Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The commemoration event took place on May 9, 2025, at the Ntarama Genocide Memorial located in Bugesera District.

The visit began with a historical briefing about Bugesera, especially the events leading up to the Genocide, highlighting how the area had been designated as a settlement for Tutsi with the intent of extermination.

Participants were taken through some of the tragic history, including how Bugesera was once considered a cursed, uninhabitable place, suitable only for relocating Tutsi with the hope that they would perish due to the Tsetse fly.

Mukabucyeri Angélique, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, shared her harrowing testimony. She recounted how survival was incredibly difficult as they were hunted by neighbours who knew them personally, making hiding nearly impossible.

“I had a baby strapped to my back when they struck me on the head with a club. I lost consciousness and fell. They slashed the child on my back. When I woke up, I was carrying a dead baby and had nine stab wounds and scars all over my body,” she recounted.

Aditya Chacko, General Manager of Kigali Marriott Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, stated that they joined Rwandans in commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Genocide to honour the innocent victims who were brutally murdered in 1994.

“We gather to honor the memory of the victims, recognize the incredible courage and resilience of the survivors, and acknowledge their tireless efforts to rebuild this nation,” he noted.

“As representatives of Kigali Marriott Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton, we stand united with all Rwandans in supporting genocide survivors. It is crucial that we reflect on our roles to ensure that such atrocities and their ideologies are never repeated in Rwanda or anywhere else,” added Chacko.

He also expressed gratitude to the Rwandan leadership, particularly to President Paul Kagame, for making the decisive choice to halt the genocide and for laying the groundwork for national unity.

In a statement released Saturday, May 10, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said that Burundi has been deploying troops in support of the Kinshasa government’s military campaign while covertly equipping Wazalendo fighters via the town of Uvira, near the Burundian border.

Kanyuka said the allegations were substantiated after the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC), the military wing of M23, captured and presented to the media several combatants affiliated with the Congolese army (FARDC), the Wazalendo militia, and the FDLR. The fighters were reportedly apprehended while destabilising areas around the city of Goma.

“We commend the professionalism of ARC,” said Kanyuka, “whose actions not only helped halt the massacre of civilians in Goma and South Kivu but also exposed Burundi’s role in the violence.”

In recent weeks, Wazalendo militias have been engaged in deadly clashes with the Twirwaneho armed group in Uvira territory, South Kivu, committing atrocities against civilians, including killings. AFC/M23 blames these actions on foreign-backed support, particularly from Burundi.

The accusations come barely a month after AFC/M23 and the DRC government announced a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar on April 23, 2025, intended to pave the way for peace talks in Doha. However, M23 now claims the Congolese government has violated the agreement multiple times.

“We alert the national and international community to the repeated violations of the April 23 joint declaration and the unilateral ceasefire declared by AFC/M23,” Kanyuka stated.

M23 reaffirmed its readiness to protect civilians and “eliminate the threat at its source,” signalling a possible escalation in hostilities if diplomatic avenues fail.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan as a positive step toward ending current hostilities and easing tensions,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, said in a statement.

“He hopes the agreement will contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries,” Dujarric said.

The spokesman added that the United Nations stands ready to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan and India announced earlier Saturday a ceasefire with immediate effect, following days of military strikes on each other.

As part of his visit, Gen. Muganga delivered a lecture to senior officers attending the Senior Command and Staff Course in Jinja, a move hailed as a significant step in regional military cooperation.

The lecture titled “The Pursuit of African solutions to African problems: A case of Rwanda’s bilateral interventions on the African continent” examined Rwanda’s contributions to finding solutions to security problems affecting allies and partners on the continent.

He reiterated the need for African countries to address continental security challenges by harnessing opportunities of both bilateral and multilateral arrangements in order to build internal resilience.

“I thank General Muganga for responding to my invitation positively and coming to deliver a lecture of opportunity to officers… Long live the brotherly relations between UPDF and RDF! God bless Uganda and Rwanda!” Gen. Muhoozi posted on X.

The visit comes just weeks after Gen. Muhoozi concluded a three-day trip to Rwanda, from March 20 to 22, during which he met with President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, and RDF senior leadership.

