The SADC secretariat said in a statement on Wednesday that the extraordinary meeting, to be chaired by SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will be preceded by meetings of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials and the SADC Council of Ministers.
The regional economic community comprises 16 member states, including the DRC. The other members are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
The extraordinary summit comes at a time when SADC soldiers on a mission in the DRC have sustained several casualties, including 13 from South Africa alone in the past week, as they helped the Congolese army combat the M23’s advance toward the city of Goma, which eventually fell to the rebels on Monday.
SAMIDRC, comprising South African, Tanzanian, and Malawian troops, was deployed in the country in December 2023 with a robust mandate to defeat M23 and other rebel groups.
In November 2024, SADC extended the mandate of its mission in the DRC by one year amid continued fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 group which is fighting against a systematic persecution of the Tutsi minority community.
The meeting also comes a day after leaders from the East African Community (EAC) convened a similar summit on Wednesday night. They urged the government of the DRC to engage directly with M23 rebels and other armed groups in an effort to resolve the escalating crisis in the country’s east.
In a post-summit statement, the leaders emphasized that a peaceful settlement is the only viable solution to the ongoing crisis.
“The summit called for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts and strongly urged the government of the DRC to directly engage with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups that have grievances,” the statement read.
Notably absent from the summit was DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, who has previously resisted direct negotiations with M23, labeling them a terrorist group. His absence has raised concerns about Kinshasa’s willingness to embrace dialogue, even as pressure mounts for a political resolution to the conflict.
Beyond the push for dialogue, the summit also demanded an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected populations.
Acknowledging SADC’s role, the EAC summit proposed a joint EAC-SADC meeting to coordinate responses.
“The summit decided on a joint EAC-SADC summit to deliberate on the way forward and mandated the chairperson to consult with the chairperson of SADC on the urgent convening of the same in the next few days,” the leaders resolved.
The new initiative introduces cutting-edge cultivation technology to Rwanda for the first time as part of a collaborative effort among R-GATE Hachimantai Ltd , National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Rwanda Office.
The lab is located at the NAEB offices in Gikondo. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Dr. Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI); Isao Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda; Takahiro Sasaki, Mayor of Hachimantai City; and Minako Shiotsuka, Chief Representative of JICA Rwanda.
Other officials present included representatives of key project partners, such as Yoshiyuki Sato, Managing Director of R-Gate Hachimantai Ltd.; Shungo Harada, Managing Director of Bloom Hills Rwanda Ltd.; and hosted by Sandrine Urujeni, Chief Operations Officer of NAEB.
The Gentian-in-Rwanda project was launched in 2015, with Japanese companies, including Bloom Hills Rwanda Ltd., cultivating gentian flowers in Rwanda and exporting them to the European market in partnership with Hachimantai City.
Led by the Japanese local government Hachimantai City, the project leverages the city’s intellectual property of plant varieties to license overseas multiplication on farms like Rwanda’s Nyacyonga Flower Park.
The new project, titled “SDGs Business Verification Survey with the Private Sector for High-Quality Flower Young Plants Production Utilizing Tissue Culture Technology in Rwanda,” is funded by JICA. It aims to enhance the Gentian-in-Rwanda project by using innovative tissue culture technology to produce seedlings for pot plants and develop a value-added and competitive gentian flower industry, boosting exports.
Speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration held at the Marriott Hotel, Sandrine Urujeni, NAEB’s Chief Operations Officer, said the project is poised to advance Rwanda’s floriculture industry by establishing a technological foundation. It has been piloting the export of planting materials (cuttings) since 2023 and the first commercial lot for export to Europe is planned for 2026.
“This laboratory will help us truly bridge the gap in having clean and abundant planting materials for summer flowers,” Urujeni stated.
Minako Shiotsuka, Chief Representative of JICA Rwanda, attributed the project’s success to strong Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“In our journey so far, Public-Private Partnerships have become an increasingly important strategy for JICA to promote greater investment from Japanese companies for the development of Rwanda’s industries,” she remarked.
Dr. Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary of MINAGRI, affirmed that the collaboration between JICA, the Japanese private sector, and Rwanda aligns with the country’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST1 and NST2), which focuses on economic transformation through rapid growth and job creation.
During Phase 1 of the project, Rwanda successfully exported 2 million stems of gentian flowers annually, creating 500 jobs and generating $999,618 over the past five years. Through this initiative, Rwanda has become the world’s largest overseas production centre for gentian flowers.
