In an address at the opening session of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam Monday, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said the Islamic Development Bank announced 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in support, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 1.5 billion dollars and the OPEC Fund 2 billion dollars.
Adesina said the AfDB and the World Bank would commit 40 billion dollars toward Mission 300, with 18.2 billion dollars from the AfDB and 22 billion dollars from the World Bank Group. He said access to electricity is critical to Africa’s economic growth, adding that the lack of adequate electricity reduces Africa’s gross domestic product by 2 percent to 4 percent annually.
Adesina said in implementing Mission 300, critical reforms will be needed to expand the share of renewables, improve the functioning and performance of utilities, and ensure transparency in licensing, power purchase agreements, and predictable tariff regimes that reflect the cost of production.
“The private sector will also be critical in expanding mini-grids and off-grid systems to reach millions of people without access to grid-based power in rural areas,” said the AfDB chief.
Opening the summit that brought together 25 African heads of state and 2,600 delegates, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Mission 300 would help accelerate her country’s ambitious national clean cooking strategy aimed at ensuring that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking solutions by the year 2034.
Lt Col Ngoma voiced his displeasure during a brief encounter at the Grande Barrière border post with one of the mercenaries who had been fighting alongside the Congolese army, FARDC, and other allied forces and militias to combat the M23 in eastern Congo.
The more than 280 mercenaries, mostly from Romania, were fleeing Goma through Rwanda after the city was captured by M23 fighters on Monday.
Before being handed over to the Rwandan side, Lt Col Ngoma was seen confronting one of the mercenaries, believed to be the commander of the unit.
He told the mercenary that the M23 is fighting for the future of the Congolese children and that they should stay out of the war.
“We are fighting for the future of our children. We have a rich country, but we have foolish leaders. Every month, you get paid $8,000, but a Congolese soldier earns less than $100. Don’t fool us. We want Congo to be a respectable country. Don’t bring your games here. Don’t ever bring your games back to Congo, do you understand? We are fighting for our future,” he said angrily.
Lt Col Ngoma then instructed the commander to sit down, cross his legs, and put his hands on his head. The mercenary complied, and after a brief moment, Lt Col Ngoma told him to stand up and join the others.
Since M23 took control of the city of Goma, many government soldiers there surrendered, while others fled to Rwanda. The European mercenaries, however, handed themselves over to MONUSCO peacekeepers, who confiscated their weapons.
In Goma, around 800 mercenaries from the RALF group were stationed in North Kivu, where they also protected the town of Sake.
They were all hired by Horațiu Potra from Romania, who was arrested in December by the Romanian government for violating laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement.
The mercenaries are expected to be flown home from Kigali International Airport later on Wednesday.
Foreign organisations operating in Goma including the United Nations requested to evacuate their staff and families through Rwanda following the closure of the Goma airspace and waterways last week.
M23, which is fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi community in DRC, had accused the Congolese army and allied forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
Rwanda Ntabwo ari Congo 😁😁😁😁
Lt colonel Willy Ngoma arimo arakora nk’umusirikare wenyewe uri ku rugamba😁
Ati mwabajinga mwe muzi ibyo mwakoze hano, muri imfungwa z’intambara ati kwanza wewe icara hasi nonaha
Inspector General of Police (IGP) CG Félix Namuhoranye assumed responsibility as the new chairperson of EAPCCO, succeeding Brigadier General Joseph Ninteretse, the IGP of Burundi National Police, at the 26th EAPCCO Council of Police Chiefs Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kigali.
The 26th EAPCCO AGM, themed “Strengthening Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation to Counter Terrorism, Transnational Organized, and Emerging Crimes,” was opened by Minister of Interior Vincent Biruta. The meeting was attended by police chiefs and their representatives from EAPCCO member states.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Kigali Convention Centre, Ninteretse emphasized that the transition of leadership to Rwanda signifies that the organization will continue to expand and fulfil its responsibilities in promoting regional security.
“As I hand over the leadership today, I am proud to leave this position in good hands. I believe the region will achieve great things during this term of EAPCCO leadership,” he said.
Ninteretse also praised the warm welcome he received in Rwanda and wished the participants of the AGM success in collaborating to find solutions to ongoing regional issues.
He stated that police forces in the region should strengthen cooperation and information sharing to effectively manage the security of citizens in member countries.
“As EAPCCO, we must come together in collaboration, sharing information and expertise to combat terrorism. We cannot achieve this unless we work together, with our police forces collaborating beyond borders, setting aside political differences and focusing on our shared goals,” he emphasized.
