Lassina Zerbo

Nuclear Science Diplomat - Geophysicist - Focusing on Africa Responses to Global Challenges - Int’l Gender Champion - Executive Secretary Emeritus (CTBTO)

[Presidency | Rwanda @UrugwiroVillage]

“Nuclear energy is increasingly recognised as part of the clean energy transition and that creates new opportunities. What Africa cannot afford is fragmentation. If countries work in isolation, progress will be slow and far more costly. Cooperation on regulation, financing, and regional power integration is essential. This is precisely why NEISA matters.

We are moving the conversation beyond ambition to practical coordination, and financing mechanisms that can sustain deployment at scale. Rwanda will continue supporting these efforts, because this is larger than any one country.” President Kagame | Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA) 2026 - Opening Ceremony

[Presidency | Rwanda @UrugwiroVillage]

This morning at the Kigali Convention Centre, President Kagame officially opens the second edition of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA), joined by H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Togo and H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania as well as Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. NEISA 2026 convenes heads of government, regulators, financiers, industry leaders, and technology partners to discuss concrete pathways toward advancing Africa's nuclear energy ambitions. Follow live: https://t.co/vJDT2DlzuY

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

En #DiplomatieNucleaire on peut s’accorder sur l’Essentiel avec un brin d’humour : Content de sceller avec DG @IAEA @rafaelmgrossi , Président @AfDB_Group #SidiOuldTah & VP #BanqueMondiale #ValerieLevkov , nos efforts de coopération sur les options de financements pr le Nucléaire en Afrique au prochain #NEISA2026 #Kigali

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

#NuclearDiplomacy takes many forms. At #Paris #NuclearSummit it included a pinky promise. 🤝
Delighted to seal cooperation for #Africa upcoming #NEIISA2026 #Kigali with DG @rafaelmgrossi , @AfDB_Group President #SidiOuldTah , @WorldBank VPresident #ValerieLevkov
Looking 4ward to a great gathering 🇷🇼

[Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa @NEISAfrica]

We are pleased to announce that H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, will host the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa in Kigali.

The Summit will be held from 18–21 May 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda, under the theme:
“Powering Africa’s Future: Turning Nuclear Energy Ambition into Investable Reality.”

Learn more: https://t.co/e5dLHOT8hk

[Ludovic Dupin @LudovicDupin]

« Le Rwanda verra son besoin en élec multiplié par trois d’ici 5 à 10 ans. Où va-t-on trouver cette énergie ? Ce n’est ni l’éolien, ni le PV solaire, ni l’hydro. Il faut une énergie stable : le nucléaire. », Lassina Zerbo, Chairperson of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, au #NES.

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

#JournéeDesDroitsDesFemmes
Briser les préjugés inconscients sur le #genre. Continuer à mieux contribuer aux efforts de secours aux #filles & #femmes prises en tenaille dans les zones de #conflits #terrorisme, où la violence mine encore plus leur quotidien #lwili

[Africa Intelligence @Africa_In_FR]

RWANDA | Le président Paul Kagame participera au sommet mondial sur l'énergie nucléaire, qui se tiendra à Paris en mars. Kigali mise pleinement sur l'atome et cherche à se positionner comme un leader continental dans ce domaine.
➡️ https://t.co/7VgSufm0nn

[Table.Briefings @TableBriefings]

„Die Kernenergie kommt als Retterin“, sagt @SinaZerbo, Vorsitzender des @RAEB_Rwanda, im Interview. Wieso er die Zukunft der afrikanischen Energieversorgung in Atomkraft sieht 👉 https://t.co/JXAKOJfFP0

[Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) @RAEB_Rwanda]

Through domestic capacity building and technological mastery, Africa expand nuclear energy without creating new dependencies. The goal should be to develop the expertise to operate and maintain the technology independently.

https://t.co/jFnw1J9TLT

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

Certainement l’une des plus grandes affluences. L’occasion de discuter des défis du monde actuel @MunSecConf:
- La crise de #Gaza
- Re-Établir la confiance avec le Sahel
- Une Europe forte pur un #OTAN fort
- «Redonner à @ONU_fr toute sa Grandeur» (Réforme & Mission 1ere)
Tous les sujets y passent avec passions & émotions et parfois des perceptions partisanes

[Wolfgang Ischinger @ischinger]

In a turbulent time in international diplomacy, I'm happy to see so many world leaders under one roof—valuing open dialogue and leading the debates we urgently need to have. #MSC2026

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

Indeed the highest turnout so far.
From a «strong EU making a strong @NATO » to «MakingTheUN Great Again ». Re-engaging with the Sahel Region & Possible pathways for the Gaza crisis; The @MunSecConf continues with current global challenges.

