Fine Fish, a company engaged in fish farming on 90 hectares of Lake Kivu in Rubavu's bays, is behind the planned investment.
Fine Fish Managing Director Munyangeyo Themistocles said the company plans to establish the plant to meet growing demand for fish feed, which is currently largely sourced from outside the area.
He made the remarks on September 12, 2026, during a meeting of private-sector representatives in Rubavu District.
Munyangeyo said the company is ready to begin the project once basic infrastructure is developed at the approved industrial park.
'The industrial park has already been approved and we are waiting for basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water. We are ready to start the factory project, and we have already ordered machinery worth Rwf3 billion. Together with other equipment and the building, we expect the investment to cost Rwf4 billion,' he said.
He said the plant would make it easier for fish farmers around Lake Kivu to access feed, while infrastructure such as the Kivu Belt Road and ports in Rusizi and Rubavu is expected to facilitate transportation.
The company also plans to establish another branch focused on adding value to fish once the feed plant becomes operational.
Western Province Governor Ntibitura Jean Bosco said the plant would help address challenges faced by fish farmers in the province.
He said fish farmers currently have to source feed from other provinces, including the Southern Province, increasing transportation costs.
'If the factory is completed, it will solve the challenge of accessing fish feed easily, and particularly the problem of having to bring it from other provinces at a high cost,' he said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda's fish production rose from 43,133 tonnes in 2024 to 52,439 tonnes in 2025.
The country produced 71.6 million fingerlings during the year and targets fish production of 80,620 tonnes by 2035.
The Rwf4 billion fish feed processing plant is expected to be established in Rubavu Industrial Park once basic infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water, is in place.
The decision was delivered on September 22, 2026, a day after the prosecution and Shema's defence agreed to a settlement under which he admitted to two charges.
The charges are issuing a dishonoured cheque, provided for under Article 126 of Law No. 060/2021 of October 14, 2021, governing negotiable instruments, and obtaining another person's property through fraud, provided for under Article 174 of Law No. 68/2018 of August 30, 2018, on offences and penalties in general.
The offences stemmed from Shema issuing two cheques worth a combined $600,000 to settle obligations under a contract between his company, Africa Media Supplier, and ABZL International General Trading LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
In the plea agreement submitted to the court, the prosecution told the court that Shema had already paid the money and requested that he be sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and fined Rwf3 million.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the court approved the agreement and sentenced Shema to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and a Rwf3 million fine.
The court ordered that the terms of the agreement take effect immediately following the reading of the decision, resulting in his release.
The ruling came as Shema's defence had previously appealed to the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court against a decision concerning his 30-day pre-trial detention.
One of Shema's lawyers told IGIHE that following his release, they would withdraw the appeal they had filed.
Nyarugenge Primary Court has ordered the release of Fabrice Shema
IremboGov, Rwanda AI Scaling Hub and Digital Umuganda are among the initial signatories backing the five-year commitment, which brings together technology companies, researchers, governments, philanthropic organizations and community groups from around the world.
The initiative was announced in New York on September 21, with the signatories calling for broader collaboration to make AI tools more effective and accessible in the languages and voices people use in their daily lives.
Other signatories include Amazon, Anthropic, Gates Foundation, Google, Microsoft, Mistral, NVIDIA, UNICEF, World Bank Group, OpenAI Foundation and Zoom.
Closing AI's language gap
There are roughly 7,000 languages spoken around the world, but only a small proportion are considered sufficiently resourced to support strong AI capabilities.
Many languages have limited representation in the datasets, tools and benchmarks used to develop and evaluate AI systems. This can result in AI tools that are less accurate or useful for speakers of those languages.
The challenge also extends beyond written text. The coalition says voice-based AI can be particularly important in communities where typing or text-based interfaces are less practical.
Dialects, slang, idioms and cultural context can also affect how AI systems understand and respond to people, creating risks when accuracy is important, including in areas such as health, education, agriculture, financial services and public services.
The coalition's five-year goal is to make AI tools available in the languages and voices of an estimated 3.4 billion people whose languages are currently underrepresented in AI models.
Four areas of focus
The participating signatories will work across four main areas.
The first is developing an open language layer, including shared and safe data infrastructure that AI developers can use under open licences.
The second is developing assessments and benchmarks to track whether AI systems are making measurable progress in supporting more languages.
