According to the statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries welcomed “the steps taken by Hamas regarding Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza, release all hostages, alive or deceased, and the immediate launch of negotiations on implementation mechanisms,” it said.
They further commended Hamas’s announcement of “its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian administrative committee of independent technocrats,” emphasizing the need for the immediate launch of negotiations to agree on mechanisms to implement the proposal and address all of its aspects.
The foreign ministers also welcomed Trump’s call on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing and to begin implementation of the exchange agreement,” expressing appreciation for his commitment to establishing peace in the region.
The ministers affirmed that these developments represent “a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in the Gaza Strip.”
The foreign ministers reiterated their joint commitment to supporting efforts to implement the proposal, end the war in Gaza, and reach “a comprehensive agreement” ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid, no displacement of Palestinians, and the protection of civilians.
They also called for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank, full Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction, and a just peace based on the two-state solution.
The joint statement came a day after Egypt announced that it would host Israeli and Hamas delegations on Monday to discuss field arrangements and details for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under Trump’s ceasefire proposal.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000 others since Oct. 7, 2023, according to an update by Gaza’s health authorities, in addition to destroying infrastructure and causing famine in the enclave.
The remarks, made during an RTNC program hosted by Minister of Information and Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, urged medical professionals not to treat anyone associated with M23 and, if necessary, to kill them.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have condemned the statements, warning that such rhetoric risks turning ethnic discrimination in healthcare into a weapon of war. Doctors, they note, are sworn to treat all patients without bias.
Analysts suggest Abdallah’s comments are part of a broader pattern of hate speech in the DRC, targeting Tutsi communities and specifically members of AFC/M23, including professionals such as doctors. In North and South Kivu, some Tutsis have reportedly begun avoiding certain hospitals due to rising ethnic hostility.
Human rights groups in Kinshasa and Goma have called on the government to publicly condemn the remarks and hold Abdallah accountable, emphasising that all Congolese, regardless of political or ethnic affiliation, are entitled to equal access to healthcare.
Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), recently condemned the spread of hate speech, noting that it undermines unity and fuels conflict.
“Hate speech continues to permeate daily life, families, and social media, often sparking discrimination and threatening reconciliation efforts,” he said.
The rhetoric has intensified following renewed clashes involving the AFC/M23 rebel movement, which advocates for the rights of Kinyarwanda-speaking Tutsi Congolese. Some senior officials have labelled the communities as foreigners due to their language, fueling rising tensions and reinforcing perceptions of Tutsis as enemies.
Videos circulating in recent years have depicted attacks on Tutsi civilians, highlighting fears about escalating ethnic violence in the region.
A group of young Rwandans living in South Africa has visited their homeland for the first time, participating in a 10-day programme designed to educate them about Rwanda’s history and development.
The visit, organised under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s “Come and See, Go and Tell” initiative, aimed to help Rwandans born or raised abroad connect with their roots and share their experiences with others.
During the programme, the youth toured key historical and cultural sites, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Museum of the Struggle to Stop the Genocide. They learned about the events leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the role of the Rwandan Patriotic Front in ending it.
Sixteen-year-old Kazenga Rukundo said the trip gave him a deeper understanding of Rwanda.
“Where we live in South Africa, we don’t know much about our country. I came here to learn so I can return with knowledge of where I come from. I will tell others about how safe Rwanda is and how forgiveness was extended to those involved in the genocide — it’s a lesson other countries could learn from,” he said.
Faith Aisha, another participant, said the visit inspired her to consider working in Rwanda, noting the country’s peaceful environment and opportunities for development.
“I am pleased there is peace, no noise, and the atmosphere is welcoming. It’s a place I would enjoy working in,” she said.
Lehumo Ivan Umutoni encouraged other Rwandans born abroad to visit the country, saying the experience helped him appreciate Rwanda’s culture and history.
“Rwanda is a beautiful and safe country. Everyone who has never visited should take the opportunity to see it,” he said.
The youth will also be assisted in obtaining official Rwandan documents, helping them strengthen their ties with the country.
Maziyateke Sandrine, Director of Rwanda Community Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, described the programme as an important step in connecting diaspora youth to their homeland.
“This initiative helps children of Rwandans born abroad learn about their country and encourages them to share that knowledge with others. We are hopeful that future visits will see even greater participation,” she said.
The 10-day programme includes visits to multiple sites highlighting Rwanda’s history, culture, and development achievements.
“Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off,” he said in a Truth Social post. “I will not tolerate delay … Let’s get this done, FAST.”
