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The apparently AI-generated map, posted on his Truth Social platform, shows the American flag covering the United States along with Canada, Mexico, Cuba, as well as Greenland — a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark — and several other countries and territories in North America and the Caribbean.

Trump offered no caption or explanation for the image.

The post followed a message on Sunday, in which Trump shared an image bearing the words 'THE MOON IS OURS' alongside a U.S. flag.

In another post on Sunday evening, the president labeled New Mexico, a mountain state in the U.S. Southwest, as 'New America,' though a president lacks unilateral authority to rename a state.

Trump signed an executive order last month directing the Department of the Interior to rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America' amid heightened trade tensions with Canada.

The change does not alter Canada's usage or constitute an internationally binding renaming.

In January 2025, Trump signed a separate executive order directing the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' a move that remains unrecognized internationally.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/trump-shares-map-depicting-expanded-u-s-territory/

The network is part of a wider plan by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) to establish a federated regional Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, linking universities across the East African Community through specialised institutional nodes.

The Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, Prof. Idris Rai, highlighted the development on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the 15th East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference in Kigali.

The institutions named include the University of Rwanda, the University of Dodoma in Tanzania, Dedan Kimathi University in Kenya, SIMAD University in Somalia, the University of Burundi and Kabale University in Uganda.

Prof. Rai said discussions were still ongoing with two EAC partner states that are yet to identify representative institutions to join the collaborative network.

The regional network was officially launched in Nairobi in July and is expected to form the foundation for the future East African Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research.

Prof. Rai said the initiative builds on discussions held during an IUCEA conference in Kigali in 2023, which focused on higher education in the age of artificial intelligence and data science.

The discussions identified the need for universities to build institutional capacity while developing a collaborative platform for teaching, research and innovation in AI.

'In 2024, our Executive Committee approved the establishment of a regional centre of excellence in AI — a federated regional centre of excellence, whereby each partner state will identify one node or university to take part in developing that regional collaborative framework on AI,' Prof. Rai said.

He revealed that the network will support the development of benchmarks and curricula in areas including data science, artificial intelligence and robotics, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate education.

AI literacy for university students

Among the major initiatives being developed is an AI foundational module that could introduce basic artificial intelligence literacy to university students across East Africa.

Prof. Rai said the module is in its final stages of development and could eventually become part of university education across the region.

'We are in the final stages of development of what we call an AI foundational module,' he said.

'Imagine you have a foundational module in AI whereby all students who go through our universities must take it, so that they know about AI, provide AI literacy.'

IUCEA is also developing learning pathways for lecturers who will teach the module and a policy framework to guide the use of AI in teaching, learning and other areas of higher education.

The network will further support collaborative and multidisciplinary research among participating universities.

For Rwanda's Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, the rapid growth of AI is raising fundamental questions about whether universities are adequately preparing students for a changing world.

'The world for which our universities are preparing our graduates is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence is transforming how knowledge is produced, taught and applied,' Nsengimana said.

He noted that the urgency was particularly significant for East Africa, where more than 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25, saying higher education will play a major role in determining whether the region's young people are equipped to turn their talent into opportunities in a rapidly changing economy.

'Will the education we receive today prepare us for the world of tomorrow?' Nsengimana said, referring to what he described as an urgent question facing young people across the region.

'Our answer must be a resounding yes.'

He said digital transformation and artificial intelligence should be central to efforts to modernise higher education, while universities and regulators must ensure that technology is used responsibly.

'Technology alone is not enough,' he stated, stressing the need to equip academic staff and regulators with the capacity to use emerging technologies responsibly while protecting data, maintaining ethical standards and ensuring equitable access.

Future-ready universities

Dr. Edward Kadozi, the Director General of Rwanda's Higher Education Council, said universities could no longer focus only on preparing students for the jobs that exist today.

'Higher education is no longer preparing students simply for the jobs of today. It must prepare them for jobs, technologies and challenges that are still emerging,' he remarked.

Kadozi said technological development, digitalisation and AI were changing how knowledge is created and delivered, while also reshaping the skills required by economies.

He warned that qualifications alone would not be enough if graduates leave universities without the practical skills, adaptability and critical thinking required in the workplace.

