Author: Sam K. Nkurunziza

The decision, communicated in an official memorandum dated February 1, 2025, was issued by Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security. It follows a recommendation from Bintou Keita, the UN’s Designated Official for the DRC, in consultation with the Security Management Team (SMT).

Michaud stated, “Due to the prevailing security situation in Kinshasa, the Designated Official, in consultation with the Security Management Team, has recommended implementing family restrictions for eligible family members of United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) internationally recruited personnel.”

He further emphasized that, in response to these recommendations, “I hereby authorize the evacuation of the eligible family members of UNSMS internationally recruited personnel from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

The memorandum was addressed to all Security Focal Points and Alternates of Organizations of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS), the HR Network, the ICSC Secretariat, and UNDSS Headquarters Personnel.

Copies were also sent to Ms. Bintou Keita, the UN Designated Official for the DRC, and Mr. Nathan Danquah, the Principal Security Adviser for the country.

According to Michaud, each UNSMS organization will determine the evacuation destination for their staff’s family members. He concluded by stating, “On behalf of the Secretary-General, I approve the DO recommendations with immediate effect.”

While the memo does not specify the immediate cause of concern, the decision aligns with the UNSMS Security Policy Manual, Chapter IV, Section D, which outlines risk avoidance measures for personnel in volatile environments.

During their time in Kigali on January 31, 2025, the students received advanced training in film production, photography, and related fields. Their decision to visit the school stemmed from their desire to enhance their skills in these areas.

Jilly Claude Uwizeyimana, the director of IBTC Film School, told IGIHE that the visit aimed to help the students improve their expertise.

“They reached out to us after seeing our work on our website. One of them visited first, and then requested to return with the rest,” he explained.

He added, “Since we have been in the industry for a long time, it is important to support those who want to enhance their skills. We have extensive experience, and we are helping them build on it.”

Uwizeyimana also expressed his excitement about students seeking to learn from IBTC, stating that the institution will continue expanding its activities to attract even more learners in the future.

The visiting Ugandan students were equally thrilled about the experience, emphasizing that the knowledge gained at IBTC would help them become competitive in the job market.

Among them was Bright Ngabirano, the youngest at just eight years old, who shared his enthusiasm:
“I learned a lot at IBTC, and I will apply these skills in the future. My dream is to become a great photographer and establish a photography studio.”

Ian Mugisha, the founder of Elite Training Academy, thanked IBTC Film School for welcoming them and broadening their expertise.

“I discovered IBTC through their online presence and was impressed by their experience and equipment. I immediately thought it would be beneficial to learn from them. We are excited because we have gained knowledge that is not yet available in Uganda, as we are still in the early stages,” he said.

Founded in 2012, IBTC Film School offers courses in film production, video editing, and photography. So far, it has trained 1,029 professionals who have joined the job market.

The school’s impact has led to the establishment of similar institutions, such as KFTV, KIAC, and Bright Academy, as well as numerous companies that have benefited from IBTC-trained professionals.

Additionally, IBTC Film School has expanded its teaching methods by offering online courses, allowing students to learn from anywhere in a convenient and flexible manner.

RNP fielded two SWAT Teams in the sixth edition, joining 103 teams from over 70 countries across the world, in the five-day competition for elite law enforcement tactical units.

The teams will in the next five days showcase their exceptional tactical and strategic skills in five specialized challenges designed to test both physical and skill-based abilities in high demanding situations.

These include the Tactical Operations Challenge, the Assault Challenge, the Officer Rescue Competition, the High Tower Challenge, and the Obstacle Course.

By the end of Day two of the Challenge on Sunday, RNP SWAT Team 1 was 8th on the table of 103 teams, with 183 points. RNP SWAT Team 2 is 11th with 169 points. China leads the standings with 200 points.

Day one saw teams competing in Assault Event while day two focused tactical event.

During the 2024 UAE SWAT Challenge, RNP SWAT Team-1 emerged the overall best team in ‘Obstacle Course’ while RNP SWAT Team 2 came 6th.

The 2025 UAE SWAT Challenge came few days after Rwanda hosted a successful SWAT Challenge, the first of it’s kind for the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), a regional body composed of 14 countries.

