Citing local officials, the report said that the vessel departed the port of Bena Dibele in Sankuru Province on November 13, bound for the capital, Kinshasa, more than 800 km away.
The boat capsized after encountering “whirlpools”, according to the report. It was carrying about 120 people, of whom only around 50 have been rescued so far, while the others remain missing. Search and rescue operations are underway.
Waterways remain a key mode of transport in the DRC, where boat accidents are common due to overloading and poor vessel conditions.
Trump’s statement came just one day after the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly to approve the bill. On Tuesday night, just a few hours after the House passage, the upper chamber unanimously agreed to immediately pass the bill once it was sent from the House. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday.
The bill was introduced in the House in mid-July, but Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delayed the process for months.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie have led a discharge petition, which would force a vote once the petition reaches the 218-signature threshold. On November 12, the day the House reconvened for the first time after a 54-day recess, the petition secured the final signature it needed.
The bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requires the DOJ to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials in its possession related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein.
This includes materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, who conspired with Epstein to sexually exploit underage girls, flight logs and travel records, and individuals named or referenced in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Epstein.
The DOJ may withhold certain information, such as personally identifiable information of victims and materials that could jeopardize an active federal investigation.
Epstein had close connections with many prominent American political and business figures. After being arrested on sexual offense charges, he died in prison in August 2019, in what was officially ruled a suicide.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised that, if elected, he would release documents related to the Epstein case. On July 7, however, the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a memorandum stating that there is no “incriminating client list,” no evidence that Epstein’s death was a murder, and that no further Epstein-related documents would be released.
Last week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released Epstein-related documents involving Trump. Republicans on the committee then released a far larger tranche of files as a countermeasure, accusing the Democrats of cherry-picking.
Trump then directed the DOJ to investigate high-profile Democrats connected to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who is a major Democratic donor. U.S. media view the move as an attempt to counter the impact of the Epstein-related documents involving Trump that Democrats recently released.
“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday night as he announced he had signed the bill.
On Tuesday night, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer lashed out at Trump on the issue, saying that the president “has tried to cover up for Jeffrey Epstein long enough.”
“This isn’t about Democrats versus Republicans or about Congress versus the president,” Schumer said. “This is about giving the American people the transparency they’ve been crying for. This is about holding accountable all the people in Jeffrey Epstein’s circle who raped, groomed, targeted, and enabled the abuse of hundreds of girls for years and years.”
“Their discussions highlighted the strong partnership between Rwanda and the World Bank across key sectors that contribute to Rwanda’s development priorities,” the Office of the President said.
The World Bank has been a major partner in financing multi-million-dollar projects in Rwanda, supporting initiatives that enhance disaster resilience, urban mobility, and other critical sectors.
Last month, the World Bank approved $141 million (approximately Frw 205 billion) to strengthen Rwanda’s disaster response capabilities. The funding aims to support national efforts in managing disasters and building resilience, ensuring quicker access to emergency resources, and bridging gaps in funding for affected communities.
Authorities highlighted that such support is vital, given that disasters like floods, landslides, and earthquakes cost the country about $145 million annually and have historically reduced Rwanda’s GDP by up to 1.75 percent over the last decade.
In July 2025, Kigali also received a $100 million boost from the World Bank to transform its urban transport system through the Rwanda Urban Mobility Improvement (RUMI) Project.
The initiative focuses on creating a greener, safer, and more inclusive public transport network, including the development of the Nyabugogo multimodal transit hub, dedicated bus lanes, expanded sidewalks and cycling paths, and the deployment of electric buses. The project is expected to improve access to jobs and services, particularly for women and youth, while promoting climate resilience in the capital.
Through scuh partnerships, the World Bank has played a pivotal role in advancing Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2), supporting projects that contribute to the country’s sustainable growth and long-term development.
Held for the first time in the country, the session marks a historic moment for Rwanda, which has been a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) since its founding in 1970.
The meeting takes place under the theme “Thirty Years After Beijing: The Role of Women in the Francophone World,” coinciding with the thirtieth anniversary of the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, whose Action Plan continues to shape global standards for women’s rights and gender equality.
In her opening remarks, Chief Justice Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, representing the Government of Rwanda, expressed “the pride of Rwanda in hosting for the first time one of the high governing bodies of La Francophonie.”
She highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, noting that the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, continues to stand, thirty years on, as the most forward-looking global framework for promoting women’s rights and gender equality.
Highlighting global challenges such as ongoing conflicts, the climate crisis, socio-economic inequalities, and gender-based violence, she stressed the need for strong political will to safeguard hard-won progress and to build more inclusive societies.
