reflects the commitment to the pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”

Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s “unwavering commitment to working hand-in-hand with the UN” in achieving both Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The resolution emphasized the need to pursue ongoing measures to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of UN-AU cooperation in addressing threats to peace and security, as well as obstacles to development, and promoting human rights in Africa.

AU welcomes UN General Assembly resolution on advancing UN-AU cooperation.

Xinhua

The session, held at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, was also attended by Commissioner of Police Vincent B. Sano, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.

The contingent, made up of both army and police personnel, will relieve colleagues who have served in the insurgency-hit province over the past year. The new deployment will be commanded by Maj Gen Vincent Gatama.

Maj Gen Nyakarundi conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame, Commander-in-Chief of the RDF, reminding the troops to maintain the discipline and momentum demonstrated since Rwanda first deployed forces to Mozambique in 2021. He commended the achievements of previous contingents, stressing that the same high standards must continue to guide operations.

The troops were reminded that commitment and discipline are essential to the success of operations aimed at supporting the Mozambican state authority through combat operations and security sector reform.

Commissioner of Police Sano, in his remarks, urged the troops to foster teamwork and avoid any misconduct that could damage Rwanda’s reputation abroad.

Rwandan troops were first deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, following years of attacks by Islamic State-linked insurgents.

Since then, the joint operations between Rwanda Security Forces and the Mozambican army have significantly weakened the insurgency, restored security in several areas, and enabled thousands of displaced residents to return to their homes.

The latest deployment comes weeks after a visit by Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo to Rwanda, during which a renewed Status of Forces Agreement on the support to fight terrorism in Mozambique was signed. The agreement extends Rwanda’s military support in Cabo Delgado province.

'Thanks to this cooperation, we can see peace returning to the region,' President Chapo said, acknowledging Rwanda’s role in stabilising Cabo Delgado despite ongoing sporadic attacks.

The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Army Chief of Staff, Maj Gen V. Nyakarundi, on Saturday briefed members of the Rwanda Security Force set to deploy to Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.

The new deployment will be commanded by Maj Gen Vincent Gatama.

Commissioner of Police Sano, in his remarks, urged the troops to foster teamwork and avoid any misconduct that could damage Rwanda’s reputation abroad.

The contingent, made up of both army and police personnel, will relieve colleagues who have served in the insurgency-hit province over the past year.

IGIHE

Encouraged by his friend Rodney Boyd, who has visited Rwanda several times, Kirkland traveled to Kigali with limited knowledge of the country beyond the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. What he discovered far surpassed his expectations.

'When I landed in Kigali, I was struck by the bright lights and the warm greetings,' he recalled on the Connected Podcast hosted by the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, DC.

'From airport staff to locals, everyone said, 'Welcome home, brother.’ As a 58-year-old Black American, that sense of belonging was indescribable. I had traveled the world, but I had never truly been home.'

He described Kigali as a clean, vibrant city, with rolling hills that reminded him of San Francisco.

Rwanda’s resilience and unity

Kirkland praised Rwanda’s recovery in the three decades since the genocide, describing it as a remarkable model of resilience.

'The way the people of this country came out of the genocide in 30 years, healing, rebuilding, and taking pride in their future — most countries could not have done that. Rwandans should understand that they are exceptional,' he said.

As a former soldier, he likened the discipline and unity he observed in Rwanda — from street sweepers to executives and government officials — to values he had seen in the military.

'Rwanda’s greatest asset is its people,' he stressed. 'There are skilled workers here who are determined and ready to work hard to improve their lives. I saw it everywhere — from those cleaning the streets to those leading major investments at the Rwanda Development Board.'

Inspired by Rwanda’s youth and innovation

During his visit, Kirkland engaged with young entrepreneurs at ALX Rwanda, where he heard pitches for innovative projects tackling Africa’s challenges. One idea that stood out was a courier service using travelers to deliver goods across the continent, which he described as 'an Airbnb for logistics.'

