Before crossing into Rwanda, the ex-combatants were temporarily accommodated under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), through its program for the disarmament and reintegration of former fighters.
The group entered Rwanda through Rubavu District on January 27, 2026. The former fighters are expected to be transferred to the Mutobo Demobilization Center in Musanze District, which is run by the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC).
Earlier, on January 20, Rwanda received another group of 13 former FDLR fighters accompanied by six family members. This came just three days after the return of 14 Rwandans, including eight fighters from a special unit of the group known as CRAP.
According to MONUSCO, the number of FDLR fighters returning home has increased since the AFC/M23 coalition took control of Goma in January 2025. Nearly 300 fighters have been repatriated so far.
Returns are continuing in small groups as Rwanda awaits the implementation of operations by the Congolese armed forces to dismantle the FDLR, as stipulated in the peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025.
As of June 2025, the FDLR was estimated to have between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters, most of whom—including senior leaders—were based in the Walikale and Masisi territories of North Kivu Province.
In a detailed official statement released on January 27, 2026, Rwanda explained that it formally initiated arbitration on November 24, 2025, by submitting a Notice of Arbitration to the Permanent Court of Arbitration under Article 22 of the MEDP Treaty.
The government described the partnership, originally initiated at the request of the United Kingdom, as “a bold new approach to deter the dangerous migration journeys which are causing untold suffering, while also addressing the global imbalance of economic opportunity, which is one of the underlying causes of mass irregular migration.”
Rwanda highlighted its own humanitarian credentials, noting that the partnership “reflects Rwanda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people and builds on Rwanda’s track record of welcoming and hosting refugees and migrants from around the world.”
The country added that it “remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country.”
The treaty entered into force on April 25, 2024. Yet, only months later, in July 2024, shortly after taking office, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the MEDP was “dead and buried”.
“He did so without prior notice to Rwanda, contrary to the spirit of the partnership that had always characterised the MEDP.
“Later that day, Rwanda was informed that no future removals of individuals under the MEDP were scheduled or intended to be scheduled, and that the UK Government would consider the formal termination of the MEDP treaty in due course,” reads the statement.
Tensions over finances arose in November 2024 when the United Kingdom requested that Rwanda forgo two payments of £50 million that were due in April 2025 and April 2026, saying it was doing so in anticipation of the formal termination of the treaty.
Rwanda indicated it “was prepared to accept these arrangements should the treaty be terminated, provided that new financial terms would be negotiated and agreed.”
Discussions, however, did not ultimately take place and “the amounts remain due and payable under the treaty.”
The statement further states that the United Kingdom has since made clear that it has no intention of making any further payment under the MEDP treaty or of honouring its further commitment to make arrangements to resettle in the UK a portion of the most vulnerable refugees hosted in Rwanda.
Despite Rwanda’s attempts to move the UK from its entrenched position, these efforts have been unsuccessful.
Shortly after filing its response to Rwanda’s Notice of Arbitration, the UK notified Rwanda of the termination of the treaty, which took effect on March 16, 2026 in accordance with its terms.
Rwanda “sincerely regrets that the UK has decided to bring the partnership to an end.”
In the arbitral proceedings, Rwanda advances three claims: first, “a claim that the United Kingdom has breached an exchange of notes setting out the treaty’s financial arrangements”; second, “a claim of breach of Article 18 of the treaty in respect of these financial arrangements”; and third, “a claim that the UK has breached Article 19 of the treaty by refusing to make arrangements to resettle vulnerable refugees from Rwanda.”
The government stated that it “regrets that it has been necessary to pursue these claims in arbitration, but faced with the United Kingdom’s intransigence on these issues, it has been left with no other choice.”
“There’s another beautiful armada floating beautifully toward Iran right now, so we’ll see,” Trump said at a rally in the midwestern U.S. state of Iowa.
“I hope they make a deal,” Trump added, “They should have made a deal the first time they’d have a country.”
One day earlier, the U.S. Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group was deployed to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.
Last week, USS George H.W. Bush departed Virginia for Europe, amid speculation that the supercarrier could be deployed to the Mediterranean and transit the Suez Canal if tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise, Forbes reported.
The Pentagon also ordered U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles that were forward-deployed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in Britain to American air bases in Jordan, Forbes added.
On Monday, the U.S. Air Forces Central said in a statement that “Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”
The exercise will allow the U.S. military “to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations,” said the statement.
