Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The entertainer is among 36 individuals whose applications for Rwandan citizenship were approved and published in Official Gazette No. 14, dated April 7, 2025.

DJ Ira made a passionate appeal to President Kagame for Rwandan citizenship during a citizen outreach program held at BK Arena on March 16, 2025.

During the interaction, she thanked the Head of State for Rwanda’s inclusive opportunities, highlighting how foreign children are given the same chances as Rwandan children.

“I want to thank you for how a foreign child is given the same opportunities as any Rwandan child. I also want to thank you for how a girl child is given the same opportunities as a boy. I have found great blessings in this country. We often meet at various events, and when there’s a dance, I’m one of those who make people dance,” she remarked.

DJ Ira then asked President Kagame if she could be granted Rwandan citizenship and officially become Rwandan.

“My request is to ask for Rwandan citizenship so I can be considered a Rwandan child and be one of yours,” she said.

President Kagame responded affirmatively, stating that he had no objection to her request and encouraged her to complete the legal procedures required to make it official.

The process moved swiftly. Speaking in a recent interview with IGIHE, DJ Ira shared her surprise at being contacted by immigration authorities less than 24 hours after receiving the President’s approval. She was instructed to begin fulfilling the remaining legal obligations, which have now been completed with her official naturalization.

DJ Ira, a rising star in East Africa’s music scene, began her DJ career in 2016 with the mentorship of her cousin, DJ Bissosso.

She moved to Kigali in August 2015 from Burundi, shortly after completing high school, and has since become a recognized figure in Rwanda’s entertainment industry.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2,962.86 points, or 7.87 percent, closing at 40,608.45. The S&P 500 surged 474.13 points, or 9.52 percent, to 5,456.90 – its largest single-day gain since 2008, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 1,857.06 points, or 12.16 percent, to finish at 17,124.97. It was the Nasdaq’s most significant one-day advance since January 2001 and its second-largest ever.

All 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 ended higher. Technology and consumer discretionary sectors led the way, climbing 14.15 percent and 11.36 percent, respectively. Utilities, while still strong, posted the smallest gain of the day, rising 3.91 percent.

Trading volume surged dramatically, with roughly 30 billion shares changing hands – the highest daily volume recorded on Wall Street in the history.

“I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10 percent, also effective immediately,” Trump posted on his Truth Social. Trump, in the same post, said he was raising the tariff on China higher again to 125 percent.

Later in the day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the pause would apply to all countries except China. He noted that base tariff rates would revert to 10 percent during the negotiation period, although sector-specific tariffs would stay in place.

U.S. stocks that had suffered the most under the weight of trade tensions led the market’s comeback. Apple soared more than 15 percent, Nvidia surged nearly 19 percent, and Tesla jumped over 22 percent. Walmart shares also saw a robust rise, gaining 9.6 percent.

“Given how depressed stock prices and sentiment had become, the 90-day pause is sparking a violent rebound, and delaying implementation certainly removes a giant overhang from the market,” said Adam Crisafulli, Vital Knowledge founder. “But – tariffs are not going away. China’s tariff rate is now in triple digit territory, and who knows what happens in 90 days when this pause concludes.”

Still, stocks continued to trend upward into the afternoon session. Investor sentiment improved after Bessent announced he would take the lead in upcoming tariff negotiations. Adding to the optimism, Trump took to Truth Social shortly after the market opened, encouraging investors by saying it was “a great time to buy.”

“This allows for at least a near-term rally, but I would not assume that the bottom has been put in place,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. “Fool me once shame on you; fool me five times, shame on me.”

Boulos, who is touring the Great Lakes region on a diplomatic mission, was warmly welcomed to the facility by Nyirahabineza Valérie, Chairperson of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), alongside other senior officials.

His visit came just a day after holding high-level talks with President Paul Kagame in Kigali, in his capacity as President Donald Trump’s senior advisor.