'If graduates leave our institutions with qualifications but without practical skills, adaptability and critical thinking required by the workplace, then we have not fully delivered on our responsibilities to them,' Kadozi said.

He added that quality assurance systems must also evolve alongside changes in higher education.

'We must modernise our evaluative tools. We must strengthen our technical capacities. We must embrace appropriate technologies. And we must continuously review our regulatory processes to ensure that they keep pace with the sector we oversee.'

The regional push for AI-ready higher education has also attracted support from international partners.

A representative of the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, announced plans to establish a new African Centre of Excellence for Applied and Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Kenya, which is expected to serve the wider East African region.

Dr. Dorothee Weyler, Regional Director, DAAD, said the centre will focus on strengthening institutional capacity in applied and responsible AI research while integrating teaching, research, early-career development and knowledge transfer.

The development comes as Rwanda's higher education sector increasingly positions itself within regional efforts to strengthen digital skills, research and innovation.

Through its role in the new network, the University of Rwanda is expected to contribute to the development of AI expertise and collaborative research while helping build the institutional capacity needed to support the responsible adoption of the technology across East Africa.

Prof. Didas Kayihura, Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, said such regional collaboration has already proven valuable for staff and institutions engaging with partner universities across East Africa.

'That exposure itself changes the staff quite a lot,' he said, adding that lessons learned abroad are typically brought back and shared with colleagues at home.

The Regional AI Network follows a federated model in which participating universities contribute their individual strengths while collaborating on joint programmes, research and other regional initiatives.

Meanwhile, DAAD also announced plans to host a Master of Science in electrical power systems scholarship programme at the University of Rwanda for the next three years, with applications opening on September 24.

The 15th East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference is being held at the Kigali Serena Hotel under the theme, 'Transforming Quality Assurance for Future-Ready Higher Education Systems in East Africa.'

The four-day forum has brought together university leaders, higher education regulators, academics and development partners to discuss how East Africa can prepare its universities and graduates for emerging technologies and the changing demands of the labour market.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/university-of-rwanda-among-six-universities-selected-to-anchor-new-regional-ai-network/

The visit marks the first official visit by a Rwandan president to Oman. 

Kagame's visit began with an official welcoming ceremony before he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.  

The two leaders were later joined by delegations from both countries for bilateral talks aimed at advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

On the second day of his visit, Kagame is scheduled to tour the Museum of the Frankincense Land, located within the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The museum has two main sections. The Heritage Hall explores Dhofar's archaeological history, the region's heritage and the role of the frankincense trade in shaping the area's social and economic development. The Maritime Hall presents Oman's history of seafaring and maritime trade.

Kagame will also visit Razat Royal Farm, which covers more than 404 hectares. The facility is among the major agricultural establishments in Dhofar Governorate and is also used for agri-tourism and educational activities.

Sultan Haitham will host Kagame and his delegation at a dinner during the visit.

Rwanda and Oman have longstanding ties. During the visit, the two countries are also expected to sign agreements and memoranda of understanding in various sectors as part of efforts to broaden bilateral cooperation.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/president-kagame-begins-two-day-visit-to-oman/

Amb. Kayonga made the remarks in an interview with Report's Türkiye bureau after attending an international conference in Baku organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), which focused on the legacy of Belgian colonialism and calls for reparations.

Asked whether Rwanda plans to establish an embassy in Azerbaijan, Kayonga said the plan was already being considered.

'It will definitely happen in the future, and we are currently planning it. Azerbaijan is a very important country,' he said.

'Azerbaijan is in the South Caucasus, in Eurasia, while Rwanda is in Central Africa. We want Rwanda and Azerbaijan to be brotherly countries,' Amb. Kayonga added.

Amb. Kayonga, who is based in Ankara, has represented Rwanda in Azerbaijan since 2024. He said relations between the two countries have developed significantly, particularly at the political level.

'Our relations with Azerbaijan are very good at the political level,' he said.

Amb. Kayonga noted that President Paul Kagame has visited Azerbaijan twice since he began his diplomatic assignment there — in November 2024 for the COP29 climate summit and in September 2025.

