According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 10 humanitarian workers from Relief International were among the dead. UNICEF reported that 23 children were killed.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings, with the UN’s Sudan Coordinator calling for an immediate end to hostilities and justice for victims.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said around 16,000 people fled Zamzam, while additional clashes in Um Kadadah left over 50 dead and 900 homes destroyed. Nearly 19,000 people have been displaced from the region since Thursday.
OCHA warned of worsening humanitarian conditions, including critical shortages of food, water, and fuel.
2Relief supplies are being mobilized, but access remains limited due to insecurity. The World Health Organization noted that over 160 attacks on health facilities have occurred since Sudan’s civil conflict began in April 2023.
In a statement, Tinubu expressed “profound sorrow” and directed security agencies to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.
“We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough,” the president said, adding that he had discussed the issue with the state governor and proposed steps toward lasting peace.
Plateau State, often a flashpoint for violence due to religious and ethnic tensions, has seen a string of deadly attacks. Just over a week ago, 52 people were killed in a separate incident in Bokkos. The motive behind the latest attack remains unknown.
The move comes in response to the arrest of an Algerian consular staff member by French authorities—an action Algeria condemned as a flagrant breach of diplomatic immunity.
France has acknowledged receiving the expulsion order, which includes staff from the French Interior Ministry.
In reaction, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Algeria to reconsider the decision, warning that France was “prepared to respond immediately” should the expulsions proceed.
The diplomatic row intensified over the weekend when Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to protest the arrest. The detained official is reportedly suspected of connections to the 2024 disappearance of Amir Boukhras, a Paris-based Algerian activist known online as “AmirDZ.”
Algeria rejected the allegations, stating that the only link cited by French authorities was the diplomat’s phone being near Boukhras’ home. It denounced the arrest as a “fabricated pretext” and demanded the official’s immediate release, arguing the incident jeopardizes recent efforts to mend ties.
Algeria further warned that any additional violations of its sovereignty would provoke a reciprocal and firm response.
This is the most serious diplomatic rift between the two nations in recent years, reviving historical tensions tied to colonial rule, while current disagreements over immigration policy and France’s support for Morocco in Western Sahara disputes continue to fuel friction.
This powerful clique, primarily composed of Habyarimana’s in-laws and closest confidants, maintained a tight grip on the nation’s economy, military, media, and key decision-making bodies throughout his regime.
While the Akazu’s pivotal role in orchestrating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is widely acknowledged, Andrew Wallis’s book, “Stepp’d in Blood: Akazu and the Architects of the Rwandan Genocide Against the Tutsi,” sheds light on their disturbing involvement in international cocaine trafficking.
Wallis suggests that Dian Fossey, the renowned American conservationist who dedicated her life to studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, may have stumbled upon this illicit network. Her mysterious death in 1985 has long been speculated to be connected to her opposition to the illegal exploitation of the park, which had become a significant route for smuggling gold, gorillas, and cocaine destined for Paris, France—a time when Presidents Habyarimana and François Mitterrand of France enjoyed close diplomatic ties.
The cocaine, reportedly originating from Guatemala, was trafficked through Côte d’Ivoire into Rwanda and then handed off to a businessman from Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Belgium.
This individual, who had secured a contract to supply satellite dishes in Rwanda, allegedly used this business as a cover for laundering the profits generated from the smuggling operations. The illicit cargo was transported through the seemingly impenetrable Volcanoes National Park before being exported to Europe.
Adding another layer to this intricate web, Jean-Pierre Habyarimana, the president’s son, reportedly introduced a Guinean entrepreneur named Mamadou “Barry” into Rwanda.
Despite a string of failed business ventures at the young age of 22, Barry quickly became a close confidant of Agathe Kanziga.
Following Fossey’s controversial death, Barry launched tourism initiatives aimed at revitalizing Rwanda’s international image, including the ambitious “International Fair for the Protection of Gorillas in Rwanda,” which initially attracted celebrity interest but ultimately collapsed in disarray.
The event proved to be a spectacular failure, prompting the newspaper Isibo to publish a mocking article directly targeting President Habyarimana’s son.
The controversy deepened when Christophe Mfizi, then Director of ORINFOR (the Rwandan Information Office), publicly declared that the fair had resulted in massive financial losses. Despite significant state funding and contributions from private partners who had anticipated returns, the event yielded no success.
Subsequently, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Casimir Bizimungu, accused Barry—the Guinean national behind the ill-fated event—of embezzling over one million U.S. dollars.
In a dramatic turn, Barry resurfaced by penning an open letter directly to President Habyarimana, alleging that a high-ranking official had pressured him into loading cocaine onto a private European aircraft, which was purportedly intended to transport foreign experts arriving in Rwanda.
In this explosive letter, Barry explicitly named Twahirwa Seraphin, a cousin of Agathe Kanziga (Habyarimana’s wife), as playing a pivotal role in orchestrating the cocaine shipment. Twahirwa was reportedly overseeing the financial aspects of the event organized by Habyarimana’s son.