She pointed to Rwanda’s own experience, noting that after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the country chose to rebuild by placing women at the heart of its transformation.
Mukantaganzwa noted that women have since played a decisive role in the justice sector.
“Nearly half of all judges are women. In the Gacaca courts, they played a determining role in truth-seeking and reconciliation, and today they represent half of the community mediators and community workers active across the country,” she emphasised.
France’s Delegate Minister for Francophonie, Éléonore Caroit, praised Rwanda’s leadership and stated that the Francophonie, bound by a shared language, embodies values of openness and practical cooperation.
She noted that this format often proves more effective for building bridges than many mechanisms currently at a standstill. Caroit expressed confidence that the two days of discussions would produce tangible outcomes and commended Rwanda’s engagement.
In her address, Secretary-General of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo underscored the central theme of the conference, questioning whether societies have fully recognised “the fundamental role women must play in social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.”
She noted that the world still struggles to “clearly and fully recognise the rights and value of half its population,” adding with humour that this half may well be “the better half.”
Mushikiwabo also addressed the state of global governance, describing the multilateral system as “a model that is running out of steam,” increasingly unable to respond to international crises and “disconnected from realities on the ground.” She said this context would guide ministers’ closed-door discussions on the question: “What ambitions for the OIF in the reshaping of the international landscape?”
Reviewing progress since the 2024 CMF in Paris, Mushikiwabo noted the Organisation’s support to member States through electoral assistance missions and its “high-impact campaigns” against disinformation in Lebanon, Moldova and the Central African Republic.
She also emphasised efforts to support Francophone candidates for leadership positions in international bodies including the African Union, the African Development Bank and UNESCO.
She highlighted programmatic achievements such as the mobility initiative for French teachers, which brought a third cohort of 50 educators from 15 countries to Kigali to exchange expertise with Rwandan counterparts.
Recent deployments to Ghana and Seychelles were noted, with Cambodia next. Mushikiwabo also pointed to the strengthening of the Francophonie économique, citing successful missions like the one to Benin, which resulted in several contracts, including one worth €30 million.
Reaffirming the OIF’s commitment to gender equality, she called for increased support to the “Francophonie With Women” fund and invited member States to join a new initiative focused on training and integrating girls and women in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
She paid tribute to Rwanda’s progress, noting that women hold 61 percent of parliamentary seats, the highest rate in the world and far above the global average of 26.4%.
She also highlighted that five of Rwanda’s seven major banks are headed by women, many of them young. Mushikiwabo added that other regions in the Francophone world are also advancing, citing Vietnam where “98 percent of girls complete primary school and 87 percent complete secondary school.”
Delegations will conduct field visits on Thursday and Friday to observe key OIF programmes, including teacher training, peacekeeping preparation for military personnel and women’s economic empowerment projects under the “Francophonie With Women” fund.
Zambia and Eswatini each received roughly 500 doses. The delivery is touted as a game‑changer in the fight against HIV in a region where the burden remains extremely high.
Lenacapavir has shown near‑complete protection in clinical studies. Daniel O’Day, chair and CEO of Gilead Sciences, called the Eswatini rollout “extraordinary,” noting that it is the first time a new HIV medicine has reached a sub‑Saharan African country in the same year it was approved in the United States.
The rollout is part of a collaborative effort between the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, initially planned for ten high‑risk African countries and aiming to reach at least two million people by 2027. The initial target for 2025 was 250,000 doses, later increased to 325,000 due to early demand.
In Eswatini, a kingdom with roughly 1.2 million people and over 200,000 living with HIV, about 6,000 high‑risk individuals, particularly those at risk of mother‑to‑child transmission, are scheduled to receive the first doses. Most of those living with HIV in Eswatini receive treatment funded by PEPFAR.
Despite the milestone, concerns remain about access and affordability. Civil society groups in South Africa have criticised Gilead for excluding local manufacturers from licensing agreements, even though South Africa hosted Lenacapavir clinical trials.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued new guidelines recommending injectable Lenacapavir for HIV prevention on July 14, 2025. The recommendation was announced during the International AIDS Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where the guidelines were formally released.
During the forum, the Global Fund and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation committed to supplying lenacapavir to at least nine early adopter countries starting in early 2026, with Rwanda currently engaged in discussions on how to access and roll out the drug.
Lenacapavir joins other WHO‑recommended pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options, including daily oral pills and injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA). The WHO hailed the long-acting shot as a valuable new choice for people who struggle with a daily pill regimen.
The visit featured a formal military salute, a flyover of U.S. fighter jets, and other displays of military power, underscoring Washington’s commitment to deepening ties with Riyadh.