The third involves turning language data into models and applications that can be used by AI developers, including those without the resources to build such systems independently.
The fourth focuses on ensuring that the technology reaches people responsibly, with attention to privacy, consent and data sovereignty.
The coalition builds on existing work by organizations developing datasets, language models, benchmarks and AI applications for languages that have received less attention in the development of AI.
Rwanda's role
Rwanda's participation brings together entities working across digital public services, AI development and the country's broader digital transformation ecosystem.
IremboGov operates Rwanda's digital government services platform, through which citizens and residents can access a wide range of public services online. Its participation connects the initiative to Rwanda's experience using digital technology to make government services more accessible.
The Rwanda AI Scaling Hub supports the development and adoption of AI in Rwanda, while Digital Umuganda works to expand digital skills, access and participation in technology, particularly at the community level. Both are among the Rwandan signatories to the commitment.
Their participation places Rwanda alongside major technology companies, research institutions, governments and development organizations working to expand the reach of AI.
The coalition says its detailed governance structure and workstreams will be developed collaboratively over the coming year. The participating signatories will contribute according to their respective expertise and capabilities.
The initiative also invites additional participants across the global AI ecosystem to join the effort and contribute resources, research, technology or implementation expertise.
Digital Umuganda, one of the signatories, works to expand digital skills, access to technology and participation in the digital economy, particularly at the community level.
The Burkinabé says he does not want their marital problems to become a media war, but believes some questions should be answered through evidence and the appropriate legal processes.
In an interview with IGIHE, Idrissa discussed how his relationship with Vestine began, why he decided to marry her, problems that emerged after she travelled to Canada, allegations involving other women, questions surrounding their child and his decision to request a DNA test.
Idrissa declined to do a video interview. Instead, he responded in writing to 15 questions from IGIHE.
Throughout his responses, he avoided making accusations against Vestine or other people, repeatedly stressing that he did not want to litigate their personal disputes through the media.
'I am not interested in winning a public argument against my wife. I am interested in having the facts properly established and in handling this situation with dignity,' he said.
Vestine and Ouédraogo married on July 5, 2025, after their relationship became public. The couple had earlier formalised their union through a civil marriage.
'I entered the marriage sincerely'
Idrissa said his relationship with Vestine developed gradually before they decided to build a life together.
'Vestine and I met and, over time, our relationship developed into something serious. We shared important moments together and eventually decided to build a life as husband and wife,' he said.
He declined to discuss how they first met, saying he did not want to turn their personal history into a public dispute.
'What I can say is that, at the time we made the decision to marry, I genuinely believed in our relationship and in the future we were building together,' he said.
A person familiar with the couple's relationship told IGIHE that the two first became acquainted through social media.
According to the source, Idrissa was living in China and had posted a song by Vestine and Dorcas on his status. One of his followers reportedly told him they could introduce him to the musicians.
Asked why he decided to marry Vestine, Idrissa said the decision was not made lightly.
'Marriage is not a decision I took lightly. I believed that we had a relationship worth building on and that we could create a family together,' he said.
'I entered the marriage sincerely and with the intention of making it work. Whatever difficulties have arisen since then should not change the sincerity with which I entered that commitment.'
Wedding photos and the problems that followed
Photos from the couple's wedding have been widely discussed on social media, with some users interpreting Idrissa's expression as a sign that he was unhappy.
He rejected that interpretation.
'A photograph captures a moment, not an entire relationship,' he said.
'I don't think someone's facial expression in a few photographs can reasonably establish what was happening in their marriage. There were many emotions surrounding that day, and I would not want people to draw conclusions about our relationship based on photographs alone.'
Idrissa said the early months of the marriage involved both good moments and challenges.
'Like many marriages, we had good moments as well as challenges. From my perspective, I was committed to the marriage and to resolving difficulties privately whenever possible,' he noted.
He said the situation became more complicated after Vestine travelled to Canada.
'From my perspective, there was nothing at the beginning that I would describe as a major conflict between us. We had our normal challenges as a couple, but we continued moving forward with our marriage and our plans as a family,' he said.
'The situation changed later, particularly after Vestine travelled to Canada. That is when circumstances became more complicated and certain questions and misunderstandings arose.'
He declined to discuss the details, citing ongoing legal and family matters.
