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Xi made the appeal on September 13, 2026, while attending Session II of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the session was titled 'Cementing the Foundation for BRICS Cooperation and Bolstering the Strength of the Global South.'

'A world without rules is like a crossroads without traffic lights,' Xi said, warning that disorder is almost inevitable when countries do not share common standards.

He argued that international rules should be written by all countries, rather than imposed by a few powerful states.

He called on Global South nations to uphold sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and the equal application of international law, without double standards.

Xi also connected the rules-based order to global institutions. He urged countries to uphold the authority of the United Nations, support reform of multilateral institutions, guide the World Trade Organization in the right direction and preserve principles such as most-favored-nation treatment.

Chinese President called for stronger support for the New Development Bank and a financial architecture giving developing countries greater representation and a stronger voice.

BRICS began as an idea before becoming a political cooperation forum. The acronym 'BRIC' was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in a paper that identified Brazil, Russia, India and China as fast-growing economies likely to reshape the global economy.

In 2006, the four countries created a formal cooperation framework, and their first leaders' summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010 and became a full member in 2011, changing BRIC into BRICS. The original founding members were therefore Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The bloc now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joined in 2024, while Indonesia became the 11th member in 2025.

BRICS is not a military alliance or a conventional organisation with a binding treaty; it is a consensus-based platform for political, economic, financial and people-to-people cooperation.

Its economic weight explains why the bloc is seeking a larger role. India's government says the 11 members represent 49.5% of the world's population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.

Using IMF April 2026 projections measured at purchasing power parity, the members' economies add up to about $91.3 trillion in international dollars. China accounts for about $44.3 trillion, India $18.9 trillion, Russia $7.5 trillion, Indonesia $5.4 trillion and Brazil $5.2 trillion. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, South Africa, the UAE and Ethiopia add roughly $9.9 trillion combined.

Xi cited figures to illustrate China's development cooperation. He said that, since China launched the Global Development Initiative five years ago, it had implemented more than 2,000 projects with partners, trained over 200,000 professionals and benefited people in more than 120 countries.

He also said China had granted zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with Beijing.

To strengthen the bloc, Xi proposed five initiatives: an open-source and inclusive artificial-intelligence community; a BRICS special economic-zone partnership and a forum on trade in services; a digital ecosystem cloud platform; cooperation on smart factories and manufacturing standards; and an engineer-training alliance together with youth exchanges in science and technology.

Xi had attended Session I of the summit on September 12, where he said BRICS had spent two decades responding collectively to financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

He urged the group to lead in innovation, peace, cultural exchange and global-governance reform.

The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration and agreed that China will chair BRICS and host the 19th summit in 2027.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/xi-urges-brics-to-defend-rules-based-world-strengthen-global-south/

Following a string of vessel attacks and seizures since April, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations regulating maritime transport, issued a warning on August 24 highlighting the rise in piracy and confirming that over 90 seafarers remain held hostage by pirate networks.

Experts emphasize that a persistent lack of economic opportunities, compounded by widespread illegal fishing by foreign vessels, is driving more Somalis toward piracy, viewed by many both as a form of socio-economic protest and a desperate survival strategy.

Mohamed Husein Gaas, director of the Raad Peace Research Institute, a think tank, noted that the security vacuum created as international naval forces shifted attention to the Red Sea crisis has given Somali pirate networks renewed operational freedom.

'Somali piracy is back not because the underlying problem disappeared, but because the security architecture that suppressed it has weakened,' Gaas told Xinhua in a recent interview in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

He noted that while international naval patrols and vessel defense measures previously suppressed piracy, root causes like weak coastal enforcement, poverty, and lack of governance remained unresolved.

'Piracy was suppressed, not solved,' Gaas said.

Gaas said that the Houthi conflict has 'changed the equation' by shifting shipping routes and diverting naval resources, creating ripple effects for maritime traffic near Somalia.

However, he cautioned against treating allegations of direct operational ties between Houthi networks and Somali pirate groups as established fact.

Meanwhile, commercial consequences are mounting in the region.

Abdirizak Sabriye, a member of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the apex umbrella body for Somalia's private sector, noted that global ocean carrier Maersk has suspended new bookings to and from the Port of Berbera in northern Somalia citing operational scheduling conflicts and broader regional route realignments.

While Sabriye did not link the decision solely to piracy, he emphasized that it underscores the widespread logistics disruption hitting Horn of Africa trade.

For Somalia, an import-dependent economy, prolonged maritime disruptions threaten to drive up freight and insurance premiums, tighten domestic supply chains, and trigger consumer price inflation.

