Category: News

He noted that he hopes Rwanda will not again be requested to facilitate the repatriation of mercenaries, as was the case with the Romanian mercenaries who suffered a humiliating defeat earlier this year.

His comments came in response to a social media post by Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, the DRC’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralisation, and Customary Affairs, who appeared to confirm and even boast about the deployment of foreign mercenaries by a private security firm linked to former U.S. Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince.

In a post shared on X on Monday, Shabani shared an image of ocean water with the caption “Blackwater” alongside the DRC flag. The firm associated with Erik Prince has been widely reported to provide mercenaries to support the Congolese army, including guarding strategic mineral sites and fighting against the M23 rebels.

Reacting to the post, Nduhungirehe said it was “only in DRC” that a senior government official could publicly brag about the deployment of mercenaries, despite international law prohibiting the practice under the 1977 OAU/AU Convention and the 1989 United Nations Convention.

He recalled that in late January 2025, more than 280 Romanian mercenaries fighting alongside the Congolese army in Goma were routed by M23 rebels and later granted safe passage through Kigali before flying back to Europe.

“Following the humiliating defeat of Romanian mercenaries in Goma… the Government of DRC has this time hired Colombian mercenaries through Erik Prince’s private security firm, once known as Blackwater,” Nduhungirehe said.

The minister stressed that Congo’s continued reliance on mercenaries undermines peace efforts, running against the Washington Peace Agreement and the Doha Declaration of Principles, which were intended to help the DRC achieve lasting stability.

“And I hope that Rwanda will not again be requested to facilitate the repatriation of another bunch of mercenaries,” he concluded.

The exchange comes amid growing fears of renewed escalation in eastern Congo, where M23 accuses the Congolese army and its allied forces and militias of targeting civilians in the eastern DRC.

The deal was signed recently on the sidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly by Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Canada, Prosper Higiro.

This milestone expands civil aviation cooperation, creating new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment while further deepening the ties of friendship between the two nations.

On this occasion, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise in areas related to aviation safety, with the goal of ensuring the highest levels of safety and security in international air transport. They also agreed to strengthen coordination within regional and international forums.

Mr. Kayouh told the media that the signing of this agreement is part of the policy initiated by King Mohammed VI, aimed at connecting the Kingdom with other African countries by encouraging the opening of new air routes.

For his part, Ambassador Higiro welcomed the agreement, saying it reflects the excellent relations between the two countries.

Rwanda and Morocco share a longstanding partnership, reinforced through multiple agreements over the years.

In 2016, King Mohammed VI visited Rwanda, during which the two nations signed 19 cooperation agreements in areas such as banking, diplomatic relations, and investment facilitation.

One of the agreements allowed diplomatic and official passport holders to travel between the two countries without restrictions.

In 2019, Rwanda and Morocco signed 12 additional agreements in Rabat, further solidifying their collaboration. Morocco remains a key partner in education, offering numerous scholarships to African students, including Rwandans.

In 2020, Rwanda’s then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta, and his Moroccan counterpart signed two agreements, one enhancing government collaboration and another focused on sports development in Africa.

The apology came during a trilateral phone call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to a statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident and pledged that such an event would not recur.

Al Thani strongly condemned the strike, emphasizing that the protection of Qatari citizens and residents was “an absolute priority” and reaffirming Qatar’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement also underscored Qatar’s continued commitment to mediating an end to the Gaza war.

On Sept. 9, Israel carried out airstrikes on Doha, claiming they targeted senior Hamas leaders based in the city. Hamas said its delegation was in Doha at the time to discuss a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal.

The strikes killed five Palestinians and one Qatari security officer, drawing widespread international condemnation. The attack followed a pattern of Israel’s “decapitation strikes” in the past two years against leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iran’s military.

Speaking from the United States, Netanyahu told his Qatari counterpart that Israel “had no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future,” a pledge he said he also conveyed to Trump.

“I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris,” he added. Netanyahu also endorsed Trump’s proposal for a trilateral mechanism with Qatar to address outstanding disputes.

Israeli media, including state-run Kan TV, reported that the apology was a necessary condition for Qatar to continue its mediation efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Just a day earlier, Netanyahu had defended the strike in a Fox News interview, saying that “any self-respecting country doesn’t give a pass to terrorists.” The apology drew criticism from within Israel’s ultra-right coalition, with some cabinet members reportedly calling it “humiliating” and accusing Qatar of supporting Hamas.

“I also want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we’ve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region,” Trump told a joint press conference at the White House.

Trump also called on Hamas to accept the terms of the peace proposal.

The sanctions cover travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on trade, finance, and transport. They also include bans on Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical imports, the supply of energy-sector equipment and precious metals, as well as limits on Iranian banks and cargo flights.

The EU move follows the return of UN sanctions after Britain, France and Germany (the E3) triggered the accord’s “snapback” mechanism on Aug. 28. Under the procedure, unless the UN Security Council votes to extend sanctions relief, pre-2015 UN restrictions automatically resume within 30 days.

The UN Security Council failed on Friday to adopt a resolution that sought to grant a six-month extension for the nuclear deal between Iran and the six major countries of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, as well as Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal.

Explaining Friday’s vote, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said his country was deeply disappointed at the result.

Geng reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the only viable ways to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and preserve peace in the Middle East.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the snapback procedure invoked by the E3 and the United States was “null and void,” citing Washington’s withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the European countries’ failure to meet their obligations under the deal.

He stressed that Iran would continue to defend its sovereign rights and legitimate interests while remaining open to “genuine negotiations on an equal footing.”

