Photos from U.S. media show Maduro landed in Manhattan by a helicopter from a Brooklyn detention center and was placed in an armored car, accompanied by heavily armed law enforcement officers.
Protesters gathering outside the court were shouting slogans and holding banners writing “Free Maduro” and “USA hands off Venezuela.”
U.S. troops carried out a raid on Saturday to kidnap Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them out of Venezuela, then put them in custody in New York.
“Congratulations to my brother, President Mamadi Doumbouya, on his election as President of the Republic of Guinea. We look forward to deepening our strong bilateral relations and working closely together to advance our shared priorities and the prosperity of our nations,” President Kagame said in a post on X.
Doumbouya’s win was confirmed by Guinea’s Supreme Court on Sunday, formalising his transition from junta leader to democratically elected president. The court validated the provisional results announced earlier, crediting Doumbouya, 41, with 86.72% of the vote.
The runner-up, Abdoulaye Yero Baldé, received 6.59% of the votes. The court noted that Baldé, who had initially challenged the election results with the Supreme Court, had since voluntarily withdrawn his complaint.
The election marks Guinea’s first presidential vote since Doumbouya led a coup in September 2021, which ousted Alpha Condé. The vote was held under a new constitution that removed the ban on military leaders running for office and extended the presidential term from five to seven years.
Rwanda and Guinea enjoy cordial relations, reinforced through exchanges of visits and cooperation across multiple sectors. President Kagame last visited Conakry in November 2024, joining President Doumbouya for the launch of the Simandou Iron Ore Project, considered the largest ongoing mining project in the world.
The Simandou deposit is estimated to contain approximately 3 to 4 billion tonnes of high-grade recoverable iron ore and is expected to reach full production capacity by 2030, with an annual output of around 120 million tonnes.
Bilateral cooperation has also been strengthened through agreements signed on October 9, 2024, in Kigali during a session of the Joint Cooperation Commission. According to announcements from both countries’ foreign ministries, the 12 agreements cover areas such as public administration modernisation, export promotion, tourism development, special economic zones, migration data management, defence and security, justice, economy, and trade.
“The partnership between our two countries is based on complementary and a win-win approach,” said Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. He noted that Rwanda can benefit from Guinea’s expertise in mining, while Guinea can learn from Rwanda’s experience in public service innovation and digitisation.
Although relatively new, the bilateral relationship has strengthened since Rwanda opened its embassy in Conakry in January 2024. President Doumbouya has expressed interest in adopting Rwanda’s development model, and the two leaders have met frequently to explore cooperation opportunities.
In addition to the agreements, both countries have established a follow-up mechanism to ensure proper implementation of recommendations from the first session of the Joint Cooperation Commission.
The report shows that the formal industrial sector also posted an annual average growth rate of 6.3 per cent, signalling sustained momentum despite month-to-month fluctuations in some activities.
Growth in November was driven largely by the electricity sector, which expanded by 14.1 per cent year-on-year, making it the biggest contributor to overall industrial growth. Electricity alone accounted for 2.8 percentage points of the annual increase, reflecting rising demand from households, businesses and industry.
The manufacturing sector, which carries the largest weight in the index at 68.1 per cent, grew by 4.9 per cent compared to November 2024. Within manufacturing, output gains were supported by a 2.6 per cent increase in chemicals, rubber and plastic products, as well as a 1.8 per cent growth in beverages and tobacco production.
However, the report highlights uneven performance across manufacturing sub-sectors. Textiles, clothing and leather goods contracted by 7.5 per cent, while wood and paper products, including printing, declined by 6.0 per cent, pointing to continued pressure in some traditional industries.
Mining and quarrying recorded a 4.1 per cent year-on-year increase, maintaining positive growth despite volatility in monthly output. Meanwhile, water and waste management activities expanded by 6.6 per cent, reflecting steady growth in urban services and environmental management.
The November figures are published using a new 2024 base year, following a rebasing exercise by NISR aimed at better reflecting Rwanda’s evolving economic structure. The rebasing captures the rapid expansion of manufacturing, utilities and other industrial activities over recent years, and aligns the index with international statistical best practice.
NISR noted that the IIP focuses on formal sector activity and excludes construction due to data limitations, but remains a key short-term indicator for tracking industrial trends and complementing quarterly GDP estimates.
The incident occurred late on Saturday evening, just before 8 p.m. local time, when a large wooden canoe carrying 52 passengers overturned on the Yobe River near Garbi town. The boat had departed from Adiyani village in neighbouring Jigawa State and was en route to Garbi when it capsized.
Mohammed Goje, head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, said that 13 passengers have been rescued alive and are receiving medical attention, while 25 bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue operations involving emergency responders, local volunteers and security agencies remain ongoing to find the 14 people still unaccounted for.