Barry claimed that Twahirwa had promised him a substantial sum of $50,000 for each successful drug shipment. Although Twahirwa vehemently denied these accusations, Barry returned to Kigali and was accommodated at the Meridien Hotel for a week, with his $5,000 bill inexplicably footed by the state.
Simultaneously, the government instructed its media outlets to clear Barry’s name regarding the embezzlement allegations. According to Wallis’s research, Barry later departed Rwanda for the United States carrying a staggering $400,000 in cash, allegedly obtained through a clandestine collaboration with President Habyarimana’s son.
Adding to the intrigue, a journalist from Jeune Afrique who had been diligently investigating the murky details surrounding the event organized by Barry, Seraphin, and Habyarimana’s son—an event that was also slated to include a lottery with a grand prize of 5 million Rwandan francs—was abruptly expelled from Rwanda as a direct consequence of his persistent inquiries.
Wallis further details how Ruhengeri—governed with an iron fist by Protais Zigiranyirazo, Agathe Kanziga’s influential brother—operated as a virtually autonomous region, serving as a key conduit for smuggled goods flowing from then-Zaire into Europe. The area became a notorious hub for illegal trade and offered political protection to those involved.
Fossey’s unwavering commitment to preserving the park for conservation, rather than allowing it to be exploited for profit, directly clashed with the Akazu’s vested interests. The illicit trade in baby gorillas, for instance, could yield exorbitant profits of up to $30,000 per animal, while severed gorilla body parts like hands and heads commanded high prices on the black market.
Meanwhile, the majority of ordinary Rwandans endured significant economic hardship and lived under a pervasive climate of fear, unable to challenge the unchecked power of the ruling elite. Zigiranyirazo himself allegedly exploited bamboo from the park—a critical food source for the endangered gorillas—for his personal enrichment.
When Mfizi became aware of Zigiranyirazo’s exploitative activities, he tasked a journalist with conducting an investigation. The resulting article was prepared for publication in the Imvaho newspaper. However, Augustin Nduwayezu, the head of intelligence, attempted to suppress its release under direct orders from Zigiranyirazo. Mfizi bravely refused to comply and wrote directly to President Habyarimana, informing him of the pressure he was facing and the planned exposé.
Despite never receiving a direct response—likely due to the intervention of Colonel Elie Sagatwa, a known ally of Zigiranyirazo— Mfizi maintained the article would be eventually published, unless he received a different version from Zigiranyirazo.
Mfizi strongly suspected that Sagatwa deliberately blocked his letter to protect the powerful Akazu members implicated in the illegal activities.
The Akazu’s insidious grip on Rwanda extended far beyond mere political control. Their deep and pervasive involvement in illicit trade, their ruthless silencing of dissenting voices, and their blatant manipulation of state resources created a deeply entrenched system of impunity, widespread corruption, and profound fear.
This toxic environment not only significantly contributed to the horrific 1994 Genocide but also subjected ordinary Rwandan citizens to years of exploitation and immense suffering.
He was speaking at a commemoration event held in Lilongwe, Malawi, on April 11, 2025, marking 31 years since the genocide.
The commemoration, hosted by the Rwandan High Commission in Zambia (which also holds accreditation for Malawi) and supported by the Malawian government, civil society organizations, and international partners, brought together approximately 200 participants.
Among them were members of the Rwandan community residing in Malawi, representatives from the diplomatic corps, and friends of Rwanda, all united to honor the memory of the victims of the genocide.
The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Malawi, Ambassador Dr. Mwaiwawo PolePole, graced the event as the guest of honor.
Attendees participated in a candle-lighting ritual and observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the over one million lives tragically lost during the genocide.
Throughout the event, speakers underscored the critical importance of global solidarity in the ongoing fight against genocide denial and revisionism.
In his address, High Commissioner Bugingo emphasized the international community’s obligation.
“The 31st Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi is an occasion for Rwanda and Friends of Rwanda to recall the commitment by the International Community under the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to enact legislations that engage them in fighting genocide and its genocide ideology.
“This commitment that was reiterated by the UN Security Council in its Resolution No. 2150 of April 16, 2014, requesting member states to judge or extradite genocide fugitives on their territories,” he stated.
It has been reported that Rwanda has issued over a thousand indictments to 34 countries.
While some individuals have been apprehended and brought to justice, over 1,000 individuals implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, remain at large.
Echoing the sentiment of shared responsibility, Ambassador Dr. Mwaiwawo PolePole remarked: “This sad story has more to tell us in relation to our societies. First, I strongly believe most atrocities don’t require sophisticated weapons, it only requires hate ideologies to turn a society into a tragedy.”
Malawi’s role in fostering cross-border unity and supporting Rwanda’s reconciliation journey was lauded.
By bringing together Malawians and Rwandans in shared grief, hope, and unwavering resolve, the event reinforced the powerful and universal message: “Never Again.”
The Kwibuka31 commemoration in Malawi concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to learn from the lessons of history and to actively work towards building a more peaceful and inclusive world.
These people were “executed on an ethnic basis” after the RSF took control of the city on Thursday, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in the state’s capital El Fasher said, identifying all the victims as civilians.
