The agreements were signed in Muscat on Sunday following an official visit by a high-level Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe.
The delegation also included the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa; and the Minister of State in charge of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye.
According to an official statement, one of the MoUs focuses on logistics services, including the development and operation of inland ports, as well as related logistics and supply chain services.
Another MoU covers transportation, specifically the operationalisation of direct flights between Muscat and Kigali.
Under this agreement, Oman Air will begin operating direct flights to Kigali starting in June, with two direct flights per week.
A third MoU, signed between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Oman Airports Management Company, focuses on development cooperation, including potential investments linked to the new Bugesera Airport District.
The fourth MoU addresses ICT and innovation, signed between the Ministries of ICT of Rwanda and Oman. It covers cooperation in data hosting, cloud services, and data centre services.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ambassador Nduhungirehe described the MoUs as a significant step forward in Rwanda–Oman relations, noting that their implementation would deliver tangible benefits to citizens of both countries.
He emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to implementing the agreements in good faith and indicated that further cooperation initiatives are expected in the future.
Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Bin Hamoud Al Maawali, said the agreements would help Oman expand its engagement with East Africa, while also reinforcing the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
He added that the partnerships serve as a bridge for broader cooperation between the Middle East and Africa.
In recent days, the DRC government has expressed interest in launching new peace talks in Kinshasa, bringing together Congolese from different groups, with Angola serving as mediator.
To facilitate this, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has visited Angola three times since December 14, 2025, meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss how the process will proceed.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya explained that the planned Kinshasa talks will differ from previous meetings held in Washington, D.C., in the United States, and in Doha, Qatar.
“In Washington, the talks involved us and Rwanda, the father. In Doha, the talks involved us and M23, the son,” he claimed in an allegation that Rwanda has repeatedly refuted.
Sources indicate that representatives of AFC/M23 are expected to participate in the new Kinshasa talks, raising questions about whether the Doha talks will lose relevance.
The DRC government has called for the new talks while continuing to ignore the Doha process. In December 2025, Qatar invited the DRC to two meetings aimed at monitoring compliance with the ceasefire, but the government declined to attend.
On January 11, 2026, Minister Nduhungirehe responded to Muyaya’s comments, saying the DRC government itself is the “father,” while the FDLR terrorist group is the “son.” He described the new talks as a tactic to gain additional leverage, a strategy known as “forum shopping.”
Nduhungirehe emphasised that lasting peace in the DRC depends on genuine political will and that political talks complementing those held in Doha and Washington would be welcomed.
“When the father (Congolese government), the son (FDLR genocidaires), and the evil spirit (genocide ideology) attempt yet another ‘forum shopping’ in three years, as a delaying manoeuvre, we simply recall that salvation will first come from Kinshasa’s political will to apply the current peace processes in good faith,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated, adding “Any national political dialogue, which would be complementary to these processes, would then be welcome.”
The AFC/M23 coalition has asked the Angolan president for clarification regarding the new talks, seeking to know whether Qatar will participate, what role it will play, and whether the decisions made during the Doha talks will be honoured.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which collects data from activists inside and outside the country, the fatalities include 490 protesters and 48 security personnel amid two weeks of unrest that began in late December 2025. In that period, more than 10,600 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
The protests, initially sparked by economic grievances including soaring prices and the sharp decline of the Iranian rial, have rapidly evolved into widespread demands for political change, with demonstrators openly criticising the country’s clerical leadership.
The Iranian government has not released its own casualty figures, and international agencies have been unable to independently verify the rights group’s totals. Tehran has imposed a near-total internet blackout, complicating external reporting on the scale of violence and human rights abuses.
State media and official channels have sought to frame the unrest as the work of “terrorists” and foreign agents, with senior Iranian officials accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting trouble. In response to mounting tensions, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that any military strike on Iran would result in retaliation against U.S. and allied targets in the region.
“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are reportedly reviewing a wide range of responses to the crisis, including military options, cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support to help restore internet access for protestors.
As protests continue in cities across Iran, the nation remains in a state of heightened tension, with growing calls for political reform and accountability, even as the authorities threaten severe reprisals against dissenters.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026, Trump said the situation was under close review by both civilian and military leadership and that decisive steps could be taken soon.
“We’re looking at it very seriously,” Trump told reporters. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.”
