The survey, conducted by the International Budget Partnership and launched in Rwanda by Transparency International Rwanda (TI-Rwanda), assessed 82 countries on budget transparency, public participation and oversight.
Rwanda scored 55 out of 100 for budget transparency, up from 50 in 2023 and 45 in 2021. Kenya ranked first in East Africa with 56 points.
Rwanda ranked sixth in Sub-Saharan Africa and recorded a notable improvement in public participation, with its score rising from 16 in 2023 to 26 in 2025. However, this remains the country’s weakest area.
Budget oversight improved from 56 to 61 points. Legislative oversight increased from 44 to 47, while audit oversight rose sharply from 78 to 89, making it one of the strongest areas of progress.
The survey, however, identified continued challenges in the timely publication, completeness and accessibility of budget information.
TI-Rwanda Executive Director Apollinaire Mupiganyi said the findings show continued progress while underscoring the need to ensure that budget information is timely, comprehensive and accessible, alongside stronger opportunities for citizens to participate in budget processes.
“The improvement recorded in the OBS 2025 demonstrates that Rwanda has continued to strengthen its budget accountability systems. At the same time, the findings remind us that progress should go beyond producing budget documents to ensuring that information is published on time, is comprehensive and accessible, and that citizens have meaningful opportunities to participate and see how their contributions are considered. Strengthening these areas will be important for translating budget transparency into greater accountability and more responsive public services,” he said.
Globally, budget transparency averaged 47 points, while public participation averaged 18.
Legislative and audit oversight averaged 45 and 60 points respectively. Public participation remained the weakest pillar worldwide despite a modest improvement from previous years.
Rwanda has ranked second in East Africa in budget transparency
Makolo made the remarks on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in response to DRC Government Spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya, who accused Rwanda of using the massacre for political purposes.
In a post on X, Makolo blamed Muyaya for continuing to “twist a day of remembrance for the victims of the Gatumba massacre into another platform for anti-Rwanda propaganda.” “The Banyamulenge who were slaughtered in 2004 by DRC’s Burundian allies were Congolese,” Makolo said.
She said the memory of the victims should not be used as a political tool by Kinshasa or as a basis for what she called “selective outrage” while the FDLR and other groups continue to operate in the DRC.
“Their memory is not Kinshasa’s political tool, nor is it an invitation for selective outrage while the Kinshasa-sponsored FDLR and other genocidal remnants still operate with impunity on DRC soil, in violation of the Washington Peace Agreement,” she wrote.
Makolo further accused Kinshasa of deliberately diverting attention from what Rwanda considers the underlying causes of insecurity in eastern DRC.
“Deliberately obscuring/distracting from the real sources of insecurity in eastern DRC is the core of ‘instrumentalisation’,” she said. Muyaya had said the Banyamulenge are Congolese rather than Rwandans living in Congo and accused Rwanda of using the Gatumba massacre to advance its political agenda. Rwanda has repeatedly denied accusations that it is responsible for insecurity in eastern DRC.
The Gatumba massacre occurred on August 13, 2004, at a refugee camp near Burundi’s border with the DRC. More than 150 Congolese refugees, most of them Banyamulenge, were killed, while more than 100 others were injured.
The attack was attributed to fighters from Burundi’s FNL, a predominantly Hutu rebel movement. The victims were largely Banyamulenge, a Congolese community commonly associated with the Tutsi population of eastern DRC.
The FNL initially claimed responsibility for the attack, although one of its former leaders later denied that the group had issued such a statement.
Burundi’s role in the events has also been questioned beyond the fact that the massacre occurred on its territory. Investigations reported that Burundian soldiers and police did not intervene even though the killings were taking place only metres from their military installations.
In the DRC, allegations also emerged after the massacre that some Congolese Mai-Mai fighters may have been involved in the attack. Kinshasa was urged to conduct a thorough investigation into the possible involvement of its nationals, particularly individuals who may have been serving in the national armed forces.
The massacre has remained a subject of calls for accountability, with survivors and relatives of victims renewing efforts to pursue justice in recent years.
In 2024, survivors and relatives of those killed renewed efforts to seek justice, filing complaints against individuals suspected of involvement in the massacre. Information relating to the cases was also submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Rwanda Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo has criticized the DRC for using the Gatumba massacre against the Banyamulenge to target Rwanda.
