The appeal was made in an official communiqué released on February 19, 2025, in which the movement expressed concern over what it termed sustained silence from global and regional actors.
According to the statement, civilian populations in Minembwe, Mikenge, Karingi, and across the Hauts Plateaux of South Kivu have been subjected to “daily, systematic, and unpunished massacres.”
The group attributed the alleged attacks to coalition forces aligned with the Kinshasa government, including FARDC units, local armed groups, and foreign mercenaries.
The communiqué further claimed that women, children, and elderly civilians are among the primary victims, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe and alleging repeated violations of international humanitarian law.
The movement also warned that continued inaction could heighten instability across the wider Great Lakes region, urging international institutions and regional leaders to take what it called decisive measures.
AFC/M23 has been controlling Goma city since January 2025.
Amb. Nduhungirehe made the remarks on Thursday during a press briefing in Kigali alongside European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, recently assumed the rotating chairmanship of the African Union during the bloc’s 38th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa.
Ndayishimiye took office at a time when Burundian troops were engaged in military operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside the Congolese army coalition, FARDC. The African Union, which he now chairs, is also involved in facilitating dialogue between Rwanda and the DRC over the conflict in that region.
Beyond the fighting in eastern Congo, tensions between Rwanda and Burundi remain strained, largely due to Rwanda’s concerns over Burundi’s alleged cooperation with the FDLR terrorist group.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Minister Nduhungirehe acknowledged that Rwanda and Burundi are neighboring states and both members of the East African Community, but said that relations remain strained.
“As you know, Burundi closed borders with Rwanda. And also, which is more worrying, Burundi is involved in a conflict in eastern DRC in a negative way, because it has imposed a blockade against the Banyamulenge in Minembwe, preventing them from accessing markets, which aggravates the humanitarian situation,” he stated.
In that context, Amb. Nduhungirehe said Burundi’s involvement in mediation would be inappropriate.
“Although it has accessed the AU chairmanship, it is difficult for Burundi to get involved in mediation. We have a mediation of Togo, mandated by the African Union, with five facilitators. We believe that those facilitators and the mediators should continue their work of supporting the parties in implementing the Washington Agreement without the involvement of Burundi, which is a party to this conflict,” he added.
Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated in recent years. On January 11, 2024, Burundi closed all border crossings with Rwanda, accusing Kigali of supporting the RED Tabara rebel group, an allegation Rwanda has repeatedly denied. Tensions further escalated amid claims that Burundi has cooperated with the FDLR in the eastern DRC conflict.
In July 2024, officials from Rwanda and Burundi met in Zanzibar during a retreat of foreign affairs ministers from East African Community member states, where both sides pledged efforts to restore relations. Despite subsequent meetings and diplomatic engagements, no concrete breakthrough has yet been achieved.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe said Burundi should not take part in AU-led mediation on eastern DRC crisis.
In a statement released Thursday, the monarch emphasized that the case is “being investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” adding that those authorities have the Royal Family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.” He further underscored that “the law must take its course.”
Thames Valley Police confirmed that a man in his sixties from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Several media organizations have identified the individual as Mountbatten-Windsor.
The arrest follows earlier changes to his status. Last October, he was stripped of his royal and military titles and vacated Royal Lodge, later relocating to private accommodation. Since then, he has been referred to by his birth name rather than a royal title.
The development has also revived scrutiny of his past links to the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Britain’s King Charles III attends the opening show of London Fashion Week 2026, in London, Britain, on Feb. 19, 2026.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said the Board of Peace should concentrate on the situation in Gaza. He noted that France would refrain from participating as long as uncertainties remain regarding the board’s mandate and scope.
Confavreux added that France was “surprised” by the EC’s reported attendance, emphasizing that the commission “does not have a mandate from the European Council to attend and participate in this meeting.” He said the EC would be expected to clarify its involvement after returning.
According to U.S. media reports, Trump hosted the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday.
Trump officially launched the board on Jan. 22 during a charter-signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Several major countries and longstanding U.S. allies have declined to join the initiative.
Yoon said in a statement that he deeply apologized to the public for the frustrations and hardships caused by his own shortcomings, although his decision to declare the emergency martial law was solely for the nation and the people.
He stressed that his desperate decision to save the nation was slandered as an insurrection, noting that the court’s ruling was unacceptable as it convicted him of insurrection because of the military entering the National Assembly building.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Thursday that the crux of Yoon’s martial law case was the fact that troops were deployed to the National Assembly, saying the impeached leader attempted to prevent the parliament from functioning properly for a significant period.
The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April of 2025, officially removing him from office.
Yoon was indicted under detention in January of 2025 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.