The meeting between Trump and Prince Mohammed focused on a range of strategic, defense, and business initiatives that could significantly impact the future trajectory of U.S.-Saudi relations. Among the most notable outcomes of the visit was the announcement of a potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a shift in U.S. policy.
Historically, Israel had been the only country in the Middle East authorised to purchase the F-35. Trump stated, “We’ll be selling the F-35s” to Saudi Arabia to enhance its defense capabilities. The move marks a shift in U.S. defense policy, potentially altering the balance of military power in the region.
In addition to military cooperation, Trump and Prince Mohammed discussed various business ventures, including partnerships in nuclear energy and investments in U.S. technology sectors, particularly artificial intelligence.
The talks were part of Trump’s broader effort to encourage foreign investment in the U.S. and further strengthen economic ties with Saudi Arabia, a key partner in the region. Additionally, both leaders explored opportunities to expand Saudi investment in U.S. infrastructure projects.
However, the visit was not without controversy. The U.S.-Saudi relationship has been strained since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with U.S. intelligence agencies concluding that Prince Mohammed approved the operation. The Prince has consistently denied ordering the murder.
During the Washington visit, Trump described Khashoggi as “extremely controversial” and asserted that the crown prince “knew nothing about it.” He further defended the Crown Prince, calling him “one of the most respected people in the world” and urging reporters not to “embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed acknowledged that Khashoggi’s killing was a “huge mistake” and described the event as “painful.” He maintained that Saudi authorities conducted a full investigation and implemented reforms to prevent a similar incident in the future, while reiterating that he personally did not approve the operation.
The discussions between Trump and the Crown Prince are expected to lead to several significant agreements, particularly in defense and business sectors. However, the broader implications for U.S.-Saudi relations, especially concerning human rights, will likely remain a topic of ongoing debate in the years to come.
In a statement released on Wednesday, RDB said the move reflects the Visit Rwanda brand’s broader strategy to diversify its global sports partnerships and expand into new markets that support the next phase of its tourism and investment ambitions.
The partnership, launched in 2018, has been widely credited with elevating Rwanda’s global profile, particularly in tourism and conservation. According to RDB, the collaboration surpassed its original goals by inspiring millions of Arsenal supporters worldwide to discover Rwanda and by strengthening the country’s positioning as a leading sustainable tourism destination.
Over the past eight seasons, the Visit Rwanda brand featured prominently on Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams, supported by a series of joint campaigns that highlighted Rwanda’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. RDB noted that during this period, visitor arrivals climbed to 1.3 million in 2024, with tourism revenues reaching $650 million, a 47% increase since the partnership began.
The relationship also delivered standout promotional moments, including Rwanda Heritage Day at the Emirates Stadium and several visits by Arsenal legends and players such as Alex Scott, Bacary Sagna, Mathieu Flamini, Jurrien Timber, Caitlin Foord, Katie McCabe, and Laia Codina.
The visits showcased attractions ranging from mountain gorilla trekking and Big Five safaris in Akagera National Park to canopy walks in Nyungwe and leisure experiences along Lake Kivu. Many of the club’s representatives also took part in Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s flagship annual gorilla naming ceremony.
Beyond tourism promotion, the partnership supported Rwanda’s ambition to establish itself as a leading African sporting hub by helping deliver grassroots football initiatives that have benefited young players and coaches across the country.
RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said the partnership “broke new ground for tourism boards around the world,” adding that while Rwanda is now shifting its focus to new global markets, the country remains thankful for Arsenal’s support over the past eight years.
“We are proud of what this partnership has achieved over many years of collaboration. It broke new ground for tourism boards around the world, driving awareness and visitation for Rwandan tourism at a pace traditional campaigns could never match,” the RDB CEO stated.
He added that Rwanda will continue to work with the wider Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Group through its more recent partnerships with the LA Rams and SoFi Stadium.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the wider Kroenke Sports C Entertainment Group through our recent partnerships with the LA Rams and So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles, and we remain a fully committed and engaged partner of Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams for the remainder of the season. We wish them all the very best in their continuing quest for even more sporting success in the months ahead,” he added.
Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick praised the collaboration, describing it as a “significant journey” that helped raise awareness of Rwanda’s conservation efforts while strengthening the club’s connections across Africa and driving forward its ambitions.
“The commitment and support of Visit Rwanda throughout our partnership has played an important role in driving forward our ambitions, helping us invest in our long-term vision to win major trophies, in a financially sustainable way. We thank the Rwanda Development Board for their partnership and what we’ve delivered together,” Garlick stated.
Both sides confirmed they remain committed partners through the remainder of the season.
