Ganza K Isaac

We belong up there🇷🇼

[Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa @JosephRyarasa]

One of the unintended consequences of social media is the elevation of uninformed opinion. It is deeply concerning when individuals lacking basic understanding and analysis gain influence while promoting misinformation.

[Lonzen Rugira @LonzenRugira]

Populism and moral courage rarely go together.

Neither can they be concealed.

[Sandrine Umutoni @XandrineUmutoni]

I have been reflecting on the debate around how some of our young people dress, and I wonder whether we are asking ourselves the deeper questions.

When concerns are raised about increasingly revealing fashion trends, the conversation quickly becomes: “Why does the State want to police our bodies?”

But perhaps we should also ask: who is shaping these trends in the first place, and why?

Parents in different parts of the world have pointed out something interesting: clothes marketed to little girls are often shorter, tighter or more appearance-conscious than equivalent clothes for little boys of the same age.

Why?

Why are girls introduced so early to the idea that femininity is connected to displaying the body? And why, as they grow older, is that message reinforced through fashion, advertising, music, dance, films, music videos and social media, where the female body is so often presented through the lens of sexual desirability?

This is not an argument that the female body is inherently provocative. It is not. Nor should women and girls be made responsible for managing other people’s sexuality by simply being told to cover themselves.

The question is not what is wrong with the female body. The question is why our culture and commercial industries so persistently commodify it.

And there is another dimension to this conversation that matters to me: cultural identity.

For many years, much of what we wore was imported—not only the clothes themselves, but increasingly the ideas of what was fashionable, modern, attractive or desirable.

But modernity does not have to mean cultural erasure.

Across our continent, we can see powerful examples of societies that have made their cultural identity part of contemporary fashion. Nigeria, among others, has demonstrated how local fabrics, patterns, craftsmanship and aesthetics can be worn with pride and continuously reimagined for modern lifestyles.

That should challenge us too.

What does contemporary Rwandan fashion look like when it is confident enough to draw from who we are, while remaining creative, youthful and open to the world?

This is not about freezing culture in the past, prescribing one acceptable way of dressing, or rejecting influences from elsewhere. Culture has always evolved. The question is whether we are participating in that evolution as creators, or simply consuming what others create for us.

Industries manufacture aspiration. Algorithms amplify it. Celebrities normalize it. Markets profit from it. And when we do not produce enough of our own cultural references, other people’s definitions of beauty, desirability and modernity can very easily become our own.

So before reducing every conversation about these trends to “the State wants to control our bodies,” perhaps we should encourage our young people—girls and boys alike—to exercise something even more important than the freedom to choose: the critical thinking to interrogate the choices being presented to them.

Who benefits from this trend?
Who defined this as desirable?
Why is sexual visibility so disproportionately expected of the female body?
What parts of ourselves are we losing when we imitate without questioning?
And what could we create if we looked at our own culture not as something belonging to the past, but as material for the future?

Freedom is not only the ability to choose. It is also the ability to understand what is shaping our choices—and the confidence to create alternatives of our own.

[Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa @JosephRyarasa]

Africa’s water paradox ,connected but still thirsty

I keep hearing speeches and policy discussions about Africa’s water deficit but one question kept coming up ; how have we managed to take the internet to some of the most remote corners of Africa, yet we have failed to guarantee something as basic as clean and reliable water?

Across the continent, mobile networks have expanded rapidly. Fibre optic infrastructure is growing, smartphones are increasingly accessible and digital financial services have transformed how people conduct business. We are now enthusiastically discussing Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation, smart cities and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These developments matter, and Africa cannot afford to be left behind.

But there is a contradiction we need to confront.

How can we speak about smart cities when households still spend hours searching for water? How can we celebrate digital inclusion when some communities, schools and health facilities cannot depend on reliable water and sanitation? Perhaps the problem is not simply the availability of water. It is also about priorities, infrastructure investment, maintenance, urban planning, institutional accountability and long-term financing.

