The discussions were centred on a 28-point proposal, confirmed to be authored by the United States with input from both Kyiv and Moscow. The proposal, which leaked days prior to the talks, caused widespread confusion among allies and a fierce political debate within the US administration.
In a series of weekend posts on his social media platform, President Trump complained that Ukraine’s leadership “has expressed zero gratitude” for American efforts. He also accused European countries of continuing to buy oil from Russia while the United States “continues to sell massive amounts of weapons to NATO, for distribution to Ukraine.” His comments came directly before the Geneva negotiations began.
The peace framework also sparked chaos in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced a major crisis after reports emerged that he told Senators the plan was a “Russian wish list” and not an American proposal. Rubio then publicly reversed course, confirming via a social media post that the plan was indeed “authored by the U.S.” but based on input from all sides. Trump, for his part, later said the plan was not America’s “final offer,” adding to the uncertainty over Washington’s definitive position.
In Europe, leaders voiced significant concerns about the proposal’s concessions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated publicly that while a chance to end the war existed, he was “still quite a way from a good outcome for everyone,” reflecting widespread European scepticism. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that any settlement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and preserve the European Union’s central role in security.
From Kyiv, senior Ukrainian officials were cautiously positive about the diplomatic process but firm on red lines. Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, said the Geneva meeting showed “very good progress” and noted that teams would continue to refine the text.
However, a major sticking point is that the draft framework reportedly crosses Ukraine’s long-standing red lines, particularly demanding the withdrawal of forces from the remaining Ukrainian-controlled part of Donetsk province, a territorial concession Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
The proposal has also drawn criticism in Washington. Several Republican lawmakers rejected the plan’s concessions, warning that any agreement must reflect “the will of the Ukrainian people,” signalling deep resistance to any arrangement that could pressure Ukraine into ceding territory.
European diplomats warned privately that they were preparing for the possibility that the United States could scale back its military and financial support for Ukraine, a scenario they described as increasingly plausible if Kyiv rejects the plan. They stressed that if Western unity breaks down, Ukraine could be left vulnerable at a critical moment in the conflict.
The Geneva talks are expected to continue, but the fundamental disagreements surrounding the peace plan, combined with Trump’s public attacks, have raised new questions about whether the West can remain united as efforts continue to reach a credible and durable settlement.
The summit opened under strain. The United States boycotted the meeting entirely.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum were also absent from the summit. Putin is wanted by the international criminal court, to which South Africa is a signatory. Xi has delegated attending many international gatherings this year to China’s premier, Li Qiang.
In an unusual move, world leaders from the Group of 20 broke with tradition and adopted a declaration at the start of their summit in South Africa on Saturday despite opposition from the United States.
Traditionally, such declarations are adopted at the end, but the hosts acted early to ensure the meeting showed at least a minimum of unity.
The declaration focused on the priorities of developing countries, highlighting debt sustainability and the need for support to nations affected by climate-related disasters.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the text “reaffirms our renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences.” The declaration remained non-binding and largely symbolic.
Besides, the war in Ukraine dominated discussions, and French president Emmanuel Macron warned that the G20 “may be reaching the end of a cycle,” saying members were finding it difficult to resolve major crises together.
Only hours after the declaration was adopted, Argentina’s foreign minister said his country “cannot approve this declaration,” pointing to “red lines,” especially regarding the wording on the Middle East conflict.
The United States also criticized the host country, accusing South Africa of “weaponising their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles.”
Although a joint declaration allowed the summit to save face on paper, the tensions revealed in Johannesburg showed the fragile state of the forum.
The visit took place on November 18 and 19, 2025, during which Dr. Muyoboke toured various justice-related institutions in The Gambia, including the country’s school of law.
In 2024, The Gambia revised its law regulating the legal profession, adding provisions that specify which countries’ law degrees are recognized for practicing law in Gambia. According to the new law, no one can practice law in Gambia without presenting a valid degree from a recognized country.
In Africa, recognized countries include Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. In Europe, countries like Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom, which colonized Gambia, are recognized. In the Americas, only Canada is accepted, while in Asia, countries like India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia are recognized.
Dr. Muyoboke explained that the relationship between the two institutions has sparked the beginning of discussions on how justice institutions in both countries can collaborate.
During the visit, the President of the Gambian Bar Association, Neneh Cham, spoke with the President of the Rwanda Bar Association, Moise Nkundabarashi, exploring avenues of collaboration between Rwandan lawyers and their Gambian counterparts.
This collaboration is expected to facilitate Gambian students who graduate from ILPD and other future initiatives.