During Kagame's 2025 visit, Rwanda and Azerbaijan signed five agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas including public service delivery through the ASAN Service model, agriculture, education, trade and air services.

The implementation of the ASAN Service model in Rwanda is currently being studied, while Azerbaijan has allocated 20 scholarships for Rwandan students in military education, Amb. Kayonga said.

He added that the two countries are also discussing cooperation in oil, trade and other sectors.

Beyond political and economic ties, Amb. Kayonga said Rwanda wants to promote its tourism and products among Azerbaijani citizens.

He highlighted the Virunga Mountains, home to mountain gorillas, Nyungwe Forest, which hosts chimpanzees, primates and diverse bird species, and Akagera National Park, where tourists can see the Big Five.

Rwanda also plans to organise a Rwanda Culture Day in Baku next year to showcase the country's culture and deepen people-to-people ties.

'We are planning to organize a Rwanda Culture Day in Baku next year,' Amb. Kayonga said.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwanda-plans-to-open-embassy-in-azerbaijan/

In a message posted on X on Monday, Kagame extended his sympathy to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania.

'My sincere condolences to my sister, President Samia Suluhu, her family, and the people of Tanzania on the passing of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan,' Kagame said.

'The Government and people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with President Samia Suluhu and our brothers and sisters in Tanzania as they honour the life and legacy of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan,' he added.

Hafidh Ameir Hassan died on Monday, September 7, at the age of 76 while receiving treatment for a heart condition at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.

His death was announced by Tanzania's Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi.

He said funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, where the family was preparing to honour the late First Gentleman.

Hafidh became Tanzania's First Gentleman in 2021 when Samia assumed the presidency following the death of President John Magufuli. He largely maintained a low public profile and was known as an agriculturalist.

He and President Samia married in 1978 and had four children; three sons and a daughter. Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician who has served in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/president-kagame-sends-condolences-to-tanzanian-counterpart-suluhu-after-husbands-death/

Bishop Kalisa was installed during a ceremony held at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), attended by Christians, church leaders and guests from Rwanda and other countries, including Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States.

The ceremony was marked by prayers, praise and worship as Christians gathered to celebrate the beginning of Bishop Kalisa's leadership.

The installation was also attended by church leaders, including Dean Dr. Ntidendereza David.

Speaking to IGIHE after the ceremony, Bishop Kalisa said one of his key priorities will be building a church that can sustain itself rather than depending heavily on support from churches in Western countries.

'Our vision is to equip members with education and build infrastructure for the church. We want to be a self-sustaining church,' he said.

He noted that African churches have historically relied on financial and other forms of support from Western churches, but said his leadership would seek to change this approach by empowering church members to contribute to the development of their communities and the church.

Empowering members instead of creating dependency

Bishop Kalisa identified dependency among some church members as one of the major challenges facing churches today.

He explained that some Christians expect the church to provide them with direct financial or material assistance, a situation he believes can create long-term dependency.

'We want to teach them to support themselves,' he said, adding that assistance should focus on giving people the ability to become independent rather than simply providing temporary help.

He compared the approach to teaching people how to fish rather than continually giving them fish.

According to the bishop, the Lutheran Church in Rwanda will therefore seek to support its members in developing skills and opportunities that can help them become self-reliant.

Focus on young people and community development

Bishop Kalisa also highlighted the importance of young people in the future of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda.

He said the church is already implementing programmes that involve youth in areas including gender equality and justice, environmental protection and education.

The church also supports young people who want to pursue education in different fields beyond theology.

'We send young people for, not only for theology, but in different areas. That's how we engage young people,' he said.

He added that young people have representation on the church's executive council, allowing them to contribute their views to decisions affecting the church.

The bishop also said the church is open to young people expressing themselves through music, provided that their artistic choices remain consistent with the Christian faith.

As he began his new responsibility, Bishop Kalisa encouraged Christians and Rwandans to combine prayer with action.

He said faith should be accompanied by practical action and responsibility in addressing challenges facing individuals, communities and the country.

The bishop also expressed appreciation to President Paul Kagame for his leadership and for encouraging churches to improve their infrastructure and ensure that church buildings meet required standards.

