The High Military Court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia on September 30, 2025, after finding him guilty of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and leading an unauthorised armed group.
The court stated that Kabila is the leader of the AFC/M23 rebel coalition, which it claims controls large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and that the alleged crimes were committed under his command in those regions.
Monsignor Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), speaking on behalf of the Catholic bishops on October 6, invoked scripture to remind the country’s leadership that only God has the authority to end a human life.
“We were deeply alarmed by the decision of the High Military Court of Kinshasa following the rushed criminal trial of Joseph Kabila, a former president who has now been sentenced to death,” said Monsignor Muteba.
He argued that the case is politically motivated and urged the DRC government to address the country’s crises through inclusive political dialogue.
“For our part, while our country is in the midst of war and insecurity, we continue to affirm that inclusive dialogue is the best path to resolve the root causes of these challenges and to restore unity, peace, coexistence, and the sovereignty of our nation,” he said.
He added that such dialogue is urgently needed given the seriousness of the situation and its impact on the Congolese people.
The Catholic Church emphasised that for a sustainable solution to the DRC’s long-standing problems, political dialogue must involve all key actors, including those who have taken up arms and those who have not.
Vehicle emissions contribute heavily to air pollution in Rwanda, accounting for about 40% of pollutants, according to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). To address this, Auto24, known for promoting eco-friendly vehicles, partnered with Kimu Transport to provide hybrid cars, with payment arranged in instalments.
Ivan Ruzibiza, Country Manager at Auto24, said the partnership was driven by a shared commitment to supporting the government’s policy to reduce polluting vehicles.
“We partnered with Kimu Transport because they share our mission to promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in Rwanda, in line with the government’s vision,” Ruzibiza said.
He added that the vehicles delivered are part of the first phase, with plans to supply fully electric vehicles in the next phase. The hybrid models are expected to reduce fuel consumption, saving money for drivers.
“Typically, a passenger car consumes about 10 to 12 litres of petrol, but these Toyota vehicles will use only 4 to 5 litres. This allows drivers to save money, which they can reinvest in improving their livelihoods and supporting their families,” Ruzibiza explained.
Jean Pierre Nkunziryayo, CEO of Kimu Transport, welcomed the partnership, highlighting both financial and environmental benefits.
“We are delighted to receive these vehicles that align with the government’s push for cleaner transport and will also help us reduce fuel costs,” Nkunziryayo said.
The vehicles provided are Toyota Corolla Levin Plug-in Hybrids. The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that air pollution poses significant health risks, particularly to pregnant women, children, and people with chronic illnesses, and is linked to lung cancer, heart disease, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
Kimu Transport drivers expressed enthusiasm about operating the new hybrid vehicles. The handover ceremony also included an exchange of gifts between both parties.
The ruling is a significant setback for Google, which had asked the court to block orders stemming from its high-stakes antitrust battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games.
The case began in 2020 when Epic accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the mobile app market by forcing developers to use Google’s in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30 percent, and by restricting the distribution of apps outside the Play Store.
In 2023, a U.S. jury sided with Epic, finding that Google’s practices were anti-competitive. U.S. District Judge James Donato later issued a sweeping injunction aimed at opening Android’s app ecosystem to more competition.
Under the new rules, developers will be allowed to offer direct payment options within their apps, bypassing Google’s in-app billing system. Google will also have to make it easier for users to download apps and updates from alternative app stores or directly from developers.
Some of these changes, including enabling external payment links, could take effect within weeks, while more structural reforms, such as full access for rival app stores, are expected to roll out by July 2026.
Google expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision, warning it could compromise the security of Android users.
“We remain concerned that these changes could create significant risks for consumers, including exposure to malware and scams,” Google said in a statement. Epic Games, however, welcomed the decision.
“This is a step toward a fairer, more competitive mobile ecosystem,” the company said, adding that developers will now have greater freedom to reach users and offer cheaper payment solutions.