Dr. Muyoboke further mentioned that both The Gambia’s Supreme Court and Rwanda’s Supreme Court have set up dedicated teams to assess how the justice institutions can work together effectively.
In September of this year, the President of the Supreme Court of Rwanda, Mukantaganzwa Domitille, also visited The Gambia’s justice institutions, marking the start of in-depth discussions on collaboration.
This followed the visits of The Gambia’s Supreme Court President, Hassan B. Jallow, and the Head of the Gambian Law School, Rougie Thomasi, to Rwanda.
Dr. Muyoboke expressed hope that these discussions would yield positive results in the future.
He said, “This visit will strengthen cooperation in judicial education, research, and the development of the legal profession. There is a strong desire to promote legal professionalism and collaboration in our continent, and this will be possible through our partnership.”
The President of the Supreme Court of The Gambia, Hassan B. Jallow, also stated that Dr. Muyoboke’s visit was very valuable, as it continues to build the good relationship between The Gambia and Rwanda, particularly in the field of justice.
He added, “For me, Rwanda is like a second home. I lived and worked there. The partnership we will have benefits us all, and working together as Africans is what is needed on our continent.”
During his visit, Dr. Muyoboke also met with The Gambia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dawda A. Jallow, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Hussein Thomasi, and others, including former ILPD students from The Gambia, who have now founded an association called the ‘ILPD Alumni, Gambia Chapter.’
One Gambian lawyer, B.M. Bajo, who works in Rwanda, told IGIHE that he is excited about the collaboration between the two countries.
He explained that before the legal recognition agreement between Rwanda and The Gambia, Gambian lawyers working in Rwanda faced challenges in advancing their careers.
However, he believes that these issues are now left behind, as the partnership allows them to represent clients in court and tackle other legal obstacles.
To date, 50 students from The Gambia have graduated from ILPD, with others still studying.
Some of the graduates have chosen to continue working in Rwanda, where they appreciate the values they learned, such as cleanliness, fighting corruption, and advocating for justice.
According to Rwanda’s Office of the President, the two Heads of State discussed the existing cooperation, including Rwanda’s ongoing support through the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) troops serving under the existing bilateral security agreement as well as those serving in the United Nations Mission.
Both leaders also exchanged on the opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation through collaboration in various sectors of mutual benefit for the people of the Central African Republic and Rwanda.
President Touadéra arrived in Kigali on November 23, 2025, where he was received by Rwanda’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Vincent Biruta, before meeting President Kagame later in the evening.
Relations between Rwanda and the Central African Republic have grown significantly over the years, with security cooperation standing at the core of this partnership.
Rwanda first deployed troops to the Central African Republic in 2014 as part of efforts to restore stability following waves of conflict that began in 2012.
Rwandan forces were initially deployed under the African Union mission, MISCA, before transitioning to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, a few months later.
Their responsibilities included protecting civilians, safeguarding UN equipment, and ensuring the security of the CAR Head of State and his family.
In 2020, Rwanda sent additional troops under a bilateral agreement with the Central African Republic. Through the same agreement, Rwandan forces have been training CAR’s national army.
In March 2025, the third cohort of 438 CAR soldiers trained by Rwandan troops completed their military courses, which included enemy detection, territorial defence, map reading, and field operations.
Over nearly 11 years of cooperation, the partnership has expanded beyond security, with Rwandan peacekeepers also supporting community welfare initiatives, including providing medical services to local residents.
In February 2025, Rwanda and the Central African Republic further deepened their cooperation by signing a security partnership agreement between their respective interior ministries.
President Touadéra’s visit comes just days before the Central African Republic heads to presidential elections scheduled for December 2025.
In July 2025, he announced that he would be seeking another term in office.
According to media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff attended the meeting.
The Ukrainian delegation was led by Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.
Also, national security advisers from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives of the European Union, also took part in the meeting.
Yermak said on social media platform X on Sunday that the Ukrainian delegation had begun its work in Geneva.
He said the team held its first meeting with national security advisers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany and would next meet with the U.S. delegation, adding that they were “in a very constructive mood.”
Yermak added that a series of meetings in various formats was planned for the day as the sides continue working together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said on social media platform X on Sunday that he hoped the talks would be constructive and lead to a positive outcome.
President Touadéra was received by Rwanda’s Minister of Internal Security, Dr. Vincent Biruta. His visit underscores the strong partnership between Rwanda and the Central African Republic, particularly in the areas of security and peacekeeping.