Known as Visit Kivu, the initiative is being driven by the Bwishyura Kivu Boat Cooperative, a youth-dominated cooperative based in Bwishyura Sector in Karongi District.
The initiative brings together boat tours and other experiences around Lake Kivu, offering visitors opportunities to explore the lake and some of its islands while also discovering the communities and landscapes around it.
Through 16 motorised boats, the cooperative takes visitors onto the lake and to islands including Nkombo and Ijwi. Its boat operators work across Karongi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Rusizi and Rutsiro, the five Rwandan districts bordering Lake Kivu.
“We have a legally registered cooperative, and our goal is to take tourists around Lake Kivu and its islands,” said Niyomugabo Moïse, president of the cooperative.
Visit Kivu also links lake excursions with experiences on land. The cooperative has helped establish a hiking route connecting Karongi town to Bisesero, allowing visitors to combine the scenery of the lake with the area’s historical heritage. Members also participate in community work to clear and maintain paths used by visitors. Among the more distinctive experiences is seeing cattle swimming in Lake Kivu, an activity that offers visitors an unusual glimpse into life around the lake.
The tourism activities have also become an important source of income for members of the cooperative. Founded in 2018 with one employee and Rwf370,000 in capital, the cooperative now has 37 members, 18 permanent employees, including three women, and a capital of Rwf8.7 million.
The cooperative says its tourism activities generate about Rwf4 million a month, helping members meet household needs and pay for health insurance.
Members say joining the cooperative has also allowed them to work together, support their families and interact with visitors from different places.
Niyomugabo says the expansion of tourism around Lake Kivu should go hand in hand with protecting the environment and preserving the culture and heritage of communities around the lake.
He says members need training in cooperative governance, financial management and marketing, as well as more investment to help expand tourism activities, an initiative backed by authorities acknowledging their impact to the community and national development at large.
With its combination of boat trips, islands, hiking, history and community experiences, Visit Kivu reflects the growing effort to present Lake Kivu as a destination to be explored beyond its shoreline.
Visitors can experience Lake Kivu from the water while exploring the landscapes and communities that surround the lake.The Bwishyura Kivu Boat Cooperative has grown into a tourism-focused cooperative offering boat excursions and supporting livelihoods in communities around Lake Kivu.Visitors stand a chance to explore Lake Kivu and its islands aboard motorised boats operated through the Visit Kivu initiative.
Speaking during activities to denounce international silence held in The Hague on Friday, Shomongo called for justice for victims of violence, greater recognition of alleged abuses and peaceful coexistence among communities in the Great Lakes region.
The activities included a march before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a commemorative ceremony marking the August 13, 2004 massacre at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi, where Banyamulenge refugees were attacked.
Shomongo said the initiative at the ICC was organized by members of civil society and the diaspora to draw the attention of international justice institutions to what he described as violence against the Banyamulenge population.
“We acted as responsible citizens, as a people and as a population,” he said, arguing that what he considered the international community’s silence had left affected communities with little choice but to take action and demand justice.
Calls for investigations and accountability
Shomongo said violence affecting the Banyamulenge deserves greater attention from the international community and called for thorough investigations to establish the facts and determine individual responsibility. “We are asking for justice, nothing else,” he said.
He particularly criticized the United Nations and the European Union, which he accused of failing to adequately address or document reports of violence in the Minembwe area.
He also raised concerns about the work of some human rights organizations operating in the region, saying they had not sufficiently documented alleged abuses against Banyamulenge communities.
Shomongo said documentation of alleged violations is essential if victims are to have a chance of obtaining justice. He said members of civil society have travelled to difficult-to-access areas to gather information and document what they describe as conditions on the ground.
Remembering the Gatumba massacre
The activities in The Hague also included a ceremony commemorating the victims of the August 13, 2004 massacre at Gatumba, Burundi.
Banyamulenge refugees living at the Gatumba refugee camp were attacked on that day, leaving over 160 people dead and many others injured.
For Shomongo, the commemoration was an opportunity to remember the victims and draw attention to what he considers an inadequate response to crimes committed in the Great Lakes region.
He said the lack of what he views as sufficient judicial action has contributed to a continuing sense of injustice among survivors and their communities.