Police in Jigawa State confirmed the accident and indicated that the canoe may have capsized due to leakage. A spokesperson noted that safety regulations, including bans on night travel and overloading, were reportedly ignored.
“It was a market day, and the victims were returning home after trading. If the driver survives, he will be prosecuted for negligence,” said Lawan Adam, the state police spokesperson.
Investigators say the boat was carrying more passengers than it should have, and authorities have warned that the operator could face prosecution for negligence if he survives.
Residents said the victims included people from both their village and the destination town, many returning home after a market day. When the boat failed to arrive on time, relatives raised the alarm and discovered that it had overturned partway across the river. Divers and emergency crews recovered some of the bodies.
Boat accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria’s rural regions, where waterways are often used for transport due to limited road infrastructure, and safety measures are frequently lacking. In a separate tragedy last September, an overloaded boat sank in Niger State, killing at least 60 people after it struck a tree stump.
In a post on X, which has since been deleted, Minister Bizimana alleged that Qatar was using its influence and financial resources to dissuade the United States from taking action against Rwanda, which he accused of violating a Washington-brokered agreement.
“It is important to stress Qatar’s negative role using its influence and cash to dissuade US from taking action,” Bizimana wrote on Sunday.
The post sparked immediate backlash, prompting Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye to intervene.
In a statement on X, President Ndayishimiye emphasised Burundi’s appreciation for Qatar’s longstanding bilateral relations and mediation role in the DRC.
“It is important to clarify any misunderstanding & wrong statement regarding Qatar’s contribution in development and peacebuilding,” he wrote.
Responding to the clarification, Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, acknowledged President Ndayishimiye’s retraction and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
“Guided by its principled approach, the State of Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to peacebuilding, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and will continue to engage constructively with all partners in support of stability and lasting peace,” Al-Khulaifi said in a post on X.
In recent days, Burundi and the DRC have heightened their accusations that Rwanda is supporting the AFC/M23 rebel alliance in eastern DRC and have called on the international community to impose sanctions on Kigali. Rwanda has rejected the allegations, insisting that sanctions cannot resolve the problems affecting the Congolese people, for whom the conflict is primarily a local issue.
Analysts note that Minister Bizimana’s deleted remarks targeting Qatar reflect internal political pressures and the stance of the government he represents, even as President Ndayishimiye sought to calm the situation and repair the diplomatic fallout.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Atlantic. Maduro was taken by U.S. forces away from his country on Saturday and is now in custody in New York to stand trial on alleged drug charges.
Trump made clear that he would not stand what he described as Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention, according to the magazine.
Trump also stressed that the United States needs Greenland “absolutely,” reaffirming that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to U.S. intervention, according to The Atlantic.
“We do need Greenland, absolutely,” Trump said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in another media interview Sunday morning that Trump will keep all options open on how to “run” Venezuela, assess if the country’s interim leadership can “make right decisions,” and will not rule out the U.S. military presence in the country in the future.
“We expect to see more compliance and cooperation than we were previously receiving,” Rubio said of Rodríguez on CBS.
“Our objectives when it comes to how Venezuela impacts the national interest of the United States have not changed, and we want those addressed. We want drug trafficking to stop. We want no more gang members to come our way,” Rubio said.
At least 80 Venezuelan people were killed during U.S. airstrikes, a New York Times report said Sunday, citing Venezuelan officials.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice ordered late Saturday that Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Maduro.
The U.S. raid on Venezuela has drawn worldwide condemnation and concern.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said India’s continued buying of discounted Russian oil was unacceptable to the United States. While he described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a good guy” who understood his concerns, Trump made it clear that Washington is prepared to take stronger economic action if needed.
“They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump told the press when asked about India’s Russian oil imports, underscoring that trade measures remain a key tool in U.S. foreign policy.
The latest warning comes after the U.S. already doubled tariffs on most Indian imports to 50% last year, largely as punishment for India’s heavy purchases of Russian crude. Despite this steep tariff rate, among the highest applied by Washington against any trading partner, India’s exports to the U.S. actually grew in late 2025, demonstrating resilience amid rising economic tensions.
In response to U.S. pressure, Indian authorities have taken a step toward greater transparency by asking refiners to report weekly data on their crude oil purchases from both Russia and the United States, according to people familiar with the plans. This reflects New Delhi’s effort to balance its energy needs with the pursuit of a potential trade agreement with Washington.
Indian officials expect that imports of Russian crude are already declining and could fall below 1 million barrels per day as the country seeks to find common ground with U.S. negotiators.
Modi and Trump have spoken by phone several times since the tariffs were first imposed, but the discussions have not yet produced a definitive resolution. High-level trade officials from both countries have also met recently to discuss economic ties, yet major differences remain particularly on energy and agricultural policy.
