M23 fighters moved into Mwenga on the evening of March 3, 2025, following clashes with the Wazalendo armed coalition.
A local resident reported, “Since the evening, AFC/M23 fighters have been seen in Kilungutwe. The Wazalendo fighters who were stationed there have retreated. Fighting started in Bwahungu earlier in the day and extended to an area called ‘Mise en Garde’ before reaching the Tibimbi groupement.”
According to the resident, M23 rebels continued their advance toward the Mufa area before crossing the Kadubo River, which separates Mwenga from Walungu Territory. They then entered the villages of Muduwe, Kilungutwe, and Kalama.
On March 3, M23’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, claimed that villages inhabited by the Banyamulenge community in Mwenga, Fizi, and Itombwe had come under attack by Congolese government forces and allied militias.
“Refugee camps have been burned, civilians are being killed, and villages are being destroyed. These acts must stop,” Kanyuka stated.
M23 has previously warned that it would intervene to protect the Banyamulenge communities, who have reportedly been targeted by government forces and militias in territories such as Fizi, Uvira, and Mwenga.
The Twirwaneho militia, which defends the Banyamulenge in South Kivu, recently announced its willingness to ally with M23 to safeguard civilians facing continued violence.
Currently, M23 fighters are present in six of South Kivu’s eight territories: Kalehe, Kabare, Walungu, Fizi, Uvira, and Mwenga.
The decision was announced in Prime Minister’s Order No. 008/03, issued on February 27, 2025, and published in the Official Gazette on March 3, 2025.
According to the order, Mulindahabi’s dismissal followed a proposal by the Minister of Public Service and Labour, which was reviewed and approved by the Cabinet during its session on March 30, 2023.
The Prime Minister’s directive also states that the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Service and Labour, and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning are entrusted with the implementation of this order.
In 2022, Mulindahabi and 19 others were investigated over allegations of theft and embezzlement of public funds at IPRC-Kigali.
As the institution’s head, he was accused of misappropriating public resources, including a water pump found at his residence and another machine used for water treatment.
On November 22, 2022, the Kicukiro Primary Court ordered the provisional release of Mulindahabi and 11 co-defendants in a case involving theft, forgery, and embezzlement of public property, while five others remained in custody.
At the time, the Prosecution was dissatisfied with the court’s ruling and appealed for Mulindahabi’s continued detention, though he insisted on release on bail.
The Prosecution highlighted the theft of various materials, including paint buckets, metallic doors and windows, cabinets manufactured at IPRC, machines, and other equipment.
The five individuals who were ordered to remain in custody, including casual laborers, admitted in court that they transported materials from IPRC Kigali for construction purposes on behalf of some of the accused officials.
Among the reportedly stolen items were tiles, cement, doors, construction metals, and other materials.
During his trial, Mulindahabi denied all charges, arguing that the Prosecution’s evidence was unreliable and inconsistent.
Mbonyunkiza, born in 1968, arrived at Kigali International Airport on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The U.S. authorities decided to deport and extradite Mbonyunkiza after he completed a 15-year prison sentence in the United States for a rape conviction.
According to Faustin Nkusi, spokesperson for Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority, Mbonyunkiza had long been wanted for his involvement in the genocide and had already been tried and convicted in absentia by the Nyakabanda Gacaca Court.
“He was convicted by the Nyakabanda Gacaca Court in 2007 for his role in the Genocide against the Tutsi,” Nkusi confirmed.
Mbonyunkiza, a close associate of Matayo Ngirumpatse, served as the leader of the MRND party in Nyarugenge commune in 1992. Before that, he had been an active MRND member, leading its youth wing in 1991.
Nkusi commended the U.S. government for its commitment to fighting impunity and cooperating in prosecuting genocide suspects.
This is not the first time the U.S. has extradited genocide suspects to Rwanda.
In April 2021, Beatrice Munyenyezi was deported and later sentenced to life imprisonment by the Huye Intermediate Court.
She has since appealed the verdict, and her appeal is currently being heard by the High Council Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes in Nyanza.
In October 2021, the U.S. also extradited Oswald Rurangwa, who was convicted by Gacaca courts and sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Other genocide suspects previously deported by the U.S. to Rwanda include Enos Iragaba Kagaba (extradited in 2005), Jean Mary Vianney Mudahinyuka (2011), Marie Claire Mukeshimana (2011), and Dr. Léopold Munyakazi (2016).
Nkusi reiterated Rwanda’s appreciation for the judicial cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi are brought to justice.
This collaboration with Mastercard will empower Airtel’s 150 million mobile phone users in 14 African countries with access to Mastercard’s global merchant network, enabling safer and more secure international transactions.
The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is a virtual (non-plastic) payment solution that links directly to Airtel Money wallets. This card can be used for a wide range of payments across global online merchants, including major platforms such as Facebook, Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Google, AliExpress, and Alibaba.