“The achievements at Nyacyonga Flower Park demonstrate the potential for replication in other regions, amplifying the economic impact and fostering smallholder farming,” Kamana noted.
Over the last five years, export revenues from floriculture exceeded $25 million. It achieved a 1.4% increase in export growth and a 1.3% revenue growth between 2018 and 2023.
With ongoing investments in both existing and new farms, targeting a wide variety of flowers such as gentians for diverse markets, Kamana stated that Rwanda envisions floriculture contributing over $40 million in annual export revenues by 2030.
Japan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Isao Fukushima, highlighted the collaboration as a testament to the strong ties between the two nations. He expressed confidence that the new initiative would support Rwanda’s development goals under NST2 by unlocking the potential of its agriculture sector and encouraging investment and innovation.
“The success of this project shines a bright light on a new path, leading us to the next chapter of Japan-Rwanda friendship,” Ambassador Fukushima remarked.
Takahiro Sasaki, Mayor of Hachimantai City, also praised the partnership between Japan and Rwanda, affirming that the ongoing collaboration will create significant employment opportunities and contribute to expanding exports.
“We will continue working together to develop Rwanda. Hachimantai City will not cease its cooperation and support for Rwanda’s development,” Sasaki stated.
The regional leaders convened virtually on January 29, 2025, for the 24th extraordinary summit to address the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC, which early this week culminated in the capture of Goma, the capital and largest city of the North Kivu Province.
In a post-summit statement, the leaders emphasized that a peaceful settlement is the only viable solution to the ongoing crisis.
“The summit called for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts and strongly urged the government of the DRC to directly engage with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups that have grievances,” the statement read.
Notably absent from the summit was DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, who has previously resisted direct negotiations with M23, labeling them a terrorist group. His absence has raised concerns about Kinshasa’s willingness to embrace dialogue, even as pressure mounts for a political resolution to the conflict.
Beyond the push for dialogue, the summit also demanded an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected populations.
“The summit called on all parties to the conflict in eastern DRC to cease hostilities, observe an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population,” the leaders said.
The meeting further condemned recent attacks on diplomatic missions in Kinshasa, urging the Congolese government to ensure the safety of foreign embassies, diplomats, and their staff.
Violent protests were witnessed in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, on Tuesday as demonstrators targeted multiple foreign missions in response to the fall of Goma to the M23 group fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi community. The mobs attacked the embassies of Rwanda, the United States, France, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya.
The security crisis in eastern DRC has drawn increased involvement from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has deployed regional forces to assist the Congolese military. South Africa, in particular, has sent 2,900 troops as part of a broader effort to combat armed groups, with at least 13 soldiers confirmed dead in recent clashes.
Acknowledging SADC’s role, the EAC summit proposed a joint EAC-SADC meeting to coordinate responses.
“The summit decided on a joint EAC-SADC summit to deliberate on the way forward and mandated the chairperson to consult with the chairperson of SADC on the urgent convening of the same in the next few days,” the leaders resolved.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chaired the summit in his capacity as the chair of EAC, has previously argued that a military solution alone will not end the conflict.
“Engagement, dialogue, and consultations are the only viable way out of the situation in DRC,” Ruto said earlier this week. “A direct engagement with M23 and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in eastern DRC is a necessity.”
The summit was attended by EAC leaders, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The MoU was signed by the Inspector General of the Rwanda National Police, Felix Namuhoranye, and the Director General of the Djibouti National Police, Colonel Farah Abdillahi Abdi, on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 26th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Council of Police Chiefs Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kigali.
The Rwanda National Police stated that the agreement marks a significant step toward strengthening regional security and collaboration.
Rwanda has forged similar agreements with several other countries to strengthen international cooperation in policing and security in recent years. These countries include Ethiopia, Dubai Police, Botswana, and Qatar.
The AGM brought together police chiefs and representatives from EAPCCO’s 14 member states, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia.
During the event, IGP Namuhoranye assumed the role of EAPCCO Chairperson, succeeding Brig. Gen. Joseph Ninteretse of Burundi.
Addressing the delegates, IGP Namuhoranye emphasized the importance of a shared vision in tackling contemporary security threats.
He will lead the regional police organization for a year, overseeing efforts to promote and strengthen cooperation, as well as joint strategies against cross-border and transnational organized crime.
