Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The crystal-embroidered sock, adorned with rhinestones, was part of a music memorabilia sale held in the southern French city of Nîmes.

According to auctioneer Aurore Illy, the sock was discovered by a technician near Jackson’s dressing room after a concert in July 1997 during his “HIStory World Tour.”

Initially expected to sell for between €3,000 and €4,000, the item sparked bidding interest and ultimately fetched nearly double its estimate. The off-white sock, now stained and yellowed with age, remains a rare piece of pop culture history. Organisers of the auction described it as a “cult object” for fans of the late entertainer.

Jackson, known for his flashy stage outfits and iconic performances, wore glittery white socks during renditions of his hit “Billie Jean.” Footage from the 1997 tour shows him dancing in the same style of sock during his performances, adding sentimental and historical value to the auctioned item.

While this sale may seem extravagant, it pales in comparison to previous auctions of Jackson memorabilia. In 2009, a crystal glove he wore during his first televised “moonwalk” performance sold for $350,000 to a Macau gaming resort. A fedora he tossed into the crowd before that iconic moment fetched over $80,000 in Paris in 2023.

Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, remains one of the most influential figures in global pop music. Often referred to as the “King of Pop,” he is celebrated for revolutionising the music industry through genre-blending innovation, groundbreaking music videos, and signature dance moves like the moonwalk.

The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 30, at Urugwiro Village.

According to a communique released by the Office of the Prime Minister, the initiative is designed to promote broader environmental protection and safeguard the health of citizens by enhancing air quality, particularly in urban centres.

The new fees are part of a wider campaign announced by the Ministry of Environment on July 24, which will see emissions testing incorporated into regular vehicle inspection protocols.

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Under the new regulations, all vehicles, including motorcycles, will be required to undergo an initial emissions test. Vehicles that pass will be cleared, while those that fail must be repaired and brought back for reinspection within two weeks.

The reinspection will cost half the price of the original test. If delayed beyond the two-week window, the owner will have to pay the full testing fee again.

Emissions checks will be conducted alongside standard mechanical inspections, either once or twice a year, depending on the vehicle’s classification and usage.

The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) confirmed that emissions testing equipment is currently being installed at existing inspection centres, with full implementation expected within the next month.

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Motorcycles and similar small-engine vehicles will pay Frw 16,638 for the initial emissions inspection. If a reinspection is required within two weeks, the fee will be Frw 8,319.

Passenger vehicles with a capacity of up to eight seats (plus the driver) and a maximum authorised weight of 3.5 tonnes will be charged Frw 34,940 for the first test, and Frw 17,470 for the reinspection.

Vehicles carrying between nine and thirty passengers, as well as all goods vehicles ranging from 1.5 tonnes to over 7 tonnes, will each pay Frw 51,578 for the initial test. The reinspection fee for these categories will be Frw 25,789.

Any other motor vehicle not listed in the above categories will be charged Frw 49,914 for the initial test, and Frw 24,957 if they return within the allowed two-week reinspection window.

The emissions testing scheme is part of a national effort to reduce air pollution, which remains a growing concern in Rwanda’s expanding urban areas. Officials say the programme will help ensure that vehicles on the road meet minimum emissions standards, reduce harmful pollutants, and encourage owners to maintain cleaner engines.

Meanwhile, during the Wednesday meeting, the Cabinet also approved the allocation of state land to the Africa Health Sciences University for the development of a medical education campus. The move is part of efforts to boost health training capacity and meet Rwanda’s growing need for qualified medical professionals.

Additionally, the cabinet granted accreditation to the International Covenant College, which will launch with two academic programmes, digital media technology and early childhood development, with plans to expand its offerings in the future.

In a Telegram message from FARDC leadership, soldiers were reminded to respect the ongoing peace process and abide by the agreed ceasefire terms.

The directive further emphasised that while soldiers must prioritise peace, they are authorised to respond with proportionate force if attacked by the enemy.

The DRC government and AFC/M23 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on July 19, 2025, aimed at ending the fighting in eastern DRC. The agreement serves as a roadmap toward a comprehensive peace deal.

The deal calls for a complete cessation of hostilities, with each side remaining within its current areas of control and refraining from attempting to seize new territory.

However, despite the commitments, government-backed Wazalendo militias have repeatedly attacked AFC/M23 positions, disrupting peace in the Masisi, Rutshuru, and Walikale territories.

Last week, AFC/M23 recaptured the Mulema area in Nyamaboko 1 groupement, Masisi, from Wazalendo forces, following attacks by Wazalendo in Luke and Katobotobo.

Sources from North Kivu report that since July 29, AFC/M23 has been reinforcing its fighters in the Kateku area of Ikobo groupement in Walikale territory amid claims that the government forces are preparing for renewed conflict.

