Ukrainian lawmakers Oleksandr Merezhko and Zhan Beleniuk sit down with The Context for an exclusive conversation on the growing relationship between Rwanda and Ukraine. Beleniuk, an Olympic and world champion of Rwandan descent, opens up about his deep connection to Rwanda, the story of how his Rwandan father and Ukrainian mother met in Kyiv, and why he describes himself as “a product of love.” Saying he was ’50 per cent Rwandan’, the 35-year-old also discusses his ambition to contribute to the development of Rwandan sporting talent. Merezhko, Chair of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Relations, explains the significance of the delegation’s visit and the opportunities for deeper Rwanda–Ukraine cooperation in areas including agriculture, fertiliser, security and defence. The conversation also explores what closer relations between Ukraine and African countries could mean for both sides.

Genocide ideology: What next?

When we feel anxious, lonely or overwhelmed, who do we turn to? Increasingly, the answer includes social media, search engines and AI chatbots. What does that mean for mental health and human connection? In this video podcast, Solid Minds Counselling Clinic and The New Times bring together Clinical Psychologists Dr. Jean Pierre Ndagijimana to explore where technology can help, where it falls short, and where caution is needed.

Tracing the roots of genocide ideology in the Great Lakes region

More than three decades after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Britain has brought its first domestic criminal case linked to the atrocities in Rwanda. Vincent Bajinya, also known as Vincent Brown, was arrested in London on September 21, 2026, following a seven-year investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The former medical doctor and public official faces seven charges: one count of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity. Bajinya is one of five Rwandans whose cases have been at the centre of a long-running legal and extradition dispute between Rwanda and the United Kingdom. British courts previously declined to extradite the suspects to Rwanda, citing fair-trial concerns, while the allegations against them remained unresolved for years. In this episode of The Context, we speak to Dr Alice Uwagaga Urusaro Karekezi, senior legal expert, university lecturer and co-founder of the University of Rwanda’s Centre for Genocide and Conflict Studies, formerly the Centre for Conflict Management. Dr Karekezi examines the significance of Bajinya’s arrest and the wider question raised by the principle aut dedere aut judicare, or ‘extradite or prosecute’. Why did it take Britain so long to pursue a domestic prosecution? What could Bajinya’s case mean for the other Genocide suspects living in the UK? What responsibilities do states have when they refuse extradition? And what are the consequences when justice is delayed for decades? Drawing on her experience in genocide and international criminal justice, Karekezi also reflects on her involvement in the process surrounding the landmark ICTR case against former Taba bourgmestre Jean-Paul Akayesu, as well as the difficult experiences survivors and witnesses can face before and during major genocide trials. The conversation explores the legal, historical and human dimensions of delayed justice – from evidence preservation and international cooperation to the psychological and social burden placed on survivors who must repeatedly revisit traumatic events many years later. Bajinya has been charged, but the allegations against him have not been determined by a court. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. On The Context, we examine the issues behind the headlines, bringing together news, history and expert analysis to explain why major developments matter.

Our schools are facing a turning point.When the PISA 2025 results dropped, they sent shockwaves through our educational ecosystem. Rwanda's debut scores -- averaging 317 in science, 312 in reading, and 301 in math -- showed that only 3% of our students are meeting baseline global proficiencies across all three subjects. In this exclusive conversation, we sit down with Andreas Schleicher, the founder and director of PISA, to break down what these numbers actually mean. This isn't just about low rankings -- it is a fundamental critique of an outdated model that prioritises rote memorisation over critical, real-world thinking.Schleicher doesn't pull punches. He diagnoses exactly where the systemic gaps lie, why our current classroom methods are failing modern students, and -- most importantly -- provides a concrete roadmap for urgent policy reform. If you care about the future of Rwanda's economy, workforce, and children, this is a non-negotiable watch.

As Rwanda marks the official opening of the new academic year this week, the nation stands at a critical educational turning point. Following the damning findings from the Learning Achievement in Rwandan Schools (LARS) earlier this year and the high-profile national crackdown on examination malpractices and subsequent arrests of suspects, the Ministry of Education is launching a sweeping series of structural learning reforms set to roll out across the new academic calendar. In this exclusive interview, the Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, breaks down the active battle against internal examination fraud and explains the strategic vision behind submitting our school system to the ultra-rigorous, un-cheatable OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) standard. He also addresses the country’s missed TVET targets despite a more favorable public perception of technical education, and tackles critical issues including inclusive education, the impact of technology on learning, and the persistent challenge of crowded classrooms. Watch the full breakdown of how these upcoming calendar reforms, key insights from the national LARS evaluation, and global diagnostics will shape Rwanda's path toward a true human capital economy.

Ecofleet & the future of Rwanda's public transport sector