Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Lin said Trump’s methods reflect a businessman’s mentality that overlooks the cooperative, rules-based foundations of global trade.

He made the remarks during a press conference held under the theme “China’s Medium- and Long-Term Development Prospects and the Significance of Its Stable Economic Growth to the World.”

Lin was answering journalists’ questions regarding the ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States.

“Since I am not Trump, I can only infer his thinking from his policies. As a businessman, Trump takes great pride in his negotiation skills. He believes that international trade, economics, and politics can be handled like business deals—by creating advantageous bargaining positions to strike better terms,” Lin said.

He explained that Trump’s strategy is based on the belief that other countries are more dependent on trade with the U.S. and will therefore be forced to yield to pressure. However, Lin warned that such thinking is both flawed and dangerous.

“Trump assumes that, apart from China and the EU, which have economies as large as the U.S., other countries are much smaller. In his view, if you refuse to trade with me, your loss is bigger than mine… But I think there’s a major flaw in his logic. The world still depends on public goods and international rules. Without them, it’s hard to maintain order.”

He added that even small countries shouldn’t give in to unilateral pressure, as doing so could lead to repeated demands—a pattern already seen in U.S. dealings with Canada and Mexico. Lin urged the global community to restore a system based on trust and shared rules.

“Countries like China and the EU won’t easily give in… Even small countries shouldn’t surrender, because if you give in today, tomorrow he’ll ask for more. That’s already happened with Canada and Mexico. Therefore, the world now realises that deals with Trump cannot be trusted. We should restore a rule-based international order. This benefits us, American businesses, and ordinary Americans.”

Lin emphasised that the rest of the world, representing 85% of the global economy, must work together to resist isolationist trade tactics and promote open cooperation.

{{China urges closer ties with Africa
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As global trade tensions continue to rise, China is also calling for stronger alliances with developing countries, especially in Africa, to push back against protectionism and safeguard multilateralism.

Recently, China’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs, Xue Bing, addressed a high-level seminar in Beijing and warned that moves such as decoupling supply chains, erecting trade barriers, and weaponising tariffs are endangering the global economic system, particularly for smaller economies in Africa and the Global South.

“We need to jointly shoulder historical responsibilities and advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. China is ready to work with Africa to remember history, forge ahead together, and jointly uphold the basic rules of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” Xue said.

In 2024, trade between China and Africa reached a record $296 billion, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data. South Africa remained China’s largest African trading partner, with trade totalling $52.4 billion.

To further strengthen these ties, China abolished customs tariffs on imports from 33 African countries in December 2024. The decision aligns with President Xi Jinping’s announcement at the September FOCAC summit of a $50 billion funding package for Africa over three years.

The museum will honour the lives of thousands of Tutsi who were killed in the former Commune Ntongwe, a region that witnessed some of the genocide’s most harrowing atrocities. The facility will feature two sections and is projected to cost Rwf470 million.

“It is a memorial house dedicated to the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi in the Mayaga region,” said Valens Habarurema, the Mayor of Ruhango District.

“It will serve to explain, in detail, how the Tutsi in what was formerly known as Ntongwe Commune were killed. It will be built with the help of experts using advanced tools to preserve and interpret this history.”

The update on the museum’s timeline came as residents, survivors, and government officials gathered at the Ruhango Genocide Memorial to lay wreaths and honour more than 60,000 victims buried at the site. During the ceremony, 38 newly recovered remains were also laid to rest with dignity.

Once completed, the museum will join Rwanda’s growing network of genocide memorial sites. Six major memorial centers—Kigali, Nyamata, Murambi, Bisesero, Ntarama, and Nyarubuye—currently serve as national remembrance spaces, with four of them recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2023.

Beyond serving as a memorial, the Ruhango Genocide Museum is envisioned as an educational and research hub that will remain active year-round. Officials hope it will play a vital role in preserving memory, promoting understanding, and reinforcing Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring such heinous acts never happen again.

“Once completed, it will be visited regularly, not only during the official commemoration period,” Habarurema added.

In a situation update, the Ministry of Health said nine cases of the viral disease had been confirmed in the previous week—five at Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements in Isingiro district and four at Matanda transit centre in Kanungu district.

All three settlements are located in western Uganda.