Users will also have the ability to make payments for travel bookings, utilities, subscriptions, and purchase goods from international suppliers—all from the convenience of their mobile phones.
For Airtel Money customers, activating the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is simple.
Customers simply need opt-in for the card, load it from Airtel Money wallet, and start shopping. No additional documentation, registration, or installations are required.
With this payment solution, Airtel and Mastercard aim to meet the growing demand for digital payments in Africa and support small businesses in cross-border trade.
The partnership aligns with Airtel Africa’s goal of enhancing financial inclusion by providing efficient and seamless payment solutions to mobile money users across the continent.
Commenting on the development, CEO of Airtel Money, Ian Ferrao, said: “At Airtel, we are continuously innovating to enhance the customer experience. By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making International payments simpler and more accessible for our customers. This collaboration allows us to offer a global e-commerce experience.”
Mastercard’s global network and expertise in payment solutions will play a critical role in supporting financial inclusion efforts in Africa. The initiative aligns with Mastercard’s commitment to bring one billion people, 50 million small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships at Mastercard Middle East and Africa, Muhammad Nana, stated: “Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem. With over 150 million Airtel Africa consumers now connected to the global digital economy, we are helping more consumers access the benefits of e-commerce.”
With increasing mobile internet access and the growth of affordable smartphones, African consumers are poised to take full advantage of this new solution. The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card empowers users—both banked and unbanked—to shop globally, connecting them to digital products and services right from their mobile phones.
{{About Airtel Africa}}
Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with operations in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Airtel Africa’s integrated offer provides national and international mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services to over 156 million customers.
The company’s strategy is focused on delivering a great customer experience across the entire footprint and increasing digital and financial inclusion to transform lives across Africa, in line with our corporate purpose.
{{About Mastercard}}
Mastercard is a global payments technology company committed to delivering innovation and driving financial inclusion around the world. Mastercard is helping connect people to the digital economy with secure, fast, and easy payment solutions.
Ngororano has over 20 years of experience in sustainable development in leadership roles across the UN system and prior to this in the private sector.
Most recently, he served as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Kenya. Prior to that, he served as UNDP Resident Representative to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Before his role in Mauritania, Ngororano served as Chief of the Executive Board Branch in the Office of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York and he held several posts in UN Women including Country Representative in Haiti and Chief of the Africa Section in New York.
He served as the Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Rwanda with the rank of Permanent Secretary and prior to that he held diverse positions with UNDP including Country Adviser in the Regional Bureau for Africa in New York, and in a range of policy, planning and programme roles in Nigeria, Zambia, and Rwanda.
Ngororano also worked as an investment banker with Citigroup N.A in Kenya and Tanzania after starting his career as an economist in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Uganda.
He holds Master’s degrees in Development Economics and International Relations from the University of East Anglia and the University of Sussex respectively.
Ngororano also holds an MA (Honours) degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Ethel succeeds Etienne Saada, who has led the company with distinction over the past three years.
Ethel Emma-Uche joins BRALIRWA from IBECOR SA/NV in Belgium where she has been the Managing Director since 2022.
During her leadership, Ethel enhanced the organization and processes towards greater customer focus, supporting the company to excel in their market while ensuring good governance and shaping the future through business expansion, people development, and further digitization.
Prior to joining IBECOR, Ethel served as the Supply Chain Director at BRALIMA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where she played a pivotal role in the turnaround of the business, spearheaded the comprehensive transformation of BRALIMA’s supply chain, revamped the supply chain training school, localized key positions, increased the presence of women in the supply chain and achieved notable results in talent development, safety culture and compliance.
Ethel previously worked at Nigerian Breweries Plc for over twelve years where she held several positions in supply chain and became a trailblazer for the HEINEKEN Africa Region.
Commenting on her new role, Ethel said: “I am thrilled to join Bralirwa and build on the strong foundation established by Etienne Saada. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team to continue our journey of innovation and excellence, and to contribute to the company’s ongoing success.”
Her predecessor, Etienne Saada has been the Managing Director of Bralirwa Plc since 2022.
During his 3-year tenure, he led the company to achieve sustained performance and several milestones in business growth and expansion which enhanced market dominance with strong brands, transformational leadership, process digitization and operational excellence including silver certification of the Kigali Soft Drinks plant as well as the Africa safety award from The Coca-Cola Company.
His career with the HEINEKEN Group, spans over 30 years where he continues to take on notable roles in HEINEKEN’s various operating companies.
Katz outlined the plan during a tour of the Jordan Valley, stating in a video message that the 425-km barrier will stretch from the southern part of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, through the occupied West Bank, to the Samar sands, north of Eilat, in the south of the country.
The project, expected to be completed within three years, aims “to prevent weapons smuggling and terrorism, and strengthen settlements,” Katz said.
He also announced plans to establish new military outposts along the barrier’s route to “reinforce our hold on the area.”
According to Katz, weapons smuggled from Jordan to the West Bank have been used in attacks against Israelis.
