Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

“We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump said from the Oval Office.

“You have a green card. This is a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card.”

Trump indicated that details about the scheme would be revealed in two weeks, with expectations that it could attract a large number of buyers.

When asked whether Russian oligarchs would be eligible to purchase the gold card, Trump responded: “Yeah, possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, appearing alongside Trump, confirmed that the new initiative would replace the EB-5 program, which currently grants green cards to foreign investors who invest in U.S. businesses that generate jobs.

“They’ll have to go through vetting, of course,” Lutnick said, “to make sure they’re wonderful world-class global citizens.”

The EB-5 program, established by Congress in 1990, allows immigrants to obtain green cards by investing at least $1,050,000, or $800,000 in economically distressed areas, to stimulate job creation, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Trump and his family’s businesses have previously benefited from the EB-5 program to fund major property developments. However, the program has faced bipartisan scrutiny, with lawmakers criticizing it as being misused and in need of reform.

During his first term, the Trump administration attempted to increase the minimum investment threshold to $900,000 in targeted areas and $1.8 million in other locations, but a federal judge later overturned the change in 2021 due to procedural issues in its approval.

The EB-5 program was last renewed under President Joe Biden’s administration in 2022, with the investment thresholds adjusted to their current levels.

The proposed gold card program would mark a significant departure from the EB-5 framework by offering direct residency and a path to citizenship at a set price, a move likely to reignite debate over the role of wealth in U.S. immigration policy.

The crash occurred near Wadi Seidna Air Base in Omdurman, one of the army’s key military hubs, shortly after takeoff.

According to a military statement, the Antonov aircraft suffered a technical malfunction that led to the disaster.

A crew of four, along with multiple officers and soldiers, lost their lives in the crash. At least five civilians were also among the casualties, bringing the total number of fatalities to at least 19, according to media reports.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion as the aircraft plummeted into a densely populated area, igniting a fire and damaging several residential buildings.

Residents in northern Omdurman also experienced power outages following the crash. The Karari Resistance Committee, a local volunteer network, confirmed that ten bodies and numerous injured individuals were taken to Al-Nao Hospital. Several survivors suffered severe burns.

The Sudanese army stated that emergency response teams successfully contained the fire at the crash site, while the injured were transported to medical facilities for treatment.

The crash comes amid escalating violence in Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Just a day before the accident, the RSF claimed responsibility for downing a Russian-made Ilyushin aircraft in Nyala, South Darfur, allegedly destroying it with its crew on board.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, former allies turned rivals.

The war has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, with over 29,600 deaths and more than 15 million people displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the rebel group reaffirmed its commitment to a political resolution of the ongoing conflict but condemned what it described as the Kinshasa regime’s “reckless and provocative actions.”

The AFC/M23 says that despite a unilateral ceasefire declared on February 4 and reaffirmed on February 22, the Congolese military (FARDC) and its coalition forces—including the FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and Burundi’s National Defence Force (FNDB)—are reorganizing for full-scale war.

According to the group’s spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, heavy military activity has been observed in conflict zones such as Rusizi Plain, Walikale, Masisi, and Lubero, where reinforcements and military supplies continue to be deployed.

The rebel movement also accused the Kinshasa government of launching targeted attacks against defenceless communities.

On February 25, drone and fighter jet strikes hit villages in Minembwe, including Irundu and Nyarujoka, causing destruction and terror among civilians. Meanwhile, in Uvira town, Kanyuka reported an escalation in the persecution of the Banyamulenge community, citing arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and acts of violence.

AFC/M23 strongly condemned the human rights violations, denouncing what it called the “selective stance” of the international community in addressing the crisis.

The group warned that continued attacks on civilians would escalate tensions, undermine regional peace efforts at the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) levels, and hold the Congolese government responsible for any further deterioration of the situation.

“We urge regional leaders working towards a ceasefire to take immediate action and hold the Government of the DRC accountable for its reckless and provocative actions,” the statement read.

The Congolese government has yet to respond to AFC/M23’s allegations. However, President Tshisekedi’s administration has previously maintained that he won’t dialogue with the group, complicating efforts to find a lasting solution to the security situation in eastern Congo, where the fighters accuse the government of decades of marginalisation and persecution against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.

The crisis has deteriorated in recent months, leading to the capture of Bukavu and Goma, key cities in the South and North Kivu provinces.

The soldiers, who were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), sustained severe injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group in the battle to capture Goma and Sake.

