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The high-level summit will convene under the theme 'Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace' and is expected to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the Catholic Church in Africa.

Held every three years, the SECAM Plenary Assembly is the most significant gathering of African Catholic leaders, bringing together Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from all 54 African countries and island nations.

The Kigali meeting will host approximately 250 delegates, as well as dignitaries and partners from other continents, making it a truly continental and global ecclesial event.

The Assembly, which coincides with the Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church, will be presided over by His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM.

Building on the work of the 19th Assembly held in Accra in 2022, the Kigali summit will focus on strengthening synodality, theological depth, institutional autonomy, and regional collaboration within the Church in Africa.

Setting a vision for the next 25 years

A central outcome of the Kigali Assembly will be the adoption of a strategic vision document for 2025—2050, titled 'The Vision of the Church—Family of God in Africa and its Islands.'

The document is the result of extensive consultations led by SECAM’s Standing Committee and Secretariat since 2022. It lays out a roadmap for the Church’s pastoral mission, institutional development, and engagement with the continent’s evolving realities.

The vision is anchored in twelve foundational pillars. These include evangelisation through Catholic education and theological formation, the development of a self-reliant Church, promoting family-based leadership models, and advancing missionary discipleship and synodality. It also emphasises strengthening care for creation, increasing youth engagement, and driving ecclesial renewal.

Other pillars focus on promoting justice, peace, and integral human development; fostering ecumenism and interfaith dialogue; expanding digital evangelisation efforts; improving health and well-being for all; enhancing liturgical life in African contexts; and deepening the Church’s role in political and civic life.

Addressing cultural and social realities

One of the more complex topics to be discussed is the pastoral accompaniment of Catholics in polygamous unions. Recognising this as a deep cultural reality in many parts of the continent, SECAM has invited theologians to study the issue from both theological and pastoral perspectives. A pastoral document on this topic will be presented during the Assembly.

Other key presentations include a theological reflection on the Assembly’s theme, departmental and regional Church reports, and group working sessions. The event will also feature liturgical celebrations and conclude with a final message addressed to both the Church and the wider society.

Engaging Africa’s broader challenges

In addition to its ecclesial focus, the Assembly will confront several pressing social, political, and economic issues affecting Africa today. These include governance and public leadership, human rights and social justice, poverty and debt, environmental sustainability, interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, and the protection and safeguarding of young people.

Through this historic gathering, SECAM aims to reaffirm the Church’s mission of being a prophetic voice in society and a source of hope, reconciliation, and peace for Africa and its people.

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) of the Catholic Church was officially established on July 29, 1969, during the first-ever papal visit to Africa by Pope St. Paul VI. The Pope also presided over the closing ceremony of the inaugural SECAM meeting on July 31, 1969.

The continental body was born out of the desire of African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962—1965) to establish a unified voice on matters concerning the Church in Africa and Madagascar. July 29 is now observed as SECAM Day by the Catholic Church across the continent.

Building on the work of the 19th Assembly held in Accra in 2022, the Kigali summit will focus on strengthening synodality, theological depth, institutional autonomy, and regional collaboration within the Church in Africa.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Buhari, who served as Nigerian president from 2015 to 2023, died Sunday in a clinic in London where he had been receiving medical treatment. He was aged 82.

The late former president’s body, draped in the national colors, arrived in Katsina from London on Tuesday afternoon. His body was lowered into the grave at 5:50 p.m. local time, preceded by a military parade and a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.

The atmosphere in Daura was a mix of sorrow and reverence as thousands paid their last respects to a leader who significantly shaped Nigeria’s contemporary history. Security was exceptionally tight, with a heavy presence of military and police personnel ensuring a smooth and dignified proceeding.

President Bola Tinubu, who had earlier declared a seven-day national mourning period with flags flown at half-mast, attended the final rites of passage of his predecessor. Dignitaries, including serving and past West African leaders, family members, and a mammoth crowd of mourners, witnessed the burial rites.

Earlier, in his eulogy, Tinubu described Buhari as a “patriotic statesman” whose contributions to national unity and development would forever be etched in the annals of Nigerian history. “He served our nation with dedication and an unyielding spirit,” the president said, emphasizing Buhari’s legacy of discipline and service.

Born on Dec. 17, 1942, Buhari had a distinguished career in both the military and civilian governance. He spent years in political activism before successfully contesting the presidency in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president in Nigeria’s history. He was re-elected in 2019 and handed over power to Tinubu on May 29, 2023.

During his two terms as president, Buhari’s administration focused on three key areas: security, anti-corruption, and economic diversification. He launched significant campaigns against the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and worked to recover looted public funds.

His tenure also saw efforts to boost agriculture and infrastructure development, though it was marked by economic challenges.