The decision could set a precedent for tech giants as regulators worldwide push for fairer digital markets. It mirrors similar moves in Europe, where the Digital Markets Act has compelled Apple to loosen restrictions on iOS app distribution.
For millions of Android users and developers, the ruling promises more choice, potentially lower app prices, and faster innovation, though Google warns of potential trade-offs in safety and reliability.
In a petition delivered by Dr Ladislas Prosper Agbesi, Chairman of Pan African Business Forum(PABF) to the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Ambassador Paivi Kaukoranta in the hague PABF noted it had “profound concerns” regarding the ongoing external investigation into Prosecutor Karim Khan KC arguing that the Court’s credibility, however, is now under strain.
A statement released earlier this year from the ICC stated that Karim Khan will be on leave until the conclusion of an external inquiry into an alleged complaint of sexual abuse filed against him, which started late last year. In his absence, his deputy prosecutors will oversee the office.
However, the PABF Pan-African Business Forum is raising concerns with ongoing as external process as it argues the process lacks fairness.
“We have recently been sent evidence from a whistle-blower indicating that members of the Bureau have been compromised in this process”.
The petition steted while expressing dismay at the intense lobbying for succession by a Ugandan diplomat resulting in an inappropriate contact with the complainant at the centre of the allegations.
“Most disturbingly” the group say the recording evidence in their possession shows that the said Ambassador lobbying for the positon has pre-determined position against Mr. Khan.
Also, to the group noted that recent developments in the investigation process risk undermining not only the integrity of the Court but also wider confidence in multilateral institutions at a time of global instability.
It added that as a continental body that champions good governance, the rule of law, and the stability on which Africa’s economic development depends, the PABF have long regarded the International Criminal Court as an institution essential to international justice hence the need for what it describes as “major concerns” ought to be addressed.
In the immediate term PABF called for a suspension of the ongoing external investigation in order to pave way for the group’s request for an independent verification that will unravel the items it had pointed out in their petition in order to bring closure to the matter.
The insisted that the investigation should also determine whether individuals connected to the process, including report that the complainants have had any direct or indirect contact with members of the ICC Bureau, and, if so, establish both the nature and the substance of that contact”.
In addition, the group says it wants a transparent assessment of whether the President or any of the Vice-Presidents have been influenced by similar prejudicial lobbying, compromising your ability to discharge your responsibilities impartially”.
While addressing these immediate concerns the Pan African group says issues such as Improper Disclosure, Disparaging External Commentary, Sanctions and Intimidation and Irregular Process against Mr. Khan ought to be given critical attention.
The group assured that it stands ready to support the Court in its mission to uphold due process and equality before the law.
The attack on Al-Zurq market has drawn sharp condemnation across Sudan and renewed questions about the widening use of foreign-supplied weapons in the country’s war.
Eyewitnesses said the strike hit the market at its busiest hour. when vendors and shoppers from across the state had gathered.
Survivors described the assault as targeted and racially motivated, deepening fears in a region scarred by years of ethnic violence.
Sudanese groups including the United Civil Forces Alliance (Qimam), the National Human Rights Observatory, and the Foundational Sudan Alliance (Ta’sis) condemned the attack.
They said Turkish-made Akıncı drones, produced by Baykar, were used. All three organizations demanded accountability for those behind the strike.
The Sudanese army has relied on drone warfare in Darfur and Kordofan. It denies hitting civilian areas. Yet marketplaces, hospitals, and homes have been repeatedly bombed.
The gap between official statements and civilian suffering continues to widen.
The groups went further, pledging to hold not only Sudanese commanders but also Baykar itself responsible.
They cited company executives Haluk and Selçuk Bayraktar by name, reflecting growing pressure on international arms suppliers linked to the war.
The Washington Post reported earlier this year that Baykar secretly delivered at least $120 million worth of drones and missiles to Sudan in 2024.
Evidence included text messages, recordings, and financial documents. The shipments, according to the report, were supervised directly inside Sudan.
This strike follows a legal push at the International Criminal Court.