A person close to Idrissa told IGIHE that disagreements emerged after Vestine arrived in Canada and began staying in the same house as Murindahabi Irene, despite arrangements for them to stay separately.
Court documents show that on December 4, 2025, lawyers representing Idrissa filed a complaint with investigators, including allegations related to Vestine's trip to Canada and Murindahabi's alleged role in it.
Among the evidence examined were messages Idrissa sent to Irene. In one, he agreed that Vestine should remain in Canada because she was pregnant. In another, he later asked that Vestine return to Rwanda.
The prosecution said the two messages contradicted each other. The issue also featured in the decision concerning a complaint alleging 'abandonment of the matrimonial home.'
Vestine wants her marriage to Idrissa dissolved.
Allegations involving other women
Vestine has also alleged in her divorce filings that Idrissa had relationships with other women and that two women became pregnant by him.
Idrissa acknowledged the allegations but declined to address them in detail.
'I am aware of those allegations, but I would like to be very careful because these are serious personal allegations,' he stated.
'There are different versions of events, and I don't believe a public interview is the appropriate place to litigate those matters. Where there are specific facts that need to be established, I am prepared to address them through the appropriate legal channels.'
Asked whether he has two children outside the marriage, he again declined to confirm or deny the claim.
'I don't want to make statements in the media that could later be taken out of context or affect ongoing proceedings,' he said.
Asked specifically about claims that he had a romantic relationship with Last Sandra, Idrissa also declined to comment.
'I'm aware of the claims circulating publicly, but I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on private matters or unverified allegations in the media,' he stressed.
On whether communication with other women contributed to problems in the marriage, Idrissa said he did not believe responsibility could be assigned to one person or event.
'Every marriage can be affected by communication, trust and misunderstandings, but I don't think it would be fair for me to place the entire responsibility for the breakdown of a marriage on one person or one event,' he remarked.
Why did he request a DNA test?
One of the most contentious issues concerns the child Vestine gave birth to in Canada.
Court documents show that Idrissa filed a complaint alleging that Vestine refused to inform him that she had given birth and denied him access to the child.
The case file also records statements Vestine made to an investigator. She reportedly said one of the issues between her and Idrissa was that he 'does not accept the child.' The file also records her allegation that Idrissa linked her to Murindahabi.
Those are statements attributed to Vestine during the investigation and are not presented in the case file as established facts.
Idrissa said his decision to seek legal clarification was about establishing his position as a father.
'My decision to seek legal clarification was not intended to create a public confrontation. It was about obtaining clarity regarding my position as a father and ensuring that the relevant questions concerning the child are addressed properly,' he revealed.
Asked what prompted him to request a DNA test, he said there were circumstances that left him with unanswered questions.
'Rather than making accusations publicly, I chose to seek an objective and lawful way of obtaining clarity,' he said.
'For me, a DNA test is not about humiliating anyone or attacking anyone. It is about establishing facts where there are unresolved questions.'
As the dispute continued to circulate on social media, some reports also linked questions about the child's paternity to Murindahabi Irene, who works with Vestine on music projects.
Idrissa declined to speculate about her involvement.
'I have seen and heard various things circulating publicly, but I don't believe it would be responsible for me to speculate about another person's involvement or repeat unverified information,' he said.
'I have no intention of accusing or implicating anyone based on rumours. If there is a question that needs to be established, it should be established through evidence and the appropriate process.'
'I don't want to attack her publicly'
Vestine has publicly described experiencing difficult moments during the marriage and said she was hurt by what happened.
Idrissa said he did not want to dismiss her feelings.
'If she experienced pain or felt hurt, I respect that those are her feelings and her perspective,' he said.
At the same time, he said their experiences of the marriage were not identical.
'My experience of the marriage and of what happened is not identical to hers. That is precisely why I believe it is important that both sides are heard before conclusions are reached.'
He said he had no desire to attack his wife publicly.
'She is someone with whom I shared an important part of my life, and I would prefer to speak about the situation with dignity,' he said.
Could they reconcile?
Idrissa did not rule out the possibility of rebuilding the marriage, but said he did not want to make promises about the future.
'At this stage, I think it is more important to deal responsibly with the issues that are already before us rather than make promises or predictions about the future,' he noted.
He said reconciliation would require honesty, mutual respect, trust and willingness from both sides to address the problems that led to the current situation.
'For now, my priority is to handle the situation calmly and responsibly, particularly where the child and the legal proceedings are concerned,' he said.