Yusuf Mohamed Mahadale, a prominent capital goods importer known locally as 'Shakirow', said that these cost pressures are already spilling over into local markets.

'The prices of construction materials, fuel and even cooking gas have risen sharply in recent months,' Shakirow said, linking the price hikes directly to growing risks along shipping routes and the broader regional maritime crisis.

Because much of Somalia's construction material is imported from China, Shakirow emphasized that the Indian Ocean-Gulf of Aden corridor serves as a vital economic lifeline for Somali businesses.

'When shipping companies avoid taking such risks, supply becomes tighter while market demand remains high,' Shakirow told Xinhua.

Analysts have warned that the long-term economic fallout could escalate significantly if piracy evolves from isolated incidents into a sustained, systemic threat to Indian Ocean trade corridors.

'If piracy becomes sustained, shipping companies could again avoid the Gulf of Aden, raising insurance, freight and fuel costs and ultimately consumer prices,' Gaas said.

'For Somalia, that would mean higher import costs and weaker maritime investment, while the wider region and global trade would absorb the larger shock,' he cautioned.

Rising piracy highlights a shift in regional security dynamics as Western naval forces pivot toward broader Middle Eastern conflicts, opening space for Turkey, China, and Gulf nations to expand their influence around the Red Sea.

To address these vulnerabilities, a Somali government official stated that Mogadishu plans to join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted Somalia will also consult with China to strengthen its naval capabilities and reduce reliance on Western defense coalitions.

Though Somalia's potential entry into the defense pact remains an unconfirmed diplomatic effort, Mogadishu is expanding domestic counter-piracy operations.

The foreign ministry reported ongoing land and sea interventions, highlighting the August 29 liberation of the hijacked cargo ship MV Lutuf as a key success.

'Somalia will not permit its waters to become a haven for maritime crime,' the ministry said.

The government is calling for international naval support to align with its national security framework and bringing the piracy issue before the UN Security Council, supported by Parliament's recent passage of updated anti-piracy legislation.

Gaas noted that naval patrols are insufficient on their own, arguing that lasting solutions depend on strong coastal governance, improved enforcement, and genuine economic opportunities for local communities.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/somali-piracy-resurgence-threatens-global-shipping-amid-red-sea-crisis/

The team left Kigali International Airport on Sunday, September 13, 2026, ahead of the tournament, which runs from September 15 to 25.

Head coach Cassa Mbungo André is leading a 25-player squad, assisted by Ntamuhanga Tumaini, physical trainer Peter Otema and goalkeeper coach Ndizeye Aimé Désiré 'Ndanda'.

Rwanda is in Group A alongside hosts Tanzania and Ethiopia. The matches will be played at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which was renovated ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Rwandan side comes into the tournament after playing two friendly matches against Sudan's U-20 team. The first ended in a 2-2 draw, while the second finished 1-1.

Group B consists of Uganda, Sudan and Djibouti, while Group C features South Sudan, Burundi and Kenya.

The three group winners will advance to the semi-finals, alongside the best-performing second-placed team.

The two finalists will qualify to represent the CECAFA region at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ghana.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwanda-u-20-team-heads-to-tanzania-for-2027-afcon-qualifiers/

Bizimana said in a post on X on Sunday that the FDLR was 'an alibi used to cover real motivations of the war imposed on Congolese people.'

Nduhungirehe responded by pointing to Bizimana's role within the African Union and its previous resolutions against the FDLR, an armed group formed by individuals involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

'Let me recall that Édouard Bizimana is not only the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burundi but also the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council,' Nduhungirehe wrote.

He said the African Union had adopted multiple resolutions condemning the FDLR and calling for its disarmament and repatriation.

'If he doesn't read documents of the organisation he chairs, let me remind him that the African Union adopted multiple resolutions condemning the FDLR genocidal force and calling for its disarmament and repatriation,' Nduhungirehe said.

Nduhungirehe also cited the African Union's support for the Washington peace agreements between Rwanda and the DRC, which include a commitment by Kinshasa to neutralise the FDLR.

The June 27, 2025 Washington Peace Agreement and the December 4, 2025 Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity were signed in the presence of Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye.

Nduhungirehe questioned Bizimana's characterisation of the FDLR as an 'alibi', noting that Burundi is not a signatory to the agreements.

'How then is it possible that Édouard Bizimana, whose country is not signatory to those Accords, comes from nowhere to claim that the FDLR is an 'alibi'?' he wrote.

He further accused Burundi's army of cooperating with the FDLR in eastern DRC and criticised Bizimana for denying the continued threat posed by the group.