The telecommunications revolution offers an important lesson. Governments established regulatory frameworks, attracted investment and created conditions that allowed connectivity to expand rapidly. Why have we struggled to generate the same urgency, innovation and investment around water?

This is also where we need honest conversations about governance and citizen participation. When budgeting and planning processes begin every year, to what extent do they genuinely reflect the priorities expressed by citizens? Are communities meaningfully involved in determining whether their most urgent need is water, roads, health services, schools, jobs or something else?

Freedom of expression should not be understood narrowly as the freedom to criticize government. It is also about creating an environment where citizens can freely articulate their needs, question priorities, propose alternatives and participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives. Equally important is the responsibility of institutions to listen, act where possible, and provide feedback.

Citizens should know which priorities can be addressed, which cannot be addressed immediately, and why. That feedback loop is fundamental to building trust, accountability and meaningful participation.

Ultimately, this conversation is bigger than water versus Artificial Intelligence. The real question is, when we speak about Africa’s development priorities, are we sufficiently listening to the everyday priorities of Africans themselves? #AfricaWaterLeadership @Symposium2026

[Ganza K Isaac @Ganza_Isaac]

@wasac_rwanda please check your DMs!!

[Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa @JosephRyarasa]

Dear @RwandaHealth @RBCRwanda

I understand that there is a request from the Ministry of Health since 22-June-2026 to both public and private health facilities to provide fast-tracked access to electronic medical records to support evidence-based health decision-making. While i appreciate the importance of timely access to health data, especially in the context of global health security challenges and the need to monitor and respond to infections, i believe there are important concerns that need to be addressed.

Patient data protection is a critical issue. It appears that there has been limited discussion with health facility managers and, more importantly, with patients themselves. This raises several questions: Has the data protection law been fully respected in this process? Has adequate public awareness been created regarding the collection, use and sharing of health data? Have citizens been sufficiently informed and given the opportunity to provide informed consent?

While strengthening public health surveillance and evidence-based decision-making is essential, it is equally important to ensure transparency, public trust, and robust public education on health data governance and protection.

Thank you and nice Sunday

[Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa @JosephRyarasa]

From an 18-month observation and analysis of both mainstream media and social media platforms, it appears that we are increasingly facing a challenge in the way we engage in public conversations and debates. In many cases, discussions quickly become emotional, divisive, or confrontational instead of constructive and solution-oriented.

One possible reason for this is that, as a society, we may not have invested enough in strengthening our culture of reading, critical thinking, and continuous learning. Reading does more than provide information; it expands our understanding of different perspectives, teaches patience in listening, and helps people engage with ideas without viewing every disagreement as a personal attack.

Countries that cultivate a strong reading and learning culture often produce citizens who debate issues with greater depth, respect, and maturity. Rwanda itself has made significant investments in education, knowledge-sharing, and youth empowerment over the years. Initiatives that promote literacy, innovation, and civic engagement have shown that when people are exposed to knowledge and diverse perspectives, conversations become more informed and productive.

As our society becomes more digitally connected, there is also a growing need to strengthen responsible communication, thoughtful engagement, and intellectual curiosity, especially among young people. Healthy conversations are built on understanding, facts, and mutual respect.

If we truly want stronger public discourse both online and offline, then encouraging a culture of reading, learning, and self-improvement must remain part of our long-term national and community development journey.

[Lonzen Rugira @LonzenRugira]

One of the things Rwanda education must do is to create a new culture of public discourse that is able to engage issues/content rather than “icyihishe inyuma.”

Only Seers (abapfumu) are able to see icyihishe inyuma!

[Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza 🌞 @gateteviews]

“Umva mwabasore mwe, dore uko igihugu cyiha agaciro..”

[King Ngabo @Kingabo_]

Sometimes we think things are fine, while in reality they are not.

It is truly sad to see that none of the weekly events are held in cultural centers, in libraries, or in any spaces where the community can gain cultural knowledge through creative experiences.

