Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

According to the group, the DRC representatives showed little commitment to signing a ceasefire agreement, which was a key expectation during the negotiations.

Speaking at a press briefing on July 3, 2025, Benjamin Mbonimpa, head of the AFC/M23 delegation in Doha, said that every time they arrived in Qatar, they anticipated the signing of a ceasefire pact. However, the Kinshasa government repeatedly rejected the agreement.

“Kinshasa has chosen to portray Rwanda as its enemy, yet the issues between Rwanda and the DRC are strictly state-level matters. Our concern is with the Congolese government. We engage directly with the government because only through dialogue can this conflict be resolved and peace restored, but unfortunately, not all officials seem to understand this,” Mbonimpa explained.

He further stated that while peace talks were ongoing, the DRC government was simultaneously planning military offensives against territories controlled by M23. He pointed to the presence of foreign mercenaries in Kisangani, including Colombians and Americans, preparing attacks.

Mbonimpa also accused the DRC government of supporting militias such as Wazalendo and Mai-Mai by providing them with drones and heavy weaponry to regain control over captured areas.

Mbonimpa noted a striking difference in how delegations approached the talks, saying while M23 consistently presented official documents authorising their participation, DRC representatives never showed any credentials.

“We found it difficult to negotiate with people who came without any official mandate or letter of appointment. We would present our authorisation to the mediator, but the DRC representatives came without any proof of government backing. They behaved more like informal participants than official negotiators,” he said.

According to AFC/M23, the first and most critical step in the talks was supposed to be signing a ceasefire agreement. However, the DRC government repeatedly refused to commit to this.

Despite rejecting the ceasefire in talks, the DRC government has often publicly accused M23 of rejecting peace efforts.

M23 maintains that since 2022, it has declared ceasefires unilaterally on five occasions, while the DRC government has not taken similar steps.

Ebang Engonga, 55, is the former head of the General Directorate of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) and a nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. He is also the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current president of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

He dominated headlines late last year over a sex scandal involving over 400 women in the Central African country.

His trial, unfolding in the capital Malabo, centers on charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office during his tenure between 2015 and 2020.

Prosecutors allege that Ebang Engonga orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to divert state funds for personal use. The indictment seeks eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of office.

In addition to prison time, the prosecution is requesting a fine of more than 910 million CFA francs (approx. $1.5 million) and a ban from holding public office for the duration of the sentence.

The case, dubbed the “Treasury Trial,” involves six other former DGAR officials facing similar charges. Among them are Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji.

The legal proceedings have been further inflamed by the scandalous revelations about Ebang Engonga’s personal life. In late 2024, authorities recovered explicit videos from Ebang Engonga’s electronic devices during the investigation.

The recordings, some filmed in his government office and involving women reportedly linked to government officials, sparked a public firestorm and added to growing calls for accountability within the ruling elite.

The defence has rejected the charges as unfounded and politically charged, calling into question the credibility of the evidence, including the financial audit and video materials presented by the prosecution. Ebang Engonga’s legal team maintains that the proceedings are intended to sideline him from public life.

The trial, which began Monday, is expected to conclude by the end of the week, with a verdict likely in the coming days.

The decision was made following the approval of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran and in view of the security and safety assessments under the country’s present circumstances, spokesman of the Iranian Roads and Urban Development Ministry Majid Akhavan said in a statement.

He said that the suspension of domestic and foreign flights to and from airports in Iran’s northern, southern and western parts was extended until 14:00 local time (1030 GMT) on Thursday.

He added the country’s eastern airspace, which had been reopened on June 29 to domestic and international flights, would remain open.

Iran on Saturday reopened its airspace in central and western areas to international transit flights.

The country closed its airspace on June 13 following Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other areas. After a 12-day aerial conflict, the two countries achieved a ceasefire on June 24.

The two-day event marks the fourth global observance of the day and is expected to spotlight Kiswahili’s growing role in regional integration, education, diplomacy, and economic development.

Organised under the theme “Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development,” the celebrations are recognised by UNESCO and are being held in partnership with the East African Community (EAC) and the Government of Rwanda.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, the organisers said the event will serve as a platform to reaffirm Kiswahili’s importance in shaping Africa’s unity, identity, and development trajectory.

“This year’s celebration aims to reaffirm Kiswahili’s pivotal role in fostering regional integration, cultural identity, and socio-economic development across the continent,” the statement read.

The programme will feature a mix of cultural showcases — including music, poetry, and visual art performed in Kiswahili — as well as academic dialogues and expert panel discussions on the language’s application in education, technology, media, and public policy.

The East African Kiswahili Commission, headquartered in Zanzibar, is leading efforts to standardise and promote the language across the region. Established under Article 137 (2) of the EAC Treaty, the commission provides support through research, curriculum development, terminology coordination, and policy guidance.