Visit Rwanda, the official tourism brand of the Rwanda Development Board, has a growing global sports portfolio, including partnerships with Paris Saint‑Germain, Atlético de Madrid, and FC Bayern Munich, before more recently signing deals with U.S. teams the [ LA Clippers and Los Angeles Rams->https://en.igihe.com/sports/article/visit-rwanda-expands-global-sports-reach-with-clippers-and-rams-deal].
The programme, titled “Forsaken for a Sake,” was officially unveiled on November 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.
The launch marks the beginning of Cohort 1–2025, which will support an initial group of 100 mentors and mentees in Nigeria. Africa Re served as the host institution for the event, selected from among 10 African cities identified for the programme rollout under the campaign “From Rwanda to the World.”
{{Tackling fatherhood and fatherlessness
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The mentorship initiative focuses on the transformative role fathers play in shaping children’s lives, and the deep social consequences linked to fatherlessness. Research shows that children raised by present and supportive fathers are more likely to perform well academically, develop stronger self-esteem, and avoid high-risk behaviours such as substance abuse and crime.
Conversely, the partners emphasise that fatherlessness is strongly linked to poverty, emotional distress, poor educational outcomes, and increased vulnerability to early pregnancies and other social challenges.
Speaking on behalf of Dr Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Africa Re, Roger Bong Bekondo, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, emphasised the corporation’s dedication to building inclusive and resilient African societies.
“Africa Re is deeply committed to fostering a healthy and inclusive continent, one where every child feels the love of a father or finds a community that helps them heal from his absence,” he remarked.
Bong Bekondo added that partnering with KORA Academy aligns with Africa Re’s long-standing mission to uplift communities through sustainable development initiatives.
He encouraged mentees to immerse themselves in the programme and use the opportunity to heal, grow and develop leadership skills. He also called on mentors to give back by offering guidance, hope and stability to young participants.
“Let Forsaken for a Sake be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for a better society across Africa,” he said.
The launch event featured a panel discussion involving prominent Nigerian thought leaders who shared their personal journeys shaped by either strong paternal guidance or the absence of it. Their insights highlighted the long-term effects of fatherhood experiences, underscoring the need for awareness, healing, and mental health ownership among the youth taking part in the programme.
{{A book to guide the journey
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The mentorship launch also included a ceremonial handover of the book “Forsaken for a Sake: Your 30-Day Self-Coaching Collection: Overcoming Fatherlessness” authored by Mireille Karera and published by KORA Coaching & Business Academy. Each mentor and mentee received a copy as part of their upcoming training.
In her remarks, Karera expressed gratitude to Africa Re for its trust and commitment to a pan-African partnership. She shared a poignant personal story linking her own life to the founding history of Africa Re.
Born a refugee in East Africa in May 1976, just months after Africa Re was established, she revealed that she later grew up fatherless, making the programme’s mission deeply personal. At 49 years old, and with Africa Re now also marking 49 years, she described the launch as “a living testimony” of the organisation’s founding vision of continental collaboration and shared progress.
Karera stressed that the programme is in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration 6, which champions people-driven development and places women, youth and children at the centre of Africa’s transformation.
The ceremony concluded with a book-signing session, followed by individual interactions between the author and programme beneficiaries. Participants will now embark on an intensive short certification course focusing on mentoring skills and practical sessions tied to the daily devotional workbook.
With its blend of personal reflection, professional mentorship and continental collaboration, the Forsaken for a Sake programme aims to create a new cohort of empowered youth and leaders committed to building stronger, more supportive African communities.
Unveiled on Monday, November 17, 2025, at The Atelier by Design in Kigali, Chidi is built on Anthropic’s Claude model and provides inquiry-driven guidance, contextual understanding, and personalised feedback to help learners develop deeper problem-solving skills.
“This collaboration marks a bold step in redefining how African talent learns, works, and leads in the age of AI,” said Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of ALX. “We are ensuring that Africa’s youth are not just consumers of AI, but creators shaping the innovations that will define the global economy.”
The initiative follows a successful Phase 1 rollout of Chidi to ALX learners across Africa, which recorded over 1,100 conversations and 4,000 chats within just two days. Phase 2 expands the technology into Rwanda’s public education system, including the Rwanda Coding Academy, allowing up to 2,000 educators and a select group of civil servants to participate in ALX’s AI Career Essentials programme.
Participants gain hands-on experience using generative AI tools, including Claude Large Language Model, to enhance teaching methods, lesson planning, and workplace productivity. Graduates receive a year of access to Claude Pro, Claude Code, and Claude for Education, ensuring AI literacy continues to shape classrooms and workplaces beyond the program.
