Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, the Team Leader at Leonard Cheelo Police Post under Kanyama Police Station, reportedly freed the suspects after seizing the cell keys from a female officer on duty.
According to police, the incident occurred on December 31, 2024, at around 10:00 a.m.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that Detective Inspector Phiri, in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys from Woman Constable Serah Banda,” said Rae Hamoonga, the Police Public Relations Officer.
Phiri allegedly unlocked both the male and female cells and instructed the 15 suspects in custody to leave, stating they were free to “cross over into the New Year.”
Thirteen of the detainees took the opportunity to escape. The officer fled the scene shortly after, disappearing into a nearby compound.
Among the escapees are individuals charged with offences ranging from theft and assault to drug possession and gender-based violence.
Authorities have launched a manhunt to recapture the fugitives and are urging the public to provide any information that could assist in locating them.
“All the suspects remain at large. A docket of the case has been opened, and a manhunt has been launched,” the statement read.
The Zambia Police Service condemned the actions of Detective Inspector Phiri, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining law and order.
“Decisive action will be taken against any officer found to be abusing their authority or acting contrary to the law,” Hamoonga assured.
The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) had earlier announced that the first group of boarding students is scheduled to return to their schools on January 3, 2025.
Congestion has been reported at various bus stations across Kigali, where students board vehicles to return to school, making it difficult for some to find transport.
Joseph Rutajobwa, an employee of Virunga Express, explained that the transportation challenges faced by students are largely due to non-compliance with the set return schedule.
“The problem is that students do not respect their designated days. For instance, if students from the Southern Province are assigned a specific date, they often fail to travel on that date and instead show up on other days, leading to overcrowding and delays,” he stated.
Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, the Kigali City Director General in Charge of Communication and Education, stated that some parents have developed a habit of disregarding the schedule for returning students, creating challenges for service providers.
“When parents fail to follow the schedule, it becomes challenging for us as the Kigali City administration, and it also creates difficulties for transportation companies. These companies cannot combine students with other passengers, as students travel under standard fares without additional charges,” Ntirenganya explained:
Ntirenganya warned parents who delay their children’s return to school, stating that penalties will be introduced.
“Penalties will be implemented, requiring parents to either comply with the schedule or make personal arrangements to transport their children to school.”
NESA has indicated that the final group of boarding students is expected to return to school by January 6, 2025.
According to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), titled Statistical Yearbook 2024, the number of registered vehicles in the country increased from 268,537 in 2021 to 330,166 in 2023.
The increase in vehicle imports aligns with the rising demand for permanent driving licenses. Over the past three years, 143,864 residents obtained permanent driving licenses.
The growth reflects a surge in economic activity and an increasing appetite for personal and commercial transportation options.
Motorcycles continue to dominate the registered vehicle market, with registrations increasing from 141,532 in 2021 to 177,187 in 2023. Cars and jeeps followed suit, growing from 43,182 to 51,262 over the same period.
Other categories of vehicles also experienced growth, with buses increasing from 6,213 to 7,142 and trucks from 24,564 to 28,612. Additionally, trailers saw a rise from 2,169 to 2,559, and special equipment vehicles used in construction and agriculture grew from 2,877 to 3,404.
The growth could be attributed to several factors, including improvements in infrastructure, favourable import policies, and a growing middle class.
Regionally, Rwanda’s trade partnerships with the COMESA and SADC blocs have also contributed to this trend. Imports from the COMESA region alone surged from $153.14 million in earlier years to $368.56 million.
However, the increase in motor vehicle imports also presents challenges, particularly concerning urban congestion and environmental impact. The government has been proactive in addressing these issues by promoting the use of electric and hybrid vehicles. Several policy measures are in place to encourage sustainable transport solutions, including tax incentives for environmentally friendly vehicles.
As Rwanda’s economy continues to grow, the demand for motor vehicles is expected to rise further. Policymakers are tasked with ensuring that this growth aligns with the country’s broader goals of sustainability and urban development.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said on social media platform X, “There is no humanitarian zone let alone a ‘safe zone.’”
He called for an end to misleading evacuation orders and the killing of civilians, warning that every day without a ceasefire brings more tragedy.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of large areas within Gaza, citing rocket fire into Israel. The office said an initial analysis indicates the new orders cover about 3 square km in North Gaza and Deir al Balah governorates. Strikes have been reported in the Al Mawasi area, where people were ordered to move and take shelter.