In a separate post on Saturday, the president said that after negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which has been shown to Hamas.
“When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza “in the coming days” as indirect talks with Hamas continued in Egypt on Monday on a new U.S. plan to end the war.
In a brief statement late Saturday, Netanyahu mentioned he has sent a delegation to Egypt “to finalize technical details,” adding that “our goal is to contain these negotiations to a timeframe of a few days.”
On Friday, Trump said that Hamas must accept the 20-point peace plan on Gaza by 6 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Sunday, otherwise “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.” Hamas announced later that it had accepted the proposal in principle and was ready to open mediated talks, a response broadly welcomed by the international community, which urged both sides to seize the chance to end the war and ease civilian suffering.
The 20-point plan outlines a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, a phased Israeli withdrawal, a demilitarized Gaza, and international oversight of Gaza’s reconstruction and governance after the end of the conflict. Hamas will be excluded from the governance structure.
Under the ceasefire terms, Israel will halt military actions and pull back to the agreed lines. Hamas, within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement, must release all hostages, alive and deceased. In return, Israel will free 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after Oct. 7, 2023. Disarmed Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence will be given amnesty and those who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
The ceremony, held in Tchanzu on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, North Kivu, brought together senior commanders of the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC) under the leadership of Major General Sultani Makenga.
The new recruits showcased their combat readiness through synchronised parades, tactical manoeuvres, martial arts, and live-fire demonstrations.
Makenga, who presided over the event, hailed the recruits as “revolutionaries of change,” commending their discipline, endurance, and loyalty to the movement’s mission. He urged them to uphold professionalism and integrity, warning that “corruption, tribalism, drug abuse and sexual violence will never be tolerated within the ARC.”
Addressing the recruits in Swahili, Makenga called on them to view their mission as a national duty to restore dignity and unity to a nation he described as “broken by years of poor governance and discrimination.”
“From today, you have become a true army — an army of liberation and deliverance, fighting to bring meaningful change to our country,” he declared.
“We have risen to provide genuine leadership to our nation, one that values discipline, patriotism, and service to the people.”
Makenga emphasised that the new force must distinguish itself from other armed factions by maintaining strong ties with civilians and avoiding abuses against local communities.
“You will be respected as guardians of change only through your actions,” he said. “The people must see you as liberators, not as bandits. If you act otherwise, you will face consequences.”
He further urged the soldiers to remain united and steadfast, pledging continued training and logistical support for those deployed to various battlefronts.
“Our country must be freed through collective effort,” he added. “Let us rebuild a professional and people-centred army — one that earns the respect of the nation.”
The graduation comes just weeks after a separate batch of over 7,000 fighters completed training under the same command.
According to AFC/M23 officials, the expansion signals a new phase in the movement’s reorganisation, positioning it as a structured and disciplined force with ambitions to “defend the Congolese people and build a new, united, and respected Congo.”
The AFC/M23 rebel coalition controls large swathes of territory in the eastern DRC, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, which were seized earlier this year after a protracted conflict. The group accuses President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration of marginalising Kinyarwanda-speaking communities and poor governance.
In a post on X on Saturday night, October 4, Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. was fully prepared to sign the framework, describing it as beneficial to both nations and the wider Great Lakes region.
“The Rwandan delegation in Washington, D.C. this week was ready to sign the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), which benefits both our countries and the region,” Makolo wrote.
“We are puzzled by the DRC’s last-minute decision not to sign the agreement, given the positive atmosphere of the negotiations during which the text of the REIF was finalised, and the diligent mediation work of Senior Advisor Massad Boulos and the State Department.”
Makolo added that while progress had been made under the Peace Agreement signed in June, the DRC had refused to proceed with certain security commitments until specific actions discussed at the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) meeting earlier in the week were implemented.
That meeting, held on October 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C., brought together representatives from Rwanda, the DRC, the United States, Qatar, Togo (as the African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission.
According to a joint communiqué issued by the U.S. State Department, the parties discussed concrete steps to neutralise the FDLR militia group and advance the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures in line with the peace roadmap. The FDLR was formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the Government of Rwanda maintains that the group’s genocidal ideology poses a grave security threat to the Great Lakes region.
The Committee also finalised an Operation Order for the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism and confirmed October 1 as its start date, with both sides reaffirming commitments to refrain from hostile rhetoric.