The Sudanese Rights Alliance filed a case last week, accusing senior army commanders of war crimes. Rights groups say aerial strikes on civilian areas fit a consistent pattern of abuses.
Western powers have already responded with sanctions. The United States targeted Sudan’s army, the Islamist Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Battalion, and Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim. The European Union sanctioned the Sudanese Air Force and extended the measures through 2026.
For civilians in Darfur, these actions have yet to change daily reality. The war, which erupted in April 2023, continues to devastate communities.
Each strike, like the one on Al-Zurq, reinforces the sense of abandonment among survivors.
The attack is not an isolated event. It is another chapter in a conflict that has systematically eroded civilian life.
Markets, homes, and hospitals are now recurring battlegrounds, leaving little space untouched by violence.
The cooperation pact was signed in Jakarta, Indonesian between Inspector General of Police (IGP), Felix Namuhoranye and General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the Indonesian Chief of Police.
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sheikh Abdul Karim Harerimana.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration in combating transnational organized crime, sharing information and expertise, training, and other capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing policing capabilities between the two countries.
The partnership marks a significant step in bilateral relations between the two law enforcement institutions and reflects the growing commitment by both countries to strengthen international police cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges through joint efforts and knowledge exchange.
IGP Namuhoranye, who is on a four-day visit to Indonesia at the invitation of his host, also toured the Indonesian Police College, where he interacted with over 300 commissioned officers attending various courses.
The engagement provided an opportunity to share experiences and explore avenues for future cooperation in police education and professional development.
The agreement was signed between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the German Development Bank (KfW). The funds will be channelled through the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), which oversees the implementation of social protection and community development programs nationwide.
Officials said the support will directly reinforce Rwanda’s flagship Vision Umurenge Program (VUP), a cornerstone of the national strategy to accelerate the graduation of vulnerable households from poverty.
“This grant from the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW is a re-affirmation of our shared commitment and partnership to invest in the well-being of the people of Rwanda,” said Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, during the signing ceremony.
German Ambassador to Rwanda, Heike Uta Dettmann, underscored the significance of the partnership, noting that social protection has immediate and lasting effects.
“Rwanda has shown that investing in its population leads to a meaningful reduction in poverty. Social protection has an immediate impact on the most vulnerable, and the project signed today is a joint step toward this goal,” she said.
The grant is expected to strengthen key components of Rwanda’s social protection framework, with a focus on poverty alleviation, community development, and building resilience against social and economic vulnerabilities.
Both governments highlighted the agreement as a reflection of their shared commitment to advancing sustainable development and inclusive growth for all Rwandans.
For decades, the exiled Rwandans had lived in limbo, scattered across Uganda and other countries in the region, dreaming of a return to a homeland most had not seen since childhood.
Many had fought under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the Ugandan Bush War, rising through the ranks of the National Resistance Army (NRA). But in their hearts, they were still refugees. Their families remained in camps, their parents’ land still out of reach. Diplomacy had done nothing.
At the heart of Rwanda’s liberation dream were two lifelong friends; Paul Kagame and Fred Gisa Rwigema. As boys in exile, they spent hours listening to elders recount the daring fights of earlier resistance fighters known as the Inyenzi, their imaginations fired by stories of return and freedom.
Those childhood talks hardened into resolve as the two rose to command positions in Uganda’s army. After helping bring Yoweri Museveni to power, they and other exiled Rwandans began quietly shaping a different mission, one not for another nation, but for their own. The time had come to stop waiting and start reclaiming home.
{{The calm before the march}}
According to historian John Burton Kegel in his book The Struggle for Liberation: War and Militarism in African History, the final decision to activate Option Z came in September 1990.
By then, tension within Uganda’s army was palpable. Anti-Rwandan sentiment had grown, and intelligence officers were already suspicious that some NRA soldiers were secretly loyal to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). If the plan leaked, the entire network could be dismantled overnight.
Rwigema’s home in Kampala quietly became the center of operations. Around 20 September, small groups of trusted officers began visiting under the cover of darkness. No meetings were recorded, no written orders were left behind. Each man left with one instruction: be ready to move at any time.