Idrissa urged people not to draw conclusions based solely on social media, rumours or one side of the story.
'There are important parts of this situation that the public does not know, and there are matters that I cannot discuss fully because of the ongoing legal and family proceedings,' he remarked.
'I am not interested in winning a public argument against my wife. I am interested in having the facts properly established and in handling this situation with dignity.'
He also urged the public to consider the impact of the dispute on their child.
'Behind the headlines there are real human beings and, most importantly, a child. Whatever disagreements exist between adults, the child's interests should remain at the centre of the matter,' he pleaded.
'I don't want to fight this matter through the media. Where there are allegations, I am prepared to answer with facts and evidence through the appropriate channels.'
Vestine has publicly described experiencing difficult moments during the marriage and said she was hurt by what happened.
In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S. relations.
Fans of Chinese video game 'Black Myth: Wukong' pose for a photo in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States on July 7, 2026. A theatrical orchestral concert featuring the music from the game was held in Los Angeles on July 7, showcasing the unique fusion of Chinese mythology and Eastern aesthetics. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit 'The Dancing Goddess: Mei Lanfang in America', an exhibition marking the 96th anniversary of the 1930 North American tour of China's renowned Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang, in New York, the United States, on March 11, 2026. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
People attend the North American premiere of the Chinese animated film 'Ne Zha 2' at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, the United States, Feb. 8, 2025. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
People visit the exhibition 'World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century' at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California, the United States, May 22, 2025. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)
Young musicians from Beijing Youth Orchestra of China and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America perform during a joint concert at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, Aug. 6, 2024. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
Students of Lincoln High School of the U.S. state of Washington and Beijing National Day School take selfies during the NFL FLAG China-U.S. Youth Flag Football Exchange Event & Lincoln High School 2025 China Tour in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2025. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Li He)American students visit a park during a music and cultural exchange camp between young people of China and the United States in Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 14, 2026. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Members of the Whiffenpoofs a cappella choir of Yale University sing a song during a cultural exchange event with local youth in Liping County, Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Qiandongnan, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 24, 2026. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)Teenagers from China and the United States sing during the closing performance of Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival at China National Opera House in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2025. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Lu Ye)
A special 50th anniversary concert celebrating the Philadelphia Orchestra's 1973 visit to China is held in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2023. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. In recent years, the two countries have been strengthening people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges to inject sustained positive momentum into China-U.S relations. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on September 21 that Dr Vincent Bajinya, now known as Vincent Brown, had been charged with one offence of conduct ancillary to genocide and six offences of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.
The charges are brought under Section 52 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001.
According to the CPS, the charges relate to allegations that Bajinya took part in the Genocide against the Tutsi in April 1994 and directed and incited acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.
'The Crown Prosecution Service made its decision after reviewing a file of evidence submitted by the War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police. We concluded that our legal test for bringing criminal charges had been met,' said Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.
The CPS said its decision to prosecute was made independently of the police and government and based on the available evidence.
Bajinya, who was born in Kigombe Cell, Karago Commune, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, now lives in Islington, north London, and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, September 22.
Bajinya trained as a medical practitioner and later worked as a physician at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. He also held a position at the National Office for Population (ONAPO), where his work included family planning and related public education.
He has been alleged to have had links to the Akazu, an informal network associated with President Juvénal Habyarimana and his wife, Agathe. The network was widely described as influential in Rwanda's political and economic affairs during Habyarimana's presidency, which began after he took power in a 1973 coup.
Allegations against Bajinya also include involvement in the organisation of roadblocks during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He was accused of helping to recruit and oversee people manning roadblocks in Rugenge district of Kigali, where he lived, and near Kibihekane School in north-western Rwanda, an area where large-scale killings of Tutsi were reported in the early stages of the genocide.
Witnesses have further alleged that he was involved in the killings of Dominique Leandre in Rugenge, and Charlotte Kamugaja and her infant child.
The historic charges follow years of legal proceedings and investigations involving Bajinya, who was among five genocide suspects living in the UK.
Bajinya arrived in the UK in 1999 with his family. In 2004, he changed his name from Bajinya to Brown after obtaining British citizenship.
He was arrested by UK police in December 2006 alongside three other genocide suspects as part of an extradition case. In 2008, a Westminster Magistrates' Court judge ruled that the four could be extradited to Rwanda, but the decision was overturned on appeal by the Divisional Court in 2009.