This reflects the mediocrity especially when it comes to educating people through cultural and creative events.

We should have poetry sessions in libraries but we don’t. Such activities would encourage literacy, creativity, and public speaking.

We should have exhibitions but we lack galleries.

We should have traditional and modern dance competitions, battle shows, and artistic gatherings in cultural centers but there is no support.

Instead, we mostly end up with DJs in bars, while at the same time we invest in #TunyweLess campaigns.

If we want a community grounded in ethics and education, we must invest in cultural centers, support them, and allow cultural operators to work hand in hand with the government as key drivers of community transformation.

[Ganza K Isaac @Ganza_Isaac]

Language needs to be tweaked a bit, but overall this is super!

[Ganza K Isaac @Ganza_Isaac]

Great initiative🎉
#BazaAI is able to self learn and give you information and context of the day, offers follow up questions which are context dependent, and offers additional (valid) resources where information was sourced from.
Very exciting!!

[Pascal Murasira @PascalMurasira]

Amagambo agera kuri miliyoni 10.5 niyo yanditswe na #BazaAI mu cyumweru cya mbere cyo kugerageza iyi AI Nyarwanda.

Ibi bingana n’ibitabo birenga 20 byuzuye ubwenge nyarwanda, byose bituruka mu bibazo mwabajije #BazaAI n'ibisubizo yabahaye 🫶🏾

Mukomeza kuyigerageza, kuyibaza ibibazo, no kudusangiza ibitekerezo by'icyakorwa kugirango irushuho kugirira akamaro abayikoresha.

Kanda hano: https://t.co/glN4laisKT

[Andrew M. Mwenda @AndrewMwenda]

Today, October 23, is President Paul Kagame’s birthday. We join his family and all Rwandans to honor this towering political giant on our planet, a leader who made what was seemingly impossible, possible: the reconfiguration of the Rwandan state, the reconstruction of the Rwandan economy and the reconstitution of Rwandan society that had been tone asunder by the most horrific genocide in history.

More than that, we honor a leader who pulled a country out of obscurity and oblivion into a shining star on our continent, an example of what good leadership can do for a people. He did this because he stuck to his ideals and tenaciously defended the goals he sought for his country when it would have been much more profitable to compromise them at the alter of political convenience.

President Paul Kagame inspires hundreds of millions across our planet because he has defied the odds, because he has held his ground, because he has kept his word, because he has persisted and endured in the pursuit of the Rwandan dream where many would have given up.

I have been traveling across Africa and witnessed so many post colonial hopes dashed because leaders, in seeking to hold power and reward friends, abandoned the goal of building the nation and serving its people and where the sacrifices of the many were turned into the benefits of a few. In Rwanda, Kagame said NO. I have watched him, at very close range, lose friends and antagonize allies who stood in the way of developing Rwanda.

Today we celebrate this moral clarity and the integrity of his personality. Happy birthday my friend and hero. May you live to be 150 years and thereby defy biology the way you have defied political and military realities.

A word to the haters of Kagame. I know you will come here and hurl insults and abuses at me. I forgive you because I know you envy his achievements and are tortured by his greatness. I am sorry I cannot help you out of your misery!

[Mama Urwagasabo Tv @Mamaurwagasabo1]

[WATCH] At the 14th Annual International Warrior Competition held at @KASOTCJo in Jordan, Rwanda's RDF Special Operations Team 1 won first place in the 'Steel Arrow'. @RwandaMoD #MamaUrwagasaboTV

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

Here are 10 Mind-Blowing TECH Innovations You Can't afford to Miss

The future is here, and it’s more incredible than you think.

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

🇧🇫 MEET THE CAPTAIN WHO’S SHAKING THE WORLD: WHY IBRAHIM TRAORÉ IS SUDDENLY EVERYONE’S BUSINESS

A 37-year-old army captain in a small West African country kicks out foreign troops.