A total of 194 wounded troops were evacuated from Goma to Rubavu, Rwanda, on Monday before being escorted to Kigali International Airport for repatriation.

Among them, 129 were from the Republic of South Africa Battalion, 40 from the Malawi Battalion, and 25 from the Tanzania Battalion.

Some of the wounded soldiers, who suffered life-altering injuries, were confined to wheelchairs, having lost their legs in battle. Others bore signs of grenade injuries, with reports of a young soldier losing his eyesight.

The SANDF said it is working with other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of its remaining wounded personnel during the course of the week.

“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirms that the group of critically injured soldiers who needed urgent medical attention have been successfully repatriated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and will receive high-level medical care. The remainder are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the course of the week,” SANDF said in its statement.

Reports indicate discussions over the soldiers’ repatriation had been ongoing for two weeks, with the United Nations mediating talks with M23 rebels, who have long demanded the withdrawal of SADC forces. Delays in the evacuation process raised concerns, as soldiers endured worsening conditions at the Sake military base.

The evacuation follows mounting calls for South Africa to withdraw from the mission, with 18 SAMIDRC troops killed in recent confrontations, including 14 from South Africa.

The deaths of two Malawian and two Tanzanian soldiers in battles around Sake and Goma have further fueled debates over the future of the SADC mission in the DRC.

Pressure is now mounting on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw troops, with Parliament questioning the justification for the country’s involvement in the conflict. Critics argue that the deployment has placed South African soldiers in unnecessary danger, sacrificing lives in a foreign conflict driven by private interests.

He presented his credentials alongside the ambassadors of Ghana, Slovenia, France, Nepal, and Mongolia in a ceremony that took place at the Royal Palace of Madrid on Monday, February 24.

Nkulikiyimfura, who also serves as Rwanda’s ambassador to France, Italy, Monaco, and Portugal, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties with Spain.

“It has been an honour to present my credentials to His Majesty King Felipe VI,” he said. “I express my deep gratitude to His Majesty and his Government for the solid cooperation with Rwanda in multiple sectors.”

Spain’s government reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic traditions, noting that the presentation of credentials is a longstanding practice dating back to the 18th century.

The ceremony, conducted with full honors, plays a key role in enhancing bilateral ties between Spain and its global partners.

The Letters of Credence formally recognize an ambassador as the highest diplomatic authority of their nation in the host country.

Nkulikiyimfura’s appointment is expected to further enhance Rwanda-Spain relations in various sectors.

The soldiers sustained injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group and were evacuated on medical grounds to receive specialized care in their home countries.

The evacuees include 129 soldiers from the Republic of South Africa Battalion, 40 from the Malawi Battalion, and 25 from the Tanzania Battalion.

They arrived at the Rwandan border at around 1:00 p.m., where they were first searched by security officials before proceeding to have their passports stamped at the immigration office. They remained at the border in Rubavu until the evening, finally departing from the city at around 6:30 p.m. to head toward Kigali.

Some of the soldiers were confined to wheelchairs, having lost their legs in the intense battles they fought. Some were dressed in military uniforms, while others wore civilian clothes.

They were escorted from the La Corniche One-Stop Border Post to Kigali International Airport by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Military Police.

The repatriation follows increasing pressure for the SADC mission to withdraw after 18 soldiers, including 14 from South Africa, were killed in clashes with M23 rebels.

The M23 fighters overpowered the Congolese army and the mission’s forces, capturing Goma and surrounding the remaining troops.

The deadly confrontation also resulted in the deaths of two Malawian and two Tanzanian soldiers during skirmishes in Sake and Goma, North Kivu Province.

Reports of the soldiers’ planned departure from Goma first emerged on Friday. However, the process was delayed at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.

For two weeks, discussions had been ongoing regarding their return, with the United Nations mediating talks with M23 rebels, who have long demanded the withdrawal of SADC forces from the DRC.

Among the injured soldiers, one has reportedly suffered a severe disability, losing both legs. Another, a young soldier, lost his eyesight during the war.

Several others sustained grenade injuries, which led to further complications due to the harsh living conditions they endured at the Sake military base. Reports indicate that among the soldiers, two women are expectant.

The repatriation comes even as South Africa’s Parliament continues to press President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw troops, criticizing the deployment as sacrificing soldiers in a foreign conflict for private interests.

The mounting losses have intensified debates over the country’s continued military involvement in the DRC.