One of the key figures in these clandestine gatherings was Major Sam Kaka, the then commander of Uganda’s Military Police and one of Rwigema’s most trusted allies.
Kaka traveled across the country using official duties as camouflage, quietly alerting Rwandan officers in scattered NRA units, those stationed in Bihanda under Theogene Bagire, others at Mbarara under Charles Musitu, and some embedded in 129 Battalion under Commander Cyzia. He told them only what they needed to know: the time had come.
By September 29, the decision was sealed. The armed return was no longer an aspiration, it was a date on the calendar.
{{Building an army without an army}}
The RPA existed more in loyalty than in form. It was a force that lived within another army but bound by a deeper allegiance. Mobilization had to be improvised.
Kegel notes that the core of the initial force came from Kaka’s Military Police Battalion, which was almost entirely composed of Rwandan patriots.
Around one hundred soldiers from President Museveni’s elite Presidential Protection Unit joined in, having been secretly recruited by charismatic commanders Charles Muhire and Charles Ngoga. Another three hundred came from 31 Brigade in central Kampala.
They brought what they could carry, rifles, ammunition, boots, even food rations. They had no tanks, no artillery support, no formal supply chain. But they had determination. By evening on September 30, Rwigema gave the final order.
{{The convoy that slipped through the night }}
At 2:30 a.m. on October 1 , 1990, a convoy began rolling out of Kampala’s dark streets. It was an unlikely army on the move, a jumble of army trucks, minivans, borrowed buses, and private cars.
Kaka’s military police led the way to discourage roadblocks. Each man knew discovery meant death or imprisonment, but not a single one turned back.
As the convoy moved, radios buzzed with tension. Rwigema’s communications team stayed awake through the night, listening for any sign that NRA commanders had noticed the disappearance.
Then came a brief radio message, relayed from the Ugandan presidency’s office: “ Don’t be afraid, if it is Fred who is going with his soldiers, they are not going to fight us. I think he must be returning home.”
President Museveni was out of the country. To this day, no one knows who sent that message, but it kept the convoy moving, unchallenged, toward the border.
{{Dawn at Kagitumba}}
By 10 a.m., the first RPA platoons reached the Kagitumba border post on the Muvumba River. Morning mist blanketed the valley. Across the river, a small detachment of Rwandan government troops stood guard, unaware that history was about to cross their path.
Then came a moment of symbolism that would echo through history. Before crossing the border, Rwigema’s men stopped and tore the Ugandan insignia from their uniforms.
The firefight was swift and decisive. The road to Nyagatare was suddenly open.
They entered Rwanda not as invaders, but as sons returning home. As Kegel observed, this act was deliberate, a declaration that this was not Uganda’s war but Rwanda’s own awakening.
{{The chaos of secrecy}}
Victory at Kagitumba brought euphoria but also confusion. The RPA had emerged from the shadows, but it was still a network, not a structured army. Fighters arrived in scattered groups, many unsure of who to follow or what the overall plan was. Rwigema and his senior officers; Kaka, Steven Ndugute, and others, scrambled to restore order.
By nightfall, they had created four ad-hoc battalions led by Chris Bunyenyezi, Steven Ndugute, Adam Wasswa, and Sam Kaka. Yet they faced an immediate crisis: hunger. Because secrecy had been absolute, no supply lines or civilian staging areas had been arranged. The soldiers began seizing cattle from local herders, leaving handwritten IOUs that promised repayment after the war.
The very secrecy that had ensured success now revealed its price, confusion, shortages, and improvised command.
{{Lighting the fuse}}
Still, morale burned brighter than fear. Plans for the following day were bold, push deeper into Rwanda, seize Gabiro, Camp Mutara, and Nyagatare before reinforcements arrived.
The fighters moved forward with faith stronger than logistics, believing that speed would compensate for what they lacked in numbers and supplies.
