Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

37 suspected terrorists arrested in East Africa in two months – INTERPOL

In a statement released on Monday, January 27, 2025, INTERPOL said the suspects, including alleged members of the Islamic State (ISIS), were apprehended in November and December 2024.

The joint operation targeted individuals linked to terrorist activities in the region.

Key arrests included 17 individuals in Kenya, among them two suspected ISIS operatives. Authorities also apprehended a suspected member of ISIS Mozambique in Tanzania.

Further arrests were made in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia, where terrorist networks remain active and pose significant threats to regional stability.

Prior to the operation, each participating country prepared an operational plan, gathering intelligence on terror-related targets, including individuals and their known locations.

INTERPOL and AFRIPOL consolidated and analysed this information and shared it with all participating countries, facilitating a significant exchange of criminal intelligence.

During the tactical phase of the operation each country carried out strategic investigations and raids. Police received on-the-ground support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL officers, who provided coordination, logistics and real-time data analysis.

Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Director of Operational Support and Analysis, emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling terrorism.

“East Africa’s complex landscape, marked by political instability, porous borders, and socioeconomic challenges, continues to provide an environment conducive to terrorist activity,” he said.

“These positive results demonstrate the power of international collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”

The region has seen growing concerns over ISIS-linked activities, exacerbated by recent incidents abroad.

On New Year’s Day, a U.S. Army veteran flying an ISIS flag drove into a crowd in New Orleans, killing 15 people. This tragic event has intensified global vigilance and reinforced the urgency of counterterrorism efforts in vulnerable regions like East Africa.

INTERPOL, headquartered in France, continues to work closely with AFRIPOL and national authorities to strengthen security frameworks, disrupt terrorist networks, and ensure justice is served.

January 27, 2025
Mega Global Link opens new office in Canada

Mega Global Link is a renowned company supporting individuals travelling abroad for various purposes, including work, education (long-term and short-term studies), visiting friends and family, tourism, and medical treatment.

The company provides these services in European countries, Canada, the United States, and other regions.

The permit to operate in Toronto was granted to the company by the Canadian government on January 20, 2025.

Dr. Habumugisha Francis, the CEO of Mega Global Link, stated that the company’s services are now fully operational in Canada. He emphasized that those wishing to work in Canada are being supported, as the company has already signed agreements with employment agencies.

Dr. Habumugisha assured clients that the Canada office is equipped with a dedicated team ready to serve them. He extended a warm welcome to those wishing to visit or settle in Canada.

He said, “If you want to travel to Canada with your family, come and let us assist you. Whether you’re coming to work or study, we have signed work agreements to meet your needs. Everything will be handled smoothly.”

Mega Global Link runs a number of branches worldwide, including an office in Kicukiro District in Kigali City, operations in New York in the United States, and several locations in Europe.

In 2024, Mega Global Link was awarded the Abroad Education Agency of the Year by Karisimbi Events for its outstanding service to clients.

The company recently ventured into an online marketplace for fitness equipment and nutritional supplements. The platform offers products designed to improve health and wellness.

January 27, 2025
Solution to DRC conflict cannot be outsourced – Rwanda tells UN Security Council

Ambassador Rwamucyo emphasized that resolving the situation is primarily the DRC’s responsibility, stating that it requires ownership and political goodwill from the Congolese leadership rather than a military solution.

“The solution to this problem cannot be outsourced. It requires ownership and political will, and looking at the root causes of the conflict comprehensively and addressing them,” Ambassador Rwamucyo stated.

The meeting focused on the intensifying fight involving the M23 rebels, the Congolese army (FARDC), and allied forces, including FDLR and Burundian soldiers.

Ambassador Rwamucyo criticized the DRC for undermining peace initiatives and prioritizing military action.

“The DRC has all the necessary tools to achieve a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict,” he said, lamenting that the Congolese government had instead opted for militarization.

He highlighted the deployment of heavy weaponry and additional troops near the Rwandan border, as well as the FARDC’s actions that violated a ceasefire agreement.

According to Ambassador Rwamucyo, the international community has failed to address these violations equitably.

“Unfortunately, we regret that the international community chose to condemn the M23 for extending its territories without condemning FARDC’s military coalition for violating the ceasefire,” he said.

A central issue raised during the speech was the presence of the FDLR, a genocidal militia responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which has operated in eastern Congo for decades.

Ambassador Rwamucyo expressed Rwanda’s frustration over the DRC’s failure to neutralize the group, accusing Kinshasa of forming alliances with the FDLR.

“Today, the FDLR has even moved from being a speculative force to a strategic ally of the Kinshasa government,” he noted, describing the militia’s role in destabilizing the region and spreading genocidal ideologies.

He also pointed to MONUSCO’s controversial involvement, alleging that the UN mission had exceeded its peacekeeping mandate.