Allegations over the situation in Minembwe Shomongo also raised concerns about the security and humanitarian situation in Minembwe, referring to the presence and activities of foreign forces on Congolese territory. He alleged that certain actions had contributed to isolating the local population and worsening the humanitarian situation.
Shomongo described some of the alleged actions as “acts of genocide” and called for competent judicial authorities to investigate the claims.
The allegations reflect Shomongo’s views and have not been established through a judicial process. Any legal determination would require an independent examination of the facts and evidence and the establishment of individual responsibility in accordance with international law.
Calling for peaceful coexistence
Alongside his calls for justice, Shomongo emphasized the need for peace and coexistence among communities in the Great Lakes region.
“We want people to live in peace. We want people to live together,” he said.
He called for an end to hate speech and ethnic violence, which he described as major obstacles to peaceful coexistence.
According to Shomongo, communities in the region share historical and cultural ties that extend beyond the borders created during the colonial period.
He said he wants to see a DRC where all communities can live safely and exercise their rights without facing threats because of their identity.
A campaign that will continue
Shomongo said the activities in The Hague were part of a broader campaign rather than an isolated initiative.
He said civil society organizations and members of the diaspora intend to continue documenting alleged abuses, ensuring that victims are heard and seeking accountability for those who may be responsible.
“We are here because we have no other choice,” he said.
Through the campaign, the organizers say they hope to amplify the voices of Banyamulenge communities, seek justice for victims and contribute to lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
Shomongo said violence affecting the Banyamulenge deserves greater attention from the international community and called for thorough investigations to establish the facts and determine individual responsibility.Pitchou Shomongo (in blue suit), president of Diaspora Plurielle, during activities in The Hague focused on justice for Banyamulenge communities.Pitchou Shomongo (first-left) during a gathering in The Hague highlighting calls for justice and accountability for Banyamulenge victims.
The call was made by the Archbishop of Kigali, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, on August 15, 2026, as Catholics across Rwanda marked the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a feast that commemorates the Catholic belief that Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul.
The celebration brought thousands of worshippers together at churches across the country, while more than 80,000 pilgrims gathered at Kibeho in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda’s major Marian pilgrimage site, to mark the feast.
The Assumption is observed in Rwanda both at Kibeho, where Marian apparitions were reported in 1981, and in Catholic parishes where worshippers normally attend Mass.
In Kigali, large numbers of Catholics attended Mass at churches including Regina Pacis Parish in Remera and Saint Michael Parish in the city centre.
At Saint Michael, the celebrations also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Kigali.
Cardinal Kambanda said the Assumption should be an opportunity for Christians to reflect on how Mary lived her faith and to consider how those values can guide their own lives.
He encouraged Christians to see Mary as an example of humility and obedience to God, saying the feast is not only a celebration of her place in Catholic faith but also a reminder of the spiritual journey Christians are called to undertake.
Cardinal Kambanda said: “Because the Virgin Mary was the Mother of God, she held such a unique dignity that her body, free from sin, could not remain in the grave.
“From the earliest times, Christians believed that she was taken into heaven, body and soul. Pope Pius XII later established this as a doctrine of the Catholic faith that is not open to dispute, because it is a divine mystery beyond human reason and understanding.”
A message for families
The Assumption was also used to highlight the role of Christians in their families and communities.
Father Janvier Nshimirimana of Regina Pacis Parish said Mary’s life offers lessons for parents, particularly in raising children and creating responsible families.
“Mary also lived in a family, just as we do. The message to Christians is therefore to pay attention to raising children, just as Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus and provided what he needed,” he said.
He also urged Christians to avoid excessive individualism and instead embrace values that enable them to fulfil their responsibilities to their families and society.
For many Catholics in Kigali, the feast provided an opportunity to renew their commitment to prayer and to values associated with Mary’s life.
Nizeyimana Edouard said the celebration reminds him that Christians are on a journey towards God and can learn humility from Mary.
“This day reminds us that Mary is the Mother of God and our mother, and that we are on a journey towards God. We learn humility from her, and celebrating this day encourages us to strengthen our prayer life and daily conduct,” he said.
Kanzirisa Caritas said the celebration also influences how she raises her children.