In hindsight, Option Z was not simply a military maneuver. It was a gamble built on courage, stealth, and conviction, a calculated leap into the unknown.
Despite early setbacks, including the death of Maj Gen Fred Rwigema on the second day of the struggle, the drive to free Rwanda did not falter.
Just days later, Maj Paul Kagame returned from military training in the United States to assume command. He reorganized the war, restored the soldiers’ morale, and led the campaign that ultimately liberated Rwanda and ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Option Z had succeeded.
This victory opened the path to rebuild a nation once reduced to ashes, restore unity, and set Rwandans on a shared journey of recovery and development.
Authorities say about 200 others remain stranded in severe weather as rescue operations continue.
Reports indicate that more than 500 people were caught by surprise when unusually heavy snow and rain lashed the Tingri region of Tibet, one of the main routes to ascend the world’s highest mountain. Those rescued on Sunday were taken to the small township of Qudang, a critical staging point for climbers on the northern approach to Everest.
Some 200 trekkers who remained trapped as of Sunday were expected to arrive in Qudang in phases under the guidance and support of local government-organised rescue teams, according to China Central Television (CCTV).
The report did not clarify whether all local guides and support staff had been accounted for, nor whether trekkers closer to the mountain’s north face were affected.
Heavy snowfall began late Friday and continued into Saturday, battering valleys at elevations averaging 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). The unexpected storm quickly created whiteout conditions and dropped temperatures to dangerous levels.
Ticket sales and entry into the entire Everest Scenic Area were suspended from late Saturday, the local Tingri County Tourism Company announced on its official WeChat account, warning visitors to avoid the mountain until conditions stabilise.
“It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” said Chen Geshuang, part of an 18-member trekking group that reached safety in Qudang, speaking to Reuters.
“The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.”
The blizzard has drawn renewed attention to increasingly unpredictable climate patterns in the Himalayas, where mountaineers and guides have warned of shifting weather seasons. Rapid, unforecasted storms like this one increase the risks for trekking groups and strain rescue capacities.
While Chinese authorities lead the ongoing evacuation efforts on the northern slopes, Nepal is simultaneously battling related heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods. Nepali officials have reported dozens of fatalities from weather-linked disasters across the border.
Rescue operations in Tibet are expected to continue into the week, with teams working to bring down those still stuck at high altitude. Conditions remain challenging, but improving visibility may allow more helicopters and ground crews to reach remote areas.
Lecornu, a 39-year-old former defence minister and close ally of Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister in under two years. His resignation comes just 27 days after his appointment.
He had been appointed in late September following the collapse of François Bayrou’s government, which fell after parliament rejected its austerity budget aimed at cutting €44 billion in public spending.
In a brief statement outside the Hôtel de Matignon, Lecornu criticised political factions for their unwillingness to compromise.
“I was ready for compromise, but all parties wanted the other party to adopt their entire programme,” he said. He added that parties needed to “cast some egos aside” to make governance work.
The new cabinet, announced on Sunday evening, provoked immediate backlash from both allies and opponents. Critics argued it was either too right-wing or insufficiently reformist, raising doubts about its viability in a fragmented parliament where no party holds a majority.
Several groups have since called for early elections, with far-right National Rally leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urging Macron to dissolve the National Assembly.
The resignation has sent shockwaves through France’s financial markets. Paris stocks fell sharply, with Societe Generale dropping over 6% and BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole also down, while the CAC 40 index closed 1.5% lower. The euro weakened against both the dollar and sterling, and French government borrowing costs rose to levels last seen during the previous political stalemate.
France’s political turbulence has persisted since snap parliamentary elections in July 2024 produced a hung parliament. Attempts to govern have repeatedly faltered, leaving Macron facing mounting pressure to stabilise the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for Macron’s impeachment, while the far-right pushed for new elections, signalling that the country’s political crisis shows no immediate signs of easing.
Lecornu’s resignation marks one of the shortest tenures for a French prime minister in recent history and brings to the fore the ongoing fragility of governance in Paris.