Expressing gratitude to his predecessor, he acknowledged the region’s ongoing policing and security challenges, but stressed that they are surmountable.
“The most important thing is to maintain and enhance our unity of purpose, shared values, and commitment to working together to fulfill our organization’s mandate,” CG Namuhoranye said.
He added that strengthened cooperation and close collaboration would further enhance the organization’s impact and effectiveness.
IGP Namuhoranye also highlighted the need for strategies to improve interoperability between EAPCCO and other regional, continental, and international organizations.
“We need to develop practical and real-time solutions to address contemporary security threats. We must become more agile, innovative, and proactive,” he stated.
He underscored that issues such as terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human smuggling can only be effectively addressed through prioritized, practical actions—including timely information and intelligence sharing, joint operations, and ensuring that officers are well-trained and equipped for the task.
In an address at the opening session of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam Monday, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said the Islamic Development Bank announced 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in support, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 1.5 billion dollars and the OPEC Fund 2 billion dollars.
Adesina said the AfDB and the World Bank would commit 40 billion dollars toward Mission 300, with 18.2 billion dollars from the AfDB and 22 billion dollars from the World Bank Group. He said access to electricity is critical to Africa’s economic growth, adding that the lack of adequate electricity reduces Africa’s gross domestic product by 2 percent to 4 percent annually.
Adesina said in implementing Mission 300, critical reforms will be needed to expand the share of renewables, improve the functioning and performance of utilities, and ensure transparency in licensing, power purchase agreements, and predictable tariff regimes that reflect the cost of production.
“The private sector will also be critical in expanding mini-grids and off-grid systems to reach millions of people without access to grid-based power in rural areas,” said the AfDB chief.
Opening the summit that brought together 25 African heads of state and 2,600 delegates, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Mission 300 would help accelerate her country’s ambitious national clean cooking strategy aimed at ensuring that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking solutions by the year 2034.
Lt Col Ngoma voiced his displeasure during a brief encounter at the Grande Barrière border post with one of the mercenaries who had been fighting alongside the Congolese army, FARDC, and other allied forces and militias to combat the M23 in eastern Congo.
The more than 280 mercenaries, mostly from Romania, were fleeing Goma through Rwanda after the city was captured by M23 fighters on Monday.
Before being handed over to the Rwandan side, Lt Col Ngoma was seen confronting one of the mercenaries, believed to be the commander of the unit.
He told the mercenary that the M23 is fighting for the future of the Congolese children and that they should stay out of the war.
“We are fighting for the future of our children. We have a rich country, but we have foolish leaders. Every month, you get paid $8,000, but a Congolese soldier earns less than $100. Don’t fool us. We want Congo to be a respectable country. Don’t bring your games here. Don’t ever bring your games back to Congo, do you understand? We are fighting for our future,” he said angrily.
Lt Col Ngoma then instructed the commander to sit down, cross his legs, and put his hands on his head. The mercenary complied, and after a brief moment, Lt Col Ngoma told him to stand up and join the others.
Since M23 took control of the city of Goma, many government soldiers there surrendered, while others fled to Rwanda. The European mercenaries, however, handed themselves over to MONUSCO peacekeepers, who confiscated their weapons.
In Goma, around 800 mercenaries from the RALF group were stationed in North Kivu, where they also protected the town of Sake.
They were all hired by Horațiu Potra from Romania, who was arrested in December by the Romanian government for violating laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement.
The mercenaries are expected to be flown home from Kigali International Airport later on Wednesday.
Foreign organisations operating in Goma including the United Nations requested to evacuate their staff and families through Rwanda following the closure of the Goma airspace and waterways last week.
M23, which is fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi community in DRC, had accused the Congolese army and allied forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
Rwanda Ntabwo ari Congo 😁😁😁😁
Lt colonel Willy Ngoma arimo arakora nk’umusirikare wenyewe uri ku rugamba😁
Ati mwabajinga mwe muzi ibyo mwakoze hano, muri imfungwa z’intambara ati kwanza wewe icara hasi nonaha
Inspector General of Police (IGP) CG Félix Namuhoranye assumed responsibility as the new chairperson of EAPCCO, succeeding Brigadier General Joseph Ninteretse, the IGP of Burundi National Police, at the 26th EAPCCO Council of Police Chiefs Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kigali.