India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s latest remarks. Still, New Delhi has historically resisted external pressure on its energy strategy, emphasizing its right to pursue policies based on national interests and energy security.
At its core, this dispute highlights a broader geopolitical tension: the United States is pushing allies and major democracies like India to cut ties with Russian energy as part of pressure related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while India maintains that affordable energy supplies remain critical to its development and stability.
The use of tariffs as leverage shows how trade policy has become interwoven with global diplomatic goals making the U.S.-India relationship both economically vital and strategically complex.
The self-sampling initiative is led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and enables women to obtain cervical cancer screening kits from public health facilities or selected private clinics.
Using the kits, women can collect a vaginal sample at home and return it to health facilities for laboratory analysis. The service is provided free of charge under the RBC Cancer Programme, according to Dr. Theoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Programme at RBC.
The samples are tested for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. Once laboratory results are available, healthcare providers share them with the women. Those who test positive are referred for further assessment, including procedures such as a pap smear or a medical examination, Maniragaba explained.
Several private clinics are participating in the programme, including Legacy, DMC Carrefour, Good Life, Bien Naitre, Bwiza Medical, MBC Hospital, Polyclinic Medico-Social, and Saint Jean Polyclinique, located in Nyarugenge District.
The programme targets all women aged 30 and above, regardless of whether they feel healthy, as cervical cancer often develops without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Women experiencing unusual bleeding, persistent vaginal discharge, or those who notice a painless lump in the breast are also encouraged to undergo screening.
Launched six months ago, the initiative initially struggled with low awareness and limited participation. However, Maniragaba said engagement has improved in recent weeks following increased involvement by local leaders in community mobilisation efforts.
He noted that self-sampling addresses common barriers to screening, such as discomfort, embarrassment, and difficulties accessing health facilities, while offering accuracy comparable to samples collected by clinicians.
“Early detection is critical in preventing cervical cancer. This programme provides convenient access to screening and empowers women to take control of their health,” Maniragaba told New Times.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Rwanda. Data from the National Cancer Registry (2022) indicate that the country records between 600 and 800 new cases each year, with nearly 600 deaths annually.
Rwanda has set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027, three years ahead of the World Health Organization’s global “90-70-90” targets. These benchmarks aim for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women to be screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cervical disease to receive appropriate treatment.
As part of this strategy, the government continues to roll out community mobilisation and HPV vaccination campaigns to strengthen prevention, early detection, and treatment services. RBC is spearheading mass screening efforts and has deployed Women Cancer Early Detection (WCED) mentors at health facilities to support and guide healthcare workers involved in the programme.
The judiciary’s decision was read on national radio and television by the court’s magistrate Tania D’Amelio.
“It is ordered that the citizen Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, executive vice-president of the republic, assume and exercise in the capacity of acting President, all the powers, duties and faculties inherent to the position of President,” said the supreme court decision.
The order also said that Rodriguez’s role as acting president “should be exercised immediately.”
Meanwhile, the court said it rejects and condemns the extremely serious military aggression carried out by the United States against the people and territory of Venezuela, as well as the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife.
It added that the U.S. action flagrantly violates the Constitution and laws of Venezuela, as well as international law and the Charter of the United Nations, with the aim of seizing Venezuela’s strategic resources.
The court said it stands with the Venezuelan people in defending national independence and sovereignty, and called on all parties to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a large-scale U.S. military operation against Venezuela early Saturday morning and were flown to New York.
The evening kicked off with Makeda, who took on the challenge of energising a crowd still finding their seats, keeping fans engaged with her lively music mixes.
DJ Lamper followed, commanding the stage with a mix of music and dance, supported by the event hosts, including Rock Try. By the time Kivumbi King hit the stage, the arena was packed. He fired up the crowd with his hits, joined by Kenny K-Shot and Angel Mutoni for dynamic collaborations that had fans on their feet.
After Kivumbi King’s performance, DJ Lamper returned with even more energy, joined briefly by a dance troupe led by Divine Uwa, adding flair to the night’s entertainment.
Then it was Shenseea’s turn. The Jamaican sensation delivered a show-stopping performance, opening with a collaborative number alongside children from the Sherrie Silver Foundation. She later invited fans onto the stage, including Amandah Darling and Mutoni Etania, creating interactive, unforgettable moments. Fellow artists Diez Dolla and Joshua Baraka also joined, receiving rapturous applause.
Headliner Mavado closed the night in grand style. Despite some fans seeing him live for the first time, he captivated everyone with his chart-topping hits and commanding stage presence. After over an hour of non-stop performance, Mavado wrapped up the concert around 1:00 AM, leaving fans exhilarated.
PHOTOS: Kwizera Moses