“Active case searches are ongoing at the community and facility level. VHTs [village health teams] are continuing with door-to-door sensitizations and active case searches,” the ministry said, noting “ongoing screening at the points of entry at the facilities by the triage teams for fever, rashes, dry cough and runny nose.”

Health authorities have launched a measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting newly arrived refugee children aged 6 months to 15 years, the update said.

At least 105 children were vaccinated against measles and rubella at the Matanda transit center on Sunday, it said.

In March, at least two children died from measles and 68 others were diagnosed with the viral disease in a refugee settlement hosting South Sudanese refugees in Uganda’s mid-western district of Kiryandongo.

Measles is a highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing and can lead to severe complications. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

According to the World Health Organization, the symptoms of measles appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected.

From midday on the day of his death, church bells tolled in parishes across the country to mark the beginning of the mourning rites. This tradition, deeply rooted in Catholic liturgy, serves as a public call for prayer and remembrance. It also symbolises the Church entering a time of reflection and spiritual solidarity.

The Archdiocese of Kigali, under the leadership of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, issued a directive for all parishes to ring their bells and begin special prayers for the late pontiff a few hours after the announcement of his death.

In a communique, Cardinal Kambanda urged Christians, particularly members of religious congregations, to dedicate prayers for Pope Francis and for the universal Church during this critical period.

“May all Christians and people of goodwill find strength during this period of mourning. Let us all look to the risen Christ,

According to canon law and Catholic tradition, the Pope must be buried within nine days of his passing. The mourning period, commonly referred to as novemdiales, involves a series of liturgical observances, including Masses and special intentions for the repose of the Pope’s soul.

The Vatican has not yet confirmed the date of Pope Francis’s funeral, but preparations for the conclave—the highly secretive process of electing a new pope—are expected to begin soon.

Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote and must gather within 15 to 20 days of the Pope’s death to begin the election process. A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected.

Until a new pope is chosen, prayers for the Church and its leadership will continue. Rwandan Catholics have been encouraged to use this time not only to mourn but to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis, who championed humility, dialogue, and inclusion throughout his papacy.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected in 2013 and became the first pope from the Americas. During his tenure, he initiated widespread reforms in the Vatican, prioritised the needs of the poor, and challenged the global Church to engage more openly with modern issues.

Cardinals Peter Turkson of Ghana and Robert Sarah of Guinea are both being closely watched. Turkson, 76, has long been an influential voice on social justice, climate change, and human rights. Though he has maintained the Church’s traditional teachings on marriage and priesthood, he has shown a willingness to critique harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Africa, arguing for more compassionate responses.

His moderate stances, combined with decades of experience in Vatican diplomacy, position him as a potential bridge between the global south and Rome.

Robert Sarah, 79, represents the more conservative wing of the Church. A vocal critic of modern gender discourse and a staunch traditionalist, Sarah has previously aligned with former Pope Benedict XVI on issues such as clerical celibacy. His election would signal a sharp turn away from Francis’s progressive reforms.

If chosen, either cardinal would become the first Black pope in centuries—a historic shift at a time when the Church’s fastest-growing populations are in Africa and Asia.

Historically, three African popes served in the early centuries of the Church: Pope Victor I (c. 189–199), Pope Miltiades (311–314), and Pope Gelasius I (492–496). All were of North African origin and played significant roles in shaping early Christianity. Since then, no African has held the papacy, making the current moment particularly significant as the Church grapples with questions of representation and global relevance.

Other frontrunners include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, considered a “continuity candidate” who played a key role in the Vatican’s diplomatic engagement with China and the Middle East. He is viewed as a pragmatic moderate, although his critics argue he compromises too much on doctrine for the sake of diplomacy.

From Asia, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, once seen as a natural heir to Francis, now appears to have lost momentum. Still, his advocacy for the poor and pastoral openness on LGBTQ+ and divorced Catholics make him a figure to watch.

Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, 72, stands out as a leading conservative voice and could represent a break with Francis’s direction. Known for his intellect and defence of doctrine, Erdő has also drawn criticism for aligning with Hungary’s nationalist leadership on migration issues.

On the progressive side, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, of Italy, is closely associated with Francis’s legacy. Known for his peace-building efforts in Ukraine and relatively liberal views on same-sex relationships, Zuppi could carry the torch for a more inclusive Church.