The 26th EAPCCO AGM, themed “Strengthening Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation to Counter Terrorism, Transnational Organized, and Emerging Crimes,” was opened by Minister of Interior Vincent Biruta. The meeting was attended by police chiefs and their representatives from EAPCCO member states.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Kigali Convention Centre, Ninteretse emphasized that the transition of leadership to Rwanda signifies that the organization will continue to expand and fulfil its responsibilities in promoting regional security.
“As I hand over the leadership today, I am proud to leave this position in good hands. I believe the region will achieve great things during this term of EAPCCO leadership,” he said.
Ninteretse also praised the warm welcome he received in Rwanda and wished the participants of the AGM success in collaborating to find solutions to ongoing regional issues.
He stated that police forces in the region should strengthen cooperation and information sharing to effectively manage the security of citizens in member countries.
“As EAPCCO, we must come together in collaboration, sharing information and expertise to combat terrorism. We cannot achieve this unless we work together, with our police forces collaborating beyond borders, setting aside political differences and focusing on our shared goals,” he emphasized.
He highlighted that criminals have changed their tactics, and therefore, new strategies, including regional cooperation in data collection, crime investigation, and the use of technology, should be implemented to counter these evolving threats.
He also noted that during Burundi’s leadership of EAPCCO, significant achievements had been made, including signing a cooperation agreement with China.
On his part, Rwanda’s police chief, Namuhoranye, affirmed that the responsibilities entrusted to him for leading EAPCCO over the next year would be carried out diligently for the benefit of the member states.
“I understand the responsibilities that come with this position. But one thing I know is that, with your support, we will achieve much,” he said.
“As you all know, the region faces security challenges, but these challenges can be overcome. The key is to preserve and promote unity, cooperation in fulfilling the organization’s duties,” he added.
Minister Biruta also called on the police forces in the region to strengthen collaboration, foster good cooperation, and share information in the fight against crime and to promote security for the people of the region.
Founded in 1998 in Kampala, Uganda, EAPCCO was established as a regional response to the increasing threat posed by transnational and organized crimes. The organization aims to unite law enforcement agencies in Eastern Africa to combat these shared threats.
The 14 member countries of EAPCCO include Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia.
The mercenaries, from the RALF group, a private military company based in Romania, had been collaborating with FARDC to combat the M23 since 2022.
They suffered a setback when M23 fighters defeated the coalition forces and captured the city of Goma on Monday, forcing them to surrender to MONUSCO peacekeepers.
On Wednesday, the mercenaries were granted safe passage through Rwanda to return home from Goma.
They now join thousands of people fleeing the conflict region who have been granted safe passage by the Rwandan government through the Grande Barrier border. Others include nearly 2,000 United Nations personnel and their families, as well as at least 40 World Bank employees.
The UN requested to evacuate their staff and families through Rwanda following the closure of the Goma airspace and waterways last week. M23, which is fighting for the rights of the minority Tusi community in DRC, had accused the Congolese army and allied forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
In the city of Goma, there were around 800 mercenaries from the RALF group stationed in North Kivu, where they also protected the town of Sake. They were all hired by Horațiu Potra from Romania, who was arrested in December by the Romanian government for violating laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement.
Additionally, there were 20 other mercenaries from the Bulgarian Agemira group.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from the rice sector to assess progress, discuss challenges, and advocate for increased investment to strengthen the sector’s development.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, emphasized the importance of improving rice productivity and aligning production with market demands.
“The rice value chain has become a critical part of Rwanda’s food systems. Income from rice cultivation contributes to improved livelihoods in rural areas and drives national economic growth,” he stated.
The event was organized under the leadership of Ms. Alice Mukamugena, the Director General of Agriculture Value Chain Management and Trade at MINAGRI, who highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving the sector’s goals.
“This meeting provides an essential platform for stakeholders to share progress, identify challenges, and work together toward solutions for the growth of Rwanda’s rice sector,” she remarked.
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During the meeting, updates on the progress of the rice sector over the past five years were shared. The area under rice cultivation expanded from 29,600 hectares to 34,900 hectares, and annual paddy rice production increased from 116,500 to 141,900 metric tons.
Post-harvest infrastructure has also improved, with 585 drying grounds now capable of processing 14,495 metric tons of paddy rice. Additionally, 28 rice milling companies currently operate in Rwanda, 14 of which are certified by the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).