“Over 80 percent of the Gaza Strip is under unrevoked Israeli evacuation orders. Amid this situation, OCHA warns that the ability of humanitarian organizations to support people in need across Gaza is further diminishing,” said OCHA.
The humanitarians said some of the most onerous restrictions on humanitarian movement were recorded last month, including blocking access to border areas for collecting supplies, denying attempts to deliver goods and services, or assessing needs across Gaza. Overall, 39 percent of UN attempts to move aid workers anywhere in Gaza were rejected by the Israeli authorities, with another 18 percent disrupted or interfered with.
Access has been denied for the besieged areas in North Gaza since Oct. 6. According to OCHA, out of 166 attempts, 150 were refused, and 16 were initially agreed to but interfered with or faced impediments. The office noted that access to what remains of hospitals in the north is among the top priorities.
OCHA also said that in the West Bank, it joined with UNRWA and other humanitarian partners to assess the aftermath of an Israeli operation in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps last week. Teams visited the area on Tuesday and estimated more than 1,000 housing units and about 100 shops were damaged from explosions or bulldozing. Over 20 families of more than 90 people were displaced.
The office said that damage to infrastructure disrupted electricity, water and sewage networks. OCHA mobilized a humanitarian response by partners, who trucked water to people.
It said the West Bank assessment will inform further interventions, including installing new water tanks, vacuuming sewage and distributing hygiene kits and emergency cash.
According to Irembo, the upgrade is informed by user feedback and designed to make accessing government services “simpler, faster, and more intuitive.”
As part of the upgrade, the company has introduced various enhancements to help citizens and businesses search for service statuses, apply for and manage service applications, and track certificates and documents online.
Over the coming months, services on the current version of IremboGov ([irembo.gov.rw->https://irembo.gov.rw/]) will gradually transition to the upgraded version ([new.irembo.gov.rw->https://new.irembo.gov.rw/]).
According to Irembo, the migration will occur in phases to ensure uninterrupted access, with groups of services moved together.
“During this time, both versions of IremboGov will remain available, and we have built features and set up clear guidance to help users navigate between them until the upgraded IremboGov becomes the main version for all government services,” the statement reads in part. The company added that users will receive updates throughout the process.
The upgraded IremboGov platform currently offers three services from IPOSITA: registration, renewal, and updating an ePoBox address.
The ePoBox provides users with a secure and convenient way to manage deliveries by storing addresses digitally, offering greater reliability compared to physical postal boxes. For businesses, it simplifies logistics and postal operations with a scalable and efficient solution, enhancing customer service.
{{Redesigned user interface
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The Irembo platform’s user interface has been redesigned to make it simpler and more intuitive, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
{{Unified access to personal and business services
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The upgraded platform enables users who own or represent a business to link their business to their account using the business TIN.
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{{Reuse of previous certificates
}}
With the upgrade, users no longer need to download and scan documents repeatedly for reuse. Instead, they can upload documents once and reuse them for future applications.
Additionally, users can access and attach previously approved certificates directly from their accounts, simplifying processes and saving time.
{{Enhanced security and convenience
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Irembo emphasized that the security of personal information remains a top priority. Engineers have implemented robust measures to protect user data while giving users greater control over how their information is managed securely.
With the upgrade, users can verify their identity directly within their account, ensuring personal information remains secure and accessible only to them. This eliminates the need to re-enter National ID details for every application, saving time and enhancing the overall experience.
Additionally, users can now link an email address to their accounts for added convenience and security. This feature simplifies password recovery and ensures that important updates are delivered directly to their inboxes. Once linked, the email address is securely stored, removing the need to re-enter it when applying for services.
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Tshisekedi, who had been informed about 10 hours earlier that Kagame would not be attending the Luanda meeting, decided to go to Angola on the scheduled day, even though he was aware the talks had been postponed. His intent was to create the impression that Rwanda’s president was unwilling to resolve the insecurity issues in eastern DRC and the region.
The leader of M23, Bertrand Bisimwa, told researcher Bojana Coulibaly that the DRC government aimed to defeat M23 fighters before the December 15 meeting. This, they believed, would pressure Rwanda into signing agreements favourable to Kinshasa.
Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed group, which Kigali denies, arguing instead that M23 is fighting for legitimate reasons and that the DRC needs to address its issues to prevent the group from remaining a persistent source of tension between the two nations. Every time M23 resurfaces, the DRC blames Rwanda.
Bisimwa stated, “The DRC government sought a victory before December 15. They put pressure on us, aiming for a success that would position them well to force Rwanda into signing Kinshasa’s terms or delaying the Luanda meeting. That was their goal.”
The DRC government allegedly devised a plan and deployed over 22,000 soldiers, supported by the FDLR (a rebel group) and Wazalendo militia, to launch attacks on M23. Bisimwa explained that M23 became aware of this and prepared adequately to defend itself.
Bisimwa noted that M23’s defensive operations stem from events starting in November 2021, when a coalition of government forces and militias attacked its positions in Lubero territory. M23 pushed them back and captured additional areas.
{{Rubaya was seized to prevent a looming threat
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In early May 2024, M23 announced it had seized Rubaya, an area rich in Coltan minerals, located in Masisi territory in North Kivu province.
Bisimwa explained that before taking Rubaya, M23 had learned that Burundian forces were training the Imbonerakure militia and other armed groups in the area, preparing them to attack civilians in regions under M23 control.
Initially, M23 had no plans to seize Rubaya, fearing it might be misconstrued as a bid for mineral wealth rather than protecting eastern DRC residents.
“We reported that Burundian forces were training Imbonerakure in Rubaya, teaching Congolese youth to use traditional weapons, intending to send them to areas we control to kill and cause suffering,” Bisimwa said. “When no action was taken to address the issue, we decided to intervene because the situation threatened to cause more harm than good.”
Upon taking Rubaya, M23 expelled all armed individuals operating in the mines, including children and pregnant women exploited in mining activities.
Bisimwa stated that no M23 fighters were allowed in the mines, which are now operated by the same mining companies active before May 2024.
{{The FDLR’s exploitation of Virunga park
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Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is currently under M23’s control in partnership with ICCN, a DRC government agency overseeing the park.
Bisimwa explained that M23 intervened because the FDLR rebel group was destroying the park by cutting down trees to produce charcoal, generating $100 million annually.
“Before our arrival, the FDLR controlled the park and engaged in charcoal production. A UN report confirmed they made $100 million annually from this illegal activity,” he said.
DRC soldiers and other armed groups also exploited the park, hunting its wildlife and felling trees. “Had they remained, the park would have been left barren,” Bisimwa noted.
Bisimwa told Coulibaly that local residents had begun encroaching on parkland, disrupting its ecosystems. In addition to securing the park, M23 educated residents on its conservation benefits.
“Now, we see wildlife returning, including hippos, antelope families, and gorillas. It’s a positive transformation,” Bisimwa said.
He added that, besides being a UNESCO heritage site, Virunga is a gift from God to the Congolese people, deserving of protection and preservation.
In an end-of-year address on Tuesday, President Alassane Ouattara declared that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion stationed at Port-Bouët in Abidjan would be handed over to the Ivory Coast armed forces by January 2025.
“We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces from Ivory Coast,” President Ouattara announced.
France’s presence in West Africa, once robust, has been rapidly diminishing. Ivory Coast follows nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad in scaling back or completely severing military ties with Paris.
Notably, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expelled French troops after military coups, shifting towards alliances with Russia.
In November, Senegal and Chad both announced the departure of French forces, signaling a shift in regional security dynamics. On December 26, France officially returned its first military base to Chad, marking the end of its military presence in the Sahel region.
The decision to remove French forces has been tied to growing local sentiments against French influence. Analysts see this as part of a broader transformation in Africa’s relationship with its former coloniser.
While France ended its colonial rule in West Africa in the 1960s, its military presence has often been viewed as a lingering symbol of external control.
In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently reinforced this sentiment, citing the incompatibility of military bases with national independence.
“Senegal is an independent and sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases,” Faye said in an interview commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where French forces killed hundreds of African riflemen demanding their pay.
Faye also called for further investigations into the incident, which French President Emmanuel Macron has officially recognized as a massacre.
France’s diminishing footprint on the continent has now resulted in its expulsion from more than 70 percent of the African countries where it maintained a military presence after the end of colonial rule.
The French military’s permanent presence is now limited to Djibouti, with 1,500 soldiers, and Gabon, with 350 personnel.