Cameron Chell, a leading military drone expert, told Fox News on Sunday that Iran’s drone swarms would pose a credible and serious threat to U.S. naval assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group.
So far, there is no indication that the White House has made any decision on Iran.
Trump has repeatedly said he is considering several options, including striking Iran, but also noted that Tehran “wants to talk,” suggesting that Washington may enter into discussions with Tehran, CNN reported.
The move comes as protests and political pressure mount over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area.
The deployment of Homan, a former acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was confirmed by the White House on Monday. Trump said Homan had “not been involved” in previous operations in Minnesota but “knows and likes many of the people there,” and would oversee ongoing immigration enforcement efforts known as Operation Metro Surge.
According to a senior official, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who had been a central figure in the state’s federal response, will leave Minnesota and return to his former post along the U.S. Mexico border. Some agents deployed under his command are also expected to depart.
The Trump administration’s heightened immigration activity in Minnesota was ordered earlier this month, but it quickly drew intense public scrutiny after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents.
One of the victims, Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents during clashes in Minneapolis, an incident that was widely captured on bystander video and raised questions about the circumstances under which force was used. The first fatal shooting earlier in January involved Renée Good, another American citizen who was also killed by a federal agent, a case that sparked nationwide protests and legal challenges to the federal presence in the state.
Trump’s decision to send Homan reflects efforts to manage political fallout as bipartisan calls grow for deeper investigations into the shootings and the broader enforcement strategy. Republican leaders including gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel dropped out of races in protest, and some lawmakers have demanded independent reviews of how immigration policy is being implemented.
The president also spoke by phone with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday, striking a notably more conciliatory tone than in earlier public exchanges. Officials from both sides described the discussions as constructive, a shift from weeks of sharply critical remarks about federal tactics.
Trump’s broader immigration policy and the surge of federal agents have become highly controversial, contributing to a drop in public approval. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that just 39 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration a record low for his presidency as criticism intensifies over the approach in Minneapolis.
The legal question of the federal crackdown is also before the courts. A federal judge is weighing arguments from Minnesota officials seeking to curtail elements of the immigration operation, and the state has pressed for more local control over investigative processes and oversight amid the unrest.
Assistant Commissioner in charge of Provincial and Decentralized Revenue Division at RRA, Karasira Ernest, urged taxpayers concerned with these two taxes to comply early with their obligations, noting that waiting until the last day often causes challenges.
“We encourage taxpayers to declare and pay early. One may declare now and pay later, but taxpayers should not wait until the last day, as this often creates various challenges, either due to system congestion or limited access to assistance when many taxpayers come at the same time,” he said.
{{Trading license}}
The trading license is paid by any person who has started a business activity within a district, including those already operating a business as well as small and medium enterprises that have completed their two-year tax exemption period.
In determining the amount payable, consideration is given to taxpayers who can present their annual turnover from the previous year and those who cannot.
Taxpayers subject to the trading license may choose to pay annually or quarterly. If a taxpayer chooses to pay annually, they must declare and pay no later than 31 January 2026, which is the deadline for annual payment. For those who opt for quarterly payment, the declaration of the first quarter must also be done by 31 January 2026.
The second quarter must be paid by 30 April 2026, the third quarter by 31 July 2026, and the fourth quarter by 31 October 2026.
In the electronic declaration system, selecting the first quarter automatically means the taxpayer has chosen quarterly payment. Selecting the fourth quarter means the taxpayer is paying for the entire year.
The trading license can be declared through the RRA website by selecting the declaration of decentralized taxes, entering the taxpayer identification number (TIN) and password, and completing the required information until a payment reference number is generated.
Taxpayers may also use *800# on a mobile phone, follow the instructions, and obtain a payment reference number.
{{Rental Income Tax}}
Taxpayers required to declare and pay rental income tax include any person who owns immovable property rented out in Rwanda. This tax does not apply only to companies, but also to individuals who are not registered under corporate income tax.
Rental income tax is levied on income from rented buildings in whole or in part, income from rented improvements in whole or in part, and income from any other rented immovable property located in Rwanda.
Karasira urged owners of rented properties to promptly register them with RRA if they have not yet done so, in order to be properly taxed.
He explained that, from the total rental income earned in a year, the law allows a deduction of 50 percent as expenses incurred for maintenance and upkeep of the rented immovable property. He added that taxpayers who took bank loans are also allowed to deduct the interest paid.