The [Henley Passport Index->https://cdn.henleyglobal.com/storage/app/media/HPI/Henley%20Passport%20Index%202025%20July%20Global%20Ranking.pdf], widely regarded as the original and most authoritative ranking of global passport strength, evaluates the travel freedom of 199 passports against 227 destinations.

The ranking is based on the number of countries a passport holder can access without needing a visa in advance. With historical data spanning two decades and expert analysis updated regularly, the index has become an essential tool for global citizens and a trusted reference point for policymakers worldwide.

In its July 2025 edition, the index exposes a stark divide between the most and least powerful passports. At the top of the list is Singapore, whose citizens can travel to an impressive 193 destinations without needing a visa in advance, making it the world’s most powerful passport once again.

Japan, South Korea, and a bloc of European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, closely follow, with scores ranging from 190 to 189.

In contrast, at the very bottom sits Afghanistan, whose passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 25 destinations, the lowest score on the index. Syria follows with access to 27 destinations, while Iraq ranks just above with 30.

Citizens of Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia fare slightly better, though still severely limited, with access to 32 destinations each. Meanwhile, Libya and Nepal round out the group with a modest 38 destinations.

The rankings reflect more than just travel limitations; they underscore broader issues of conflict, governance, and diplomatic isolation.

Countries at the bottom of the list are often plagued by internal instability, strained international relations, and economic hardship, all of which directly affect their citizens’ ability to move freely across borders.

On the African continent, there have been some noteworthy shifts, with Rwanda steadily improving its rankings over the years.

In the latest ranking, the Rwandan passport now offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 63 destinations, a score that places it ahead of several of its regional peers and signals growing confidence in the country’s stability, diplomacy, and openness.

This places Rwanda in the 23rd position in Africa and 73rd globally, ahead of several countries in the region, including Mozambique (62) and Togo (60).

Other East African nations in Rwanda’s neighbourhood rank closely: Kenya has access to 71 destinations, Tanzania to 70, Uganda and Zambia to 67, while Burundi lags behind with 48.

The most recent country to grant [ visa-free access to Rwanda is Antigua and Barbuda->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-antigua-and-barbuda-ink-deals-on-visa-waiver-health-tourism], through a bilateral agreement signed on July 18, 2025.

Minister Nduhungirehe made this clear on July 29, 2025, during a session of the Chamber of Deputies to ratify the recently signed peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC.

MP Christine Mukabunani had asked whether Rwanda’s participation in the peace deal might prompt countries that had sanctioned it to reconsider their decisions.

She posed the question: “Given Rwanda’s decision to sign this agreement, do you expect the countries that imposed sanctions to lift them now?”

In response, Minister Nduhungirehe clarified that the Rwanda-DRC agreement was never intended as a means to have sanctions lifted, and that Rwanda signed it solely out of its commitment to regional peace.

“The Washington Agreement was not aimed at removing sanctions,” he said. “The countries that imposed those measures did so for their own reasons — reasons we have openly rejected. We made our position clear, including recently, because these sanctions have also prevented those countries, particularly in Europe and North America, from meaningfully contributing to the search for solutions.”

He noted that some countries that had imposed sanctions later attempted to participate in the peace process, but Rwanda dismissed their involvement.

“There were actors who tried to re-enter the conversation through manipulative channels under the guise of supporting this agreement. Yet these are the same countries that, as recently as January and February, were threatening further sanctions. They didn’t speak about the region — they explicitly sided with Congo.”

Nduhungirehe emphasised that Rwanda’s decision to sign the agreement had nothing to do with seeking favours from those nations.

“These agreements are not about pleading. We are not here to beg anyone. Let them do as they wish. We signed the agreement because we want peace in the region — not to convince European countries to lift sanctions.”

He added that the sanctions imposed on Rwanda had served as a lesson, encouraging the country to become more self-reliant and to guard against foreign aid being used as a form of pressure or coercion.

“These past months have taught us an important lesson. Rwanda must build its own resilience and avoid becoming dependent on aid that is weaponised for political purposes. Every cent we receive must be used for its intended development goals. If donors use funding to advance political agendas, we reject that — and even now, we are not pleading for sanctions to be lifted. They can make their own decisions, since they were the ones who imposed the sanctions in the first place.”

Several Western nations, including Belgium, imposed sanctions on Rwanda, accusing it of playing a role in the insecurity in Eastern DRC. In response, Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, citing its bias and efforts to rally the international community to impose further punitive measures.

Rwanda has consistently stated that it will not be intimidated by foreign sanctions aimed at dictating its internal affairs, especially when its actions are rooted in preserving national security and the interests of its people.

During the parliamentary session on Tuesday, members of the Chamber of Deputies unanimously voted in favour of the agreement, which seeks to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region by addressing longstanding security issues.