A second extradition attempt began in 2013. In 2015, a UK court ruled that Bajinya and the other suspects could not be extradited to Rwanda on the grounds that they were at risk of not receiving a fair trial. The decision was upheld by the High Court in 2017.
Following a request from Rwandan officials in 2018 for the UK to investigate the five suspects, the Metropolitan Police began assessing available evidence in 2019.
Four of the five suspects, including Bajinya, were voluntarily questioned by police in September 2020 over allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity.
The CPS said criminal proceedings against Bajinya are now active and warned against reporting or sharing information that could prejudice the proceedings.
Vincent Bajinya, who was born in Kigombe Cell, Karago Commune, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, now lives in Islington, north London, and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, September 22.
For years, Mwalimu kept the experience largely to herself. Her mother could not talk about it either, she says, and the subject remained something she was expected to leave in the past.
But she could not simply move on.
That experience eventually became part of the reason Mwalimu founded Network of Women Now, an organisation focused on reproductive and menstrual health education, women's empowerment and economic opportunities.
Today, more than 15 years into her work in nonprofit leadership and international development, she is taking that mission to women and girls in Rwanda, where she says she wants young people to have the information and confidence she did not have at 15.
'At 15, if I knew the information that I have now, probably what happened to me would have never happened,' she says.
At 15, Deidra Mwalimu was medically sterilized, an experience that shaped her mission to empower women and girls through reproductive health education.
A decision she could not make for herself
Mwalimu says the circumstances surrounding her sterilization were deeply traumatic.
When she refused to go for treatment, she says doctors and the legal system put pressure on her mother, warning that her other children could be placed in foster care if she did not bring Mwalimu in.
Her mother was therefore forced to make a decision that Mwalimu believes was devastating for both of them.
'That's a hard thing for a woman and a mother to do,' she says.
The experience was not isolated within her family. Mwalimu says her mother and grandmother had also been sterilized, leaving three generations with experiences of reproductive healthcare that she would later explore in her writing and advocacy.
She could not write about it while her mother was alive.
Mwalimu says the story was too painful and that writing it would have hurt her mother. It was only after her mother's death that she felt able to confront the experience publicly.
In doing so, Mwalimu stresses, she came to understand more deeply how her own family's reproductive health experiences had shaped the mission she was building.
'I never shared my story,' she reveals.
Deidra Mwalimu, founder and CEO of Network of Women Now, speaks about her journey in reproductive health advocacy.
Turning personal pain into advocacy
Mwalimu's work is now centred on ensuring that women and girls understand their bodies and have the knowledge to advocate for themselves.
She says that is particularly important because reproductive health is still surrounded by stigma and silence.
'The conversation is personal, but the problems are not,' she notes.
For Mwalimu, that distinction matters.
Menstruation may be considered a private subject, but the consequences of inadequate information can affect whether a girl attends school, whether a woman seeks medical care and whether women are able to make informed decisions about their own health.
She believes girls should therefore begin learning about their bodies before they reach puberty.
Through Network of Women Now, she works with girls as young as six and has developed educational materials that cover menstrual products, body autonomy, boundaries, domestic violence and how to seek help when something is wrong.
The organisation also includes boys in some of its conversations, reflecting Mwalimu's view that reproductive and menstrual health cannot be addressed by women and girls alone.
Families, schools, health professionals, policymakers and communities all have a role to play, she says.
Her personal experience at 15 inspired a lifelong commitment to empowering women and girls.
Why Rwanda?
Mwalimu's work in Rwanda began after she was invited by an organisation that was already working in a similar area.
She had worked in different parts of the world, including India, Nepal, Belize and Brazil, but says Rwanda stood out because of the reception she received when she began engaging with schools and young people.
She found schools willing to open their doors and communities willing to engage in conversations about menstrual hygiene and reproductive health rights.
'I was really inspired by that to stay,' she adds.
Her connection with Rwanda has since grown beyond health education. Mwalimu is also interested in developing locally produced reusable menstrual products while creating opportunities for women to gain skills, generate income and participate in business.
The economics of a period
For Mwalimu, menstrual health is not only a health issue. It is also an economic one.
She promotes education around a range of menstrual products, including disposable pads, tampons, period underwear, reusable pads and menstrual cups, while encouraging women and girls to understand how different products work and choose what suits them.