“MONUSCO… has now joined a broader coalition with a clearly stated goal, which is to enact regime change in Rwanda,” Ambassador Rwamucyo said, citing DRC President Félix Tshisekedi’s threats to invade Rwanda.

While reiterating Rwanda’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, he called for dialogue between the M23 and the Congolese leadership to resolve longstanding issues.

“We strongly believe that there is no military solution to this problem. It has to be resolved politically, diplomatically, and with the support of all partners acting together,” he said.

“Rwanda stands ready to do its part in making sure a practical solution is found that addresses the concerns of all actors involved on an equal footing.”

The ambassador’s remarks come amid mounting tension in eastern Congo, where the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. Thousands of civilians have been displaced by the ongoing conflict, with reports of indiscriminate shelling and targeted attacks in populated areas.

Various member countries represented at the gathering also expressed concerns over the prevailing security situation in eastern Congo. M23 fighters have been gaining ground, seizing control of areas including Minova, Masisi, Lumbishi, Numbi, Shanje, and Sake, and threatening to capture Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and home to about two million people.

The group announced on Thursday that its mission is to liberate the Congolese people, particularly Rwandophones, whom the group alleges have faced long-standing persecution.

An intense battle between the coalition forces and M23 has claimed the lives of at least 13 foreign soldiers from MONUSCO and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the past three days.

The council members urged M23 to halt its offensive against the coalition forces and called for the resumption of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes to help facilitate an amicable solution to the crisis.

A Head of State summit, which was scheduled for mid-December in Luanda, was postponed after the talks faltered due to the DRC’s refusal to engage directly with M23, despite previous commitments to do so.

January 26, 2025
M23 announces airspace over Goma is closed as clashes intensify

In a statement released on Sunday, January 26, 2025, the fighters accused the coalition forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.

The fighters called for foreign troops working alongside the FARDC to stop killing civilians and immediately withdraw from the country’s territory.

“The coalition forces supporting the Kinshasa regime are using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population,” said M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.

“AFC/M23 calls on all foreign armed forces present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Burundian National Defense Force (FDNB), SAMIDRC, Private Military Companies (MPC) Ajemira, to immediately stop killing our people and leave Congolese soil.”

In recent days, heavy fighting has occurred between government forces (FARDC) and their allies, including SAMIRDC, Burundi’s military, MONUSCO troops, and allied groups such as FDLR and Wazalendo, in areas surrounding the City of Goma, with many FARDC soldiers having been expelled from these areas by the M23.

At least 13 soldiers from MONUSCO and SADC were killed over the last two days as M23 sought to capture Goma.

Meanwhile, M23 on Saturday, January 25, 2025, called for government forces and their allies to lay down their arms within 48 hours to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

Countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States have recently advised their citizens in Goma to leave and seek safer areas.

Yesterday, the UN announced that it had decided to temporarily relocate non-essential staff from Goma following a sharp escalation in hostilities.

In a statement, the UN confirmed that the relocation affects administrative personnel and those whose tasks can be performed remotely. However, the organization emphasized that this decision will not impact its ongoing humanitarian efforts in North Kivu, particularly in providing food, medical aid, and shelter to vulnerable populations.

The relocation will be reassessed as the security situation continues to evolve.

January 26, 2025
FDLR commander Pacifique Ntawunguka ‘Omega’ killed

Reports of the death of Ntawunguka, also known as Omega began circulating on Saturday morning. He is said to have died during clashes between the M23 rebel group and a coalition of forces including the FDLR in Nyiragongo territory.

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe also mentioned the death of Ntawunguka while addressing the ongoing cooperation between the Congolese army, FARDC and the FDLR.

In a post on X, Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that the collaboration was evidenced by a recent visit by the First Lady of the DRC, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, to a hospital to see FDLR fighters injured in combat with the M23 fighters.

“I guess that we don’t need any more evidence of the support that this Rwandan genocidal force, which has spread its extermination ideology to the whole FARDC military coalition, benefits at the highest level in Kinshasa,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated.

He added, “It is worth noting that this visit happened few hours after the permanent neutralization of “General” Pacifique Ntawunguka, the FDLR top commander known as “Omega”, despite the attempts by the FARDC military coalition to save his life.”

Ntawunguka, also known by aliases Mulefu, Nzeri, and Israël, was born in 1964 in Gasebeya Sector, Gaseke Commune, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, now part of Ngororero District in Rwanda’s Western Province.

He attended primary school in Gaseke and secondary school at Rwankeli before enrolling at Collège Christ Roi in Nyanza. Later, he pursued military training at ESM (École Supérieure Militaire) in Kigali. After ESM, he furthered his education in aviation in Egypt, Greece, and France.