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president, was laid to rest on Tuesday at his private residence in Daura, his hometown in the northern state of Katsina, in a solemn ceremony marked by full state honors.

Buhari’s body was lowered into the grave at 5:50 p.m. local time, preceded by a military parade and a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.

Xinhua

The motion was passed with 299 votes in favor, above a required minimum of 226, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said in a post on Telegram.

The government-run Ukrinform news agency said one of the reasons for this decision is “the asymmetric conditions,” given that Russia is not a party to the convention, adding that the suspension would last until the complete cessation of the conflict.

Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to withdraw the country from the treaty.

Xinhua

Constructed on a site measuring over 7,000 square meters, the factory specializes in manufacturing high-quality wooden products using pinewood.

According to the company’s management, the processed pinewood is a viable and often superior alternative to many imported wood products.

Theophile Ndoreyaho, the Managing Director of MT Woodtec Solutions, emphasized the plant’s potential to reduce reliance on imports.

'We manufacture furniture from pinewood, which offers unique quality and can replace many products previously sourced from abroad. Our main limitation has been the lack of modern equipment, which we have now addressed,' he noted.

The plant employs 20 full-time staff and 10 part-time workers, with the capacity to produce up to 200 beds or 200 doors per month. The company’s primary market is Kigali City, though its reach is expected to grow.

The product range includes beds, living room furniture, and doors, which are in high demand by institutions and individual clients alike.

The plant is the result of a joint investment between Theophile Ndoreyaho, a native of Karongi District, and Prof. Dr. Mathias Schaefer from Germany.

Karongi District Mayor, Gerard Muzungu, noted that the plant also offers opportunities for hands-on training and employment to graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools.

'This facility provides a platform for vocational graduates to gain practical skills, and some have already been employed here. It’s an important step toward boosting local development and contributing to the national economy,' he stated.

The Minister of Public Service and Labour, Christine Nkulikiyinka, urged Rwandan entrepreneurs to be proactive in attracting international investors.

'If Ndoreyaho was able to convince a German investor to commit $1 million, it’s an example others should follow. Rwanda is a promising country for investment.'

Construction of the plant is valued at $500,000, with machinery and equipment making up the remaining $500,000, totaling an investment of $1 million.

The facility, which utilizes modern technology to process wood products, was officially inaugurated on July 15, 2025.

Construction of the plant is valued at $500,000, with machinery and equipment making up the remaining $500,000, totaling an investment of $1 million.

Constructed on a site measuring over 7,000 square meters, the factory specializes in manufacturing high-quality wooden products using pinewood.

IGIHE

The statement did not offer further details, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the airstrike.

This came as the Israeli military issued a new statement warning residents of several areas in Gaza City and in Jabalia, northern Gaza, to evacuate immediately to the western areas and then to the southern areas towards Al-Mawasi amid escalating military operations.

On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza. At least 7,656 Palestinians have been killed and 27,314 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 58,479, and injuries to 139,355, Gaza-based health authorities said Tuesday.

Hamas said Tuesday in a statement that one of its leaders Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

Xinhua

The antenna was launched on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as part of ATLAS’s Ground Station as a Service offering and will enhance the delivery of atmospheric and space weather data to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The new station will receive data from six COSMIC-2 satellites, which use radio occultation to continuously observe the Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere.

Due to the fast-changing nature of atmospheric conditions, timely data delivery is essential. ATLAS ensures that data from its stations reach NOAA in under 60 seconds, a standard the new Rwandan station is designed to uphold.

'The activation of our new antenna in Rwanda is a testament to the strength of our partnership with the Rwanda Space Agency and commitment to growing our network to best serve our customers,' said Corey Geer, CEO of ATLAS Space Operations.

'This strategic addition significantly enhances our ability to deliver critical COSMIC-2 data, ensuring that NOAA receives the vital information they need for accurate and timely atmospheric and ionospheric monitoring.'

Rwanda’s location offers an ideal number of contact points with the COSMIC-2 satellite constellation, making the site a valuable asset for data reception.

The Mwulire station joins existing COSMIC-2 support sites in Ghana and Tahiti. Its inclusion in the network was made possible through a collaboration with the Rwanda Space Agency, following a direct request from NOAA for expanded capabilities.

ATLAS currently manages over 3,000 satellite contacts each month and has supported more than 156,000 NOAA satellite interactions since July 2019. As of May 31, 2025, the company maintains a ground station availability rate of 99.36%, with data delivery times averaging under 40 seconds.

Founded in Traverse City, Michigan, in 2015, ATLAS Space Operations is a recognised leader in the satellite communications industry, offering its Freedom software platform and a global network of antennas to provide efficient, secure access to space assets worldwide.