'It's appalling to note that the Chairperson of the African Union, whose army collaborates with the FDLR in eastern DRC, continues to deny the existence of a genocidal force that was condemned on multiple occasions by the very organisation he chairs,' Nduhungirehe said.

He concluded by calling on the AU to be more careful in choosing leaders for its institutions.

'The African Union should be serious and avoid, for the future, to hand over the reins of our precious organisation to people who obviously don't have the capacity to lead it,' he wrote.

Bizimana has previously argued that the FDLR does not pose a significant threat to Rwanda.

In an interview broadcast in August, he said the group had never attacked Rwanda, despite repeated references to such attacks in discussions about the conflict in eastern DRC and evidence to the contrary.

'The FDLR has never attacked Rwanda. They have been talking about it for more than 30 years, but the group has never carried out an attack in Rwanda,' Bizimana said.

He added that Burundi could not support the FDLR, saying the group 'has no value'.

Bizimana has also previously described the FDLR as a pretext in discussions about the conflict between Rwanda and the DRC.

Let me recall that Édouard Bizimana is not only the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burundi but also the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council.

If he doesn’t read documents of the organisation he chairs, let me remind him that the African Union adopted multiple resolutions… https://t.co/nea3vHsyTB

— Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe (@onduhungirehe) September 13, 2026

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/nduhungirehe-calls-out-burundis-bizimana-over-fdlr-remarks-questions-his-au-leadership/

United Capital Group, which is serving as a Joint Issuing House and one of the official stockbrokers for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO, said it is providing access to the offering for both institutional and retail investors in Rwanda.

An Initial Public Offering is the process by which a privately-owned corporation offers its shares to the general public for the first time, transforming into a publicly traded company on stock exchanges.

The company described the IPO, valued at about $1.63 billion (Rwf2.4 trillion), as the largest in African capital markets history.

The IPO is due to open on September 14 and close on October 13, with shares expected to list on the Nigerian Exchange in November.

Peter Ashade, Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Plc, said the transaction demonstrates the company's growing role in connecting African investors with major assets on the continent.

'Our pivotal role in Africa's largest IPO underscores our six-decade legacy of trust, capital market execution, and financial excellence,' Ashade said.

He highlighted United Capital's presence in Rwanda as a key advantage for investors seeking to participate in the offering.

'As the only official transaction partner with a direct, licensed presence in Rwanda through United Capital Trustees Rwanda Limited and United Capital Financial Services Rwanda Limited, we are uniquely positioned to connect Rwandan investors to this historic asset,' he said.

Ashade said the transaction also reflects the group's broader approach to regional investment and its efforts to connect capital with major infrastructure and business opportunities across Africa.

'This milestone demonstrates our 'One Group, Endless Possibilities' philosophy in action, linking regional capital with transformative infrastructure projects across the continent,' he said.

Ejikeme Okoli, United Capital's Director for Africa, said the offering provides Rwandan investors with a direct opportunity to take part in the ownership of a major African energy asset.

'This landmark offering enables both individual and institutional investors in Rwanda to own a direct stake in a world-scale African energy asset,' Okoli said.

He said United Capital's local presence is intended to make participation more accessible to investors in Rwanda.

'Because United Capital is the sole transaction broker with an established local presence in Rwanda, we provide a seamless, secure, and direct gateway for regional investors looking to participate in this continental listing,' Okoli said.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos has a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and produces refined petroleum products as well as petrochemicals including polypropylene.

The IPO offers shares at Rwf589 ($0.40), with minimum subscriptions starting at 10 shares, according to United Capital.

The development comes as Rwanda also explores a potential investment in another major Dangote-backed refinery project in Kenya.

Speaking to the press recently on August 24, President Paul Kagame confirmed that discussions were ongoing over Rwanda potentially taking a stake in the planned refinery, which is expected to be built in Lamu on Kenya's northern coast.

Asked about reports that Rwanda could invest in the project, Kagame said the discussions were still at an early stage.

'In a way, there has been. But it is too early to talk about the details, because I think it is a work in progress. Things are still being thought out,' Kagame said.

He added: 'But what I can say is that Rwanda would be very happy to be part of that kind of investment.'

The proposed Kenyan refinery is expected to have a processing capacity of up to 700,000 barrels per day, with reports indicating that Dangote has been seeking regional partners for the project.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwandan-investors-invited-to-participate-in-dangote-petroleum-refinerys-ipo/

The figures show a steady increase over the eight-year period, starting with 13 cases in 2018 and rising to 368 in 2019. The number stood at 326 in 2020, 339 in 2021, and 464 in 2022, before nearly doubling to 804 in 2023.