He said the Lutheran Church in Rwanda has been renovating its churches to meet those standards, arguing that places of worship should be well maintained and provide an appropriate environment for Christians.

Bishop Kalisa also welcomed recent efforts to address the consumption of illicit alcohol among young people.

He said churches should have been among the first institutions to speak out on the issue, acknowledging that religious institutions had sometimes remained silent when they should have raised their voices.

He pledged that the Lutheran Church in Rwanda would seek to be more active in offering advice and contributing to solutions whenever issues affecting society arise.

The installation of Bishop Kalisa Atupenda Prince marks a new chapter for the Lutheran Church in Rwanda, with his leadership expected to focus on strengthening the church's capacity, empowering members, engaging young people and increasing its contribution to community development.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/new-lutheran-bishop-kalisa-atupenda-prince-pledges-to-build-self-sustaining-church-in-rwanda/

The Burundi government has begun preparations to facilitate the return of its citizens, including sending buses to Kenya and issuing free laissez-passer documents through its embassy in Nairobi.

'Burundi is preparing to send buses to Kenya, and the Embassy of Burundi in Nairobi will issue free laissez-passer documents to facilitate the return to Burundi for those who wish to leave Kenya,' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Cooperation for Development said.

Footage obtained by Kenyan media on Monday, September 7, showed large groups of Burundian nationals with luggage at Nairobi's Machakos Country Bus Station as they sought transport home.

Burundians flock a cybercafé in Kilimani, Nairobi, as they rush to process travel documents amid threats to leave Kenya pic.twitter.com/dMn8pwKhyy

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 7, 2026

Similar scenes were reported at the Kenya-Uganda border in Malaba, where travellers were scrambling for bus tickets, while others gathered at the Burundi Embassy in Nairobi to obtain travel documents.

The rush follows remarks by Ruto on September 2, when he directed authorities to dismantle small-scale retail and hawking operations run by foreign nationals, effective September 7.

Addressing small-scale traders at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said Kenya remained open to foreign investment but argued that foreign investors should establish businesses that create jobs and expand production rather than compete with Kenyans in small-scale trading.

'It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop,' Ruto said.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui later said most foreign small-scale traders had violated visa or regulatory requirements. Those meeting the relevant immigration requirements, he said, would need an operating licence to resume their businesses.

The directive has particularly unsettled Burundian traders, with their government raising concerns over reports of violence and the loss of property among its citizens, while also fuelling fears of xenophobic attacks similar to those witnessed in South Africa.

The Burundi Foreign Affairs Ministry said several Burundian traders engaged in small-scale businesses had faced dispossession and what it described as unjustified violence.

It also accused Ruto's remarks of worsening tensions.

'The Kenyan government will be held responsible for anything that happens to Burundian citizens, and Burundi reserves the right to take the necessary measures under the framework of reciprocity,' the ministry said.

Burundi, however, said it respected Kenya's right to determine its trade policies, while urging authorities to protect the dignity and safety of its nationals.

The developments have also sparked criticism over the implications of Kenya's crackdown for the East African Community, which promotes the free movement of people and closer economic integration among member states.

Critics argue that targeting foreign nationals engaged in small-scale trade could undermine the spirit of regional integration, particularly as citizens of EAC member states routinely move across borders for work, trade and business.

The issue has also revived concerns about tensions between local traders and migrants from neighbouring countries, with Burundian nationals among those who have faced accusations of competing with Kenyans for jobs and business opportunities.

The EAC comprises eight member states, including Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

Kenya hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants, many of whom live and work outside refugee camps. Government figures showed that the country had about 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers by the end of June, with nearly 14 percent living in urban areas.

Kenyan law allows refugees to work and operate businesses provided they obtain the required documentation.

Ruto's directive has therefore raised questions over how the crackdown will be implemented and how it will affect foreign nationals who are legally authorised to work or operate businesses in Kenya.

For Burundi, the immediate priority has shifted to facilitating the safe return of citizens who no longer feel secure remaining in Kenya.

Sections of the Burundian community have also appealed to Ruto to reconsider or relax the directive, arguing that the announcement left many traders unprepared for its implementation.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rutos-foreign-trader-crackdown-triggers-rush-by-burundians-to-leave-kenya/

Shema, 48, is accused of issuing unfunded cheques and obtaining another person's property through fraud. He denies the charges.