When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi began, Omega was leading the 94th Battalion operating in Mutara. He was defeated by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and sustained a leg injury during the fighting before retreating to Kigali.

Following the defeat of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), Omega fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with other ex-FAR members.

Over the years, efforts were made to persuade Ntawunguka to return to Rwanda, but he consistently refused. In 2016, this was highlighted by Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe, who recounted his personal efforts to convince Omega to return.

Gen. Kabarebe stated: “I personally called him and said, ‘Pacifique, you’re educated, a pilot trained in France. You’re not ignorant. You’ve been in the Congo forests for over 20 years.
Don’t you see what you’re doing is futile? You’ll never win this war. Why not reconsider your actions? And we know you didn’t participate in the genocide because you were in France at the time for aviation training. What are you fighting for? Are you afraid of facing justice?’

“He listened to me and replied, ‘General, let me tell you one thing. I will return to Rwanda only when there isn’t a single Tutsi left in that country. If there’s nothing else you wanted to tell me, let’s end this conversation here.’ From that moment, I never spoke to Ntawunguka again.”

January 26, 2025
UN relocates staff from DR Congo’s Goma amid rising tensions

The move comes as the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate due to the advancing M23 rebels and confrontations with the Congolese army and allied militias.

In a statement, the UN confirmed that the relocation affects administrative personnel and those whose tasks can be performed remotely. However, the organization emphasized that this decision will not impact its ongoing humanitarian efforts in North Kivu, particularly in providing food, medical aid, and shelter to vulnerable populations.

The relocation will be reassessed as the security situation continues to evolve.

There have been mounting fears as M23 seized the strategic town of Sake, which had previously served as the last stronghold for government forces ahead of Goma. The group’s territorial gains have raised alarms that Goma, a city home to around two million people, could soon fall under M23 control.

Goma had already been briefly occupied by the rebels in 2012, and now, anxiety is spreading among the displaced populations in the area.

Due to the ongoing instability multiple foreign embassies have issued advisories urging their citizens to evacuate from North Kivu.

M23, which is fighting for the interests of the Tutsi community in eastern Congo, has announced its intention to “liberate” the people of the region, accusing the government of long-standing persecution.

The rebel group has been vocal about its grievances with the Congolese government, accusing it of failing to uphold agreements related to the rights and safety of Rwandophones in eastern DRC.

The ongoing clashes have claimed the lives of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers and left several others wounded in the past few days. Those killed were part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the country.

The military governor of North Kivu Province, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, is also among the recent casualties. M23 announced that Cirimwami was killed on Thursday after travelling to locations near Sake, where the rebels engaged in battle with the government army coalition.

January 26, 2025
13 SADC and UN soldiers killed in confrontation with M23

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed in a statement on Saturday, January 25, 2025, that it lost nine soldiers in two days of intense fighting with the M23 as the group sought to capture Goma.

Seven of the fallen soldiers were part of the South African contingent deployed in eastern DRC in December 2023 as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the country, while two members were from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Additionally, four other soldiers died while fighting to prevent the M23 from capturing the city of Goma—three from Malawi and one from Uruguay, according to international media reports.

The United Nations force entered Congo more than two decades ago and has around 14,000 peacekeepers on the ground. The mission has often faced criticism for its perceived inability to effectively address the security situation in the troubled region.

M23 has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, encircling the eastern city of Goma, which has about 2 million people. The group announced on Thursday that its mission is to liberate the Congolese people, particularly Rwandophones, whom the group alleges have faced long-standing persecution.

M23 had also warned of a potential confrontation with peacekeeping forces from the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and SADC troops after seizing Sake town, accusing them of collaborating with the Congolese army coalition.

The Congolese government coalition comprises FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, troops from the Southern African Development Community, Burundian soldiers, European mercenaries and a host of local Congolese militia groups.

M23’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated that while the group has assured it harbours no hostile intentions toward the peacekeeping forces, they are prepared to defend themselves against attacks.

Earlier M23 had claimed responsibility for the killing of Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu Province. Cirimwami had on Thursday reportedly travelled to locations near Sake where the rebels engaged in battle with the government army coalition.

Since M23 took control of several other areas like Minova and Masisi, the DRC government and international organizations have expressed concern that the group might advance and capture Goma. The group accuses the Congolese government of failing to honour past commitments regarding the interests of the Tutsi community in eastern Congo, which has faced marginalization and persecution for years.

The United Nations announced on Saturday that it had temporarily decided to relocate non-essential staff from Goma due to the deteriorating security situation amid calls for citizens to leave the area.

Meanwhile, various leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have called for a ceasefire and urged that peace talks resume as soon as possible to restore normalcy to the region.