The local volunteer group accused in a statement the militia of “committing widespread violations, forcibly displacing residents, and shutting down all communication networks.”
Meanwhile, the Sudanese Emergency Lawyers Initiative, another volunteer group, confirmed in a statement that the RSF killed 52 civilians, burned residential homes, and looted properties in two days after entering Umm Kadada.
“The RSF also stormed the local hospital, assaulted patients, and executed four medical staff members, including the hospital’s director,” it added.
There has been no comment from the RSF regarding the claims.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed more than 29,600 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group cited by the United Nations.
On Sunday, Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde launched the new plant—Solar Nitrochemicals Limited—located in Kisarawe district, Coast Region.
The facility is part of the government’s ongoing strategy to add value to local industries and strengthen key economic sectors, especially mining.
Minister Mavunde highlighted the critical role of the new plant in enhancing mining efficiency and reducing dependency on imported explosives.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a stable investment climate, acknowledging the role of investors in creating employment and driving national revenue.
With the country’s annual explosives demand at 26,000 tonnes and 10 million pieces, the plant is expected to produce 22,000 tonnes and 15 million pieces each year.
This production capacity is not only expected to meet most of the domestic demand but also create opportunities for exports to neighboring markets.
In her address, delivered during the official Kwibuka31 event for the Rwandan community in Liège on April 12, Ikirizaboro asserted that remembrance should never be contingent on international tensions or fluctuating political interests.
“The duty of remembrance must never depend on geopolitical considerations… The memory of the victims cannot be adjusted for political convenience. It demands consistency, truth, and courage,” Ikirizaboro declared, speaking to mourners and survivors who assembled despite the city’s leaders absence.
“Can inaction or silence be justified, even under so-called ‘geopolitical’ pretexts? No. Inaction, even from afar, normalizes evil. And forgetting kills a second time,” she added with conviction.
Ikirizaboro described the withdrawal as more than just a refusal, labeling it an act that “reopens our wounds and awakens our old demons.” Nevertheless, she affirmed the unwavering resolve of the Rwandan community in Liège to honor the memory of the over one million lives lost.
“It is together, and only together, that we will continue to honor the memory of the victims and uphold the values of peace, justice, and human rights,” she concluded with determination.
Michael Bisschops, president of Les Territoires de la Mémoire, an organization which works with URGT to organize commemoration events, also challenged the consequences of silence and political disengagement in the face of historical responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of the organization, Bisschops reflected on the decision by city officials in Liège to abstain from the commemoration, characterizing it not as a logistical matter but as a profound moral failing.
“Not commemorating is to abandon—again—those who were massacred in silence. It is to let their cries fade, as if their lives never mattered,” he declared somberly.
Referencing Primo Levi’s stark warning—“what happened could happen again”—Bisschops urged participants to reject indifference cloaked in neutrality.
“Your silence—your absence here today—is also a political message. A message we hear. A message we reject,” Bisschops continued, directly addressing the city’s withdrawal, which was attributed to “geopolitical issues” in the Great Lakes region.
“Liège should not have stepped away. Liège should have remained faithful to its history and to the values it stands for. To forget, to retreat, is a grave mistake at a time when politics of hatred and division are intensifying across the world,” he added with concern.
The commemoration week concluded on Sunday, April 13, coinciding with the remembrance of politicians assassinated for their opposition to the genocide plans and their execution.
However, the spirit of remembrance and commemorative activities will continue for 100 days, marking each day of the horrific period during which over one million Tutsi were brutally murdered.
{{Photos from the commemoration event held at the Memorial in Liège. }}
Speaking to the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Mayor Dusengiyumva confirmed the casualties and property damage, stating, “Two people were killed, 27 houses were destroyed, and several roads were temporarily closed due to the rain.”
He further noted that the city authorities are collaborating closely with residents to relocate those residing in areas identified as high-risk and are strongly advising the public to avoid water drainage channels during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has previously reported the significant impact of disasters nationwide, revealing that 191 lives were lost to such events across Rwanda in 2024.
Currently, authorities are issuing urgent calls for vigilance to residents of Kigali, as well as those in the Northern and Western provinces and the southern districts of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru, as forecasts indicate more heavy rains are expected in the coming days.
This recent disaster follows a weather advisory issued on April 11, 2025, by Rwanda’s Meteorology Agency, Meteo Rwanda, which predicted rainfall levels between 25mm and 60mm from April 11 to 13.
The forecast explicitly warned the public about potential hazards, including flooding in swamps, landslides, soil erosion, the collapse of unstable slopes, and the risks associated with lightning.
Meteo Rwanda had urged all Rwandans to proactively implement preventive measures to mitigate the dangers posed by the anticipated heavy rainfall.
Nguema secured a commanding victory with 90.35% of the vote, Interior Minister Hermann Immongault confirmed. His closest rival, former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, garnered just 3.02%.
The election registered 920,200 eligible voters, including over 28,000 from abroad, and achieved a voter turnout of 70.4%, the minister added.
This marks Gabon’s first presidential election since the ousting of former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, and represents a key milestone in the country’s return to constitutional governance following the political transition.