The court ordered his detention on September 2, 2026, citing the ongoing investigation and the fact that the offences he is accused of carry prison sentences of more than two years.

IGIHE has learned that Shema filed his appeal at the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on September 4. A hearing date has not yet been set.

During the August 26 hearing, prosecutors argued that there were strong grounds linking Shema to the alleged offences and that he could flee if released while investigations were ongoing.

The case relates to an agreement worth more than €1 million between Shema's company, Africa Medical Supplier Plc, and UAE-based ABZL International General Trading LLC. The agreement, signed in January 2024, involved supplying medical equipment under a World Bank-funded contract for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prosecutors said Shema's company failed to meet its payment obligations and later issued two cheques worth $400,000 and $200,000 in August 2025. They said the bank confirmed the cheques were not backed by sufficient funds, with the company's account holding only $1,183 during the relevant period.

Shema told the court that the dispute arose from problems with ABZL's bank account and disagreements among its shareholders. He said his company had previously paid $800,000 under the agreement and maintained that he had acted in good faith.

His lawyer, Sangano Yves, argued that the matter was fundamentally a commercial dispute and questioned the evidence surrounding the cheques.

Shema also told the court that he owns assets worth more than Rwf5 billion that could be used as bail security and pledged not to evade justice if released.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/shema-fabrice-appeals-30-day-provisional-detention/

The company was among the sponsors of the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony held on Friday, September 5, 2026, in Kinigi, Musanze District, where 22 baby mountain gorillas were given names.

Speaking to IGIHE, Spiro Rwanda's Head of Commercial Department, Shanton Ngabire said the company participated in the event because environmental protection is central to its activities.

'The first thing we prioritise as Spiro is environmental conservation, so that we can have a better Rwanda. Every living thing deserves to be protected so that it can live in a clean environment,' she said.

'That is why we came to join everyone else in ensuring that gorillas have a good environment where they can also breathe clean air.'

Ngabire said Spiro is also expanding the availability of electric motorcycles in districts surrounding Volcanoes National Park as part of efforts to reduce pollution from conventional motorcycles.

'In addition to supporting conservation around the Volcanoes, we are working hard to help people switch from fuel powered motorcycles that pollute the environment to electric motorcycles, bringing cleaner transportation closer to them,' she said.

Spiro has expanded its operations in Musanze and other areas near the park. Ngabire said the company currently has 24 battery-swapping stations in Musanze and is continuing to expand towards Rubavu.

'All districts around Volcanoes National Park have branches where Spiro motorcycles are available,' she said.

The company currently has more than 25,000 electric motorcycles operating in Rwanda and more than 350 battery-swapping stations across the country. It plans to continue expanding both its motorcycle fleet and charging infrastructure.

Beyond environmental benefits, Spiro has also become a source of employment in Rwanda. The company currently has 1,650 employees working in various areas of its operations, in addition to the motorcycle riders who use its electric motorcycles.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/spiro-promotes-clean-mobility-at-21st-kwita-izina/

Hassan died at about 8 a.m. at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment, Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi announced.

'With great sadness, I inform you of the death of Mr Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan,' Ndejembi said.

He offered condolences to President Samia, her family, relatives and friends, as well as Tanzanians, adding that funeral arrangements had begun in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar.

Tributes followed from across the region, including from Kenyan President William Ruto, who said he received the news with 'great sorrow.'

Ruto described Hassan's death as a personal loss for the Tanzanian president and their family.

'President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son,' he said.

'Kenya stands with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in this moment of grief,' Ruto added, wishing President Samia and her family strength and comfort during the difficult period.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also expressed condolences to the Tanzanian president and her family.

Hassan, a Tanzanian agriculturalist, became Tanzania's First Gentleman after his wife assumed the presidency in 2021. The couple married in 1978 and had four children, three sons and a daughter.

Their daughter, Mwanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician serving in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Hassan maintained a relatively low public profile throughout his wife's political career and was rarely seen alongside her at public events.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/tanzania-mourns-death-of-president-samias-husband/