However, the communiqué also acknowledged rising tensions in Uvira and Walikale, where the AFC/M23 rebel coalition continues to accuse the Kinshasa administration of targeting civilian populations through drone attacks despite a declared ceasefire. The Congolese government has also faced accusations of using foreign mercenaries in its conflict with the M23, in contradiction to ongoing peace efforts. The Committee urged calm and restraint by all actors, warning that renewed hostilities could undermine the fragile progress achieved through recent diplomacy.
Despite the setback on the REIF, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process and the U.S.-mediated approach.
“Rwanda believes in the peace agreement and in the approach of the U.S. mediation, and hopes that the REIF will eventually be signed,” Makolo said. “The peace process must succeed. It is the best chance for stability and economic development for our region.”
{{A blueprint for shared prosperity
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The Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), first announced in August 2025, was designed to strengthen economic cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC while supporting regional peace efforts.
The framework, finalised after the Washington Declaration of Principles and aligned with the June Peace Agreement, outlines joint commitments in key sectors, including mineral governance, energy, infrastructure, tourism, and public health.
Both countries had agreed to combat the illicit mineral trade, formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, and promote transparency in the critical minerals sector, including tin, tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and gold. The framework also envisions cooperation in energy generation through projects such as Ruzizi III and methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu, as well as infrastructure development linked to the Lobito Corridor.
Further provisions include collaboration on cross-border conservation, tourism, and public health, alongside expanded cooperation in sectors such as agribusiness, education, and ICT.
Officials had described the REIF as a “living platform” for sustained economic collaboration, expected to complement security stabilisation under the Washington peace roadmap.
{{Hopes for renewed momentum
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The DRC’s hesitation to sign the REIF comes at a delicate time for regional diplomacy, as both nations work to implement the June 2025 Peace Agreement under U.S. mediation. The agreement’s success is seen as crucial to stabilising eastern Congo and creating conditions for long-term economic recovery.
Rwanda has expressed optimism that the framework will eventually move forward. “The peace process must succeed,” Makolo reiterated, framing economic integration as inseparable from the region’s broader security and development goals.
The next Joint Oversight Committee meeting is expected to take place later this month following sessions of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, with hopes that discussions will restore momentum toward implementing both the peace and economic integration agreements.
This came just four days after the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) and its military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), had launched their armed struggle to liberate the country.
It was a particularly tense moment for President Juvénal Habyarimana. When the RPF attacked the Kagitumba border, Habyarimana was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly. He rushed back to Kigali in alarm.
At that time, the government army, the ex-FAR, was small and inexperienced, numbering fewer than 5,000 soldiers who had never faced real combat. Their military equipment was limited and outdated.
Alarmed by the Kagitumba attack, Habyarimana began seeking help from allies, notably Zaire’s president Mobutu Sese Seko and France’s president François Mitterrand. France responded quickly, agreeing to send elite troops known for handling high-risk combat.
A special French unit of 300 commandos was selected. According to John Burton Kegel’s book The Liberation Struggle: War and Militarism in African History, the decision to deploy these troops was made on October 3. Two military aircraft were prepared to transport them from France to Kigali.
This intervention was named Operation Noroît, France’s mission to protect Habyarimana’s regime.
The unit was already famous within the French army, having previously carried out the “Kolwezi Mission” in Congo in 1978.
The first plane departed on the night of October 4, 1990, at 3 a.m., followed by a second at 5:45 a.m. Both first headed to Bangui in the Central African Republic, where France had a military base.
According to Kegel, the C-160 Transall aircraft took off from Bangui in the afternoon of October 4, heading to Kigali.
Even these elite soldiers were nervous. They feared Kigali International Airport might be unsafe and came prepared with parachutes in case they had to jump under fire. But French trainers already in Rwanda reassured them that Kanombe Airport was secure despite the gunfire heard overnight.
When the first plane approached Rwandan airspace, French officers on the ground confirmed the situation was calm, so parachutes were not needed. The commandos landed in Kigali around 6:45 p.m. and were told that RPA forces were about 170 kilometres away, much farther than rumours suggested.
The Habyarimana government had deliberately fired heavy gunfire in the capital to create panic, spread false claims of an RPA attack on Kigali, and justify mass arrests of Tutsi civilians, accusing them of collaborating with the rebels. Historians like Bernard Lugan note that FAR soldiers themselves panicked that night, shooting aimlessly and causing chaos.
There was also an attempt to overthrow Habyarimana.
Former Belgian ambassador to Rwanda, Johan Swinnen, later revealed that some FAR soldiers tried to stage a coup that night. According to Swinnen, the U.S. Embassy had been warned beforehand that something unusual might happen.