[Wolfgang Ischinger @ischinger]

In a turbulent time in international diplomacy, I'm happy to see so many world leaders under one roof—valuing open dialogue and leading the debates we urgently need to have. #MSC2026

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

Rwanda’s Nuclear Bet: Powering Growth Before Decarbonization via @forbes https://t.co/nNoo807mhv

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

Bonne #FêteNationale à tous nos compatriotes du #Burkina & de l’Etranger.
Tous Ensemble, pr bâtir ce #Faso émergent, paisible & prospère en #Burkindi

[Institute of Foreign Affairs - IFA @ifa_ethiopia]

𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 #𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

At #TanaFor#TanaForum2025, leaders reflected on Africa’s path forward, convening at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa under the theme “Africa in an Evolving World Order.” The 11th session brings together envoys, ministers, scholars, and senior officials to discuss pressing continental challenges and opportunities for cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Gedion Timotheos, Foreign Minister of FDRE (@MFAEthiopia), in his Welcoming Remarks, emphasized that “Tana Forum is a critical platform to come together and find solutions to Africa’s challenges in candid and frank ways.”

H.E. @DrJoyceBanda highlighted NEPAD’s vision: “The founding of NEPAD was to drive integration, self-sufficiency, and development.”

H.E. Joaquim Chissano underscored the link between peace and development, stating: “Elections need peace, peace needs development, and development means ending poverty.”

H.E. @SinaZerbo delivered the welcoming remarks on behalf of H.E. President @JDMahama, emphasizing Africa’s crossroads: “Africa is at the crossroads of whether it becomes an actor or a theatre/chessboard for global ambitions. To this end, Africa has to address its marginalization at the global level, the challenges of poverty, governance, climate change, and cyber-propaganda.”

AUC Chair H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, in his Keynote Address, stressed the critical role of unity and solidarity among African nations: “Let’s move beyond narratives and theories. The biggest challenge Africa is moving from reflection to action. Reflection forums are multiplying, yet we are still unable to silence the guns. Let us move to form a solid foundation for unity—a unity forged in solidarity for action to tackle Africa’s multiple challenges.”

Chairperson Youssouf further emphasized that unity and solidarity are essential to safeguard Africa against potential vulnerabilities in an evolving global landscape. Highlighting Agenda 2063, he noted that while forums are frequent, progress remains uneven. Citing the missed goal of silencing guns by 2020, he set a new target for 2030, urging that reflections must translate into concrete, actionable steps. He called for strong collaboration among member states, special envoys, and all peace-loving actors to turn discussions into effective joint action.

On his part, H.E. Dr. Gedion Timothewos reaffirmed the importance of the Tana Forum as a platform to address Africa’s pressing issues. He expressed gratitude to all participants and underscored the significance of continued dialogue during the remaining two days of the Forum.

#TanaForum2025 continues to offer a crucial platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and advancing African-led solutions to peace, security, and sustainable development challenges.

#Ethiopia #TanaForum #Security #Diplomacy #Africa #IFA

[Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa @TanaForum]

H.E. @SinaZerbo, made the welcoming remarks on behalf of H.E. President @JDMahama. The chair noted that: "Africa is at the crossroads of whether it becomes an actor or a theatre/chessboard for global ambitions.

[Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa @TanaForum]

To this end, Africa has to address its marginalization at the global level, the challenges of poverty, governance, climate change, and cyber-propaganda".

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

#WorldAtomicWeek80 :
- Réunion DG-Energy #ROSATOM l’ambition du #Rwanda de se doter d’1 capacité SMR et/ou MMR courant 2030/32
@RAEB_Rwanda évalue ttes les possibilités technologiques et financières offertes sur le marché mondial
- l’Occasion de remercier les DG @iaeaorg @rafaelmgrossi & @WorldNuclear @SamaBilbao pour leur engagement en Afrique et leur participation au Sommet de #Kigali sur l’Innovation en Énergie Nucléaire @NEISAfrica 2025

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

At WorldAtomicWeek80🇷🇺:
- Meeting #ROSATOM DG-Energy on status of Rwanda🇷🇼 Program Implementation & ambitious goal to secure SMRs and/or MMRs by 2030s considering worldwide range of technologies & financing models
- Thanking DG @rafaelmgrossi @iaeaorg & DG @SamaBilbao @WorldNuclear for their continued great support & presence @NEISAfrica 2025 #Kigali

[Lassina Zerbo @SinaZerbo]

#WorldAtomicWeek80:
Diplomatie nucléaire #Russe avec un accent particulier sur les SMRs & la flexibilité qu’offre son Unité flottante.
Très présente, l’Afrique affiche ses ambitions et la nécessité d’être un acteur principal plutôt qu’un passif consommateur.