Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The group crossed into Rwanda on November 20, 2025, through the La Corniche border, which connects Rwanda to the DRC.

Among them were 127 women, 32 men, and 352 children. Upon arrival, they were taken to the Nyarushishi Transit Camp in Rusizi District.

These returnees had been living in a temporary camp in Goma after being freed from various regions in eastern DRC, where they had been held captive by the FDLR, a group formed by remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The Vice Mayor of Rubavu in charge of Economic Development, Deogratias Nzabonimpa, assured the returnees that they would receive essential support to help them reintegrate into society.

“They will be given basic necessities to help them sustain themselves and contribute to the country, as this is the approach taken to bring them back into the Rwandan community. They will also be supported with various projects in their areas to help them provide for their families,” he stated.

Nzabonimpa also highlighted that the increasing number of returnees is a clear sign that the ongoing awareness campaigns are effective, with everyone playing a role.

To help them start their new lives, the returnees will receive basic financial assistance. Those over the age of 18 will receive $188, while those under 18 will receive $113.

Additionally, they will be provided with essential food supplies worth 45,000 Rwandan Francs.

According to Rwanda’s Office of the President, President Kagame also hosted the Emir at his farm in Kibugabuga, Bugesera District where the two leaders held a private tête-à-tête meeting.

The two leaders had last met early November 2025 in Doha, on the sidelines of the World Summit for Social Development.

During that meeting, they discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries.

Ali bin Hamad Al Aida, the Charge d’Affaires at the Qatari Embassy in Rwanda, has noted that the visit comes at a time of significant global changes, both regionally and internationally.

He also emphasized that the visit underscores Qatar’s vision of deepening its cooperation with the African continent, focusing on security, safety, and sustainable development.

Al Aida further remarked that Rwanda is a trusted partner of the Qatari government, highlighting that this visit would be an opportunity to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries, based on mutual trust, respect, and shared interests.

New partnership agreements between Rwanda and Qatar are expected to be signed during the visit.

Rwanda’s Ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura, said that there are numerous sectors in which the two countries are already collaborating, including a key project such as the construction of Bugesera International Airport.

He also mentioned new projects that could benefit from the cooperation, including the ‘Kigali Innovation City,’ which aims to make Rwanda a hub for technology in Africa.

Rwanda and Qatar enjoy strong bilateral relations across various sectors, including investment, tourism, and transport. The two countries also collaborate in the aviation sector, with Qatar Airways expected to acquire a 49% stake in RwandAir.

Beyond RwandAir, Qatar holds a 60% stake in the Bugesera Airport project.

The Emir of Qatar last visited Rwanda in July 2022, when he was a special guest at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Kigali.

Following the ceremony, President Nausėda and Amb. Dushimimana engaged in discussions focused on enhancing both bilateral and multilateral ties, with particular emphasis on trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.

Amb. Dushimimana also represents Rwanda to other countries including The Netherlands and Latvia.

Lithuania, a Baltic state located in Northern Europe, lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

Covering an area of approximately 65,300 square kilometers, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest.

The country boasts a diverse and rapidly growing economy, with notable strengths in the IT, manufacturing, and services sectors.

As a member of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Lithuania maintains strong regional and global connections, fostering continued economic growth and political stability.

The concert, which featured Grammy-nominated artist Somi Kakoma (born in the United States to Rwandan and Ugandan parents), honored Makeba’s contributions to music and social justice, blending jazz and African musical traditions in a performance that highlighted the iconic singer’s political activism.

Somi, known for her long-standing work bridging African and American cultures, performed a heartfelt tribute to Miriam Makeba, an artist whose international influence transcended music.

Somi’s performance was a blend of jazz and African musical traditions, underscoring Makeba’s pioneering role in using music as a platform for political activism.

The evening, enriched by Somi’s distinctive voice and the talented musicians accompanying her, transformed into both a musical experience and a commemorative act.

The concert highlighted the role of music as a tool for remembrance, emancipation, and the amplification of political causes—values that Makeba passionately championed throughout her life.

The HKW where the event was hosted, is a renowned multidisciplinary institution in Berlin dedicated to fostering global dialogue through the arts.

It is known for its commitment to showcasing diverse cultural expressions, including visual arts, performing arts, and literary practices, alongside scientific and cultural discourse.

The HKW’s inclusive space, free from discrimination, provided an ideal setting for this tribute to Makeba, reinforcing the institution’s mission of cultivating unity and hospitality among global cultures.

Jeanne Ndatirwa, in her remarks, emphasized that the tribute to Miriam Makeba was a pan-African gesture recognizing the significant contribution of African women to human rights.

She expressed pride in the diaspora’s heritage and the importance of such events in strengthening cultural ties and mutual respect between nations.

Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Director and Chief Curator of HKW, reflected on Makeba’s profound impact, stating, “The concert honors a great artist and political icon who not only brought Africa to the world’s music stages but also placed social justice firmly on the global political agenda.”

The evening’s events also highlighted the HKW’s dedication to promoting inclusivity, emphasizing that the institution does not tolerate any form of hate or discrimination, including homophobic, racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic actions or speech.

Upon election, he promised to work closely with those who have entrusted him with the position to address issues such as antimicrobial resistance in diseases and to protect the dignity and pride of the pharmacy profession.

The event took place on November 14, 2025, during the 13th annual general assembly of pharmacy professionals, which aimed to assess the achievements made by its members, review their professional direction, and set new strategies to improve the profession.

Over 700 members attended the assembly, which also presented a five-year study aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, meant to accelerate the country’s development in various sectors, including healthcare.

The outgoing chairperson, DCG (Rtd) Stanley Nsabimana, said that the event was an opportunity to reflect on progress, while reminding everyone that professionalism requires constant effort and commitment.

“Today, we meet not just to fulfill legal obligations but to celebrate our achievements, reaffirm our values, and continue our commitment to public health through professional integrity and competence,” he said.

Dr. Jean Baptiste Ntihumbya, the Director General of Health Quality Services Standards and Regulation at the Ministry of Health, praised the pharmacists’ association for its significant role in improving healthcare services and protecting public health.

He highlighted the importance of the association’s work in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), stressing that it requires professionalism and attention to patient safety.

The Ministry of Health assured pharmacists that it would continue supporting their work with knowledge and financial assistance to enhance the association’s operations in technology and capacity building.

In response to the issue of antimicrobial resistance, the government has implemented a ‘one health’ program, focusing on human, animal, and environmental health, recognizing their interconnectedness in combating AMR.

Other new leaders elected during the assembly include Ntirenganya Remy Pacifique, who was elected vice chairperson, Uwase Marie Ange as secretary, and Byomuhangi Evariste as treasurer, all elected for a three-year term.

The council has the responsibility of upholding the integrity of their profession, ensuring dedication in their work, and ensuring that all members comply with relevant laws and regulations.

Together, they crafted a false narrative, accusing the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) of being responsible for shooting down the plane of President Juvénal Habyarimana.

The plane carrying President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down on the night of April 6, 1994, and was followed by the execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

This genocide was carried out openly across the country, with the involvement of soldiers, gendarmes, the Interahamwe militia, and others.

Dr. Bizimana highlighted on X that Reyntjens was “the Belgian who drafted the discriminatory 1978 Constitution for the Habyarimana regime, providing it with legal basis for the oppression and extermination of the Tutsi.”

According to Dr. Bizimana, Reyntjens’ involvement was not just an academic error; it was the starting point of his long campaign to sanitize the genocidal regime and attack those who ended it.

He emphasized, “The Belgian Filip Reyntjens has been committed since 1994 to defending his Rwandan friends involved in the genocide against the Tutsi and using them to fabricate blatant lies against the FPR, accusing the latter of invented crimes of the same magnitude as the genocide against the Tutsi.”

These tactics, according to Bizimana, were aimed at glorifying the leaders of Habyarimana’s regime by fabricating two genocides, suppressing the truth, and portraying the RPF as a government of genocidaires.

Dr. Bizimana provided an example of the collaboration between Reyntjens and Ngeze Hassan, the former Editor-in-Chief of Kangura newspaper.

In a letter addressed to Ngeze on May 9, 1997, Reyntjens suggested that it would be highly beneficial to highlight the role of the RPF in the attack that downed President Habyarimana’s plane.

He proposed that if there were any RTLM workers in Nairobi, they could be contacted to help investigate whether it would be possible to uncover any information related to his inquiry.

Reyntjens also expressed his willingness to meet with Ngeze or any other journalists in the near future. Minister Bizimana pointed out that Reyntjens was encouraging Ngeze to accuse the RPF of crimes, despite being fully aware of the genocidal ideology that had influenced his actions.

{{Who shot down Habyarimana’s plane?}}

An investigation into the shooting down of President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane was initiated by France in 1998 after the families of those onboard, as well as the plane’s crew and staff, requested it.

In 2012, Rwanda granted French judges Marc Trévidic and Nathalie Poux permission to enter the country. They announced that the missiles that shot down Habyarimana’s plane came from the Kanombe Military Base, with no connection to the RPA forces reportedly stationed in Masaka.

There are documents from France’s external intelligence agency, DGSE, showing that France had information on who shot down Habyarimana’s plane starting from April 6, 1994.

An investigation conducted by Radio France and Mediapart uncovered a DGSE document written to President François Mitterrand, detailing the agency’s information about the attack.