{{French forces stayed on in Rwanda}}
The French troops did more than protect Habyarimana. They began training the FAR, providing weapons and logistics, even transporting soldiers by helicopter. They helped establish military intelligence and security systems that strengthened Habyarimana’s hold on power, while political tensions and anti-Tutsi persecution deepened.
Thanks to French support, FAR troops grew dramatically, from about 5,000 soldiers in October 1990 to roughly 20,000 by the end of that year.
After the 1993 Arusha Peace Accords, France withdrew many of its forces but left behind military advisers and Habyarimana’s personal guard.
When the genocide began in April 1994 following Habyarimana’s death, France launched Operation Turquoise in June. This mission is often criticised for protecting members of the interim government and military leaders who organised the killings, allowing them to flee to Zaire (now DR Congo) and prepare to fight back.
The presence of French troops in Rwanda from 1990 to 1994, including their role in training and equipping militias such as the Interahamwe, remains a highly debated and painful part of Rwanda’s modern history.
For some spectators like Gentille Abimpaye, who found the official name of the event a bit long, simply calling it “UCI” was enough while they enjoyed the thrilling competition that turned Kigali’s clean streets into a celebration.
On September 27, fans witnessed the women’s under-19 and elite women’s races. That day, late-term pregnant Abimpaye, had gone to watch the finish line at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kimihurura.
By early afternoon, labor pains started. An ambulance quickly rushed her to Kacyiru Hospital, where she received immediate medical care.
“I didn’t have health insurance, I didn’t have anything with me, but they welcomed me and didn’t turn me away. They helped me so much. I am truly grateful! They assisted me through labor, and I gave birth to a baby girl at around 11 p.m. I had no clothes for the baby, but they provided them instantly. I had no food or porridge, but they took care of me and did everything possible,” Abimpaye said.
The championship — the first of its kind ever held in Rwanda and Africa — thrilled many Rwandans who followed it closely. For Abimpaye, the experience was extraordinary because she witnessed the athletes sprinting to the finish line at KCC just hours before giving birth.
Since labor began while she was cheering for the cyclists and delivered on the same day, she decided to name her daughter Ange UCI Noella, a name she says will forever remind her of the historic competition in Kigali.
“I named her ‘UCI’ because I was cheering for the last cyclist coming in; I raised my hands like everyone else, but when I tried to lower and lift them again, I felt labor starting. I was rushed to the hospital and gave birth before midnight, still on the same day. This will always remind me that my daughter was born during the World Road Cycling Championships,” she explained.
Her husband, Ildephonse Ntarwimo, praised Kacyiru Hospital’s management for helping his wife despite her lacking the usual documentation required for maternity admission.
“We owe everything to the good leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic. Without it, such quality healthcare services would not be possible,” he said.
Reflecting on the experience, Abimpaye admitted she made a mistake by not carrying essential items in case labor started unexpectedly, even though she knew her due date was near. She advised expectant mothers to always be prepared.
According to a statement released by RDF, the promotion takes immediate effect.
The RDF serves the people of Rwanda by safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and also supports international peacekeeping missions. It is widely recognized for the dedication and discipline of its soldiers.
Currently, RDF personnel are deployed on peacekeeping missions under the United Nations in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, while others safeguard peace under bilateral agreements in the Central African Republic and Mozambique.
Rwanda is the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions with the deployment of more than 4,585 troops, including 249 women.
Promotions within the RDF reflect the institution’s growth and the professional advancement of individual soldiers.
During the commissioning of 1,029 new officers into the RDF on October 3, President Kagame reminded the officers that their role is vital regardless of Rwanda’s size or population, stressing that the RDF must remain strong, professional, and ready to defend the country’s sovereignty.
The secretary-general “welcomes and is encouraged” by the statement issued by Hamas, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The UN chief urged all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the conflict in the Gaza Strip to an end, and thanked Qatar and Egypt for their invaluable mediation work, said the spokesperson.
Dujarric said the secretary-general reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access. “The United Nations will support all efforts toward these objectives to prevent even more suffering.”
Hamas announced Friday that it has submitted its response to Trump’s Gaza peace proposal to regional and international mediators, saying it has agreed in principle to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.
In a press statement, the Palestinian armed group also agreed to transfer the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, formed through national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic countries.
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump said Friday on Truth Social, adding that Israel must immediately stop its bombing of Gaza. “We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
On Monday, the Trump administration unveiled a 20-point proposal after the U.S. president held talks with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which outlines a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, a phased Israeli withdrawal, a demilitarized Gaza, and international oversight of Gaza’s reconstruction and governance after the end of the conflict.