Rwandan forces first deployed to the Central African Republic in 2014 as part of peacekeeping efforts following civil unrest in 2012. Initially under the African Union mission MISCA, and later the United Nations mission MINUSCA, Rwandan troops have played a key role in protecting civilians, safeguarding UN facilities, and providing security for the Head of State and his family.
In 2020, Rwanda reinforced its support through additional troop deployments and military training programs for the Central African Republic’s armed forces. The third cohort of 438 soldiers trained by Rwanda completed their courses in March 2025, gaining skills in enemy reconnaissance, tactical operations, and field exercises.
Beyond security, Rwanda has contributed to improving the welfare of Central African citizens, with its forces supporting healthcare and other community services. In February 2025, both countries signed a security cooperation agreement to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The agreements were signed in Kigali on November 21, 2025, during RWCA’s 10th anniversary celebrations, which highlighted the organisation’s achievements in crane conservation over the past decade.
Representatives from wildlife organisations in Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda attended the ceremony and joined RWCA in signing the collaborative agreements. Partner organisations include Nature Uganda and the International Crane Foundation from Uganda, Nature Tanzania, and the Association Burundaise pour la Protection de la Nature from Burundi.
Under the agreements, the organisations will work together to protect cranes across a 24,904-square-kilometre area. This includes the Rwandan border regions, home to 1,030 cranes, representing 82% of the national population, as well as 787 cranes in neighbouring Uganda. Additional coverage includes 266 cranes in Tanzania’s border areas and 19 cranes in Burundi.
RWCA founder and Executive Director, Dr Olivier Nsengimana, said surveys showed that some Rwandan cranes, especially those in wetlands near borders, cross into neighbouring countries without returning, with their survival uncertain outside Rwanda.
“In wetlands near borders such as Akagera, Akanyaru, and Kagitumba, crane numbers fluctuate and are generally low, but the birds are not dying. Some cross borders, while populations in protected wetlands like Urugezi increase each year. In wetlands used for agriculture, cranes may leave during planting seasons,” he said.
Dr Nsengimana added that GPS tracking of some cranes revealed their cross-border movements, prompting RWCA to collaborate with local organisations to protect the birds, educate communities, and promote shared use of tracking technology.
“We realised that monitoring these cranes would require complex permits, so we signed agreements with organisations in Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda to jointly protect cranes in the region, share information, and take coordinated action,” he said.
Over the past decade, RWCA has helped increase Rwanda’s crane population from fewer than 300 in 2015 to 1,245 today. Public awareness of crane conservation has grown, and the organisation has expanded from five volunteer staff to 300 permanent employees.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Fidèle Bingwa, praised RWCA’s dedication, noting that the organisation’s work over the past 10 years has strengthened government efforts in biodiversity conservation and produced tangible results.
The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen timepiece, which had remained in the Straus family for more than a century, was the star item at a sale held by Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers on Saturday, November 22. The auction house, known for handling significant Titanic artefacts, confirmed the sale marks the highest price ever achieved for an item connected to the sinking.
Straus, a prominent American businessman, politician, and co-owner of Macy’s department store, was travelling first class with his wife Ida when the Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Both were among the more than 1,500 passengers and crew who perished.
Their story is remembered as one of the most poignant of the tragedy. Witnesses recalled Ida refusing a seat on a lifeboat, insisting she would not leave her husband of 41 years behind. The couple were last seen sitting together on the deck as the ship went down. Isidor’s body was later recovered; Ida’s was never found.
Among the items discovered with him was the gold watch, its hands stopped at 02:20, the moment the Titanic slipped beneath the Atlantic. The piece had originally been a gift from Ida to Isidor for his 43rd birthday in 1888, engraved with his initials and carried with him until his final moments.
The watch was returned to the family after the disaster and carefully preserved through the generations. Isidor’s great-grandson, Kenneth Hollister Straus, later had the mechanism repaired and restored, while keeping the original casing intact.
The auction generated strong global interest, with auctioneer Andrew Aldridge describing the watch as a symbol of the couple’s enduring legacy.
“This world record price illustrates the lasting fascination with the Titanic and the profound human stories attached to it,” he said. “The Strauses embody what many consider the ultimate love story of the disaster, and this sale is a testament to the respect in which they are held.”
The auction also featured other significant Titanic-related items. A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, posted during the voyage, sold for £100,000 (Frw 167 million). A passenger list fetched £104,000 (Frw 174 million), while a gold medal presented to the crew of the rescue ship RMS Carpathia was purchased for £86,000 (Frw 144 million). In total, the sale of memorabilia reached £3 million.
The previous record for a Titanic artefact was £1.56 million (Frw 2.6 billion) for a gold watch given to the Carpathia captain, sold last year. With this latest sale, the Straus watch now stands as the most valuable piece of Titanic history ever auctioned.