“It encourages us to teach our children good values at home by following Mary’s example. Her humility helps us show them that humility is one of the virtues of a Christian,” she said.
More than 80,000 pilgrims gather in Kibeho
At Kibeho, more than 80,000 pilgrims from Rwanda and abroad gathered to celebrate the Assumption and pray for their personal and family needs.
Kibeho has become an important Catholic pilgrimage destination following the reported Marian apparitions that began in 1981. The apparitions were officially recognised by the Catholic Church in 2001.
Many pilgrims travelled long distances to attend the celebrations, with some walking for days as they sought spiritual renewal and prayed for their intentions.
Akankwasa Annet travelled from Mbarara in Uganda and spent the night at the Kibeho Marian Shrine. She said she came seeking help with an eye condition that makes it difficult for her to see in the evening.
“Being here in Kibeho, on this holy ground, and with the faith I have, I am hopeful that I will return home with my eyesight healed,” she said.
Nsengiyumva Samuel travelled from Kigali and said he spent a week making his way to Kibeho, praying the Rosary along the journey.
He said he came to pray for his family and ask for continued protection.
Nikomeze Judith travelled on foot from Gisagara District. She said she is preparing for her wedding in November 2026 and came to Kibeho to pray for the success of her marriage.
For the pilgrims and other Catholics who marked the feast across Rwanda, the Assumption offered an opportunity not only to honour Mary but also to reflect on the kind of lives they are expected to lead.
The celebration ultimately served as a reminder that faith, humility, prayer and responsibility towards others remain central to the Christian journey towards God.
Catholics have used the Assumption Feast to renew their faith and commitment to prayer.Thousands of pilgrims have travelled to Kibeho for the annual Assumption celebrations.Pilgrims have gathered at Kibeho to pray and seek the intercession of the Virgin Mary.A Mass has been celebrated at the Kibeho Marian Shrine as Catholics have marked the Feast of the Assumption.Cardinal Kambanda has urged Catholics to follow the Virgin Mary’s example of humility, faith and devotion to God.Worshippers have marked the Assumption as a reminder of the Christian journey towards God.Worshippers have gathered in churches across Rwanda to mark the Assumption Feast.Catholic faithful have prayed for their families and personal intentions during the Assumption celebrations.
Kanimba made the remarks in an interview with KP Media24 about his career, leadership experience and some of the major decisions he took while serving in positions that shaped Rwanda’s economic development.
Kanimba joined the National Bank of Rwanda in 2000 as Deputy Governor and was appointed Governor in 2002.
When he took over as Governor, the Rwandan franc was weak and the country faced a serious shortage of foreign currency.
He explained that one of the reasons for the shortage was that some Rwandan businesspeople who had accumulated significant wealth had fled the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, taking their money abroad.
Others who stayed in Rwanda had also kept their wealth outside the country rather than depositing it in local banks.
According to Kanimba, this was partly driven by a misconception that foreign currency belonged to the government and that individuals did not have the right to own it.
At the time, the central bank was the only institution authorizing people to access and use foreign currency, a system he said created room for corruption, favoritism and other irregularities.
“It is why we introduced a system where everyone could open a foreign currency account, just as they had a Rwandan franc account, and use the money as they wished,” Kanimba said.
He said the reform helped bring more foreign currency into Rwanda, with funds flowing into the central bank as well as commercial banks operating in the country at the time.
Tackling the informal foreign exchange market
As foreign currency began returning to the country and people became more aware of their right to use it, some foreign exchange service providers continued operating outside the legal framework.
Kanimba said one of the major areas where he believes he contributed to the country’s economic transformation was in organizing and formalizing Rwanda’s foreign exchange market.
“One of the major things I think I helped this country put in order was organizing and improving the foreign exchange market in Rwanda,” he said.
He recalled inviting some of the informal money changers to a meeting, where he explained that their activities were being conducted outside the law.
He then encouraged them to organize themselves into associations that could obtain legal authorization to operate as recognized foreign exchange businesses.
The proposal was initially met with resistance because some of the money changers feared that formalization was simply a way for the government to take away the little income they were making.
Kanimba said he reassured them that they would receive tax relief as they transitioned into the formal system.
“I immediately called the Commissioner at RRA, who came and addressed them, assuring them that those who followed that process would not pay taxes for three years,” he said. Kanimba said the reforms became an important catalyst for the development of business and the wider economy.