S. Korea’s ex-president Yoon has regretted not living up to expectations.
“I would think that would be enough time,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We’re either going to get a deal or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” Trump said.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump said at the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” that the outcome of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks will be decided over the next 10 days, calling Iran “a hot spot right now.”
“It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran, and we have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise bad things happen,” Trump said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that the second round of the U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva on Tuesday showed “some” positive signs but key U.S. red lines remain unmet.
A Trump adviser estimated a “90 percent chance” of strikes within weeks if talks fail, Axios reported Tuesday.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was approaching Gibraltar on Wednesday as it made its way from the Caribbean to join the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in waters near Iran, according to local media reports.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed in waters near Iran in the past few weeks.
Independent Online (IOL) reported on Thursday that the four men arrived at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, where they were met by South African police before being taken into custody for processing.
According to the report, their return followed diplomatic engagements between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Feb. 10, during which the two leaders pledged support for the safe repatriation of South African citizens caught up in the conflict.
Quoting DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola, IOL reported that the men had been contracted by private security companies in Russia rather than directly enlisted into the Russian military.
“They will be allowed to return when their contracts are cancelled,” Lamola was quoted as saying, adding that the repatriation would take place in phases.
“The Russian government is assisting with their return… What is clear is that they were lured under false pretenses, and that matter is now the subject of a police investigation in South Africa,” the minister said.
On Nov. 6, 2025, the South African Presidency announced that it had been alerted about the 17 men who were “trapped” in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine.
The men reportedly claimed they were lured with promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves caught in a conflict zone.
Local reports indicate that the four men arrived at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.
Col Charles Sumanyi previously served as Vice President of the Supreme Military Court since 2024. He has also held other positions, including serving as a military court judge for eight years and as a judge in the Military High Court for seven years.
After administering the oath, Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva reminded Col Sumanyi that his new role requires prudence and integrity.
“As you have sworn, in the duties you are about to undertake it is essential that you refrain from using the authority entrusted to you for your personal gain,” he said.
“You must prioritise the interests of the country and diligently fulfill your responsibilities, always striving to deliver fair justice to all and to uphold the positive image of the Rwanda Defence Force and the Republic of Rwanda as a whole,” the Prime Minister added.
Col Sumanyi’s appointment was approved by the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on January 28, 2026.
Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Head of State, Col Sumanyi pledged to carry out his duties diligently, aiming to strengthen good conduct within the Rwanda Defence Force.
“This role I am taking up is all about promoting discipline and good conduct in our country’s army. Recently, you heard the President emphasizing that these security institutions are ones he has always wished for… In this position, my primary duty is to reinforce discipline and good conduct, starting with educating soldiers about crimes and their consequences.
“As you know, wherever there are people, minor infractions are inevitable. Where crimes occur, we will take them to court. Our goal is to deliver justice that is both fair and swift.”
He affirmed that he will execute his responsibilities with full dedication to ensure they are fulfilled properly.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence and Minister of Defence, among others.The ceremony took place on Thursday, February 19, 2025. Col Sumanyi expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Head of State.
Delivering the verdict on Thursday, Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon said, “The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.”
“As to defendant Yoon Suk Yeol, the crime of insurrection leadership is established,” the judge said. “We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”
The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court concluded that Yoon led the events of December 3, 2024. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for the impeached leader, who was removed from office after declaring martial law.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the court determined that a central element of the case was Yoon’s deployment of military forces to the National Assembly of South Korea in December 2024.
Judges found he intended to disrupt and paralyze parliamentary operations for a significant period, though they rejected claims that he sought to establish a long-term dictatorship.
Throughout the trial, Yoon, 65, denied wrongdoing, insisting he had constitutional authority to impose martial law and that the move was meant to counter obstruction by opposition parties.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaking at a past event before his arrest.
The mission, carried out by the Hope Probe, was originally launched as a two-year project and entered Mars’ orbit in 2021. The extension seeks to maximize the scientific return on the UAE’s space investments and gain valuable operational experience for future deep-space missions.
Since its arrival at Mars, the Hope Probe has gathered around 10 terabytes of data, shared in 16 datasets with over 200 global research institutions. The mission has also supported pioneering discoveries, including new observations of Mars’ auroral activity and close fly-bys of Deimos, the smaller outer moon of Mars.
In October 2025, the probe expanded its scientific scope by capturing images of Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object that passes through our solar system, offering a rare opportunity to study material from beyond the solar system.
Officials said the decision demonstrates confidence in the probe’s technical readiness and national team capabilities, while supporting the rapid growth of the UAE’s space ecosystem through expanded research and aerospace education.