According to the organisers, Kiswahili’s significance goes far beyond the classroom. The language is increasingly seen as a strategic tool for strengthening political ties and facilitating cross-border communication among EAC member states.

“It is also vital for effective diplomacy, enabling clearer communication and building stronger political relationships,” the statement noted.

“Economically, emphasising Kiswahili in business transactions across the African Free Trade Area enhances trade efficiency and opportunities, boosting economic growth and creating job opportunities across various sectors.”

The Kigali gathering is expected to draw a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, linguists, artists, and civil society representatives, all united in celebrating Kiswahili’s role as a language of daily life and intercultural exchange.

Kiswahili is spoken by more than 200 million people across Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. It serves as a working language of both the African Union and the East African Community, and its influence continues to expand.

Rwanda officially adopted Kiswahili as one of its four national languages in 2017, alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and French. The government further cemented its commitment in 2023 by integrating Kiswahili more deeply into public administration, education, and regional cooperation efforts, a move aligned with its obligations as an EAC member state.

Scientists and international agencies warn that this crisis is part of a broader “new era of drought,” driven by climate change and posing escalating threats to food security, ecosystems, and national economies.

{{Scorching heat grips Europe
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Germany is experiencing what may be its hottest day of the year on Wednesday, with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, according to the German Weather Service, which has issued extreme heat warnings across much of the country and highlighted a rising risk of wildfires, especially in the southeast.

Similar conditions are unfolding across Central Europe. In the Czech Republic, the national meteorological institute warned of “very high temperatures” and increased fire danger, with some regions expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius.

Prague’s emergency services have already responded to multiple heat-related incidents, and a fire ban remains in effect.

Slovakia’s meteorological authority issued its highest-level red alert for 10 districts on Thursday, forecasting highs up to 38 degrees Celsius as warm air masses from the west intensify the heat.

Neighboring Croatia and Romania are also on alert, with peak temperatures expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, respectively.

In the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute confirmed the country’s first official heatwave in three years. De Bilt, the national reference station, recorded five consecutive days above 30 degrees Celsius, prompting a code orange alert in the southeastern provinces.

Southern Europe is faring no better. Spain continues to endure a record-breaking heatwave, with June 2025 confirmed as the country’s hottest month on record.

The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET reported an average monthly temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius, hotter than typical July and August averages. Tragically, two farmers died on Tuesday in a wildfire that scorched 5,000 hectares in La Segarra, northeast Spain.

In Slovenia, the Environment Agency (ARSO) noted that June 2025 was not only the hottest but also the driest month since records began, with rainfall just 24 percent of the monthly average.

Heatwaves continue in Croatia, where the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) forecast maximum temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 39 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an orange weather warning for July 3 and July 4, with temperatures expected to reach between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. Meteorologist Bakir Krajinovic from the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute said that June 2025 was unprecedented in the country’s measurement history, with zero rainfall recorded at meteorological stations in cities such as Tuzla and Mostar.

{{Drought spreading, taking toll on economy
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These escalating conditions in Europe are part of a global pattern. A new report released Wednesday, Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025, presents a stark picture. Jointly prepared by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the report warns that drought has become one of the most widespread and damaging crises of our time.

“Drought was once primarily associated with rainfall and agriculture,” said Daniel Tsegai, program officer at UNCCD. “Today, it is a multi-sectoral, systemic shock. No sector, no part of the economy, and no country is immune to its impacts.”

The report notes that the frequency of global droughts increased by 30 percent between 2000 and 2019. Driven by climate change and rising demands for land and water, droughts now threaten food supplies, water availability, biodiversity, energy systems, and public health, all critical pillars of society.

Mark Svoboda, co-author and founding director of NDMC, described the situation as “a slow-moving global catastrophe, the worst I’ve ever seen.”

The economic toll is mounting rapidly. NDMC research cites an OECD estimate that the financial cost of drought today is at least double what it was in 2000, with further increases of up to 110 percent projected by 2035.

“Ripple effects can turn regional droughts into global economic shocks,” said co-author Cody Knutson. “No country is immune when critical water-dependent systems start to collapse.”

The report warns that drought is already costing some countries up to 10 percent of their GDP annually, and may soon disrupt energy grids, food supply chains, and entire ecosystems.

{{Action, global cooperation in urgent need
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The UNCCD urges countries to act immediately by investing in early warning systems, drought monitoring, and nature-based solutions such as watershed restoration. Building resilient infrastructure, including off-grid energy and alternative water technologies, is also crucial.

Tsegai emphasized that combating drought requires shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive, long-term planning. Addressing these interconnected threats demands coordinated action across sectors and governance levels, involving ministries, local communities, and national governments alike.

Although over 80 countries have developed national drought plans, the UNCCD warns that implementation remains a major gap. Without stronger execution and cooperation, experts caution the world could face increasingly severe and widespread drought-related crises.