Ambassador Dan Munyuza conveyed President Paul Kagame’s greetings to al-Menfi, and they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries for their mutual benefit and to promote further cooperation.

Rwanda and Libya have had a long-standing partnership, which includes investments from Libyans. Even before the death of former Libyan President, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, he initiated several projects in Rwanda, such as building hotels, roads, and mosques.

After Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s death, Libya was plagued by ongoing conflict, and many of its citizens began fleeing. In 2019, Rwanda received migrants from refugee camps in Libya.

Since then, Rwanda has received over 1,800 migrants from Libya, some of whom have moved on to other countries. These migrants come from various African nations. Ambassador Munyuza is also Rwanda’s representative in Egypt, where his office is located.

UPDF said the change in posture was a strategic measure aimed at countering the persistent security threats posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and other armed groups.

“Following the worsening security situation in eastern DRC’s North Kivu region and surrounding areas in recent weeks as a result of major fighting between the M23 Movement and FARDC government forces, UPDF will adopt a Forward Defensive Posture in its area of operation until the crisis passes and normalization is restored,” said Defence spokesperson, Acting Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye.

“Some of the violent and extremist groups operating in the area include the ADF, whom the joint forces of UPDF and FARDC have severely degraded since the launch of Operation Shujaa in November 2021.”

A forward defensive posture means, among others, adopting active defence measures such as foot and motorized patrols, enhanced surveillance to detect threats early, laying ambushes, and readiness to carry out limited offensive action if required.

The aim is to deter and deny the enemy freedom of action in the specified area of operation and interest.
Since June 2024, the ADF has been responsible for the deaths of over 650 civilians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. In June alone, more than 200 people were killed, primarily in Beni and Lubero, with 150 massacred in Cantine between June 3 and 12.

The group’s violent westward expansion has left entire communities displaced and vulnerable.
“The UPDF, working with FARDC in its area of operation, is closely monitoring the unfolding security situation and will continue to aggressively pursue ADF remnants wherever they go,” said Kulayigye.

The very basic element to this is that firstly human beings have a personal relationship with themselves and recognize its importance. They desire to develop this into a healthy one and regularly check in and look after it.

Research indicates that developing a personal relationship with yourself is helpful for better mental health, greater resilience when things get tough and better empathy skills.

We grow as individuals to be more self-sufficient, develop healthier relationships with family or friends, and can even improve productivity. But, most important of all is that you know who you truly are.

This mainly entails what you want, what is important to you, what you value, how you tick and react or respond, and what your emotional and thinking patterns are.

Like using a broken sat nav, we get lost in life when we don’t know ourselves inside out: we make poor decisions, we find it difficult to know who to be around, which step to take next and when we need to reset and start again.

We need to get our internal navigational “software” back on track. Once we realize this, the specific actions we take to nurture a healthy relationship with ourselves involves spending some time on yourself, with yourself and by yourself.

{{Go to the cinema}}

Have you ever gone to watch a film on your own? Or do you shy away from doing it because you are worried about what other people might think, or because you are not treating yourself to something lovely, or because you don’t quite know what you might like to see?

It may sound like a small step to take, but going on your own to a venue like the cinema can really clarify a few things – you have to realize you want to treat yourself to a nice event and that you deserve it, you have to make the time yourself.

{{Have a day out or travel}}

Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular and even if it is not very far away, it can teach you so much about yourself. You realize that you can create happy times and memories, you get to experience new things and see how you manage and adapt if events do not go to plan.

You can also allow yourself to meet new people. Even if it is not far away or finances are tight, why not try to design an inexpensive day out for yourself, and see how it makes you feel?

{{Go out to eat}}

There is a lot of pressure from society to think that eating out at a restaurant is only for two or more people. Many of us avoid eating out by ourselves for fear of looking lonely or seem like we do not have friends.

But this is not true. It is a great thing to eat out on your own and if you have done it once, you will wonder why on earth you didn’t do it before. Spending time with yourself does not mean you have to feel lonely, and you can test just what good company you can be.