By the end of June 2023, 26.8% of Rwanda’s foreign exchange reserves were invested in short-term assets, while 73.2% were held in medium- and long-term investments, broadly in line with BNR’s targets of 25% and 75%, respectively.
The reforms Kanimba described came as Rwanda continued to strengthen its financial sector and expand economic activity.
In 2025, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda reported that the country’s gross domestic product grew by 11.8% in the third quarter, following growth of 7.8% in the second quarter and 6.5% in the first quarter.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also projected strong economic growth for Rwanda in 2026, with the country’s GDP expected to expand by 7.2%.
François Kanimba, former Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, has reflected on reforms that reshaped Rwanda’s foreign exchange market.
Maingain is among the lawyers representing the Banyamulenge community in a complaint submitted to the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague on August 14, 2026. The complaint calls for an investigation into alleged serious crimes committed against Banyamulenge people in Minembwe and other parts of eastern DRC.
Speaking to IGIHE, Maingain said the decision to approach the ICC came after the community had exhausted avenues available through DRC’s domestic justice system.
“We came to The Hague to take an important step by submitting a complete file to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court under Article 15 of the Rome Statute,” he said.
According to Maingain, the file contains evidence and information relating to alleged crimes that the Banyamulenge representatives believe fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC.
He said efforts had been made over several years to have the alleged crimes investigated through DRC institutions, but those efforts had not resulted in what he considered a concrete response from the authorities.
“We had no other option left but to turn to the International Criminal Court,” Maingain said.
The material submitted to the ICC includes witness accounts, other evidence, statements that the complainants consider to be incitement to hatred and an analysis of the historical context surrounding the alleged abuses.
Maingain said the lawyers were asking the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to examine the material and determine whether there are grounds for opening an investigation.
“We will never stop seeking justice for the Banyamulenge,” he said.
He said particular attention had been given to recent events in Minembwe, which he believes warrant consideration by international justice institutions.
Maingain is handling the case alongside lawyer Innocent Nteziryayo, who provided further details about the allegations contained in the complaint.
Nteziryayo said the filing focuses in part on alleged drone strikes in Minembwe, which he said took place mainly in recent months and caused damage to infrastructure.
He said the complaint names several individuals and officials whom the lawyers want investigated, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, members of his government and Burundian officials.
“Our focus was particularly on allegations concerning drone attacks in recent months that destroyed infrastructure in Minembwe and other areas,” Nteziryayo said.
The lawyers also allege that the attacks were accompanied by statements they consider to be hate speech, which they attribute to senior officials and other influential figures in DRC.
Nteziryayo said the complaint also names the Burundian military and some of its officials, alleging that they were involved in attacks against Banyamulenge civilians and the destruction of their infrastructure.
The complaint submitted to the ICC argues that the alleged acts could amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes, forced displacement on ethnic grounds and genocide.
Lawyer Bernard Maingain, who represents the Banyamulenge in a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC), said they turned to the court after years of seeking justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo without receiving a concrete response from the country’s institutions.Lawyers representing the Banyamulenge say they want alleged attacks and other abuses in Minembwe examined by international justice institutions.The Banyamulenge community is seeking an ICC investigation into alleged crimes committed in Minembwe, according to its lawyers.Representatives of the Banyamulenge community submit a complaint to the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague.
Izere was among high school students from 22 countries who took part in the seventh edition of the Icebreaker of Knowledge scientific and educational expedition, which returned to Murmansk, a city in northwestern Russia on August 13.
The expedition travelled from Murmansk to the North Pole and Franz Josef Land before returning to Murmansk. Rosatom said the voyage also marked the 200th expedition by a surface vessel to reach the North Pole.
For Izere, the journey provided an opportunity to experience the Arctic firsthand, meet students from different countries and see how science and technology are applied beyond the classroom.
“Reaching the North Pole was an experience I will never forget. Seeing the endless ice and snow with my own eyes made me realise how much of our planet remains to be explored,” Louise said.
“I was especially proud to make this journey representing Rwanda. The expedition showed me that science can take you to places you once thought were impossibly far away, and it has inspired me to dream even bigger about my future.”