He emphasized that Rwanda’s youth are not only seeking income but also creating jobs and supporting families. At the University of Rwanda and the African Leadership University (ALU), he said he saw evidence that Rwanda is among the continent’s leaders in technology and innovation.

'If an American company or any foreign investor is looking to invest here, the technology sector should be the first priority, because there are tremendous opportunities,' he noted.
He also visited a hospital and was impressed by Rwanda’s nationwide digital health system linking clinics with larger institutions. 'Other countries should study this model. There is real investment potential here,' he said.

A favorable business climate

Kirkland underscored Rwanda’s welcoming environment for investors. After visiting the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), he was convinced of the country’s efficiency in facilitating business.

'The RDB allows you to register a company in six hours. That’s remarkable. It’s easier to start a business here than almost anywhere else,' he explained, citing an American entrepreneur he met who had recently launched a company in Rwanda.

Beyond technology and healthcare, he highlighted opportunities in Rwanda’s natural resources, urging U.S. investors to partner with Rwandans to unlock this potential.

A personal transformation

The trip left Kirkland deeply changed. 'When I left Rwanda, I felt fuller than before. This is a place full of opportunity, and more people need to know about it. Rwanda is where you find great food, beautiful landscapes and environment, and wonderful people,' he said.

He admitted regretting that it took him nearly six decades to visit Africa but promised it would not be the same for his children.

'I told my wife after this trip that I regret it took me 58 years to come home. But for my 19-year-old son, it will not be the same. I’m planning to return to Kigali with my wife and children so they too can see what I saw,' he said.

Looking ahead, Kirkland revealed he has already discussed Africa opportunities with his superiors at Amazon. Personally, he is considering relocating or working on the continent after his corporate career.

Asked to complete the sentence 'Rwanda is a place where…', Kirkland replied: 'Rwanda is a place where opportunity thrives, pride in progress shines, and beauty — both in its people and landscapes — captivates. From warm hospitality to innovative spirit, it’s a nation of promise that deserves global attention.'

Robert Kirkland announced that he will return to Rwanda with his family.

Rania Umutoni

Known as the 'Butcher of Tumba,' Dr. Munyemana was found guilty of participating in killings in the Tumba sector, formerly in Butare prefecture. In December 2023, the Paris Court of Assize sentenced him to 24 years in prison.

The charges that led to his conviction included genocide, crimes against humanity, and complicity in these crimes.

Dr. Munyemana, who worked at Butare hospital and lectured at the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Rwanda, appealed immediately after the ruling. Throughout his trial, he consistently denied all charges, insisting that he was innocent.

At the time, Richard Gisagara, lawyer for civil parties, explained: 'It is Munyemana’s lawyers who filed the appeal because they were not satisfied with the ruling. It is not surprising since their entire defense was based on denying the crimes altogether. They never asked for leniency; instead, they demanded full acquittal.'

Proceedings are set to begin with the appointment of an independent jury on 15 September 2025, before the substantive hearings start the following day. The appeal trial is scheduled to conclude on 24 October 2025.

Background of Dr. Munyemana

According to Rwanda’s former National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Munyemana was born on 9 October 1955 in Mbare, Musambira Commune, Gitarama Prefecture.

After completing his medical studies at the National University of Rwanda in Butare, he pursued postgraduate training at Bordeaux II University in France, specializing in gynecology and obstetrics.

During the genocide, he lived in Gitwa cell in Tumba. Witnesses testified that he was directly involved in killings there and in other areas such as Butare town.

One witness recalled a meeting on 17 April 1994, chaired by the then sector executive secretary François Bwanakeye, where Dr. Munyemana declared: 'The enemy is among us. I am hosting 15 Hutus from Kigembe who fled after the Inkotanyi entered through Burundi.'

Witnesses further testified that during the genocide he wore military-style attire, carried a spear and later a firearm, and held keys to the Tumba sector offices, where he allegedly imprisoned Tutsi before they were killed.