The announcement of the declaration’s adoption was made at the opening of the summit, the first ever held in Africa. The two-day gathering is being held in Johannesburg under the theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”
The declaration warns that increasingly frequent and intense disasters and shocks are undermining development and overstretching response systems. Leaders said they “hinder progress towards sustainable development and strain both national capabilities and the international system’s ability to respond.”
They called for integrated, people-centered approaches and highlighted the need for “strengthened disaster resilience and response,” particularly for vulnerable small island developing states and least developed countries.
Energy access and transition also featured prominently. The declaration underscores stark inequalities, noting that “over 600 million Africans have no access to electricity.”
The leaders support efforts to triple global renewable capacity and double energy-efficiency improvements by 2030, and emphasized the urgency of mobilizing scaled-up investment and facilitating low-cost financing for developing countries in line with national circumstances. They also highlighted the importance of voluntary technology transfer “on mutually agreed terms.”
On critical minerals, the G20 endorsed a Critical Minerals Framework, describing it as a voluntary guide for “sustainable, transparent, stable and resilient critical minerals value chains that underpin industrialization and sustainable development.”
The declaration stresses that mineral resources should serve as “a catalyst for value-addition and broad-based development, rather than just raw material exports,” affirming the right of producing countries to harness their endowments for inclusive growth.
The leaders’ declaration reflects a shared recognition that global challenges require more coordinated and equitable approaches.
The G20 (Group of Twenty) is the premier international forum for economic cooperation, comprising the world’s major advanced and developing economies. It currently includes 19 countries and two regional bodies (the African Union and the European Union), bringing the total number of participants to 21 members.
Despite this broad representation, the United States did not participate in the G20 South Africa Summit, an absence ordered by President Donald Trump. The stated reasons for the U.S. boycott were discredited claims that South Africa’s government was persecuting its white Afrikaner minority and the administration’s opposition to South Africa’s summit priorities, which focused on issues like climate change and global inequality.
She was also the Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the Parliament, responsible for legal affairs and government oversight, a role she held for six years.
Mukabagwiza served as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada and Cuba between 2007-2013, after which she was elected as a Member of Parliament from 2013-2018, and later became one of the leaders of the Chamber of Deputies.
She is an expert in law, having studied at the University of Rwanda after completing her secondary education at Collège Saint André.
Mukabagwiza holds a Master’s degree in Diplomacy from Washington International University in the United States, along with other qualifications in law. She has worked in various ministries and non-governmental organizations.
She recently took the oath to become a legal advocate and has founded her own firm, EM Pathways Legal & Advisory Ltd.
In an interview with IGIHE, this legal expert explained that becoming an advocate was something she chose to do after finishing her political career, emphasizing that it is a way to continue contributing to the country.
{{IGIHE: How did you transition to becoming an advocate?}}
{{Mukabagwiza:}} I have worked in the political field, meaning I was involved in a career where I had to step into the job market. I thought that I could be more useful by focusing on issues directly related to justice.
First of all, I am a lawyer. I studied law and later added other qualifications in this field, and with the experience I have, I felt it would help me continue my mission of serving the people.
A lawyer helps a citizen or an institution, but for our purposes, let’s focus on helping the people. It’s about advocating for justice and explaining the law to the public.
So, as someone trained in law and having taken part in justice-related duties, representing the people, I have a lot of information on what the citizens need.
I felt that moving into this profession would be beneficial, because a lawyer is not focused on their personal gain but on helping others legally.
Indeed, it is a profession that can sustain you and your family, but most importantly, a lawyer works with the justice system to ensure that justice is effectively delivered to the people as they need it. This is what led me to this profession.
{{Having served as Minister of Justice and Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, what core values do you bring to your ongoing service to the citizens?}}
I believe the values I had then are still the same as those I carry now. As a leader, it’s about fighting for the truth, advocating for justice, and being aware of the issues so that, in addition to what I already knew, I can continue sharing those insights with different bodies, whether governmental or partners, to find solutions.
I feel a responsibility to highlight what needs improvement, support what is going well to further build on it, and also help expand the boundaries.
The profession I’ve entered into shouldn’t be inward-looking. We should be like people in the world, in the region, and what’s happening should concern us.
We shouldn’t be people confined to just our country; as members of the EAC, we should expand our knowledge of how lawyers in the region work and how they practice.
I also come to learn because your knowledge is never enough. There are others with more experience in this profession, and I will learn from them, observe them, and sometimes follow how cases are being handled, how lawyers are advocating, to truly master this profession in the proper way.