The expedition included a scientific and educational programme designed to expose participants to advanced technologies and scientific research.
Among the activities was an aerospace laboratory aboard the nuclear-powered vessel. Working with scientists, participants conducted experiments including the launch of a radiosonde, which can provide information and support communication in hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route.
They also took part in testing what Rosatom described as the world’s first recoverable stratospheric platform.
The captain of 50 Let Pobedy, Ruslan Sasov, said the expedition was intended to inspire the next generation by giving young people an opportunity to experience places and technologies they may otherwise only encounter in books or classrooms.
“The brightest and most talented young people join the expedition,” Sasov said, adding that many participants had dreamed of visiting the North Pole and seeing polar bears.
On the day the expedition reached the North Pole, participants also held what Rosatom described as the northernmost and most international circle dance around the 90-degree point.
Yegor Plakhotnyuk, an expert on the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition and project manager at Rosatom’s Research Institute of Technical Physics and Automation, said the programme was designed to give young people direct exposure to technologies they might otherwise encounter only in theory.
“At Rosatom, we work every day on things that seemed like science fiction just yesterday. That’s why it’s especially important for us to show this to the kids in person,” he said.
The programme brought together students aged 14 to 16 and aims to promote interest in natural sciences and nuclear technologies, while identifying talented young people and providing career guidance.
About 5,000 students from 22 countries competed for places in this year’s expedition. The selection process included a science quiz, webinars led by nuclear industry experts and a final round in which participants presented projects on how nuclear technologies are changing the world.
The expedition is also part of broader cooperation between Rwanda and Rosatom in nuclear education and human-resource development.
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding in 2019. Rosatom said 18 graduates of Russian universities with nuclear-related qualifications are currently employed in Rwanda’s nuclear and related organisations, while nine Rwandan students graduated from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI in 2025.
For the 2026/27 academic year, Rosatom has allocated 20 places for Rwandan students to study nuclear and related fields at Russian universities.
More than 470 students have participated in Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge Arctic expeditions over seven seasons.
Russia operates the world’s only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, with eight such vessels currently operated by FSUE Atomflot, a Rosatom enterprise.
Louise Izere joined an international group of young students exploring the North Pole through Rosatom’s educational programme.A polar bear is seen during the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition to the North Pole, where participants had an opportunity to observe Arctic wildlife.Louise Izere and other young participants take part in Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition.For Izere, the journey provided an opportunity to experience the Arctic firsthand. Izere experienced the Arctic firsthand during Rosatom’s international Icebreaker of Knowledge programme.A polar bear is seen during the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition to the North Pole, where participants had an opportunity to observe Arctic wildlife.
In a statement issued on August 14, 2026, AFC/M23 said shells were fired at around 9 a.m. in Kanyola, Walungu Territory, and surrounding areas in South Kivu Province.
The coalition said another attack was launched at around 11 a.m. by the Congolese army and allied groups against Kawere in Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province.
AFC/M23 said the attacks killed people and forced some residents to flee their homes again, although it did not provide figures for those killed or injured.
The accusations come as the DRC government and AFC/M23 have agreed to a ceasefire and mechanisms to monitor its implementation under peace talks held in Doha, Qatar.
The agreement requires both sides to protect civilians, respect human rights and maintain a lasting cessation of hostilities.
AFC/M23 has accused DRC forces and their allies of launching attacks in densely populated areas of eastern DRC.
Speaking at a political rally in New York state on Friday, Trump said the United States would soon impose measures on Iran that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had described a day earlier as unprecedented, according to media reports.
“After we finish defeating Iran — which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said, though it remained unclear whether the remark represented a serious policy proposal.
Iran rejected the threat. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would not be intimidated and insisted that control over the strategic waterway remained with Iran.
The comments came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route, fell sharply. Media reports said only a handful of vessels were recorded passing through the waterway on Friday, with no crude oil shipments visible.
The Strait normally handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets. Brent crude has approached $90 a barrel, while US gasoline prices have risen to around $4 per gallon.
Trump has urged Americans to accept higher fuel prices, saying the cost was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, US media have reported concerns over the welfare of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for about nine months. Trump said the carrier would soon be replaced by another ship.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transits the Arabian Sea, in a photo released July 1, 2026. (US Navy photo)