The document, dated September 22, 1994, was released by the Ministry of Armed Forces in 2015. It stated that “two extremists,” Colonel Théoneste Bagosora and Laurent Serubuga, were the ones who issued the orders to shoot down Habyarimana’s plane.

On July 12, 1994, DGSE revealed that the plane was shot down by Hutu extremists seeking to eliminate President Habyarimana, who had agreed to negotiations with the RPF.

The French were the first to arrive at the crash site and were said to have taken the black box from the plane, which contained critical information about the incident.

{{Ngeze: An extremist who hated Tutsis}}

Ngeze Hassan was sentenced to 35 years in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha after being convicted of crimes related to the genocide against the Tutsi and crimes against humanity. Another document written by Reyntjens revealed that Ngeze Hassan played an active role in the 1992 massacres of Tutsis in Bugesera.

The document states: “In March 1992, Reyntjens writes, Interahamwe and soldiers from the Presidential Guard and the Mayuya camp (a total of about 75 soldiers) were sent to Bugesera. The soldiers were in civilian clothes and armed with knives and pistols.

“Individuals, particularly officers from the Ministry of Justice and judicial police inspectors/officers, who might have hindered the operation had been reassigned beforehand. The troublemakers were transported by vehicles from the Public Works Department, and the fuel needed for the operation was provided by Mr. Rwabukumba and Mr. Nzirorera, and allegedly transported by Hassan Ngeze and stored at the home of mayor, Rwambuka.

“Initially arriving in Gashora, the Interahamwe and soldiers, assisted by local interahamwe, blended in with the population. They then attacked specific pre-determined targets: Tutsi families or those belonging to the opposition. From there, the violence spread.”

This document highlights how some institutions involved in the genocide provided vehicles for the killers, supplied fuel, and sheltered the perpetrators in high-end hotels.

The document further notes, “The criminals were given very comfortable accommodations. Ngeze Hassan, the Chief editor of Kangura, who was involved in the events in Bugesera, came to visit me at the hotel.”

Minister Bizimana emphasized, “Ngeze Hassan, whom Filip Reyntjens sought to work with after the halt of the genocide, urging him to collaborate in falsely accusing the RPF, is a hardened criminal because his role in the preparation and execution of the genocide was evident from 1990 onwards.”

{{Ngeze Hassan’s background}}

Ngeze Hassan was born on December 25, 1957, in Rubavu District, Gisenyi Sector. He is known for inciting ethnic division through the Kangura newspaper, which he founded in 1990. Hassan is also known for his work at ONATRACOM, the national public transport authority.

Hassan is infamous for publishing the “10 Commandments of the Hutu” in December 1990, which fueled hatred among Hutus against Tutsis.

Kangura, the magazine Ngeze managed, was heavily supported by the MRND party, which was led by President Habyarimana.

In 1993, Ngeze gained influence on RTLM, a radio station that shared the same genocidal ideology as Kangura. During the genocide, Ngeze regularly provided RTLM with the names of Tutsis who were to be killed, particularly focusing on individuals from Gisenyi Province. He publicly announced these names on RTLM.

In June 1994, Ngeze fled to Mombasa, Kenya. In 2003, he was arrested by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and tried in 2007. He was initially sentenced to life in prison, but after an appeal, Judge Theodor Meron reduced his sentence to 35 years.

Construction is expected to be completed within 24 months, at a cost of over $24 million (over 34 billion Rwandan Francs).

The state-of-the-art facility is expected to address a critical gap in the country’s health security architecture by providing rapid, accurate diagnosis of zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases, the types of pathogens with the highest potential to trigger future outbreaks.

With modern molecular testing capacity and advanced biosafety systems, the NVRLL will enable quicker confirmation of diseases such as Mpox, Marburg, avian influenza, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease, improving national readiness and response.

The laboratory will also help safeguard Rwanda’s economy by reducing livestock losses, improving disease surveillance, and supporting safe animal movement and trade.

Besides, faster diagnostics will strengthen veterinary services, protect household livelihoods, and advance the country’s compliance with regional and international animal health standards.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, highlighted the importance of the new facility.

“Pandemics often begin in animals before spilling over to humans. This laboratory gives Rwanda the scientific capability to detect threats early, protecting our people, our livestock, and our economy,” he said.

Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund also expressed delight at the groundbreaking initiative.

“Through projects like this, the Fund helps countries put the One Health approach into action, strengthening collective health across the human, animal, and environmental sectors.

“By enhancing disease detection and response, Rwanda is setting a new benchmark for health security in the region. We are proud to stand with Rwanda in building resilient systems that protect communities and livelihoods,” he noted.