Israel has long considered a new fence along the Jordanian border. In November 2024, the Defense Ministry began detailed engineering plans following a September attack at the Allenby Bridge Crossing that killed three Israelis and a Jordanian assailant.
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces continued operations, killing dozens and causing widespread destruction over the past weeks. Meanwhile, talks appear to have stalled on the second phase of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Held at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center in Spain and hosted by the GSMA, the four-day event carries the theme “Converge, Connect, Create,” emphasizing the integration of mobile technologies with AI-driven innovations.
Mats Granryd, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA)’s director general, highlighted the swift global adoption of 5G, which has now surpassed 2 billion connections, making it the fastest-growing mobile generation in history.
He urged for the removal of barriers to further growth, calling for an acceleration in 5G’s development.
In conjunction with the event, the GSMA released the Mobile Economy Report 2025, which found that mobile technologies and services contributed 5.8% to global GDP in 2024, equating to $6.5 trillion.
The report projects this figure to rise to $11 trillion by 2030, driven largely by the growth of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI.
MWC 2025 has attracted over 2,800 exhibitors and 1,200 speakers, with expectations of more than 100,000 attendees.
Among the many exhibitors are over 300 Chinese companies, including industry giants such as China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE, and Xiaomi, all showcasing their latest innovations in mobile technology.
The call to action was made on Monday, marking World Wildlife Day.
Edith Kabesiime, wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection, highlighted that Africa’s iconic wildlife is under immense pressure from human activities, climate change, exploitative policies, and chronic underfunding of conservation efforts.
“Every year, thousands of animals are poached, trafficked, and kept in cruel conditions,” Kabesiime stated in Nairobi, urging stronger protections for wildlife in their natural habitats, rather than exploiting them for sport hunting or social prestige.
The campaigners also emphasized the critical need for adequate funding to sustain wildlife conservation efforts in Africa.
This year’s World Wildlife Day theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” stressed the importance of securing financial resources for long-term conservation.
The call for action includes halting the expansion of captive farming for commercial purposes, promoting ethical tourism, and strengthening wildlife protection laws.
World Animal Protection advocates for a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and communities and called for a stronger commitment to ending the exploitation of wild animals.
The United Nations established World Wildlife Day in 2013 to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife in human survival and the urgent need to protect these species.
This was a key focus of discussions at the Africa Health International Conference Agenda (AHAIC 2025), currently taking place in Rwanda.
The conference has brought together over 1,400 participants from 56 countries worldwide.
Among the attendees are 51 delegates from the United States, 40 from South Africa, 20 from India, 29 from the United Kingdom, 309 from Kenya, 160 from Rwanda, 74 from Ethiopia, 42 from Nigeria, and 50 from Uganda, among others.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, emphasized the urgent need for African countries to build resilient healthcare systems by prioritizing investments in the sector.
“We are in a critical phase where financing for global health in general is being affected, sometimes abruptly. We’re seeing programs for maternal and child health, malaria, disease prevention and control, very critical programs being stopped overnight by traditional supporters and funders,” he noted.
“And this looks like it’s going to continue. And we must be ready, as of yesterday, that if this happens, what are the options we have? […] The reality is that these are abrupt decisions. There will be effects, mainly to the poor communities across. But we also have the means, and we have the courage and the commitment to prevent these damages and the impact to happen to our communities and our programs,” Dr. Nsanzimana added.
Dr. Nsanzimana stressed that these challenges should serve as a wake-up call for African nations to explore self-sustaining solutions rather than relying solely on external aid.
He highlighted the need to rebuild Africa’s healthcare system with a focus on self-reliance and innovative solutions to existing challenges.
The Minister also pointed out that African countries should make strategic choices to cushion the effects of reduced foreign aid while minimizing negative consequences.
Additionally, Dr. Nsanzimana called for greater focus to take bold decisions to address the rising burden of diseases across the continent amid financing decline.
“Even if the disease burden is increasing, we must deal with it from the best. And even if we think that our traditional sources of financing are getting away, we can raise new financing mechanisms, starting from within and also from other partners who are willing and seeing this as an important investment for humanity,” he said.
He also emphasized the role of technology in healthcare, urging African nations to leverage digital innovations to improve healthcare delivery.
Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of AMREF Health Africa, the organization behind the conference, encouraged Africans to view the decline in foreign aid not as a crisis but as an opportunity to develop long-term solutions.
“Today, therefore, we will say we must not have a mourning tone at this conference, because the health system in Africa has not died. We can’t mourn it. It’s been wounded because of a small bump that we expected ahead of the road, but we know where we are taking our communities,” he stated.
“And I think that the most important thing for us to reflect on in this conference is not the survival of our institutions, is not the survival of ourselves, it is what shall we do with the communities for whom global solidarity exists,” added Dr. Githinji.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who addressed the conference virtually, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening their healthcare systems.
He urged African nations to work together to boost both domestic and international investment in healthcare to ensure long-term resilience and sustainability.