I respect justice, both in front of the people, the Rwandan society, and the judges, because in our duties and oaths, we commit to respecting our profession and those we work with.
{{How do you think efforts should be prioritized?}}
I am an arbitratior, and I completed my training in June 2025. Looking at the issues within the justice system, the number of cases continues to increase rather than decrease. The problem here is that Rwandans still have numerous cases to settle.
Among the people, there are still disputes, but there is also the issue of some cases not being resolved quickly.
A person loses a case, and it is quite evident, but they continue to take the case to higher courts. This is an issue that has been ongoing, but it is good that the justice policy has begun to address these issues before they go to court.
People can be helped to meet and resolve their issues without wasting time or money, but at the same time, we need to educate them to avoid grudges.
{{What do you mean by holding grudges?}}
When one person says, “I will deal with you,” that’s where the gap grows. These are the problems that can cause people to drift apart in different ways.
There are cases that arise within families, between neighbors, or between friends.
Many people end up in court with someone they were very close to, especially when there is a disagreement over money lent, a partnership in a business, or other issues. These are things that show how close people were but then became divided.
{{What should be done in such cases?}}
I think that in our role as people responsible for justice and those who defend the law, we should put more effort into resolving these issues because the person comes to you, seeking advice.
That means, first, you can advise the person not to take the case to court, suggesting they should resolve it with the other party, whether they are right or wrong.
So, I believe the contribution I can bring is to work with others who joined this career before me, and together, we can look at ways to reduce the conflicts between people who are involved in legal disputes.
{{In your oath, you pledge not to defend an unjust case. What types of cases would you consider unjust and choose not to defend?}}
Some people come to court with false claims. When a person tells you their issue and you listen to them, sometimes you can immediately tell that they are not telling the truth.
For example, you might find that the person claiming someone has stolen from them is the one who actually took the property, but they are saying they were robbed.
At that point, you can give them advice, rather than going to court and defending something that isn’t true. It’s important to make them realize the truth.
If all lawyers gave clients this type of advice before they started, there would be fewer cases in the courts because you would have already shown them that they cannot win.
There is also the case where someone may admit they did something wrong but still want you to represent them as if they hadn’t done anything wrong. In such cases, it’s important to know the truth and advise them accordingly. Maybe you can help them reduce their penalties due to the circumstances, but the truth should always be part of the conversation.
For that person, if they want to pursue a case knowing they are wrong, you are not helping build the unity we want for Rwandans. It would not be in the interest of justice, and their actions might lead to an unfair verdict that could hurt them even more in the future.
{{How do you view a woman in justice today?}}
A woman, as she was created and how she stands, if she uses the gifts given to her by God well, with the kind heart she has to love people and be compassionate, she should be honest in justice, stand for the truth, and not back down. This would make her trustworthy.
Because of her compassion, she listens and acts quickly. I’m not saying that men don’t have these qualities; there are men who possess them, and they build these qualities based on their character and relationships.
So, a woman, using these values, continues to develop herself, becoming an honest person, and helping the justice system in many ways. However, the world we live in is tainted. This doesn’t mean that all women are flawless.
What advice would you give to those who have taken the oath, practicing and aspiring advocates?
This profession is a good one. It is a profession that gives you dignity as a lawyer, sustains you if you do it well, and helps the government, especially the justice sector.
My advice is that those in the profession should do it well and bring value to themselves and to the profession.
To do this, one must speak the truth, provide good counsel, and go before the court to represent a person you’ve read about, prepared for, and know that what you are asking for on behalf of the client is legitimate.
It is about recognizing the issues in the case you are handling and sharing them with others, without revealing the secrets of the person you represent, because lawyers are prohibited from doing that.
A lawyer is not just someone who goes before the court. They assist in many different ways: by drafting contracts, advising people, conducting research on a specific issue, offering consultations, and many other things.
Being a lawyer requires thinking ahead. For example, you might ask, “This issue brought to me today, if it involved 10 or 100 people, what kind of problem would it cause in the country?”
Then, you think that maybe the law should be revised, or a new law might come into existence, and then you seek advice from the relevant bodies.
{{What has been the most memorable experience for you throughout your career?}}
I can’t say there is something I specifically miss because, in all the responsibilities I have taken, I am a person who is close to the people and cares about them.
I believe the responsibilities I have carried have always brought me closer to the people, requiring me to protect them.
They asked me to gather the thoughts I encountered, which would build or support a particular program. Even now, I see that my role is to continue getting closer to the people and helping them. I don’t miss these duties because they complement each other.