Chidi acts as a personalised tutor for students and a teaching partner for educators. It prompts curiosity, encourages critical thinking, and provides guidance without giving away direct answers.
A joint working group from ALX, Anthropic, and the Rwandan government will document insights from the pilot to inform national AI policy in education and develop future innovations, including Chidi for Schools and African language models.
Commitments for the initiative are shared among the partners, with Anthropic covering costs associated with the large language model and API access, ALX providing training, delivery, and implementation infrastructure, and the Government of Rwanda contributing policy guidance, institutional support, and access to schools, without any financial obligations.
The collaboration combines ALX’s focus on nurturing African tech talent, Anthropic’s expertise in safe and responsible AI development, and Rwanda’s progressive approach to digital transformation. Together, the partners aim to provide Africa’s youth with learning tools on par with those available in global tech hubs such as Silicon Valley, Beijing, and London. Plans are already underway to explore expansion to other parts of Rwanda and Africa.
During the ceremony, Swaniker highlighted Chidi’s unique design for African learners, combining high-quality, scalable, and low-cost education with safeguards for reliability and cultural relevance.
“Chidi uses Claude as an ingredient, but we’ve wrapped it in 20+ years of African pedagogy and context. We have over 150 PhDs continuously researching, fine-tuning, and iterating with real African learners. We’re not just consumers of AI, we’re producers, adapting it to our realities,” he said.
Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire highlighted Chidi’s role in cultivating curiosity and critical thinking among Rwanda’s youth.
“When my daughter was little, she would ask ‘why?’ about everything. As parents, we sometimes get tired of all the ‘whys,’ but that curiosity is how children truly learn and understand the world. Chidi is designed to do the same, to keep asking ‘why,’ to push our learners, and to help them learn from their mistakes instead of just handing them the answers,” she said.
Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education, represented at the ceremony by Pascal Gatabazi, Chief Technical Officer at the Ministry of Education, added that Chidi aligns with Rwanda’s Education Sector Strategic Plan and National Strategy for Transformation, supporting teaching quality, enhancing digital literacy, and driving measurable improvements in student outcomes.
A panel discussion moderated by Nimie Chaylone, General Manager of ALX Rwanda and Kenya, explored the rationale for choosing Africa and Rwanda for the pilot. Drew Benton, who leads Education within Anthropic’s Beneficial Deployments team, emphasised Africa’s young population, talent ecosystem, and capacity for innovation.
“Over half of Africa’s population is under 25, creating an enormous talent ecosystem and opportunity for innovation,” he said.
Early results from Chidi’s use demonstrate significant engagement. Within two weeks of the pilot, learners exchanged 20,000 messages and processed approximately 80 million words of context, showing the platform’s capacity to scale personalised, interactive, and critical-thinking-driven learning.
Learners participating in the pilot praised Chidi for enhancing self-learning and boosting confidence. Shyaka Caleb, a 22-year-old Software Engineering and AI Career Essentials graduate, described Chidi as a “sidekick” that provides in-depth answers and allows learners to ask questions without hesitation.
Giselle Akuzwe, another learner, highlighted how Chidi turned vague project ideas into concrete solutions. “Seeing Chidi rolled out across Rwanda and Africa, especially for girls in tech like me, will be incredibly empowering, not just technically but in bringing our ideas to life,” she remarked.
As Chidi begins its pilot in Rwanda, the initiative signals a new chapter in AI-powered education across Africa. By equipping learners, teachers, and public servants with advanced, safe, and contextually relevant AI tools, the partnership sets a precedent for scalable, transformative learning solutions developed in Africa and shared globally.
Sharing a deeply personal reflection on Instagram on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Vestine revealed the challenges she has faced in her marriage, expressing deep regret over her decision to wed Ouedraogo, whom she accused of destroying her life.
“Today, the life I am living is not the life I chose. I am living in a bad situation, and I didn’t deserve this. I know I made a bad decision in my life, but it’s okay. God allows some things to happen so we can learn. I have learned a lot. No man will ever lie to me again to destroy my life,” she wrote on her Instagram status without going into specifics.
She then hinted at a fresh start and set boundaries for future relationships, saying:
“The next man I choose to be with, I will first get to know him well, know his family, and know everything about him. No one will ever use me again.”
Vestine’s comments come months after a high-profile wedding to Ouédraogo. The couple legally married in a civil ceremony on January 15, 2025, followed by a grand celebration on July 5 2025, at the Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, Kigali, attended by family, friends, and celebrities.
While the celebrations were lavish, Vestine’s recent message suggests that life behind the scenes has been challenging, and it remains to be seen what her next move will be.