He highlighted that criminals have changed their tactics, and therefore, new strategies, including regional cooperation in data collection, crime investigation, and the use of technology, should be implemented to counter these evolving threats.
He also noted that during Burundi’s leadership of EAPCCO, significant achievements had been made, including signing a cooperation agreement with China.
On his part, Rwanda’s police chief, Namuhoranye, affirmed that the responsibilities entrusted to him for leading EAPCCO over the next year would be carried out diligently for the benefit of the member states.
“I understand the responsibilities that come with this position. But one thing I know is that, with your support, we will achieve much,” he said.
“As you all know, the region faces security challenges, but these challenges can be overcome. The key is to preserve and promote unity, cooperation in fulfilling the organization’s duties,” he added.
Minister Biruta also called on the police forces in the region to strengthen collaboration, foster good cooperation, and share information in the fight against crime and to promote security for the people of the region.
Founded in 1998 in Kampala, Uganda, EAPCCO was established as a regional response to the increasing threat posed by transnational and organized crimes. The organization aims to unite law enforcement agencies in Eastern Africa to combat these shared threats.
The 14 member countries of EAPCCO include Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia.
The mercenaries, from the RALF group, a private military company based in Romania, had been collaborating with FARDC to combat the M23 since 2022.
They suffered a setback when M23 fighters defeated the coalition forces and captured the city of Goma on Monday, forcing them to surrender to MONUSCO peacekeepers.
On Wednesday, the mercenaries were granted safe passage through Rwanda to return home from Goma.
They now join thousands of people fleeing the conflict region who have been granted safe passage by the Rwandan government through the Grande Barrier border. Others include nearly 2,000 United Nations personnel and their families, as well as at least 40 World Bank employees.
The UN requested to evacuate their staff and families through Rwanda following the closure of the Goma airspace and waterways last week. M23, which is fighting for the rights of the minority Tusi community in DRC, had accused the Congolese army and allied forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
In the city of Goma, there were around 800 mercenaries from the RALF group stationed in North Kivu, where they also protected the town of Sake. They were all hired by Horațiu Potra from Romania, who was arrested in December by the Romanian government for violating laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement.
Additionally, there were 20 other mercenaries from the Bulgarian Agemira group.
The National Communication Authority (NCA), the industry regulator, said the aim of addressing graphic and defamatory content has been successfully achieved.
“The rise of violence linked to social media content in South Sudan underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of online incitement while protecting the rights of the population,” NCA Director General Napoleon Adok Gai said in a letter to telecommunications operators and internet service providers in the country.
The temporary ban followed a week-long suspension of the platforms, which began on January 22 after two days of riots that saw people killed, and shops looted and vandalized.
According to police, a total of 17 Sudanese nationals lost their lives across South Sudan in the night riots.
Several South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that shows the killings of South Sudanese nationals by the Sudanese Armed Forces on January 11 in Wad Madani, Al Jazirah State, Sudan.
Gai said the South Sudanese refugees in Wad Madani were subjected to violent attacks resulting in the deaths of women and children, subsequently captured in videos and shared on social media without regard.
The footage sparked deadly violent riots, particularly in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and in three states: Warrap, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, and Warrap.
Gai said the ban was imposed to curb the circulation of content deemed to incite violence and instability.
The industry regulator, however, lauded internet service providers and mobile network operators for their cooperation during the blockade and urged stakeholders, including platform operators Meta and TikTok, to strengthen monitoring and report harmful content to prevent future incidents.
“The lifting of the blockage is part of our efforts to foster a safer digital environment and promote peace and stability in the country,” Gai said, adding that the regulator will be reaching out to all stakeholders in the future to avoid similar shutdowns.
Speaking on the evacuation process, Ozonnia Ojielo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, commended the Rwandan government for its quick decision-making and exceptional efforts to ensure the safety of those at risk.
“I thank the government of Rwanda for the very timely approval. Because the security situation was evolving, which meant that the lives of those UN staff and their dependents were threatened, they could have become casualties of the fighting. But by the speed of the decision-making by the government of Rwanda, it meant that they were eager to help to secure free passage for these UN national staff,” Ojielo told members of the press on Tuesday.
He noted that, given the nature of the conflict, many evacuees fled without official documents. Despite this, Rwanda stepped in to host them and arranged hotel accommodations, even before securing funds for their stay.
More than 1,800 UN personnel and their families were evacuated to Rwanda on Monday after the conflict between the FARDC coalition forces and M23 rebels intensified in the eastern DRC. The individuals crossed through the Grande Barrière border post in Rubavu District.