The highest annual total was recorded in 2024, when courts imposed community service in 1,462 cases. The figure fell to 584 in 2025, while 114 cases resulted in the sentence during the first half of 2026.

Nyagatare Primary Court recorded the highest number of sentences at 554 cases, followed by Gasabo with 463, Nyarugenge and Ndora with 332 each, and Kicukiro with 323.

Speaking to journalists on September 11, Inspector General of Courts Valens Nkurunziza noted that community service applies to specific statutory violations.

'The law currently provides for six offences that can attract this sentence. It was imposed most frequently in 2024, when it was handed down in 1,462 cases,' he said.

Overall, historical data indicates that more than 20,000 people had been sentenced to community service under the national framework by 2024, including individuals who were awaiting deployment.

The Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) expanded implementation of these community service sentences in December 2025, initially placing 800 individuals into public work and development projects.

Under Rwandan criminal procedure law, community service imposed as a principal sentence cannot exceed six months. It can also replace part of a custodial sentence: for offences carrying prison terms between six months and five years, a court may order an offender to serve up to two years of the term through community service.

Where an offence carries a prison sentence of less than six months, the community service period cannot exceed that maximum term. If an offender willfully fails to fulfill their assigned duties, they can be ordered to serve the remainder of their sentence in prison.

The RCS determines placement based on an offender's technical skills and health status. Depending on the arrangement, individuals either return home daily or reside at designated facilities. Sentences may be temporarily suspended in cases of physical or mental disability, serious illness, or pregnancy where continuous labor poses health risks.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwanda-records-nearly-4500-community-service-sentences-since-2018/

The celebrations began with a henna night on September 10, attended by singer Nandy and her husband Billnass, as well as musician Juma Jux and his wife Priscilla Ojo.

Bongo superstar Diamond Platnumz and Zuchu vibing during their Baby's 40days celebrations since birth pic.twitter.com/KPigOCgWcF

— IVY (@ivymuthe) September 11, 2026

The main event featured an elegant Arabic-inspired setting dominated by beige, cream, dusty rose and gold. Guests were encouraged to dress in Arabic-inspired attire, while members of the media were required to wear full black and carry identification cards.

Diamond had invited family and friends to the celebration, which was held in Dar es Salaam, and urged guests to arrive early because the event was centred on the baby.

'Today's event will start early because it is about the baby,' he said.

The occasion brought together Diamond's children, including Princess Tiffah, Prince Nillan, Dylan and Naseeb Jr., as the blended family marked the arrival of their baby sister. Diamond's son with former partner Tanasha Donna, Naseeb Jr., had travelled to Tanzania with his mother ahead of the celebration.

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The ceremony also saw the family reveal the baby's name. Zuchu's mother, veteran taarab singer Khadija Kopa, presented the birth certificate and announced that the girl is named Sandrah Nasibu, with Sanura as another name in honour of her paternal grandmother.

Diamond and Zuchu welcomed their first child together on August 2, after months of public attention surrounding their relationship and pregnancy.

Diamond later thanked family and friends for supporting them through the journey.

'Today is a special 40th day for my beloved daughter. First of all, I want to thank you for standing with us throughout this journey, and especially, I warmly welcome all our relatives, family and friends,' he wrote on Instagram.

The couple's daughter was born after a turbulent period in their relationship. Zuchu had announced their separation in June before revealing her pregnancy. The pair later appeared to reconcile and held a lavish baby shower and gender reveal, where Diamond publicly apologised to Zuchu and gifted her TSh78 million, about Rwf43 million.

Diamond, whose real name is Naseeb Abdul Juma, is the founder of WCB Wasafi, while Zuchu joined the label in 2020. The pair have collaborated on songs including Cheche, Litawachoma, Wana, Mtasubiri, Nani and Inama.

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A post shared by Wasafi FM (@wasafifm)

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/diamond-zuchu-mark-daughters-40th-day-in-star-studded-celebration-videos/

Museveni said on Saturday that the government would work with whoever emerges as the next king once the succession dispute is resolved, urging the people of Tooro to prioritise unity.

'When the issue of the new king of Batooro is resolved, we shall be happy to work with the new king as we did with His Highness Oyo,' Museveni said.

His remarks were delivered by Uganda's Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa during King Oyo's burial service at St John's Cathedral in Fort Portal.

Museveni's comments came as disagreement continued over the choice of Oyo's successor.

The Babiito clan, which oversees the royal succession, declared Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new King of Tooro during the late monarch's final send-off.