At Mutobo, Boulos was briefed on Rwanda’s inclusive approach to reintegration, which targets former fighters from groups such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and other militias operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The FDLR is a militia group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Its continued operations and collaboration with the DRC government have fuelled tensions between the two countries for years. Rwanda maintains that the group poses a significant security threat due to its genocidal ideology.

According to RDRC, a highlight of the visit was Boulos’ emotional engagement with members of Phase 74—former FDLR combatants currently undergoing reintegration.

“Mr. Boulos listened to their powerful testimonies and praised Rwanda’s commendable efforts in demobilising and rehabilitating former fighters,” the commission said in a statement.

During the visit, Nyirahabineza reaffirmed Rwanda’s continued resolve to provide a second chance to those abandoning armed groups. She highlighted the Government’s leadership in driving regional stability and healing, stating that peace is possible, with Rwanda leading by example.

Boulos’ remarks at Musanze echoed sentiments shared during his meeting with President Kagame on April 8 at Urugwiro Village. The two discussed strengthening U.S.-Rwanda ties and the shared goal of lasting peace and economic growth in the region.

“We are ready to work with Rwanda to find a durable solution to the decades-long conflict in eastern DRC. Peace in this region is key to unlocking its vast potential,” Boulos stated after the meeting.

He added, “President Kagame committed to this vision of peace, and I can confirm that the United States remains equally committed to helping facilitate a peaceful resolution—one that ensures secure borders and a prosperous regional economy.”

The visit to Kigali and Musanze comes amid renewed diplomatic momentum across the Great Lakes region to find a solution to the conflict between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebels in the east.

Before his visit to Rwanda, Boulos also held talks with Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, William Ruto of Kenya, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda as part of broader U.S. efforts to support peace and stability in DRC.

Following the coalition agreement, Friedrich Merz from CDU/CSU is expected to be elected chancellor next month.

Calling the agreement “a strong plan with which we can jointly move our country forward again,” Merz said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that it is also a clear signal that Germany is getting a government capable of acting and strong in action.

Weeks ahead of the agreement, the CDU/CSU and the SPD had succeeded in amending the Basic Law to loosen the “debt brake” limits on infrastructure and national defense investments.

The future government will reform and invest to keep Germany stable, make it more secure, and make it economically stronger again, and Europe too can rely on Germany, Merz said.

The new coalition government will seek to implement measures such as lowering the corporate income tax and reducing the electricity tax to the European minimum level to improve the competitiveness of the German economy, according to Merz.

In addition, the new government will adopt a new course in migration policy, including measures of enhancing border controls, rejecting asylum seekers, and stepping up the efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

Immigration had become a key topic during Germany’s federal election campaign earlier this year.

Germany is and remains a country of immigration, said Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the SPD, adding that the country protects the rights of citizens with a migration background.

Klingbeil vowed to invest more in securing jobs, attracting talent and providing housing, as well as scrapping excessive bureaucracy to improve government efficiency.

On the U.S. tariff measures, Merz urged a common European response, as well as efforts to restore Germany’s competitiveness and create new jobs.

The key message to U.S. President Donald Trump is that “Germany is back on track,” he said, noting that Germany will fulfill its obligations in terms of defense, and it is willing to strengthen its own competitiveness.

“That is not just Germany,” Merz added, stressing that Germany will again be a very strong partner within the European Union.

The high-stakes meeting had been billed as the first formal engagement between Kinshasa and the M23 since the rebel group seized control of Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in eastern Congo.

Though no official reason has been given for the delay, sources from both camps indicated that invitations for the session had not been dispatched as of Monday.

A Congolese official attributed the postponement to logistical challenges, saying, “It’s simply a matter of organization.”

However, behind the scenes, the delay appears more politically charged. The rebel alliance has issued a list of six preconditions it insists must be met by President Félix Tshisekedi’s government before entering any meaningful negotiations.