A vehicle fire was first reported around 8:40 a.m. local time in the valet area of the hotel. The Cybertruck pulled up to the front to the entrance when smoke started showing and there was an explosion, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill was quoted as saying, adding that one person inside the vehicle was killed.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a post on X that “We are investigating a vehicle fire at the entrance to Trump Towers. The fire is out. Please avoid the area.”
Officials confirmed to media that seven people suffered minor injuries as a result of the explosion, with two of them taken to a hospital for treatment.
Most people staying at Trump International have been moved to a nearby hotel, Resorts World Las Vega, said the report of KSNV television station, citing McMahill.
Videos posted on social media showed a Tesla Cybertruck engulfed in flames outside the hotel’s lobby entrance.
An official who briefed on the probe told ABC News that the Tesla Cybertruck had a load of fireworks-style mortars onboard.
Investigators are urgently working to determine a motive and whether the driver intended to set off an explosion and why, said the report, noting that “Until a motive is determined and other possibilities are ruled out, police are treating the explosion like a possible criminal act and a possible act of terror.”
Elon Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, said in a post on X that “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now.”
The staunch ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump noted that “We’ve never seen anything like this.” He wrote later that “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.”
“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son and a leader of the Trump Organization, said in a post on X. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism,” he added.
Concerns raised by the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) revealed that in 2023 alone, 228 houses were damaged by fire outbreaks. This trend persisted into 2024, with another 87 houses destroyed between June and August, revealing a significant gap in insurance coverage among property owners.
RHA Director General Alphonse Rukaburandekwe explained that the ongoing assessment seeks to address these gaps and inform future interventions.
“Over the past few months, RHA has initiated a comprehensive data collection exercise to assess the insurance status of buildings across the country. This process is still ongoing, and we are working closely with stakeholders to compile and validate the data,” he told The New Times.
The results of this exercise will clarify the disparity between insured and uninsured properties, enabling policymakers to craft more effective strategies.
Adalbert Rukebanuka, MINEMA’s Director General of Planning, Policy, and Risk Reduction, emphasized the challenges posed by urban living conditions, such as overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.
These factors, combined with limited firefighting resources, exacerbate fire risks in densely populated areas. “Most of the buildings are not insured for fire risks,” Rukebanuka noted.
“Overcrowded settlements with narrow alleyways hinder firefighters, leading to greater damage and loss of life.”
Informal settlements and inadequate public awareness about fire safety contribute to the prevalence of fire-related incidents. To mitigate these risks, the RHA has engaged some insurance companies to streamline insurance access for government institutions.
Regular reminders and follow-ups are expected to ensure compliance with insurance requirements.
The claims, which have been circulating among certain individuals, suggest that the RIB unfairly accused over 150 people, including Rwandans and foreigners, of being involved in the bank’s fraud, without sufficient evidence or proper legal procedures.
The accusations stem from a 2023 investigation into the misuse of Mastercard prepaid multicurrency cards, a service introduced by I&M Bank.
The bank had marketed the cards as a way for customers to exchange Rwandan Francs into various foreign currencies at favourable rates.
According to RIB, some individuals exploited the system by deceiving others into providing personal information, which was then used to obtain multiple cards and carry out fraudulent transactions. The stolen funds amounted to approximately $10.26 million.
Following the discovery, RIB launched an investigation, and a number of suspects were placed under investigation. Some were arrested, while others fled the country.
A total of 148 suspects have been pursued, and over 2.27 billion Rwandan Francs have been recovered, along with other assets, including properties purchased with the stolen money.
Despite the progress in the case, several individuals have claimed that they were wrongly accused and victimized by the RIB’s actions.
Among the claims, one individual, through a post on X, alleged that the investigation was manipulated by some corrupt officials who abused their power for personal gain.
However, RIB has firmly rejected these allegations, stating that its actions have always been based on law and evidence. The bureau maintains that it followed proper procedures throughout the investigation and that any claims of injustice are being used to deflect attention from the true perpetrators.
“We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring that all individuals involved in illegal activities are held accountable,” RIB said while reacting to the social media seeking President Paul Kagame’s intervention.
“The allegations of wrongful targeting are baseless and part of a broader attempt to discredit our efforts.”
RIB assures the public that the investigation is ongoing, with continued efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