Prince Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, the Musuuga and head of the Babiito Clan, said the selection was made by princes and princesses under his leadership and followed Uganda's laws, as well as Tooro traditions and customs.

But members of Oyo's immediate family have rejected the decision.

Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo's sister, said the late king left a will in 2022 naming his young son as heir to the throne. Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, Oyo's paternal aunt, and Margaret Komubaizi, assistant Batebe of Tooro, have also backed the family's position, saying consultations over the will had not been completed.

The dispute has emerged following Oyo's death last month at the age of 34 while undergoing cancer treatment in the United States.

Oyo became king at the age of three and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's youngest reigning monarch at the time. He ruled Tooro for more than three decades.

The kingdom is one of Uganda's traditional institutions, which were abolished in 1967 and restored in the 1990s under Museveni. The monarchs are recognised as cultural leaders rather than political or administrative authorities.

Museveni said Oyo had maintained a good relationship with the central government by focusing on his cultural responsibilities and supporting development.

'He was a good leader of culture that never clashed with the central government because he remained in his lane of culture and mobilising people for development,' Museveni said.

'It is a big loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.'

Museveni also stressed that Uganda's cultural leaders are not meant to participate in politics, administration or legislation, but to preserve languages, customs and traditions.

He said traditional institutions could also contribute to economic development by promoting wealth creation.

During Saturday's burial service, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kazimba Mugalu also appealed for unity, warning that statements made during grief could deepen divisions and undermine Oyo's legacy.

The Babiito clan has defended its decision to name Kijanangoma, with its head saying the succession process followed Tooro's culture and traditions.

Museveni said the priority should now be finding a peaceful solution that preserves unity among the Batooro.

'I appeal to the Batooro to use peaceful and legal means to resolve this matter and also look for maximum unity instead of division,' he said.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/museveni-breaks-silence-on-tooro-kingship-dispute/

The visit was part of the conference organised by Energy Private Developers (EPD), an association that brings together private-sector stakeholders operating in Rwanda's energy industry.

The delegation included participants from several countries, including China, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Their visit began at Spiro's motorcycle assembly plant in Masoro, where they were introduced to the company's electric motorcycle assembly process and broader operations.

The delegates later visited Spiro's Mega Station at Kimironko–Makita, where they learned about the technology used to facilitate battery swapping and monitor battery performance and usage across the network.

The visit gave participants a closer look at Spiro's integrated electric mobility ecosystem, which brings together motorcycle assembly, battery-swapping infrastructure, equipment maintenance and technology-driven operations management.

Fredy Shema, Spiro's Operations Manager, said the visit by international delegates reflected growing confidence in the company's work and its contribution to the development of Rwanda's electric mobility sector.

'Hosting this delegation shows that our work is gaining greater recognition and trust. When we look at where we started and how far we have come, it motivates us to continue improving our operations and increasing productivity,' he said.

The delegates also had an opportunity to engage with Spiro employees, ask questions and exchange views on electric motorcycle technology, battery performance and the role of sustainable transport in reducing emissions.

Spiro has so far deployed more than 36,461 electric motorcycles and continues to expand its battery-swapping network, making its services more accessible and convenient for riders.

The company has also contributed significantly to job creation, employing more than 2,342 people. Women currently represent 38% of its workforce, and Spiro aims to increase this figure to 45%.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/re4sg-conference-delegates-visit-spiro-rwanda-to-explore-electric-mobility/

Swift was spotted earlier this week wearing a gold-striped halter dress by British designer Stella McCartney.

The eye-catching outfit, priced at about $2,380, featured a floor-length silhouette and metallic detailing that gave the look a glamorous finish.

She completed the outfit with metallic heels and a brown handbag, creating a coordinated look for the evening.

The outing came as Swift and Kelce continued to make public appearances following their marriage earlier this year.

The couple were seen dining in New York City, where Swift's fashion choice quickly attracted attention.

PEOPLE reported that the metallic dress is particularly suited to the upcoming fall and holiday seasons, making it a versatile choice for formal occasions such as weddings, evening events and festive celebrations.

Swift's latest appearance also comes shortly after she and Kelce were photographed during another New York dinner outing on September 6.

On that occasion, she wore another Stella McCartney halter-neck maxi dress with metallic Aquazzura sandals and a matching designer bag.

The singer has frequently attracted attention for her fashion choices, with her outfits often becoming talking points among fans and fashion followers.

Her latest metallic look is no exception, highlighting the growing popularity of shimmering fabrics and gold-toned outfits as the fashion world moves into the fall and holiday season.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/taylor-swift-turns-heads-in-dazzling-metallic-dress-during-new-york-date-night/