Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The disruption, confirmed by internet watchdog NetBlocks, began on Tuesday evening and affected all major internet service providers in the country, including Airtel, Vodacom, Liquid Telecom, and Habari Node.

“Live metrics show X has become unreachable on major internet providers in #Tanzania; the incident comes as a compromised police account posts claims the president has died, angering the country’s leadership,” NetBlocks said in a statement on Mastodon shortly after 9 p.m. EAT.

The clampdown came hours after hackers gained control of the Police Force’s verified X account (@tanpol), which has over 470,000 followers. The hackers used the platform to falsely announce the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and even held a live broadcast.

Authorities have since regained control of the account and launched an investigation.

“This circulating information is entirely false,” said the Police Force in a statement. “The Police Force does not, and would never, publish such content through its official platforms.”

The Force vowed to identify and prosecute those behind the cyberattack.

“Legal action will be taken against any individual found to be involved in creating, disseminating, or amplifying such misleading content,” the statement warned.

The attack was not isolated to the police account. Other verified Tanzanian X accounts were also hacked, including Airtel Tanzania, football club Simba SC and media personality Odemba.

The YouTube channel of Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), was also compromised, with the same false message regarding President Suluhu’s death appearing across these hacked profiles and triggering widespread panic before official clarifications were issued.

The cyberattack follows a tense political climate in Tanzania, with President Suluhu under fire, particularly from Kenyans on X over a recent crackdown on regional activists. The chaos unfolded amid the ongoing trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, which saw several prominent East African figures deported or arrested upon arrival in Dar es Salaam.

Those affected include Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire and a delegation of legal and civil society figures from Kenya.

Former Justice Minister Martha Karua, ex-Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, LSK Council member Gloria Kimani, and activists Lynn Ngugi, Hanifa Adan, and Hussein Khalid were all detained and deported earlier this week, shortly after arriving in Tanzania to attend a court session related to Lissu’s ongoing treason case.

President Suluhu defended the government’s actions during a televised address on Monday, warning against what she described as “interference” by foreign actors.

“We have started to observe a trend in which activists from within our region are attempting to intrude and interfere in our affairs,” she said, calling on security agencies to guard against external influence.

KIFA’s true significance lies not just in its size but in the rapid, precise, and transparent digital auction system that offers a compelling blueprint for the technological transformation of traditional marketplaces.

In contrast to traditional flower auctions, often characterised by manual bidding, slower transactions, limited access for remote buyers, and a lack of pricing transparency, KIFA’s approach is fast, virtual, and fully synchronised.

Every four seconds, a transaction is completed in a high-tech, 900-seat auction hall. Buyers, whether in the room or hundreds of kilometres away in Beijing or Guangzhou, participate in real time through digital platforms.

Think of it as a stock market for flowers; bidders monitor large screens flashing stem quantities, quality grades, and reserve prices, and then place their bids at lightning speed. The system is designed to be efficient, equitable, and scalable. All flowers go through a standardised grading process before entering the auction, eliminating guesswork and disputes about quality.

This auction model is powered by a robust IT infrastructure that connects growers, traders, and buyers across China and beyond. As a result, flowers sold at KIFA reach over 50 countries, including Japan, Russia, Thailand, and Australia, not just swiftly but also with pricing that reflects transparent supply-and-demand dynamics.

KIFA’s integration of remote access platforms is particularly transformative. Through partnerships with centres like the Beijing Flower Trading Centre, off-site participants bid in real time, expanding the auction’s reach beyond physical boundaries. This has opened up opportunities for small and medium-sized traders across China to compete with large-scale wholesalers on a level playing field.

Moreover, payment is as seamless as bidding. Using the Huashangbao app, traders can finalise transactions instantly, with funds transferred and sales tracked electronically. The auction centre boasts an impressive 94% daily turnover rate, with an average stem price of 2.4 yuan.

In peak periods like the 2024 Spring Festival, KIFA processed 11.6 million stems in a single day, generating 100 million yuan in sales, all tracked and settled digitally.

But what good is a fast auction if the flowers wilt before reaching the buyer? KIFA’s logistics network, enhanced by big data and AI, ensures that doesn’t happen. Companies use predictive analytics to forecast regional demand, automate packaging, and optimise delivery routes. Many deliveries are now completed via air freight and high-speed rail, supported by cold chain technology.

This means roses auctioned in the morning can arrive fresh in cities like Shanghai, Tokyo, or Sydney the next day, still dewy with morning moisture.