The antenna was launched on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as part of ATLAS’s Ground Station as a Service offering and will enhance the delivery of atmospheric and space weather data to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Wycliffe Nyamasege

With the right techniques, even the smallest rooms can feel open, organised, and welcoming. From studio apartments to tiny bedrooms, design is less about size and more about smart solutions.

Use light colours to open up the space

Designers at HGTV emphasise that light shades such as whites, soft greys, and pastels reflect more natural light, making a room appear larger and brighter. Darker colours absorb light, which can make walls feel like they’re closing in. Painting walls and ceilings in the same soft tones also creates a seamless look that visually expands the room.

Designers at HGTV emphasise that light shades such as whites, soft greys, and pastels reflect more natural light, making a room appear larger and brighter.

Choose multifunctional furniture

Experts from IKEA, a store that offers home furnishings and accessories to make customers’ living spaces more comfortable and stylish, recommend investing in furniture that serves more than one purpose.

Hidden away in a cute little three-seat sofa, this queen-sized murphy bed disappears seamlessly into the decor and transforms with hardly any hassle.

Think of a bed with storage drawers underneath, a coffee table that lifts into a desk, or a bench that opens to reveal storage space. These pieces help reduce clutter without sacrificing function or comfort.

Maximise vertical space

Interior decorators from Elle Décor highlight the value of vertical storage, especially in small homes. Tall bookshelves, hanging plants, and wall-mounted cabinets draw the eye upward, creating a feeling of spaciousness while also adding storage. Using hooks, floating shelves, or pegboards keeps the floor area free and functional.

Tall bookshelves, hanging plants, and wall-mounted cabinets draw the eye upward, creating a feeling of spaciousness while also adding storage.

Let in natural light and use mirrors

According to design professionals from The Spruce, maximising natural light is one of the most effective ways to make a room feel open and airy. Avoid heavy curtains and instead opt for sheer fabrics or blinds. Placing a large mirror opposite a window reflects light and adds depth, creating the illusion of a bigger space.

Avoid heavy curtains and instead opt for sheer fabrics or blinds.

Keep it clutter-free and organised

Organisation is crucial in small spaces. The Container Store’s interior experts say that every item in a small room should have a 'home.' Use labelled baskets, drawer dividers, and closet organisers to avoid clutter build-up. The less visible the mess there is, the more serene and spacious a room will feel.

The less visible the mess there is, the more serene and spacious a room will feel.

Choose the right scale and layout

As reported by Apartment Therapy, selecting appropriately sized furniture is key. Oversized sofas or bulky wardrobes overwhelm small rooms. Instead, opt for slim, streamlined pieces that suit the scale of the room. Furniture with legs also makes a space feel more open compared to pieces that sit flat on the floor.

Oversized sofas or bulky wardrobes overwhelm small rooms.

Use rugs and lighting to define zones

In studio apartments or open layouts, rugs and lighting can help define separate areas for sleeping, working, or relaxing. Interior stylists at House Beautiful recommend layering area rugs or using pendant lights to create visual boundaries without building physical walls. This approach improves flow and helps the space feel purposeful.

With smaller living rooms, you should carefully consider what you bring into the space. Each piece should add something to the overall look and feel of the room, without making it feel crowded or cluttered.

Keep decor minimal but meaningful

Minimalism doesn’t mean empty. Designers from Dezeen suggest selecting a few meaningful art pieces, family photos, or souvenirs to decorate the space without overwhelming it. A curated and personal design approach adds warmth and personality while keeping things visually clean.

Living in a small space doesn’t mean compromising on comfort or beauty. With smart furniture choices, creative storage, and a thoughtful color palette, even the tiniest room can become a place of peace, function, and style.

Minimalism doesn’t mean empty.

Experts across the interior design world agree that great design is not about how much space you have, but how intentionally you use it. When every detail is chosen with care, small spaces can feel grand.

Rania Umutoni

Founded in 2006 by the Catholic Diocese of Byumba, UTAB has grown steadily into one of the country’s leading private universities, currently serving nearly 12,000 students across three faculties: Social Sciences, Education, and Agriculture, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy. The university is also preparing to launch a fourth faculty focused on Science and Technology.

According to UTAB Vice Chancellor, Fr. Dr. Gilbert Munana, the decision to establish the Kiramuruzi Campus is a response to growing demand and a commitment to increase access to quality higher education in Rwanda’s Eastern Province.

'After 20 years of service in the Northern Province, we are expanding to Kiramuruzi to bring education closer to the people and offer quality programs aligned with national development goals,' Fr. Dr. Munana said.

'We envision that graduates from the Kiramuruzi Campus will embody hope, knowledge, and strong values, becoming change agents in education, the economy, social wellbeing, and technology, starting from their own communities,” he added.