He added that Iranian leaders had reached out to Washington to seek negotiations following his warnings, and that a meeting was being arranged. However, Trump cautioned that the United States might act before that meeting takes place if conditions on the ground worsen.
The remarks come as anti-government protests enter their third week, sparked initially by economic grievances such as the sharp downturn of the Iranian rial but quickly evolving into broader demonstrations against the country’s clerical leadership.
Rights groups estimate that hundreds of protesters have been killed in the crackdown, while more than 10,000 people have been detained. The ongoing unrest has been compounded by an internet blackout across large parts of Iran, making it difficult to independently verify events inside the country.
Trump’s comments have raised both diplomatic and security concerns. Sources say the options being reviewed could include not only military strikes but also cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and support for protest-related communications technology to counter state blackouts.
Trump even mentioned plans to discuss restoring internet access in Iran with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system, which has been used in other conflict zones to bypass government restrictions.
Iranian officials have responded with warnings of their own. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliation, with Israel and U.S. military bases in the region described as “legitimate targets.” Tehran has also accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest and portrayed demonstrators as influenced by foreign powers, a claim rejected by protest supporters and rights observers.
The crisis also reflects a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, which in recent weeks has included heightened pressure on Cuba and Venezuela, as well as renewed strategic discussions about U.S. military presence in other regions. But Trump’s focus on Iran, where demonstrations have become the largest in years, highlights the escalating tension between global powers and domestic unrest inside Iran.
As of today, it remains unclear whether the United States will take military action, expand sanctions further, or pursue diplomatic channels. Trump’s administration has indicated that all possible responses are on the table, and senior advisers are scheduled to meet to shape the next steps amid heightened global attention.
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{{A new chapter for Zaria Court Kigali}}
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{{Elevating the guest experience}}
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{{A destination, not just accommodation}}
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{{Partnership vision: Global strength meets local ownership}}
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{{Significance for Rwanda’s hospitality landscape}}
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{{Closing 2025 with momentum}}
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{{About Zaria Court Kigali, Tapestry Collection by Hilton}}
Zaria Court Kigali is Kigali’s first urban lifestyle hotel, located in the heart of Rwanda’s Sports City and premier sports and entertainment district. The 80-room property features vibrant, locally-inspired interiors, multiple food and beverage outlets, meeting and event spaces, and a heated pool.
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{{About Tapestry Collection by Hilton}}
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“The government has returned to the national capital,” Idris said in a speech to a crowd following his arrival in Bahri, north of Khartoum.
He pledged to improve basic services, particularly in the health and education sectors, and to rebuild hospitals and rehabilitate schools and universities, foremost among them the University of Khartoum.
The prime minister added that 2026 would be “the year of peace in Sudan,” pointing to plans for reconstruction and development, as well as efforts to improve the economic situation by increasing gross national product, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the exchange rate of the national currency.
The government’s return is part of official efforts to restore administrative functions and public services to the capital, following announcements in recent months of gradual plans to reinstate state institutions, alongside a relative improvement in security conditions in some areas, despite persistent security and humanitarian challenges in several parts of the country.
Khartoum witnessed fierce battles that caused widespread damage to government institutions, infrastructure, and basic services.
The Sudanese government relocated to Port Sudan in late April 2023, days after fighting broke out in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The move took place gradually, with the headquarters of the Sovereign Council, the Council of Ministers, and several ministries and sovereign institutions transferred to Port Sudan, which later became a temporary seat for managing state affairs amid deteriorating security conditions in Khartoum.
In May 2025, the SAF declared Khartoum State cleared of RSF forces, paving the way for the city to gradually reclaim public spaces and resume normal life.
The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, both inside Sudan and across its borders.
Speaking at a rally in Arua City on Friday, Museveni lauded Trump for “kicking out immigrants” and urged Ugandans to focus on national development rather than seeking opportunities abroad.
“Africanism. Love Africa. Why? Because you need it,” Museveni said. “I like Mr. Trump so much myself. He has said, ‘Don’t come here now to America.’ I say thank you so much for chasing those wanderers. What are they going to do in America?”
“I love Trump for chasing you, people who don’t care about their country, they go all over the place,” he added.
Museveni used the example of Trump’s deportation measures to emphasise African self-reliance.