Dr. Munyemana is also reported to have been a close ally of Jean Kambanda, the former Prime Minister in the so-called interim government of 1994. Kambanda himself admitted his role in the genocide and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Appeals Chamber of the Paris Court of Assizes in France will on September 16, 2025 begin hearing the appeal of Dr. Sosthène Munyemana, who was convicted of role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

IGIHE

The launch marks a defining moment in how finance, innovation, and social protection come together to advance e-mobility in Rwanda, through collaboration between NCBA, Kabisa, and Sonarwa General and Sonarwa Life.

Commenting on the development, Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Bank Rwanda said: 'By financing affordable, electric solutions, Umurabyo is all about improving livelihoods and laying the foundation for a sustainable and greener Rwanda.'

The initiative aligns with NCBA’s Change the Story agenda, which includes USD 230 million in green lending, planting 10 million trees by 2030, and rolling out electric charging stations across all NCBA branches in East Africa, several of which are already operational in Rwanda.

'We are committed to playing a key role in our shared responsibility to build sustainable cities,' added Pophia Muhoza, Managing Director of Kabisa. 'As a company, what we offer is more than EVs, we are providing the entire ecosystem of private and commercial electric vehicles, charging stations, and after-sales services. We won’t just be selling these cars to drivers; we will charge them and repair them.'

Cleaner cities, better livelihoods

At its core, Umurabyo removes one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption: upfront cost. NCBA Bank Rwanda has committed to providing 100% financing, with the vehicle itself serving as collateral.

For drivers, the benefits of going electric are immediate and measurable.

'Currently, I use about Frw 35,000 per day on fuel and drive about 200 kilometers.This comes to almost Frw 900,000 per month to drive 4,800 kilometers. With Umurabyo, a full electric charge that drives 300 kilometers and costs only Frw 12,000. If I drive the same 4,800 kilometers in the month, I will be spending only 192,000frw on charging. I save more than 700,000 every month on fuel,' said Kirundeke Assuman, a driver who received his taxi cab.

'Most of us bought old vehicles that we drive all day for hundreds of kilometers. As a result, we are always in garages repairing them. I spend over Frw 200,000 every month on spare parts and repairs. The Umurabyo I have now is brand new, reducing the time I will spend at the garage and the hours I miss from work,' said Kirundeke Asumani as he appreciated his new Umurabyo.

Over the course of a month, the savings exceed one million francs, money that can improve the livelihood of Rwandan drivers.

Drivers earning at least Frw 1.5 million a month and without an existing bank loan are eligible to apply immediately. Each package combines a competitively priced vehicle, affordable repayment terms, and comprehensive auto and life insurance coverage from Sonarwa, ensuring both drivers and their families are protected against financial risk.

This product shows how public-private partnerships can provide practical solutions to everyday challenges. With its rollout, Kigali stands to reduce urban pollution and carbon emissions, improve air quality, and move closer to Rwanda’s national climate goals.

The launch marks a defining moment in how finance, innovation, and social protection come together to advance e-mobility in Rwanda, through collaboration between NCBA, Kabisa, and Sonarwa General and Sonarwa Life.

Rwanda’s urban transport sector is stepping into a new era with the launch of Umurabyo, an affordable electric taxi cab. Umurabyo is a name that means lightning in Kinyarwanda, symbolizing both speed and the clean energy driving this revolution.

Commenting on the development, Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Bank Rwanda speaking at the launch of 'Umurabyo’.

NCBA Bank Rwanda has committed to providing 100% financing, with the vehicle itself serving as collateral.

IGIHE

The remarks were made in Kigali on 12 September 2025, during celebrations of the United Nations International Day for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, an event that brought together government officials, diplomats, private sector actors, and representatives of international organizations.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo, emphasized that cooperation among developing nations is now indispensable in tackling global challenges.