These companies are organized under the Rwanda Forum for Rice Millers (RFRM), an industry body that promotes coordination, advocates for millers’ needs, and works to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the rice milling sector.
Farmer cooperatives were also recognized as key drivers of the rice sector’s development. The sector is supported by 120 cooperatives, of which 75 are organized into unions under the National Federation of Rice Farmers’ Cooperatives (FUCORIRWA). FUCORIRWA plays a vital role in coordinating activities across the value chain, from production to marketing, ensuring that farmers’ interests are well-represented and their productivity enhanced.
The meeting also featured participation from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), which plays a critical role in addressing the challenges of rice breeding and seed production. RAB collaborates with research institutions and private sector partners to develop high-yield, resilient rice varieties. Its efforts have been instrumental in improving seed availability, but gaps in the seed system remain a key barrier, highlighting the need for continued investment in seed production and distribution systems.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain. Only 55% of the potential area for rice cultivation has been developed, and climate change impacts, such as flash floods and water scarcity, pose risks to rice farming. Furthermore, low utilization rates of local rice mills—currently operating at 47% capacity—and gaps in post-harvest infrastructure constrain the sector’s potential. Rwanda continues to import 78% of its rice to meet demand.
“These challenges also present untapped opportunities for investment,” Dr. Bagabe noted, urging stakeholders to collaborate on solutions. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the National Rice Development Strategy-2 (NRDS-2) in alignment with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5).
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Ms. Shiotsuka Minako, Chief Representative of JICA in Rwanda, addressed the audience, highlighting JICA’s support for the rice sector through the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) initiative.
She explained that Rwanda has been an active member of CARD since its launch in 2010, which aims to double rice production across Africa. Under this initiative, Rwanda successfully implemented its first National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS-1) and is now making strides with NRDS-2 (2020–2030).
Ms. Shiotsuka commended MINAGRI for its leadership and reiterated JICA’s commitment to providing technical support and capacity building to further enhance the rice value chain in Rwanda.
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The NRDS-2 aims to triple domestic rice production to 390,000 metric tons by 2030. This will be achieved by expanding the area under rice cultivation to 60,000 hectares and increasing productivity to 6.5 metric tons per hectare. MINAGRI and RAB will play central roles in driving this transformation, providing strategic leadership and ensuring that necessary investments and policies are implemented to strengthen the entire rice value chain.
By supporting these efforts, FUCORIRWA and RFRM will foster coordination among farmers and millers, advocate for their needs, and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of rice production and processing. RAB’s leadership in rice breeding and seed production will also remain critical to boosting productivity and ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality, resilient seeds.
Ms. Mukamugena, in her closing remarks, reiterated the importance of collective efforts in achieving the sector’s goals.
“The growth of the rice sector requires collaboration not only from the government but also from all stakeholders. Together, we can achieve sustainable development in this vital sector,” she concluded.
The National Communication Authority (NCA), the industry regulator, said the aim of addressing graphic and defamatory content has been successfully achieved.
“The rise of violence linked to social media content in South Sudan underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of online incitement while protecting the rights of the population,” NCA Director General Napoleon Adok Gai said in a letter to telecommunications operators and internet service providers in the country.
The temporary ban followed a week-long suspension of the platforms, which began on January 22 after two days of riots that saw people killed, and shops looted and vandalized.
According to police, a total of 17 Sudanese nationals lost their lives across South Sudan in the night riots.
Several South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that shows the killings of South Sudanese nationals by the Sudanese Armed Forces on January 11 in Wad Madani, Al Jazirah State, Sudan.
Gai said the South Sudanese refugees in Wad Madani were subjected to violent attacks resulting in the deaths of women and children, subsequently captured in videos and shared on social media without regard.
The footage sparked deadly violent riots, particularly in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and in three states: Warrap, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, and Warrap.
Gai said the ban was imposed to curb the circulation of content deemed to incite violence and instability.
The industry regulator, however, lauded internet service providers and mobile network operators for their cooperation during the blockade and urged stakeholders, including platform operators Meta and TikTok, to strengthen monitoring and report harmful content to prevent future incidents.
“The lifting of the blockage is part of our efforts to foster a safer digital environment and promote peace and stability in the country,” Gai said, adding that the regulator will be reaching out to all stakeholders in the future to avoid similar shutdowns.