“This teaches you that you build your own capacity, within Uganda, within Africa. Love Uganda, love Africa,” he said, highlighting that national markets and domestic production are critical for wealth creation.
Trump’s mass deportation program, which began upon his inauguration on January 20, 2025, has been described by the administration as the largest in U.S. history. The program combines formal deportations with “self-deportations,” facilitated in part through the repurposed CBP One app, renamed “CBP Home”, which offers voluntary migrants cash incentives to leave.
By December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security reported over 2.5 million people had left the U.S., including more than 600,000 formal deportations and nearly 1.9 million self-deportations.
In addition to enforcement actions, Uganda was recently added to an expanded U.S. visa bond program requiring some travelers to post refundable deposits of up to $15,000 for certain visa applications. The initiative is part of the U.S. government’s efforts to reduce visa overstays and enforce stricter immigration controls.
The refugee agency reported on Friday that 25 of the deaths were caused by a cholera outbreak, while six others resulted from anaemia and malnutrition-related complications. Authorities are still investigating the causes of the remaining deaths, with the UN working alongside local officials and humanitarian partners to gather more information.
More than 100,000 people have sought refuge in Burundi since December, when fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels intensified in the border town of Uvira. Many of the displaced are living in makeshift shelters with limited access to food, clean water, and basic services.
Children and women, including pregnant women, are particularly vulnerable, with roughly half of those displaced under the age of 18. Overcrowding in refugee sites has also increased the risk of outbreaks of cholera, measles, and malaria, UN officials warned.
Jean Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province where Uvira is located, described the situation as “misery” and “a crisis completely forgotten by the international community and media.”
The Burundian government confirmed that the number of Congolese refugees exceeded the capacity of nearby camps. Feeding them was a challenge, and many were affected by cholera outbreaks caused by poor sanitation.
Although UNHCR confirmed 53 deaths, other sources were even more alarming. The CPCC, a community-based NGO, reported that 105 Congolese refugees had died in camps in Burundi over the past two weeks, mostly due to lack of food and medical care.
On January 5, 2026, the organisation’s director, Ahadi Bya Masu, told Radio Okapi that some refugees had also been attacked by criminals while in the camps in Burundi, resulting in additional deaths.
“Today, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. Central Command forces, alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria,” the command posted on X.
The command said these strikes were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on December 19 in response to a deadly IS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13. In the attack, a lone IS terrorist carried out an ambush, killing two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter.
The strikes are “part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,” U.S. Central Command said, adding that U.S. and coalition forces “remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”
As part of his ongoing visit, the 20-year-old YouTube and Twitch star took part in a motorcycle ride through Kigali, during which he openly expressed his admiration for Rwanda.
Speaking during a live session with his followers, IShowSpeed described the country as one of the most beautiful places he has ever visited.
“All my life, I kid you not, this has to be one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to,” he said, pointing to the scenery around him. He added that traveling a few hours outside the city and into the countryside left a lasting impression. “I went into the jungle, and it was just beautiful. The nature here is insane. Rwanda is so beautiful.”
He went on to tell his fans that he hopes to return for a longer stay, saying he would like to come back “for a week, just for a vacation.”
Earlier in the day, IShowSpeed visited Volcanoes National Park, where he came face to face with Rwanda’s iconic mountain gorillas. He shared photos and videos of the experience on Snapchat, visibly excited as he observed the primates in their natural habitat.
The highlight of his evening came at Amahoro Stadium, where he made a dramatic entrance on a motorcycle during a women’s football match between Rayon Sports WFC and Indahangarwa WFC. Thousands of fans erupted in cheers as he dismounted at the center of the stadium, describing Amahoro as “the best stadium in Africa.”
Handed a microphone, IShowSpeed entertained the crowd by recreating Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous “Siuuu” celebration, dancing to traditional Rwandan music, beating traditional drums, and posing for photos with fans. Many supporters rushed to take selfies with him, while others presented him with gifts, including bracelets and souvenirs.
Throughout his appearances, the content creator was livestreaming to a massive global audience, with more than 47 million viewers following his activities in real time across his platforms.
IShowSpeed’s visit to Rwanda is part of his broader project, “Speed Does Africa Tour,” which he launched on December 21, 2025. The tour sees him livestreaming and sharing experiences from different African countries, showcasing culture, people, and tourism to his global audience.