The tech transformation doesn’t stop at the auction floor. Many of KIFA’s partner farms employ Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and digital twin systems to monitor soil conditions, temperature, humidity, and fertiliser levels in real time.

Data is uploaded to cloud systems, allowing growers to fine-tune every aspect of cultivation. This ensures consistent flower quality, which feeds directly into the standardised grading at auction, creating a virtuous cycle of precision and profit.

KIFA’s model could well be a glimpse into the future of other agricultural commodity markets, particularly in the Global South. By combining digital platforms, logistics intelligence, and real-time financial tools, it overcomes the classic limitations of traditional markets.

According to KIFA data, over 80% of Yunnan’s flowers pass through the auction centre, and 70% of all fresh-cut flowers in China originate from Dou’nan, making KIFA’s impact national in scope.

With 800 to 1,000 tons of flowers shipped daily and hundreds of thousands of people employed directly and indirectly in the sector, technology is not only modernising trade but also sustaining livelihoods.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post after the two-hour phone call about the war in Ukraine, saying Russia and Ukraine would start a negotiation in which the conditions could only be set by the two sides themselves.

“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump wrote.

“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”

Trump noted that Russia wants to “do large-scale TRADE with the United States” when the current catastrophic situation is over and he expressed the belief Ukraine could benefit from trade as well.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country,” the post read.

Trump also said he shared details of the call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other leaders, including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Mons is a city located in the French-speaking region of Wallonia, in the province of Hainaut.

The commemoration began with the laying of wreaths at the Genocide Memorial site located at Place du Parc. The event was also attended by Natacha Vandenberghe, representing the City of Mons.

This year’s ceremony was organised by a group of Rwandan Genocide survivors in collaboration with the Rwandan Diaspora.

Also in attendance were Twagira Mutabazi, President of Ibuka-Mémoire et Justice-Belgique; Ernest Gakuba, head of the Rwandan Diaspora in Belgium; Irène Kamanzi, President of Isôko, an association of Tutsi from the DRC in Europe; Arnold Turagara, head of DRB-Rugari in the Mons region; and other representatives of various organisations.

Ernest Gakuba, President of DRB-Rugari, commended the City of Mons for its principled stance during the commemoration, contrasting it with other localities that he said have politicised remembrance events.

“We thank the leadership of the City of Mons, which did not act like some other municipalities that mixed politics with remembrance. But history will judge them harshly when the time comes. Mons chose the path of unity and humanity,” he stated.

Natacha Vandenberghe, representing the City of Mons, reminded attendees how the Tutsi were killed simply because of their identity and how they were abandoned.

“It was killing those who could not fight back — this was not a war between opposing sides. It was premeditated and organised with the intent that the Tutsi must be exterminated. Even the United Nations has recognised this,” she stated.

Vandenberghe urged people to speak the truth about what happened:

“Let’s call the Genocide by its rightful name. Let us remember, and let us help young people understand this history.”

In his remarks, Twagira Mutabazi, head of Ibuka-Mémoire et Justice-Belgique, discussed the importance of remembrance and the need for survivors to continue rebuilding their lives. He also highlighted recent challenges facing Genocide remembrance efforts in Belgium.

“This commemoration helps young people to continue honoring the eternal value of those we lost in the Genocide against the Tutsi.”

Mutabazi also revealed that he has requested the repatriation of the remains of King Yuhi V Musinga, currently in Belgium, so they can be properly buried in Rwanda.

“I have asked the Rwandan government to do everything possible to bring back King Yuhi V Musinga’s remains to Rwanda, to be reburied at Mwima in Mushirarungu,” Mutabazi said.

Irène Kamanzi, President of Isôko, said she attends these commemorations because she understands their value, but also because she wants to raise awareness that the horrors of the 1994 Genocide are recurring today.

“It is heartbreaking that I am here to speak about what is happening just across Rwanda’s border in the DRC. The killings there are beyond human comprehension, and the Congolese government is watching silently, just as the world did in 1994. Those who once fled Rwanda are now killing us again and establishing a government of genocidaires. I am here to denounce that loudly,” she remarked.

Arnold Turagara, head of DRB-Rugari in the Mons area, said:

“Today, 31 years later, we have gathered again here in Mons to remember our loved ones killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — infants, children, the elderly. But we are not here to weep; we are here to bear witness to the atrocities committed.”