Portugal’s José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, at 59, is among the youngest candidates. Though close to Francis, his age and progressive views—particularly his openness to modern cultural issues—may prove too controversial for traditionalists.

Other names in contention include Malta’s Mario Grech and Italian Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, known for his advocacy for Christians in the Holy Land and his personal sacrifice during the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The election will follow centuries-old Vatican traditions. The College of Cardinals, composed of those under 80 years old, will cast secret ballots inside the Sistine Chapel. For a candidate to win, he must secure a two-thirds majority.

If no consensus is reached in a round, the ballots are burned and black smoke rises from the chapel’s chimney—signalling to the world that the conclave continues. White smoke, however, will announce the moment the Church has chosen its new leader.

In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Kabasinga shared her experiences, ranging from the daily struggles of her job to the broader issues of tracking genocide suspects and the urgent need to combat the rising tide of genocide ideology.

Kabasinga noted that a major challenge in prosecuting genocide suspects lies in identifying them, as many deliberately conceal their identities. Some change their names and nationalities, claiming to be Congolese, Zimbabwean, Malawian, or Cameroonian, which complicates the process of bringing them to justice.

“They change names, claim to be Congolese, Zimbabwean, Malawian, or Cameroonian. So, imagine trying to convince someone in Cameroon that their neighbour took part in the Genocide in Rwanda—it’s not easy,” she explained.

Another major hurdle is the difficulty of international cooperation in extraditing suspects. Countries require detailed documentation before arresting and handing over individuals. This demands that prosecutors in those countries fully understand the gravity of the crimes, which is not always the case.

Kabasinga highlighted legal barriers in some nations, where their laws prevent the extradition of individuals who have acquired citizenship, preferring instead to try them domestically, if at all.

“Some countries question why they should spend millions of dollars prosecuting these individuals, sending them to prison for life. They see it as a financial burden and say, ‘This isn’t our problem.’ That’s one of the core challenges,” she added.

She also pointed to a disturbing trend where some genocide perpetrators seek refuge under the guise of being political opponents of the Rwandan government. This narrative is often accepted by host countries, giving them undeserved protection.

During her time at the ICTR, Kabasinga found it particularly difficult to work with foreign colleagues who lacked an in-depth understanding of Rwanda’s history.

“As a Rwandan, sitting in court and listening to a witness say, ‘I was hiding in a sorghum field,’ the translation into French or English sometimes didn’t capture the full meaning. A judge from Norway, for example, might not even know what sorghum is or how one could hide there. It was hard for us Rwandans because I couldn’t just turn around and explain everything to the court,” Kabasinga recounted.

She recalled the case of François Karera, the former prefect of Kigali, whose trial began in 2006. Prosecutors requested that the entire court visit Rwanda to better understand the history of the Genocide, which proved instrumental in delivering a sound judgment. Karera was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment.

{{Genocide perpetrators should not still be free}}

Kabasinga stressed that, in 2025, it is unacceptable that some individuals who took part in the Genocide against the Tutsi have still not been brought to justice. She warned that this fuels a culture of impunity.

“When countries refuse to prosecute these individuals, the message sent is clear: ‘If it happens again, there will be no consequences.’ That should never be acceptable.”

She further noted with concern that genocide ideology is on the rise, even among the younger generation—a worrying trend that could lead to history repeating itself elsewhere.

She pointed out that some individuals living abroad are engaged in denial and minimisation of the Genocide against the Tutsi and are actively influencing Rwandan youth with their propaganda. Stronger measures are needed to stop this.

Kabasinga called for intensive education of young people about Rwanda’s history so they can recognise and reject false narratives.

She also confirmed that, internationally, efforts to punish those spreading genocide ideology remain weak and inconsistent. She urged nations to take this issue seriously and adopt firm stances.

Kabasinga also emphasized that trivializing genocide ideology must never be tolerated at the international level.

The ministry said Russian troops “remained at previously occupied lines and positions” while Ukrainian troops “attempted to attack the positions of Russian troops” in the Donetsk region overnight.

It added that Ukrainian forces had fired at Russian positions 444 times and counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 26 Russian assault actions have taken place from 00:00 (2100 GMT on Saturday) to noon (0900 GMT), accusing Russia of violating its self-declared ceasefire.

Putin said the truce starts from 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and lasts until midnight on Sunday into Monday (2100 GMT on Sunday). Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine will respond in kind to the ceasefire.