He takes back his country’s gold.

He refuses a presidential paycheck.

He tells the U.S. and France to stop treating Africa like a backyard project.

That’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and the country is Burkina Faso.

Never heard of it? You’re not alone.

It’s a landlocked nation in West Africa that used to be called Upper Volta—until a revolution changed the name to mean “Land of Honest People.”

Now, under Traoré, it’s making headlines again.

Since taking power in 2022, Traoré has been on a mission: take back control of Burkina Faso’s economy, reject old colonial rules, and stop relying on foreign troops to fight homegrown problems.

He nationalized the country’s gold reserves and started building the first refinery so Burkina Faso could stop shipping raw gold to Europe and start keeping the profits.

He’s launched farming programs, invested in factories, and helped boost food production by 18% in just one year.

He’s also living on his old army salary—no mansions, no yachts.

Sounds bold, right?

Not everyone agrees.

In April, U.S. General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM (America’s military command in Africa), told Congress that Traoré was using Burkina Faso’s gold “to protect his junta.” No evidence. No details.

Just the kind of statement that has often come right before something worse.

Langley also described North Africa as “NATO’s southern flank,” which did not sit well with African nations tired of being seen as extensions of someone else’s empire.

For many Africans, it sounded familiar—too familiar. In 2011, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi was labeled a threat.

Western nations moved in. Libya has been in chaos ever since. So when they hear warnings about Traoré, people across Africa and the diaspora are asking: Is this Libya all over again?

That’s why on April 30, thousands of people marched in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, the U.S., the Caribbean, and Europe chanting “Hands Off Traoré!”—not because they think he’s perfect, but because they’ve seen this movie before.

First come the accusations, then the protests, then the “concerned” international statements, and then—boom—a coup, an assassination, or worse.

And yes, there have already been more than 20 coup attempts against Traoré since he took office.

One just a few weeks ago, which the government says came from neighboring Ivory Coast—coincidentally, the same country where U.S.-led military drills were happening at the time.

Even outside Burkina Faso, people are feeling the pressure.

In Nigeria, an activist named Kola Edokpayi planned a pro-Traoré rally. The police told him to cancel it. He did. The next day, secret police raided his office anyway and arrested him.

So what is Traoré really doing that’s got the West on edge?

He’s refusing to play by old colonial rules.

He’s rejecting the CFA franc, a currency still controlled by France.

He’s demanding better deals from mining companies.

He’s working to process African resources in Africa, instead of exporting them raw to be refined abroad.

He’s inspired by Thomas Sankara—the revolutionary icon who led Burkina Faso in the 1980s and was killed at 37 in a foreign-backed coup.

Traoré is also 37. The parallels are hard to miss.

But this time, there’s a difference.

This time, the world is watching.

From young organizers in Oakland to elders in Jamaica, from students in Accra to digital activists in Europe, people are drawing a line.

Not again.

Traoré may be new to global politics, but to many, he represents something old and powerful—freedom on Africa’s terms. Not given. Taken. Not imported. Built.

He’s not just a captain.
He’s become a symbol.
And right now, he’s one the world isn’t sure how to handle.

Source: Final Call News, Monthly Review, Business Insider Africa

[Linda Melvern @lindamelvern]

The genocidal forces were defeated in 1994, and not destroyed. The FDLR remains committed to completing the genocide against the Tutsi while a campaign of denial is waged world-wide blaming the victims for their fate and fooling the unwary. Genocide remains a crime with no end.

[K-A-T-U-R-E-B-E @Katurebe99]

The Ministry of ICT & Innovation @RwandaICT should measure its success on the basis of how much technology exports revenue the country has made per year & how many Rwandan technology businesses have gained regional or global significance per similar period.

[Muhoozi Kainerugaba @mkainerugaba]

Afande Paul ameze ate? Ameze neza? Mubwire ko mukunda kandi ko Imana iri mu ruhande rwacu!