'We gather at a time when our world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to mounting debt burdens and widening digital divides,' he said. 'These complex issues demand solutions that are locally rooted, globally connected, and collectively owned. Dear friends, cooperation is no longer optional. It is essential.'

Ojielo praised Rwanda’s contribution through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), describing it as a model for knowledge exchange.

'Rwanda, through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, has committed itself to sharing knowledge with other countries. I see this as extraordinary, because being a developing country does not mean it has nothing to share with others,' he said.

Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that developing countries should build solutions by leveraging the resources they already possess.

Since 2018, Rwanda has hosted more than 700 delegations from over 70 countries, showcasing innovations in digital governance, service delivery, and socio-economic transformation. Ojielo cited Rwanda’s support to Eswatini and Guinea in digital transformation as concrete examples of how home-grown solutions can be adapted elsewhere.

'These initiatives demonstrate that Rwanda is helping to turn local innovation into global impact, a model of what South-South Cooperation can achieve when vision meets action,' he added.

In her address, Uwase Patricie, CEO of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, stressed that Africa is no longer waiting for answers from outside but is actively creating its own solutions.

'Allow me to begin with a simple thought: Africa is no longer waiting for solutions, Africa is building them,' she declared. 'In a world where crises too often dominate headlines, it is easy to believe that answers must come from elsewhere. But here, in Kigali today, and across the Global South, we are writing a different story, a story of shared innovation, collective resilience, and opportunity born from cooperation.'

Highlighting Rwanda’s partnerships across the continent, Uwase noted: 'We have walked with our brothers and sisters from Chad to Eswatini, from Guinea to Lesotho — not as teachers, not as students, but as partners. Together, we have built e-tax systems, procurement platforms, and financial reforms. Together, we have proved that development is not imported, it is exchanged.'

Looking ahead, she announced that Rwanda will host the Annual Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in December 2025. The gathering in Kigali will bring together governments, innovators, and partners to design the next generation of cooperation.

'If there has ever been a time for Africa to rise, that time is now. If there has ever been a generation bold enough to lead that rise, it is this one. And if there has ever been a place where cooperation can turn into transformation, it is here, in Rwanda, with all of you. Let us rise together,' Uwase said.

Both speakers urged African countries to embrace innovation and cooperation as tools for transformation. Ojielo called on nations to 'learn from each other, innovate together, and deliver results,' while Uwase challenged leaders to see climate change, digital divides, and youth unemployment as opportunities for green growth, inclusive technology, and enterprise development.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo, emphasized that cooperation among developing nations is now indispensable in tackling global challenges.

Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that developing countries should build solutions by leveraging the resources they already possess.

Uwase Patricie, CEO of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, stressed that Africa is no longer waiting for answers from outside but is actively creating its own solutions.

Rania Umutoni

On Friday, September 12, 2025, UN member states endorsed the New York Declaration, a seven-page framework prepared with the involvement of France and Saudi Arabia.

The declaration, first approved by the UN in July 2025, lays out steps for the implementation of the two-state solution.

The idea of dividing the land between Israelis and Palestinians is not new; it was first endorsed by the UN in 1947. However, repeated challenges have prevented its implementation, leading to renewed debate in recent years.

According to the New York Declaration, the plan should be carried out within 15 months, in phases. It envisions the creation of a sovereign, independent, economically viable, and democratic state of Palestine — but without a standing army.

It also requires Hamas to disarm and transfer governance of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, while foreign nations would formally recognize Palestine as a state.

On Friday, Rwanda voted in support of this framework, alongside countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Qatar. In total, 142 countries voted in favor, while 10 opposed — including Israel, the United States, Tonga, and Hungary.

Another 12 countries abstained, among them the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Fiji, South Sudan, and Samoa.

Rwanda’s vote came just one day after issuing a statement condemning recent Israeli strikes in Qatar that targeted leaders of Hamas.

Rwanda among countries supporting two-state solution for Israel—Palestine

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