Mwalimu is particularly interested in reusable products because of their potential to reduce the recurring cost of menstrual hygiene.
She says a girl can require hundreds of disposable pads in a year, meaning the cumulative cost over decades can be significant.
Reusable products, when properly cleaned and maintained, can be used for several years, she emphasizes.
Network of Women Now is working toward locally producing reusable menstrual products in Rwanda, including period underwear.
For Mwalimu, the opportunity goes beyond making products available.
'It teaches them skills,' she says of the economic side of the initiative. 'It teaches them about how to generate income, how to run their own business.' That is where menstrual health and women's economic empowerment intersect in her work.
Breaking the silence
Mwalimu believes one of the biggest barriers facing women and girls is not simply a lack of products, but the stigma surrounding menstruation and reproductive health.
One misconception she encounters is the idea that menstruation is a curse. She argues that such beliefs can prevent girls and women from talking openly about their health or seeking help when they need it.
The answer, she believes, is dialogue and education.
Girls should be able to understand what is happening to their bodies, recognise when something is wrong and know where to seek help.
That principle also extends to women who may face reproductive health problems later in life.
Mwalimu points to situations in which women discover after marriage that they cannot conceive and may face severe social consequences as a result.
Early education, she argues, can give women greater ability to understand their bodies and advocate for themselves before they reach such situations.
'You need to know yourself'
Mwalimu's message to young women is rooted in the lesson she believes came too late in her own life.
'You need to know yourself,' she says. 'You need to know how you work, how you think, how your body works, what your abilities are, and never stop learning.'
It is a simple message, but one that connects the different parts of her work.
'I want to be able to have girls advocate for themselves at a very young age,' she reflects.
She is working to promote menstrual health education among girls and women in Rwanda.The initiative promotes menstrual health education alongside skills development and economic opportunities for women.She highlights the importance of helping girls understand their bodies and make informed health decisions.Reusable menstrual products are being promoted as an affordable and sustainable option for women and girls in Rwanda.She encourages young women to know their bodies, understand their abilities and never stop learning.Deidra Mwalimu discusses the importance of menstrual health education during an interview with IGIHE.
The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI issued the warning in its first thematic brief, an assessment of July's breach of U.S. AI company Hugging Face's systems by AI agents under evaluation at OpenAI, another U.S. AI company.
The panel finds that stopping this incident is no assurance that humans can reliably keep AI agents under control today, particularly as they become more capable, harder to monitor and better at finding loopholes or hiding their activity.
'The default interpretation and immediate lesson is that basic cybersecurity practices were overlooked, and safeguards are not advancing at the pace of capabilities,' said the panel in a press release. 'The more insidious and grave concern is that current training methods can lead agents to adopt goals of their own, knowingly violate safety instructions, and conceal their actions.'
It leaves open whether safeguards designed today will work once agents can understand them and plan around them. In simple terms, the traditional model of safeguarding is unraveling, said the panel.
The panel also finds that the governance challenge is moving from AI models to AI agents. A local failure could spread across organizational and national boundaries. AI safety may be becoming a matter of collective security as well as corporate governance.
The panel, established by the UN General Assembly, is made up of 40 independent experts from all regions.
The panel is publishing an advance unedited version to make the brief available to world leaders gathering in New York for this year's General Assembly's High-level Week.
A UN panel on artificial intelligence (AI) warned on Monday that traditional safeguards for AI agents are unraveling.
During the visit, participants were briefed on how Irembo has made it easier for citizens to access public services while also helping the government deliver services more efficiently.
More than 300 participants from different countries attended the forum, which focused on ways to improve service delivery across Africa and ensure that citizens have a better experience when accessing public services.
The participants were shown some of the services available on Irembo, as well as the 'Byikorere' initiative, which allows Rwandans to apply for services directly through their mobile phones without having to visit Irembo agents.
They were also briefed on the role of Digital Ambassadors deployed across the country to help citizens understand how Irembo works and assist them in using technology to apply for and access public services.
Samuel Afotoye from Ghana, one of the forum participants, described Irembo as a good example of how technology can simplify access to public services.
He said Ghana also has digital platforms through which people can access services, but they are not consolidated in one place as they are on Irembo.