The NVRLL is a flagship activity under the Strengthening Pandemic Prevention and Response Through One Health Approach in Rwanda (SPPROHRW) project, supported by the Pandemic Fund and implemented by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), RAB, and several development partners.

The One Health concept recognizes that the health of humans and animals are linked because they share the same environment.

The Government of Rwanda has embraced the One Health approach and continues to demonstrate strong political will to institutionalize it across relevant sectors.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s plenary meeting on Security Council reform, Fu said that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently made a “brazen, provocative” statement on Taiwan at the Japanese Diet. She claimed that a “Taiwan contingency” could be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan and implied that Japan may invoke the so-called right to collective self-defense to interfere militarily in the Taiwan Strait.

Takaichi’s remarks are “extremely erroneous and dangerous,” and constitute a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and a serious breach of the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, said Fu.

“They are an affront to international justice, damage the post-war international order, trample on the basic norms of international relations, and represent a blatant departure from Japan’s commitment to peaceful development,” he noted.

“Such a country is totally unqualified to seek a permanent seat on the Security Council,” said the ambassador.

Fu underscored that throughout its history, Japanese militarists have repeatedly used the so-called “survival-threatening situation” as a pretext to launch foreign aggression, including the Sept. 18 Incident in 1931, under the pretext of the right of self-defense, which provoked a war of aggression against China and brought profound suffering to the Chinese people and people around the world.

“Now, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi again raised the issue of ‘survival-threatening situation.’ What is her true intention? Is Japan going to repeat its past mistakes of militarism?” Fu asked.

The ambassador said Takaichi has also consistently advocated for removing the “renunciation of war” clause from Japan’s pacifist constitution. “Given the egregious behavior from Takaichi, how can we trust Japan’s professed commitment to peaceful development? How can the international community trust Japan to uphold fairness and justice? How can we trust Japan to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security?” he said.

Fu stressed that Japan should immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, retract its wrongful, provocative remarks and actions, and refrain from “playing with fire” on the Taiwan question. “Otherwise, Japan should be prepared to bear all the consequences.”

“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression and would definitely be met with a firm response from China. We will exercise our right to self-defense under the UN Charter and international law and resolutely defend China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Fu stated.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation on Tuesday by 427–1, with Republican Clay Higgins casting the sole vote against it. Just hours later, the Senate cleared the bill through unanimous consent, fast-tracking it without debate or amendments. The rare bipartisan alignment ensures the legislation will reach the president’s desk within days.

The vote followed a rapid turn in political dynamics after President Trump abruptly reversed his opposition to releasing the files, urging Republicans to support the measure.

The change came amid significant pressure from his supporters and renewed public attention on Epstein after more than 20,000 pages of documents, including emails referencing Trump, were published last week. The White House has maintained that the president did nothing wrong and has criticised the release of selective correspondence.

The legislation, co-authored by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish all unclassified records, communications, flight logs and investigative materials relating to Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment.

However, Bondi may withhold or redact information that would reveal victims’ identities or compromise active federal investigations.

The push for disclosure has been driven in large part by survivors of Epstein’s abuse, several of whom watched Tuesday’s vote from the House gallery and gathered earlier outside the Capitol to demand full transparency.

Annie Farmer, an Epstein survivor and key witness in Maxwell’s trial, said concealing the files amounted to “institutional betrayal”, arguing that investigative failures had allowed further harm. Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, praised his sister’s longstanding advocacy: “She paved the way for us to come forward… and we won’t stop.”

Political tensions around the effort have been significant. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, had previously echoed Trump’s earlier stance and opposed the release, with Johnson describing it as a “Democrat hoax”.

He later voted yes but continued voicing concerns about protecting victims’ privacy. Massie, meanwhile, criticised colleagues who resisted disclosure, warning that blocking the legislation would be seen as shielding abusers.

The issue has also strained relationships within Trump’s political circle. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a steadfast supporter of the president, accused him of undermining efforts to secure justice for survivors. Survivors themselves voiced frustration with Trump’s handling of the matter, with Jena-Lisa Jones urging the president to “stop making this political”.

The bill reinforces and expands upon the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation, which has already released tens of thousands of pages of records from the Epstein probe.

Recent documents include email exchanges between Epstein, Maxwell and author Michael Wolff that reference Trump, though none allege wrongdoing by the president. The White House has condemned the release of selected emails as politically motivated.

Epstein, who socialised in elite circles for decades, was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. In 2019, he was charged with federal sex trafficking offences but was found dead in his New York jail cell weeks later, in what authorities ruled a suicide. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in procuring victims.

As lawmakers await Trump’s signature, survivors and advocates say the coming release represents a crucial step toward transparency in a case that has spanned decades and implicated powerful figures across politics, finance and international society. Whether the files will answer long-standing questions, or raise new ones, is likely to become clear within weeks.