He emphasised that this is to help the younger generation understand what happened, pursue justice, and restore the value of human life.

He thanked the RPF-Inkotanyi for not standing idly by like the international community, but instead choosing to rescue those who could still be saved. He reminded everyone that young people played a key role in that mission and should be seen as role models.

Turagara also expressed gratitude to all who stood in solidarity with them, particularly the City of Mons for its continued support.

Olivier Munyengango, a survivor from Mukarange Parish, shared his testimony during the event. He lost his entire immediate family in the Genocide and was the only one left. His family included five children and their parents. Many extended family members were also killed.

The 31st commemoration event in Mons was held in three parts: a remembrance walk, testimonies and discussions at the Mons Memorial Museum, and a third part in the Jemappes district, where a night vigil and symbolic flame (Igicaniro) took place.

The Igicaniro program featured testimonies, moments of reflection, and a display of photos of both murdered and wiped-out families to highlight their lives and legacies.

This commemoration in Mons is one of many held across Belgium this year, with previous events in cities like Brussels, Liège, Namur, Bruges, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, and Antwerp. Upcoming commemorations will be held in Charleroi on May 24, Tournai on May 31, and Leuven on June 10.

Photos from the first part of the event: laying flowers and the remembrance walk.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the inaugural International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali on Monday, May 19, Kagame outlined three key pillars he said are vital for Africa’s long-term peace and stability: ownership, governance, and cooperation.

Held under the theme “Reshaping Africa’s Landscape in a Dynamic, Complex Global Environment,” the two-day forum at the Kigali Convention Centre brought together continental and global defence, intelligence, and security leaders to tackle urgent challenges and craft joint solutions.

“Africa’s future, particularly in matters of peace and security, cannot be outsourced,” Kagame told the delegates.

“For far too long, our security has been treated as a burden to be managed by others, often without our context or consent. This approach has failed to deliver — both for Africa and for the world.”

Ownership and responsibility

Kagame stressed that the first step is for African nations to take full ownership of their security agendas. He cautioned against blaming foreign interference while simultaneously creating the conditions that invite it.

“Sovereignty is not just about defending borders — it’s about taking responsibility for our security, as individual states and collectively as a continent,” he noted.

The President called for strengthened continental institutions, particularly the African Union and its Peace and Security Council, to ensure that Africa is equipped to handle its internal challenges.

The governance-security nexus

The second pillar, Kagame emphasised, is the interdependence of governance and security. He noted that when one fails, the other is inevitably weakened.

“Security is not just about the absence of threats. It is about creating an environment where people can live with dignity, enjoy their rights, and look to the future with hope and confidence.”

He highlighted the need for governments to build trust by ensuring effective institutions, equitable development, and inclusive politics.

Cooperation and innovation

The third pillar Kagame emphasised is cooperation. In an increasingly borderless world threatened by terrorism, pandemics, cybercrime, and climate-related disasters, he argued no country can secure itself alone.

“Cooperation must be strategic, intentional, and innovative. The key to overcoming security challenges lies in our ability to produce our own solutions,” he said.

He pointed to the exhibition attached to the conference as evidence of the innovation possible when Africa invests in its own capacity and technology.

“Where we have capacity, we must scale it. Where we lack it, this is the time and place to build it — and to cooperate.”

Kagame also appealed to delegates to match political will with technical expertise, aligning national interests with continental priorities.

“Let us leave here not just informed, but more resolved to do more and better,” he added.

Also speaking at the opening session was Moussa Faki Mahamat, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Chair of the ISCA Advisory Council. He hailed the launch of ISCA as “a turning point” for Africa, describing it as a long-overdue strategic space for reflection and dialogue on peace and security matters.

“Africa’s security cannot rely on imported solutions,” Faki said. “We often say and repeat: African solutions to African problems.”

The former AUC boss warned that instability, broken promises, and marginalisation of youth are not merely development failures but drivers of insecurity. Echoing Kagame, he called for clear mandates, sustainable funding, and proactive approaches to regional threats.

Faki said the Institute for Security and Conflict Analysis (ISCA) fills a critical gap by offering a platform for data-driven decision-making, policy innovation, and rigorous debate.

“The future we hope for cannot emerge by chance. It must be shaped with rigour, clarity, and method — but above all, it must be built together.”

The ISCA conference continues on Tuesday with high-level panels and closed-door sessions expected to define strategic pathways for a more secure and self-reliant Africa.