'We do not have services brought together in a one-stop centre like Irembo. Each service is usually handled by the institution responsible for it,' he said. Afotoye said bringing services together on one platform makes it easier for people to access them without having to move from one institution to another.
Sibusiso Nyasulu from Malawi said platforms such as Irembo can also help reduce corruption in public service delivery.
'Standing in queues to get a stamp slows down the quality of service. Because the world we live in is moving very fast, it is important for countries to consider putting in place digital infrastructure that can speed up service delivery,' he said.
Nyasulu, however, noted that limited access to digital devices such as mobile phones and internet connectivity in many African countries remains one of the challenges to expanding digital public services.
As part of their programme in Rwanda, the forum participants also visited Rwanda Mountain Tea factory in the Masoro Industrial Zone, where they observed its operations and measures put in place to improve service delivery and the quality of its products.
They also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, where they paid tribute and laid flowers at the graves of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Africa CX Leaders Forum participants explore how Irembo is transforming public service deliveryAfrica CX Leaders Forum participants toured Rwanda Mountain Tea factory in the Masoro Industrial Zone to learn about its operations and quality measures.Africa CX Leaders Forum participants explored Irembo's digital platform and its role in making public services faster and easier to access.Africa CX Leaders Forum participants also paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi during a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
The prosecution, represented by two prosecutors, continued presenting testimony and evidence it said linked Ingabire to the alleged formation and activities of an organised criminal group.
Among the evidence presented was testimony by Fred Kananura, a fighter captured in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who reportedly said some members of the P5 coalition had previously been associated with FDU-Inkingi, the party founded and led by Ingabire.
The prosecution also cited testimony by Théoneste Habumukiza, who was captured after taking part in a 2019 attack in Musanze attributed to RUD-Urunana.
According to the testimony presented in court, FDU-Inkingi members inside Rwanda had agreed to meet at Cyanika and Kadatemwa during the attack.
The prosecution alleged that Ingabire later formed DALFA-Umurinzi to distance herself from attacks attributed to RUD-Urunana, but argued that the two political organisations remained linked.
It cited testimony from Boniface Nzabandora, who served as Ingabire's secretary and lived at her home. When asked why she had left FDU-Inkingi and formed DALFA-Umurinzi, Nzabandora reportedly replied: 'They were the same.'
The prosecution also referred to statements attributed to Ingabire that FDU-Inkingi members inside Rwanda joined DALFA-Umurinzi when it was established.
An audio recording of a November 16, 2018 conversation between Ingabire and Kelly Maroney, a foreign national, was also played in court.
According to the prosecution, Ingabire said FDU-Inkingi was the only P5 party with members inside Rwanda.
Alleged coup plans
The prosecution said testimony by Gaston Munyabugingo described an alleged plan by P5 to stage a coup during a leadership retreat in Gabiro, while Ingabire would organise demonstrations in support of the move.
According to the testimony, Ingabire had asked Munyabugingo to accommodate her because she feared for her safety during the alleged coup.
The prosecution further said Munyabugingo later hid Ingabire after she abandoned plans to move to Gicumbi. She was allegedly disguised in Muslim clothing and was not wearing glasses.
The court also heard allegations that Ingabire communicated with Charlotte Mukankusi, who was responsible for diplomatic affairs within the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a group founded by Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Prosecutors said an RNC document outlining how Rwanda would be governed after an alleged coup was recovered from Ingabire's phone.
They said the document included a list of 79 people, including government and military officials, alongside proposed changes to their positions based on ethnicity.
Military training in Burundi
The court listened to a May 21, 2020 telephone conversation between Ingabire and Cassien Ntamuhanga, in which they discussed military training and what prosecutors described as preparations for a coup.
The prosecution interpreted coded references in the conversation as discussions about heavy weapons and grenades, and alleged that the two also discussed training fighters in Mutaga, Burundi.
According to the prosecution, Ingabire asked Ntamuhanga to work with a person identified as Pracide to develop the training arrangements.
Prosecutors further alleged that Ingabire was expected to become head of state if the coup succeeded. They also said Ntamuhanga was expected to work with Phocas Ndayizera, who is in custody, on a phone-based system intended to detonate explosives in Kigali.
The court adjourned the hearing at 1:27 p.m. and scheduled the trial to resume on September 22, when the prosecution is expected to continue presenting its case.
Ingabire Victoire has been accused of planning a coup that would have made her President.