The rental income tax rate is determined as follows: zero percent for annual rental income from one Rwandan franc to FRW 180,000, twenty percent for annual rental income from FRW 180,001 to FRW 1,000,000, and thirty percent for annual rental income above FRW 1,000,000.
Karasira reminded taxpayers concerned with the 2025 rental income tax to declare and pay it no later than 31 January, urging them to do so early and not wait until the last minute.
According to a statement shared via X account, these services were initially launched as a pilot project in Kigali City to assess the new service process, gather customer feedback, and make necessary improvements before the services are rolled out to other districts.
This digital platform will streamline access to water and sanitation services, enhancing transparency and improving service delivery by allowing customers to submit and track their applications online.
In addition to these services, WASAC Group mulled a project to introduce an online system for paying water bills, similar to electricity billing systems, where customers pay in advance through a digital platform.
However, in January 2025, WASAC informed Parliament that the project had been delayed due to high costs associated with modern meters and inconsistent water supply in Rwanda’s pipeline system.
The signing took place at 21st Regional Investment and Capital Markets Conference in Jamaica, attended by key figures including Dr. Andrew Michael Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance and Public Service; Mr. Livingstone Morrison, CEO of the Jamaica Stock Exchange; and Mr. Pierre Célestin Rwabukumba, CEO of the Rwanda Stock Exchange.
After signing the agreement, Rwabukumba highlighted its broader significance.
“This partnership is about more than documents and meetings; it is about sharing experience, growing together, and opening new doors for businesses, investors, and market professionals in both regions,” he said.
The MoU between Rwanda and Jamaica builds on the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations, which has seen cooperation in various sectors.
In April 2022, Rwanda and Jamaica signed agreements on political collaboration, tourism, transport, and industrial development.
This partnership continues to grow, as evidenced by recent support where the Rwandan government sent a team of military engineers mid January 2026 for Jamaica’s post-disaster recovery efforts.
The Rwandan government, represented by its Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, claims that the UK’s decision violated the terms of a deal originally signed in 2022 by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister.
Under the agreement, the UK says it had already paid £290 million to Rwanda, with a further £50 million due in April 2025, the amount at the center of the legal dispute as reported by GB News.
The deal was intended to relocate undocumented migrants arriving in the UK via small boats to Kigali, where they would be housed and given the opportunity to claim asylum.
However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made scrapping the Rwanda scheme one of his first acts upon taking office in July 2024.
Rwanda strongly opposed Starmer’s decision, arguing it was made hastily and without proper consultation.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the suspension, describing Rwanda’s legal claim as “yet another catastrophic legal consequence of Labour’s decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme”
The UK government defended the suspension, arguing that the previous policy wasted significant taxpayer money and resources.
Figures from the Home Office indicate that as of September 2025, 36,273 migrants were still being accommodated in hotels at the taxpayer’s expense, an increase of nearly 7,000 since Labour came to power.
According to GB News, Rwanda has appointed Lord Verdirame KC of Essex Court Chambers to represent its case, while the UK government is represented by Ben Juratowitch. The legal papers also name Dan Hobbs, the Home Office director for migration and borders, as a case representative.
Goma in early 2024 and Goma today are, by all accounts, worlds apart. The city is now described as markedly more secure, cleaner than ever before, with infrastructure projects underway across several areas, and free movement possible both day and night.
On Monday, January 26, 2025, the Coordinator of AFC/M23, Corneille Nangaa, sat down with IGIHE in Goma for an in-depth interview reflecting on developments over the past year. He outlined actions taken across various sectors and said the struggle would continue until the rights of Congolese citizens are fully respected.
{{IGIHE: How did you find the city of Goma when you arrived? One year on, with the fighting over, how do you assess what has been achieved so far?}}
{{Corneille Nangaa: }} The challenges were immense. We did not arrive in Goma under normal circumstances. The situation was extremely difficult. We found a population in distress, with criminal gangs having cut off water and electricity supplies. Banks were closed. The city was facing multiple crises.
Goma was exceptionally dirty at the time. Despite these constraints, we assumed responsibility and focused on urgent priorities. Water supply was restored within three days, and electricity within a week.
On sanitation, we introduced community work programmes. Today, I can confidently say Goma is the cleanest city in the DRC. At the same time, we were dealing with the crisis of more than a million internally displaced Congolese, whom the Kinshasa authorities had treated as political tools.