The Uganda military chief’s visit included a lecture at the RDF Senior Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze District, where he spoke on peacekeeping and security in Africa.

At the time, Muhoozi underscored the importance of defence diplomacy in securing regional peace.

“When we combine the strength of our powerful armies, there is no challenge we cannot overcome together,” he said.

His Rwandan visit also featured high-level talks with RDF commanders and Ugandan military officials, where the two sides explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in defence and regional security.

The back-to-back visits between the two military chiefs reflect a renewed momentum in military engagement and diplomatic relations between Uganda and Rwanda, two countries whose cooperation is seen as vital to the region’s stability.

The public display took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in what M23 described as a direct response to violations of a recently agreed ceasefire.

In a statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the captured individuals were responsible for recent insecurity in and around Goma and South Kivu.

The group praised the ARC for its “professionalism” and claimed their actions had halted civilian massacres in the region.

AFC/M23, which controls large swathes of eastern Congo, also accused Burundi of playing a destabilising role by deploying troops in support of the Kinshasa regime and by financing and arming Wazalendo militias via the eastern Congolese town of Uvira.

“We commend the professionalism of the ARC, whose actions not only brought an end to the massacres of civilians… but also exposed Burundi’s involvement,” the statement read.

The rebel group further accused the Congolese government, led by President Félix Tshisekedi, of repeatedly violating the April 23 joint declaration and the unilateral ceasefire announced by AFC/M23.

“We alert the national and international community to the repeated violations by the Kinshasa regime,” the group stated, reaffirming its commitment to protecting civilians and “eliminating the threat at its source.”

Ce samedi 10 mai 2025, l'Armée Révolutionnaire Congolaise (ARC) a capturé et présenté aux médias des éléments des forces du régime de Kinshasa, notamment des FARDC, des Wazalendo et des FDLR, responsables de l'insécurité à Goma.

Nous saluons le professionnalisme de l'ARC dont… pic.twitter.com/A7XwSf1mJq

— Lawrence KANYUKA (@LawrenceKanyuka) May 11, 2025

The developments come just weeks after the two parties issued the rare joint statement, signalling a mutual willingness to halt hostilities and work toward a permanent truce.

The Qatar-mediated talks raised cautious optimism after years of failed ceasefires in the volatile eastern region, where more than half a dozen such agreements have collapsed since 2021.

Saturday’s public parading of captured combatants and the subsequent accusations could undermine fragile progress and reignite tensions, casting doubt on the durability of the current peace efforts.

Becciu, 76, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison in December 2023 after becoming the first cardinal ever tried and convicted by the Vatican’s own criminal court. His conviction stems from a financial scandal involving a failed London real estate deal that cost the Church tens of millions of dollars, as well as allegations of misuse of Church funds.

Though Pope Francis personally stripped Becciu of his “rights and privileges” as a cardinal in 2020, the cardinal has retained his title and continues to live in a Vatican apartment while his appeal is pending.

Under Church law, cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote in a papal conclave. Becciu remains within the age limit and argues that no formal decree has barred him from voting.

“There was no explicit will to exclude me from the conclave, nor a request for my renunciation in writing,” Becciu told Sardinian newspaper L’Unione Sarda on Tuesday, renewing debate over his eligibility just days before the College of Cardinals gathers.

The Holy See’s press office has listed him as a non-elector, but legal ambiguity is fueling tensions. The final decision on whether Becciu can cast a vote will fall to Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who will oversee the proceedings in the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican now faces a delicate balancing act. Excluding Becciu without clear legal grounds could open the conclave to future challenges, while allowing a convicted fraudster to vote could cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the process.

Pope Francis, who died Easter Monday at age 88 after complications from pneumonia, made financial reform a cornerstone of his 12-year papacy. He personally amended Church law to ensure that even cardinals could face criminal prosecution by Vatican courts, a move that ultimately led to Becciu’s conviction.

The conclave is expected to begin within 20 days of his death, following centuries-old traditions, with 135 cardinals currently eligible to vote.

Among them is Rwanda’s Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, 67, who will make history as the first Rwandan to take part in a papal election.

To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority is required. Until that consensus is reached, black smoke will rise from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Only white smoke will announce to the world the election of Pope Francis’ successor.

Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the development, stating, “Yes, this is part of the discussions we are having with the U.S.”

Among the minerals the U.S. is eyeing is tantalum, which could soon be processed locally for use in automotive components, such as capacitors.

Rwanda is among the top global producers of tantalum, producing more than 9% of the world’s tantalum used in electronics manufacturing, and only ranks third after Australia ( 54%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (11%).

The talks come as the U.S. intensifies efforts to diversify its sources of critical minerals, amid similar ongoing negotiations with the neighbouring DRC.

Earlier this month, Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump on African Affairs, visited Rwanda and met with President Paul Kagame to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security.

As part of his visit, Boulos toured Rwanda’s Nyakabingo Mine on April 9.

Located in Shyorongi Sector, Rulindo District, the site is one of Africa’s top producers of wolfram, the primary ore used to extract tungsten, a metal essential for aerospace, defence, and technology industries.

Trinity Metals Group, which operates the Nyakabingo site, confirmed hosting Boulos. In a statement, the company said it was “honoured” to welcome the U.S. envoy, noting he was briefed on the mine’s operations and expansion plans.

Producing over 1,000 tonnes of wolfram annually, Nyakabingo plays a vital role in Rwanda’s mining sector. Trinity Metals has committed $40 million in investments across its mining operations, with plans to more than double wolfram production within four years. The mineral is currently exported at 68% purity, primarily to Austria, before being refined abroad.

Rwanda’s mining sector has seen rapid growth, emerging as the country’s top foreign exchange earner. According to figures shared by Prime Minister Dr. Édouard Ngirente in March, mineral exports brought in $1.7 billion in 2024, up from $373 million in 2017.

Gold dominated export revenues, generating $1.5 billion, followed by coltan ($99 million), cassiterite ($96 million), and wolfram ($36 million). The Prime Minister also revealed that Rwanda exported 2,384 tonnes of coltan, 4,861 tonnes of cassiterite, and 2,741 tonnes of wolfram last year.

Dr. Ngirente attributed the sector’s success to modernised mining methods, strategic investments, and a shift toward value addition. He cited the launch of three mineral processing plants—Gasabo Gold Refinery, LuNa Smelter, and Power Resources International Ltd.—as milestones in Rwanda’s journey towards refining its own resources.

“Production has increased significantly, and we are discovering new minerals like lithium and beryllium, which are in high demand globally,” he said.

A formal deal with the U.S. would signal deepening economic ties and highlight Rwanda’s growing influence in the international minerals market.

The truce, facilitated by the State of Qatar, was announced on April 23, 2025, following constructive peace talks in Doha. It comes just weeks after a surprise meeting in Qatar between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi—an encounter that followed a prolonged diplomatic stalemate.

“This joint declaration between the DRC government and the AFC/M23, under the aegis of Qatar, constitutes an important—even decisive—step towards lasting peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, provided that it is implemented in good faith,” Nduhungirehe said in a statement.

Rwanda has consistently denied Kinshasa’s accusations that it supports the M23 rebellion, which has seized significant territory across North and South Kivu provinces. Kigali maintains that its main security concern lies with the continued presence of the FDLR militia inside Congolese territory. The group comprises remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled into the DRC.

The FDLR, which Rwanda considers a serious security threat, has long been accused of collaborating with the Congolese armed forces in operations against the M23. Kigali has repeatedly urged Kinshasa and international stakeholders to address the FDLR issue as part of any lasting peace settlement in the region.

The April agreement sees both the DRC government and the AFC/M23 reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities and the rejection of hate speech and intimidation. The declaration also calls on local communities to support peace efforts and commits both sides to dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of the crisis.

“This momentum for peace in the region includes other initiatives underway in this month of April 2025, in which Rwanda is fully engaged,” Nduhungirehe added.

Multiple regional initiatives, including those spearheaded by the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU), had previously attempted to mediate the standoff between Kigali and Kinshasa, with little success. The Qatari-brokered talks now mark a turning point, not just for DRC and Rwanda, but for broader stability in the Great Lakes region.

Whether the commitments outlined in the declaration will hold remains to be seen.