Manzi is facing charges including money laundering, illegal currency trading, and fraudulently acquiring property. Prosecutors allege he lured citizens into investing in Billion Traders by promising high returns, but later failed to deliver.

The defence maintains that part of the funds, equivalent to Frw 7 billion, was repaid, a claim prosecutors dispute, saying no proof has been presented.

Appearing before the court on September 29, Manzi said there was no intent to defraud, adding that he had even approached the National Bank of Rwanda and the Capital Market Authority seeking regulations for his business.

“I believed we were all building the country together, both the investors and us who were generating returns,” he said.

Defence lawyers argued that some investors had already reached repayment agreements, which they said should not be combined with the criminal proceedings.

But lawyers representing more than 100 complainants countered that the case is criminal, not commercial, and that any agreements with Manzi could serve as evidence of fraud rather than remove liability.

The Prosecution has requested a 15-year prison sentence and a $52 million fine, stressing that the scheme undermined public trust and damaged the economy.

The court will deliver its verdict on October 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

Kabila, who is a lifetime senator, is accused of crimes including being part of an illegal armed group, crimes against humanity, premeditated murder, rape, and persecution.

The Prosecution stated that these crimes were committed in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri in the eastern part of the DRC.

Kabila’s trial began in July 2025 after he was stripped of his immunity. The prosecution claims he committed these acts as the leader of the AFC/M23 coalition, though he has denied any connection to it.

The verdict was initially expected on September 12, but on that day, lawyers representing the interests of the state revealed that new witnesses had come forward, willing to testify against him.

While the trial was expected to resume on September 19, state lawyers informed the judges that the three new witnesses were no longer available.

Military prosecutors have requested the death penalty for Kabila. However, state lawyers have asked for life imprisonment so that he can be visited by the victims of the alleged crimes.

Prosecutors have also asked the court to confiscate all of Kabila’s assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to order him to pay 24 billion U.S. dollars in compensation.

This law introduces previously unseen measures, including penalties for deceitfully carrying a pregnancy on behalf of another person and granting individuals below or above the required age.

The most severe offence in the law published in the official Gazette recently is outlined in Article 98, which addresses providing assisted reproductive technology to alter human genetic material.

Anyone convicted of this crime is subject to imprisonment of no less than 20 years but not more than 25 years, and a fine of no less than Frw 40 million but not more than Frw 50 million.

Other offences covered by the law include performing medical procedures that involve placing non-human embryos or gametes into a woman’s reproductive system. Those found guilty face 10 to 15 years in prison and a fine of Frw 20 million to Frw 25 million.

The law also punishes any medical professional who imports or exports gametes or embryos unlawfully, with sentences of 7 to 10 years in prison and fines of Frw 10 million to Frw 15 million.

Similarly, a doctor who provides assisted reproductive technology services aimed at choosing the sex of an unborn child faces six months to one year in prison and a fine of Frw 5 million to Frw 7 million.

Furthermore, the law states that placing gametes or embryos in a woman’s reproductive system without full and verifiable donor identity constitutes a criminal offence. Those convicted face six months to one year in prison and a fine of Frw 2 million to Frw 5 million.

Medical facilities are also held accountable under the new regulations. A facility that matches donors and recipients who are closely related by blood — up to the seventh degree of kinship — is liable to a fine ranging from Frw 5 million to Frw 10 million, along with the possible suspension of assisted reproductive services for three to six months.

Similarly, a facility that accepts anonymous or unlawfully obtained gametes or embryos, or uses gametes and embryos from individuals who are underage or above the permissible age, may face fines between Frw 2 million and Frw 10 million and suspension of services for one to six months.

Facilities that supply gametes or embryos from a single donor to more than one recipient are also subject to the same penalties.

The law further identifies other serious breaches, including using non-human genetic material, importing or exporting gametes or embryos illegally, manipulating human genetic material, and selecting a child’s sex through medical technology.

Facilities found guilty of these offences may be fined no less than Frw 80 million but not more than Frw 100 million, and their authorization to provide assisted reproductive technology services may be suspended for one to three years.

Peskov told Russia’s TASS news agency that the invitation extended by Putin to Trump remains on the table.

Peskov added that Putin is ready and willing to hold the meeting with Trump in Moscow. “Everything depends on Trump’s decision,” he said.

In August, following their meeting in Alaska, Putin proposed holding their next meeting in Moscow. The U.S. leader described the proposal as possible, though he acknowledged that he would face criticism for it.

In a statement, the Abu Shouk Camp Emergency Room said 73 children under five and 22 elderly individuals had died from hunger and illness among camp residents.

“The security and humanitarian situation in El Fasher remains dire, with residents facing severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare, especially displaced people cut off from aid and basic services,” the statement said. The group warned of a looming health crisis, citing unburied bodies across the city amid ongoing insecurity, and urged international organizations to establish safe corridors for civilians fleeing the conflict.

The Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher, another volunteer group, confirmed the deaths and reported a sharp deterioration in humanitarian conditions, citing ongoing shelling, the collapse of basic services, and the shutdown of most charity kitchens amid funding shortfalls and rising prices.

On Thursday, the Sudan Doctors Network, a non-governmental organization, reported 23 deaths from malnutrition among children and women in El Fasher during the month. In July, the group said 239 children had died in the city since January due to shortages of food and medicine.

Violent clashes have been ongoing in El Fasher since May 2024, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied forces on one side and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the other, with fighting intensifying in recent days.

Sudan remains gripped by a broader conflict between the SAF and RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.