On Sunday 17 May 2026, the RGB Deputy CEO Dr. Felicien Usengumikiza urged scholars to confront online extremism and the spread of radicalization with both legal firmness and moral clarity.

Dr. Usengumukiza made these remarks during the 13^th Annual Law and Religion in Africa Conference organized by African Consortium for law and Religion Studies (ACLARS).

The conference themed “Law, Religion and Youth in Africa” has brought together scholars and researchers, legal practitioners, government officials and religious leaders from Rwanda and the entire African continent. 

In his keynote address, Deputy CEO Dr. stated that RGB serves as the liaison between the state and religious organisations with the goal of ensuring that faith-based organizations operate within a framework of safety, transparency, and legal compliance. 

Dr. Usengumukiza reminded that Rwanda is a secular state where the right to religion and freedom of worship is constitutionally guaranteed. “We believe that religious harmony is a cornerstone of inclusive governance” he said.

“In our post-genocide context, we have had to use both the law and religious grace to navigate the trauma of our youth and build a path toward social reconciliation” he added.

Dr. Usengumukiza also reminded that in an era of digital transformation, youth face new challenges from online extremism to the ethical complexities of social media.

“The landscape of religious expression has shifted from the pulpit to the smartphone. We are seeing a digital transformation where a 30-second video on TikTok can influence a young person’s ethics more than a two-hour sermon” he noted. 

“We must confront online extremism and the spread of radicalization with both legal firmness and moral clarity. Our goal in Rwanda is to nurture "Dignified Youth Intervention". We don’t want our youth to be passive followers; we want them to be active, ethical citizens who use digital tools to build peace, not destroy it” he added.

The Rwanda Conference will focus on youth agency, dignity, peace, security, and development in Africa, especially as it relates to law, religion, and transformative innovation including entrepreneurship.