The new campus will offer undergraduate degrees in Education, including English and Kinyarwanda, English and French, and Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Classes are scheduled to begin on July 21, 2025.

Dr. Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana, the Principle of the Kiramuruzi Campus, confirmed that the necessary facilities, including classrooms, computer laboratories, and qualified staff, are in place to support effective learning. Registration for the new campus is open through UTAB’s website and physical offices.

'Our vision is for Kiramuruzi Campus to become a model of educational excellence in Rwanda. We plan to continue expanding its infrastructure and academic offerings. So far, we have secured over 4 hectares of land for campus development. This is not a beginning — it is the continuation of a journey we started with commitment and purpose,” Dr. Nshimiyimana stated.

The expansion is supported by the Higher Education Council (HEC), which has worked closely with UTAB to ensure that the new campus meets national standards for quality education, infrastructure, and faculty qualifications.

Fr. Dr. Munana expressed confidence that graduates from Kiramuruzi will contribute significantly to Rwanda’s education sector, economy, social welfare, and technological advancement.

The opening of a new campus in Kiramuruzi, Gatsibo District, marks a strategic expansion of UTAB beyond its traditional base in Rwanda’s Northern Province, where it has operated for the past two decades.

The expansion is supported by the Higher Education Council (HEC), which has worked closely with UTAB to ensure that the new campus meets national standards for quality education, infrastructure, and faculty qualifications.

Dr. Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana, Director of the Kiramuruzi Campus, confirmed that the necessary facilities, including classrooms, computer laboratories, and qualified staff, are in place to support effective learning.

Classes are scheduled to begin on July 21, 2025.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Trump announced an agreement with NATO regarding weapons to assist Ukraine while meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.

The plan will rapidly provide Ukraine with the most sophisticated air defenses and precision missiles, Trump said.

“We are going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them,” said Trump, adding that the United States will manufacture those weapons.

Rutte described the arrangement as highly significant, suggesting this demonstrates that Europe is taking on a greater role.

Under the agreement, governments of Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada will finance bulk purchases from U.S. manufacturers and ship the equipment directly to Kiev.

Regarding Russia, Trump said, “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days.” There will be “secondary tariffs” of about 100 percent, he said.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified later that Trump meant “economic sanction” when he threatened “secondary tariffs” against Russia if it did not reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days.

To that end, Trump backed bipartisan legislation — already supported by most U.S. senators — that will sanction banks and energy traders buying Russian oil above the G7 price cap and freeze Russian sovereign assets until Moscow withdraws its forces.

Speaking to reporters after the Oval Office meeting, Trump said that the deal with the NATO allies was done and fully approved.

“We’ll send them a lot of weapons of all kinds,” Trump said. “And they’re going to deliver those weapons immediately to the site, to the site of the war, different sites of the war, and they’re going to pay for 100 percent of them.”

New York-based defense analysts told the Wall Street Journal that the first wave of supplies could exceed 10 billion U.S. dollars once training, spare parts and munitions are counted. A single Patriot battery alone can reportedly cost over 1 billion dollars when factoring in missiles.

Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon characterized the combined military and economic measures as the most significant U.S. escalation since 2022, saying that the dual approach increases pressure on Russia from multiple directions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that he spoke with Trump and “it was a very good conversation.”

“Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace,” said the Ukrainian president.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that supplying longer-range missiles will make Europe a participant in aggression, according to Tass news agency. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Washington of escalating the conflict but did not announce specific countermeasures.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday called Trump’s statements against Russia a “theatrical ultimatum” and the country “didn’t care.”

“Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care,” Medvedev wrote on X.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin will coordinate with allies on deliveries. However, some German lawmakers expressed concern that sending Taurus cruise missiles could provoke Moscow, reported German newspaper Die Welt.

The plan could force Russia to reconsider the security of its rear areas, since assets previously considered safe may now be at risk, RAND Corporation military analyst Dara Massicot told the Washington Post.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened “severe tariffs” targeting Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached in 50 days.

Xinhua

Resolution 2785 extends the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti for six and a half months, until January 31, 2026. It expresses the council’s intention to consider the UN secretary-general’s February 2025 recommendations on options for the possible role of the United Nations in Haiti, notably regarding the establishment of a UN support office to provide logistical and operational support to the multinational police force in Haiti.

Resolution 2786 extends for six and a half months the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until January 28, 2026.

The resolution expresses the council’s intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA’s mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise as may be required by developments on the ground, including a durable nationwide ceasefire.

It requests UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present to the Security Council a further review of UNMHA before November 28, 2025.

Both resolutions were adopted unanimously.

The Security Council on Monday adopted two separate resolutions to extend the mandates of the UN missions in Haiti and Yemen.

Xinhua