The demands include a public declaration from President Tshisekedi showing commitment to direct talks, the repeal of restrictive parliamentary resolutions, the cancellation of death sentences and arrest warrants for AFC/M23 leaders, the release of alleged sympathizers detained based on ethnicity or association, and an end to hate speech and discriminatory practices against Swahili and Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese. The rebels also want a formal bilateral ceasefire agreement signed before talks proceed.

The talks were arranged following a surprise meeting in Doha between President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, mediated by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed on the need for a ceasefire and urged Congolese factions to pursue dialogue.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of Tshisekedi’s claims that Rwanda is supporting M23’s offensive in the east. Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations, insisting that its primary concern is the continued presence of the FDLR in the DRC. Rwanda maintains that the militia group, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, poses a significant threat to Rwanda’s security due to its genocidal ideology.

Just two days before the Kagame–Tshisekedi meeting in Doha, AFC/M23 rebels had withdrawn from planned talks with Kinshasa in Angola, in protest against international sanctions imposed on members of the group.

The M23, which now controls nearly half of Eastern Congo, had been advancing rapidly towards Kisangani—the country’s third-largest city—until the Qatari-brokered ceasefire halted their movement.

The rebel leadership, including Corneille Nangaa (AFC President), Bertrand Bisimwa (M23 Political Head), and Major General Sultani Makenga (Military Commander), are currently facing death sentences issued in absentia by a Congolese military court.

The government has placed bounties of up to $5 million on their capture, with an additional $4 million reward for their alleged accomplices.

Justice Minister Constant Mutamba defended the rewards in March, calling the rebel leaders “fugitives guilty of treason and war crimes.”

But Nangaa, speaking from an undisclosed location believed to be within rebel-held North Kivu, dismissed the move as an act of desperation.

“This so-called trial and the baseless punishments are a clear sign of a regime gripped by panic and on the verge of collapse,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether Tshisekedi’s administration will heed the rebel alliance’s demands and pave the way for direct talks aimed at silencing the guns in eastern DRC for good.

The accusations stem from revelations that the suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, had reportedly tried to obtain advanced military weapons from Ukraine in preparation for an attack on Trump.

In a post on X on Tuesday, April 8, Trump Jr. blasted Kyiv for failing to alert U.S. authorities about Routh’s attempt to source weapons through contacts he believed were tied to Ukraine’s military.

“If you think it’s bad that Ukraine never said thank you for everything the United States has done for them,” Trump Jr. wrote, “the fact that they seemingly did not tell us that this sociopath literally tried to buy arms from them to assassinate my father seems like a much bigger deal. Wonder why?!?”

Court documents made public this week reveal that Routh, a convicted felon and pro-Ukraine activist, was arrested near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in September 2024. Authorities say he was carrying a rifle and had previously attempted to obtain a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a Stinger missile from a source he believed had access to Ukraine’s arsenal.

According to filings by the U.S. Department of Justice, Routh used encrypted messaging apps to contact what he thought was a Ukrainian weapons supplier.

In one of the messages, he allegedly stated, “I need the equipment so that Trump don’t get elected,” suggesting clear intent to use the weapons for political violence.

Despite his failure to join the Ukrainian military in 2022, Routh remained involved in activities connected to the conflict, including efforts to recruit former Afghan soldiers to fight for Ukraine.

U.S. prosecutors claim he viewed the wartime chaos as an opportunity to acquire heavy weapons discreetly, telling his contact that “one missing [weapon] would not be noticed.”

Routh never received the arms he sought and was apprehended shortly after his last known attempt to secure the weapons. He currently remains in custody and faces a possible life sentence if convicted. His trial is scheduled for later this year.

Ukrainian military officials have acknowledged that Routh made multiple efforts to enlist, but they deny any official connection to him. The Ukrainian government has not responded publicly to Trump Jr.’s accusations of a cover-up.

The incident is linked to one of two assassination attempts on Donald Trump during the 2024 election cycle. The more widely known attempt occurred in July at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a rooftop gunman opened fire, injuring Trump and killing a supporter. The assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents on the scene.