Once security was restored, many people returned to their homes and areas of origin. Security was our first priority. The Kinshasa government had distributed weapons to civilians under the Wazalendo banner, armed groups, criminals, and people with no training. We undertook a disarmament process.
{{IGIHE: Would you say there are no longer weapons in civilian hands in Goma?}}
{{Nangaa:}} The process is ongoing, but the results are encouraging. We also focused on building institutions, in four key areas. First, security: the army played a central role in disarming civilians, dismantling gangs, and restoring safety.
Today, Goma is quiet at night; gunfire has disappeared. Former gangs such as Quarante Voleurs no longer exist. People go about their daily work without fear.
We established a police force responsible for protecting citizens and their property and enforcing the law. Movement in Goma is unrestricted, and people commute freely to and from work.
{{IGIHE: Beyond security, what other priorities did you address?}}
{{Nangaa:}} Governance was a major focus. Two governors were appointed, along with mayors, burgomasters, sector leaders, neighbourhood heads, down to the village level. The administrative structure is now fully in place and functional.
Justice was the third pillar. This is an ongoing process, but justice is fundamental to national development. A commission was established to oversee judicial matters until permanent institutions are fully operational, including primary courts in Goma and Bukavu, prosecution services, and related bodies.
On the economic front, improved security enabled people to return to their land and resume economic activity. Agriculture continued. In areas such as Ngungu in Masisi, potato production has reached significant levels.
At Grande Barrière and Bunagana border points, large numbers of cattle cross daily as displaced people return to Masisi. In Nyiragongo and Rutshuru, agricultural output has increased.
AFC also initiated large-scale maize farming, with 400 hectares planted in a short period. Harvesting activities are expected soon.
Economic activity has largely resumed, although challenges remain, including what we describe as a “financial war” linked to the closure of banks and the loss of citizens’ savings.
The academic year, which was already underway when we arrived, was completed successfully. For the first time in five years, two provinces issued official academic results to students. A new school year has since begun peacefully.
Universities and higher learning institutions operated without disruption. Hospitals are functioning, and new hospital construction is underway in North Kivu. Much has been accomplished.
In terms of investment, road rehabilitation projects are ongoing. I recall a 75-year-old resident telling me he had never seen roads being built before. The Goma–Walikale road via Masisi is under rehabilitation, as is the Rutshuru–Goma road—visible signs of investment.
{{IGIHE: You have engaged in talks with the Kinshasa government for some time, but without concrete outcomes. Where does the problem lie?}}
{{Nangaa:}} AFC/M23 has consistently maintained that the solution must be political dialogue. Any initiative leading to talks is welcomed. Discussions began in Nairobi, then moved to Luanda. However, before those talks concluded, President Tshisekedi went to Luanda without informing Kenyan leaders.
Because peace is our priority, we participated in the Luanda talks, which reached a promising stage. Later, without informing Angolan authorities, developments shifted to Doha, Qatar. The Doha talks produced progress—not final results, but meaningful steps.
These included a joint declaration on shared principles, agreements on the release of AFC/M23 political detainees, and commitments to a ceasefire. Five documents were signed. Of eight agreed principles, two were formally endorsed. To date, President Tshisekedi has not implemented any of them. No detainees have been released, despite lists being provided.
The ceasefire has also not been respected. We believe this is because, for Tshisekedi, war has become a business—an avenue for misappropriating resources through inflated procurement, diversion of military funds, and related practices.
We continue to request the establishment of a monitoring mechanism and a demilitarised buffer zone. Unfortunately, the Kinshasa government has rejected these proposals. We remain convinced that lasting peace can only come through a negotiated settlement.
{{IGIHE: President Tshisekedi has recently called for new talks, possibly in Kinshasa or Luanda. Would you participate?}}
{{Nangaa:}} We must be clear about where solutions lie—Luanda, Lomé, or elsewhere. We have received invitations to new peace talks. We did not reject President João Lourenço’s invitation, but we raised a key concern: Tshisekedi turned his back on Luanda a year ago and went to Doha.
We seek clarity on how the Doha process will be treated if new talks proceed. Will Doha’s outcomes be reviewed, or will they be formally closed so that a new process can begin? That is the issue.
Dialogue, in our view, involves three stages. Talks are the final step toward national reconciliation, bringing together all Congolese stakeholders, including civil society and religious leaders. We commend the efforts of Catholic and Anglican leaders in this regard.