January 26, 2025
DRC conflict: President Macron speaks with Kagame and Tshisekedi

According to a statement from the French Presidency, Macron spoke separately with the two Heads of State on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

President Macron expressed concern over the ongoing situation in North Kivu, particularly around the city of Goma. He called for the M23 rebel group to cease its offensives and urged that peace talks resume as soon as possible. Macron also reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting the peace process.

The discussions took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions, with M23 seizing various territories and recently signalling plans to take control of Goma.

The DRC government, which had previously agreed to negotiate with M23, has now declared it will no longer engage in talks with the group. This reversal disrupted the Luanda peace talks, which were initially scheduled to lead to a December 15, 2024, agreement between Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi but were subsequently postponed.

Negotiations between the DRC and M23 were a key component of the proposed agreements. Mediators have stressed that resolving the conflict involving M23 is essential to addressing the broader issues between Rwanda and the DRC. Without a lasting solution, M23’s actions risk being repeatedly attributed to Rwanda, further perpetuating tensions between the two nations.

President Macron has reiterated that the Luanda peace talks must continue to find a sustainable resolution to the insecurity in the Great Lakes region. He highlighted this point during a discussion in Paris on January 16, 2025, with Angolan President João Lourenço, who serves as the mediator between Rwanda and the DRC.

Speaking to President Lourenço, Macron stated, “The peace process you initiated must move forward, and we urge the continuation of high-level discussions. France, as a close partner, fully supports this mediation and the steps toward peace.”

President Lourenço affirmed his commitment as a mediator to end the decades-long conflict in eastern DRC and restore peaceful relations between Rwanda and the DRC.

The M23 rebel group is primarily fighting for the interests of the Tutsi community in eastern Congo, which has faced marginalization and persecution for years. The group accuses the Congolese government of poor governance and failure to fulfil terms of previous agreements.

January 26, 2025
Trump signs executive order to release remaining files of JFK, RFK, MLK assassinations

“I have now determined that the continued redaction and withholding of information from records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest and the release of these records is long overdue,” Trump said in the executive order.

“And although no Act of Congress directs the release of information pertaining to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have determined that the release of all records in the Federal government’s possession pertaining to each of those assassinations is also in the public interest,” Trump said.

In the executive order, Trump instructed the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to present a plan to him for the “full and complete” release of records relating to the assassination of JFK within 15 days. The Senate has confirmed neither of the nominations.

Trump also directed that they have 45 days to present a plan to release all the RFK and MLK files.

JFK, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder, yet numerous conspiracy theories about the circumstances of Oswald’s dramatic death two days after the assassination remain prevalent even today.

In 1992, Congress required that all documents related to the assassinations be made available to the public within 25 years, by October 26, 2017.

In his first term that started in January 2017, Trump accepted proposed redactions from executive departments and agencies, but ordered the continued re-evaluation of those remaining redactions.

Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, issued subsequent certifications concerning these records in 2021, 2022, and 2023, which gave agencies additional time to review the documents and withhold information from public disclosure, according to the order.

Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said on June 30, 2023 that 99 percent of records associated with JFK’s assassination were available for public consumption through the National Archives and Records Administration.

RFK, another prominent figure from the Kennedy family, was well-known for his roles as a U.S. senator and attorney general. He was assassinated in 1968 during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a son of RFK senior.

MLK stands as one of the most prominent figures in the American civil rights movement. He is widely celebrated for his commitment to nonviolent campaign against racial segregation and inequality, as well as his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

January 24, 2025
North Kivu military governor Peter Cirimwami killed by M23

Through a post on the social media platform X, Kanyuka stated, “General Chirimwami is dead,” describing the military general as the “Commander-in-Chief of the FDLR,” a terrorist group composed of the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

He added: “He was killed in Kasengezi while visiting the front lines to have his photo taken.”

Maj. Gen. Cirimwami was widely known as a strong supporter of armed groups such as Wazalendo and FDLR. He openly demonstrated his role in coordinating operations between the Congolese army (FARDC) and these groups, especially in their conflict with the M23 rebels.

Numerous expert reports have indicated that Maj. Gen. Cirimwami played a key role in strengthening ties between the FDLR, the Congolese government, and its military forces.

The military governor’s killing was reported just hours after the M23 announced its intention to seize the city of Goma, considered the capital of North Kivu Province in DRC.

The group’s political spokesperson stated that the residents of Goma were suffering and promised their liberation.

Earlier in the day the M23 fighters had clashed with Congolese forces near the city of Sake, located just over 20 kilometres from Goma, before seizing the town.

The Congolese military deployed fighter jets in areas near Sake in an attempt to push M23 forces out of the city. Reports indicate that Maj. Gen. Cirimwami had gone to support the troops on the ground but was ultimately killed in the clashes, as confirmed by M23.

M23 forces are not only present in Sake but also control other areas surrounding Goma, including Minova near Lake Kivu and Kibumba in the Nyiragongo territory.

January 24, 2025