The 21st Kwita Izina ceremony in Kinigi celebrated mountain gorilla conservation with music, celebrity namers, and a park expansion announcement.
The 21st Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony took place in Kinigi on Friday, with 22 baby mountain gorillas receiving names. The event, attended by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Guest of Honour, blended conservation efforts with cultural performances by Rwandan artists like The Ben and Riderman, alongside international guests. High-profile figures from business, sport, and entertainment, including Eng. Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, former Miss Belgium Keza Johanna Ameloot, and footballer Mamadou Sakho, participated as namers, bestowing names with cultural significance onto the newborns.
Prime Minister Nsengiyumva announced that Rwanda is expanding Volcanoes National Park to accommodate its growing mountain gorilla population. He stated that communities affected by this expansion will benefit from conservation efforts, linking habitat growth to local development. Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde welcomed participants, emphasizing Kwita Izina's role in celebrating natural heritage, raising biodiversity awareness, and supporting community and national development through the park.
The ceremony highlighted Rwanda's commitment to conservation, drawing global attention through celebrity involvement and cultural displays. Figures like UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais and Rio Tinto Chairman Dominic Barton participated, underscoring the international significance of the event. The gathering demonstrated how Kwita Izina has evolved into a global celebration of music, culture, and conservation, attracting visitors and prominent personalities worldwide.
Why it mattersThe naming ceremony and park expansion directly impact farmers through potential land use changes and community benefit programs linked to conservation.
Read in ASJ →Ministers and financial experts met in Kigali to strengthen regional efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Eastern and Southern African nations are losing an estimated $88 to $90 million each year to illicit financial flows, a challenge that prompted a high-level meeting in Kigali. The 26th Council of Ministers meeting of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) convened ministers, government officials, and financial crime experts to bolster regional strategies against money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The meeting, themed "From Technical Compliance to Demonstrable Outcomes," addressed the increasing sophistication of criminal networks exploiting digital financial services, cross-border transactions, and complex corporate structures. Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, noted that while Rwanda has improved its anti-money laundering systems, challenges persist. He emphasized the meeting's importance for assessing progress, identifying gaps, and agreeing on practical measures for system effectiveness.
Outgoing Director General of Rwanda’s Financial Intelligence Centre, Gashumba Jeanne Pauline, urged a shift from mere compliance to demonstrating tangible results. She stated that effectiveness should be measured by outcomes like stronger financial intelligence, successful prosecutions, asset recovery, and the disruption of criminal networks. President of the Senate Dr. François-Xavier Kalinda highlighted that the same financial systems driving economic growth can be exploited by criminals and called for enhanced regional cooperation, as countries cannot effectively combat financial crime independently.
Why it mattersGovernments and financial institutions across Eastern and Southern Africa are affected by the significant annual losses due to illicit financial flows, necessitating stronger regional cooperation and demonstrable outcomes in anti-money laundering efforts.
Read in ASJ →The BPR Bank Foundation will cover tuition and school needs for 50 underprivileged students for six years.
BPR Bank Rwanda has initiated a six-year scholarship program to support 50 students from disadvantaged backgrounds through secondary school. The BPR Scholars Programme, launched on Friday, will provide scholarships to 25 boys and 25 girls across Rwanda. The bank will fund essential school requirements from Senior One to Senior Six, aiming to ensure these students can complete their education.
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, the bank will identify and select eligible students. The program addresses financial and socio-economic barriers that hinder talented students from enrolling or remaining in secondary education. Beyond covering school needs, beneficiaries will participate in a structured mentorship program focused on academic and personal development, including goal setting, life skills, and career planning.
Vincent Ngirikiringo, Chief Financial Officer of BPR Bank Rwanda, stated the bank's intention to make a long-term commitment to the students. The initiative aims to provide comprehensive support, including guidance on further education and employment opportunities, rather than offering only short-term financial aid. This approach seeks to foster sustained academic and personal growth for the selected scholars.
Why it mattersTalented students from underprivileged backgrounds in Rwanda will be able to complete secondary education and receive personal development support.
Read in ASJ →A wildfire has been burning for several days in Rwanda's Southern Province, prompting a coordinated response to extinguish the flames.
A fire continues to ravage part of Nyungwe National Park in Muganza Sector, Nyaruguru District, with more than 17 hectares of the protected forest already affected as efforts to contain the blaze continue. The wildfire has been burning for several days in the section of Nyungwe located in Rwanda’s Southern Province, prompting a coordinated response involving different institutions working to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the forest.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson for the Southern Province, CIP Hassan Kamanzi, said the fire started about seven kilometers from the edge of the forest, raising concerns that it could have originated from illegal human activities inside the protected area. Nyungwe National Park Manager Protais Niyigaba said fires of this nature are more common during the dry season and are often linked to people illegally entering the forest to harvest honey, noting that the current fire appears to have started from three different locations.
Firefighting teams from different institutions continue to work in the affected areas to contain the blaze and limit the destruction of the forest. Authorities are also monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the outbreak. Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s most important protected ecosystems, playing a vital role in water conservation, biodiversity protection, and maintaining the country’s environmental balance.
Why it mattersThe fire is affecting Nyungwe National Park, a vital protected ecosystem for water conservation and biodiversity, by destroying over 17 hectares of forest.
Read in ASJ →Rwanda's Prosecutor General reported a significant decrease in young adults prosecuted, from 51% to 40% in the last judicial year.
The proportion of young people prosecuted in Rwanda has fallen to 40% in the 2025-26 judicial year, down from 51% the previous year, according to Prosecutor General Habyarimana Angélique. A total of 32,231 individuals aged 18 to 30 were prosecuted during the year. Habyarimana stated that the prosecution service plans to enhance measures aimed at preventing youth involvement in criminal activities, emphasizing their national importance.
The Prosecutor General's office received 71,276 case files and made decisions on 68,232, representing 95.7% of the total. Among the common offenses prosecuted were theft and assault causing bodily harm, which together constituted 49% of all case files. Drug-related offenses also remained prevalent, with the prosecution service reporting a 98% success rate in these cases.
Authorities are also focusing on combating substandard alcoholic beverages, which they believe has contributed to a reduction in crimes committed by consumers. The prosecution service will continue to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to expedite justice and place citizens at the center of the legal process, aiming for faster and more effective outcomes without always resorting to courts.
Why it mattersYoung adults aged 18 to 30 are directly affected by the decrease in prosecutions, with authorities aiming to reduce their involvement in crime.
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