{{Spend a day at home}}

Life is full of potential distractions that sometimes take us away from ourselves and spending time alone. Try spending a whole day at home and be with yourself, your thoughts and your feelings. When you invite a friend to your house, you would plan a lovely time with some activities or food but why don’t you do that for yourself?

See how you feel at the end of it and how well you have taken care of yourself. Have you made yourself laugh, allowed yourself to rest or taken time to reflect on how you feel? Practice makes perfect.

Knowing ourselves means knowing what we enjoy, fulfilling our passions and finding joy. One thing we can do to understand ourselves is to start an activity or hobby that represents who we truly are.

That might be something completely new to us or re-engaging with something we used to do as children. Hobbies help us see ourselves and lead to more creative ideas about how to nurture that relationship with ourselves.

Kagame’s keynote address focused on the urgency of supporting Africa in its fight against the devastating impacts of climate change, which continue to hamper the continent’s development.

He began by acknowledging the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in convening the forum, and quickly turned attention to the global sustainability agenda, which, he argued, has yet to deliver its promised benefits, especially for Africa.

The Head of State emphasized that political commitments often lack the necessary action, leaving Africa vulnerable in the face of escalating climate risks.

“As one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050, creating immense pressure on its economies to meet increasing demands for water, food, energy, and jobs,” Kagame said emphasizing that addressing these challenges requires affordable and scalable technologies tailored to the realities of developing nations.

“Rwanda has already made significant progress by fostering a pro-business environment with tax incentives and simplified immigration policies. The country has attracted global investments and supported various innovations. Innovation is the backbone of our approach to addressing pressing challenges,” he added.

Kagame highlighted the success of Zipline, a drone company launched in Rwanda to deliver medical supplies and now valued at $4 billion with operations spanning multiple continents. “This is an example of what Africa can achieve when we create the right environment for innovation,” Kagame noted.

Commenting on the importance of renewable energy and digital technologies, he argued they are insufficient on their own to fuel industrialization. “Africa’s development requires energy solutions that are reliable, affordable, and capable of powering large-scale manufacturing. Without this, we are asking the continent to limit its growth,” he said.

To address this gap, Rwanda is preparing for small modular nuclear reactors to become part of its energy mix as this this is a clean and dependable power source that aligns with Africa’s sustainability goals and industrial ambitions.

He stressed the need for collaboration and fairness in the global sustainability agenda, saying that sustainable development is a collective effort and Africa cannot succeed alone, and neither can the world.

“We need pragmatic and results-driven partnerships and Rwanda’s cooperation with the United Arab Emirates through initiatives such as the Government Accelerator Programme and the One Million Coders Initiative are examples of impactful global partnerships,” he said.

Kagame called for greater inclusion of Africa in global sustainability efforts in the transition to a sustainable world pledging readiness on behalf of Rwanda to work with any nation committed to building a brighter and more equitable future.

Dalyce, who was known as Momma D to her family, appeared in the likes of The Blues Brothers, The Ten Commandments and Lady Sings the Blues over the years.

Her granddaughter had dropped her off to her home at midnight on Tuesday after a long day of hospital appointments, and she left for the evening, but sadly it was confirmed the 95-year-old passed away.

When she woke up in the morning, Kelley saw a text that the power had gone out in her grandmother’s house and headed over to the Altadeana area. Tragically, an officer told her: “I’m sorry your grandmother’s property is gone. It totally burned down.”

“It was total devastation. Everything was gone except her blue Cadillac,” she recalled. However, it has now sadly been confirmed that her grandmother has died.

On Sunday, when the search was still underway, Kelley told Eyewitness News she was “still praying for a miracle”. She said: “Honestly we don’t feel very hopeful that she’s still here with us.”

Whilst the search was still on for Dalyce Curry, her granddaughter had paid tribute to her. She told KABC: “Our souls are aching; our hearts are broken. She loved Altadena. There is no one who loved that city more than my grandmother. She said she had yet began to live, so I knew she would just be here beyond 100. She still wanted to date, she wanted to find a husband.”

Loree Beamer-Wilkinson added: “She just loved life, and at 95 she was still very active. She looked beautiful – she took really good care of herself, she took great pride in who she was and who she represented — and she was an amazing grandmother. I felt so privileged to know this woman and to have her as my grandmother.”