Before that final stage, however, there must be direct negotiations—stage two—between armed actors: AFC/M23 and the Kinshasa government. This is what has been happening in Doha. These talks must address the cessation of hostilities, the root causes of the conflict, and military reform.
AFC/M23, we believe, will form part of the future national army, while FARDC, as it currently stands, functions more like militias than a professional force.
{{IGIHE: Do you still have confidence in the talks? Are there conditions that must be met first?}}
{{Nangaa: }} Confidence-building measures are essential. How can we engage in national dialogue while people are being sentenced to death, arbitrarily detained, or abducted? Thousands are displaced. Former National Assembly Speaker Aubin Minaku and former presidential candidate Emmanuel Shadary were arrested and taken to undisclosed locations.
More than 40 generals and hundreds of senior officers are being detained daily. That does not reflect a professional army. These issues must be addressed for genuine dialogue to occur.
What we see instead is deliberate delay. Tshisekedi seeks to prolong the conflict, portray himself as a peacemaker to secure weapons, then launch new offensives. He will not succeed. AFC/M23 is a force that cannot be defeated.
According to a statement shared by the Office of the President, the guests included philanthropists Bill and Joyce Cummings; Didi Bertrand Farmer; Ophelia Dahl, Founder of Partners In Health; UGHE Chancellor Dr. Jim Yong Kim; and UGHE Vice Chancellor Prof. Philip Cotton.
During the dinner, President Kagame and the First Lady discussed UGHE’s impactful contribution to Rwanda’s education sector, particularly through high-quality training for the next generation of global health leaders.
The engagement came a day after UGHE marked a historic milestone at its Butaro campus in Burera District, where the university celebrated a decade of operations and graduated its first cohort of medical doctors in Rwanda.
At the graduation ceremony, UGHE awarded an Honorary Doctorate to First Lady Jeannette Kagame in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to education, health, and equity in Rwanda, across Africa, and beyond.
The ceremony saw 30 medical doctors and 48 Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) graduates receive their degrees. It was presided over by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva and attended by senior government officials, development partners, faculty, students, and alumni.
Conferring the honorary degree, UGHE Chancellor Dr. Jim Yong Kim described the First Lady as “an accomplished leader whose work spans education, health, and social transformation.”
He highlighted her contributions through initiatives such as the Imbuto Foundation, which promotes girls’ education, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as her leadership in the Organization of African First Ladies for Development and the Unity Club, which advances national reconciliation.
“Her moral guidance, presence, and advocacy have strengthened UGHE’s growth, credibility, and visibility across Africa and the world,” Dr. Kim said, as he conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and distinguished public service.
Receiving the honour, First Lady Jeannette Kagame expressed gratitude and reflected on the legacy of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, UGHE’s founding chancellor.
“To be honoured in this way is a gift for which I can only find a few words,” she said. “To be watched from heaven by a dear friend as we celebrate those who have sought to honour his legacy through their own excellence. What a milestone.”
She noted that for many years, solutions to health challenges were often viewed as something that had to come from outside the continent. “Today we affirm a different truth,” she said. “Pain, disease, and avoidable death are not our destiny, and neither are we bound to wait for answers to arrive from afar.”
Addressing the graduates, the First Lady challenged them to see themselves as agents of transformation. “Your greatness is a revolution in the making,” she said, urging them to contribute to resilient health systems and meaningful change in global health.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva underscored the critical role UGHE graduates will play amid growing pressures on health systems in Rwanda and globally, including emerging diseases, workforce shortages, and financing constraints.
He emphasised that the graduates are expected to be not only practitioners but also leaders capable of strengthening institutions and improving service delivery.
Dr. Kim also highlighted the uniqueness of UGHE’s journey, describing it as the result of an extraordinary partnership between the Government of Rwanda and global partners, noting that such a model reflects Rwanda’s long-term vision for sustainable health systems.
Founded in 2015 with support from Partners In Health, UGHE inaugurated its permanent campus in Butaro in 2019. The university offers six academic programmes in partnership with Harvard University and has so far graduated 330 master’s degree holders, with 444 students currently enrolled.
In recognition of its growing academic standing, Times Higher Education in 2024 ranked UGHE fourth among 129 leading universities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Students come from Rwanda, the United States, Canada, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Lesotho, Uganda, and other countries.