The situation escalated after M23 captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on Monday, following the capture of several other strategic towns, including Sake and Masisi, over the past few weeks.
Ojielo described the government’s efforts at the border as highly organized and effective.
“You’ll be surprised that by 6 a.m. that same Monday, the entire architecture of government was at the border, on the Rubavu side. From state security, police, you name that, medical personnel, they were all there,” the official remarked.
Recognizing the efforts of ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) and the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), he praised the seamless process through which evacuees were identified, transported, and accommodated.
“At Kigali Pele Stadium, the highest levels of government were present, coordinated by MINAFFET through Permanent Secretary, [and] the Inspector General of Police was in charge. People arrived by buses, they were processed. Rwanda Convention Bureau made elaborate arrangements with various hotels, people were put in buses, and taken to the hotels,” he explained.
The first group of evacuees, totalling 660 individuals—mostly women and children—arrived at Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday afternoon after being transported from the Rubavu border in military convoys. By the end of the day, over 1,832 individuals had been processed and accommodated in hotels.
“I cannot tell you how grateful we are as a United Nations country team in Rwanda to our government for the truly exceptional mobilization of capacities and resources of the government of Rwanda to support these UN staff come through,” Ojielo added.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has forced multiple international organizations to evacuate non-essential personnel.
Rwanda became a critical evacuation hub after Goma’s airspace and waterways were shut down amid allegations by M23 that the Congolese army was using the airport to load bombs targeting civilians.
Ojielo noted that in the coming days, the focus will be on the safe return of non-essential UN staff to their home countries and continued support for refugees in Rwanda. Many of the UN personnel hosted by Rwanda are originally from Congo. Plans are in place to facilitate the return of those wishing to travel to Kinshasa by air.
“Though not all of those evacuated were refugees, Rwanda continues to host thousands of refugees, many of whom have fled the DRC over the past two decades,” Ojielo added.
He urged the international community to increase support for Rwanda’s ongoing efforts.
“I appeal to the international community to assist Rwanda in supporting the refugees, especially those who are still here or may come, as this is a significant burden for the country to shoulder,” Ojielo concluded.
The mobs protesting the fall of the capital and largest city of North Kivu Province to the M23 fighters targeted the embassies of Rwanda, the United States, France, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya in the attacks.
The protest attacked and petrol-bombed the French Embassy, causing a fire. Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister, condemned the violence terming it as “unacceptable”. He said the fire had been brought under control.
BREAKING: French embassy in Kinshasa 🇨🇩 “attacked and firebombed” but protesters were unable to enter, France’s foreign ministry tells CNN.
Security forces defending the embassy fired shots, the ministry said, but embassy staff are now safe pic.twitter.com/4MWyAr2Ho7
The protests also spread to the United Nations building. Security forces were forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowds outside the US Embassy, where protesters had breached the construction site of a new embassy building.
The demonstrators accused the foreign powers of failing to intervene effectively as M23 forces intensified their assault on Goma.
In an escalation of the conflict, M23 rebels have in recent weeks captured key towns in the eastern region in renewed fights with the Congolese army and a coalition of armed groups including FDLR, a genocidal force linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
East African Community (EAC) leaders are set to convene an emergency summit on Wednesday, January 29 to address the escalating security crisis in the eastern Congo.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who also serves as the EAC Chairperson, confirmed the summit on Monday during a high-level retreat on African Union (AU) institutional reforms.
“We have agreed under the framework of the East African Community to convene an urgent extraordinary meeting and summit on the situation in Eastern DRC on Wednesday,” said President Ruto, who also serves as the EAC Chairperson.
“The situation in Eastern DRC now demands our collective focus. And as the chair of the East African Community, I will be convening this meeting.”
M23 asserts that its fight is centred on defending the Tutsi minority in eastern DRC, who have faced decades of marginalization and persecution. Peace processes proposed to mediate the dispute in Luanda, Angola, and Nairobi, Kenya, have previously faced challenges, as the Congolese government opposes the inclusion of the group in the talks.
President Ruto emphasized that a military solution is not viable, advocating instead for dialogue and engagement with all stakeholders to find the root cause of the problem.
“Engagement, dialogue, consultations is the only viable way out of the situation in DRC,” he said. “A direct engagement with M23 and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in Eastern DRC is a necessity.”
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who also serves as the EAC Chairperson, confirmed the summit on Monday during a high-level retreat on African Union (AU) institutional reforms.
“We have agreed under the framework of the East African Community to convene an urgent extraordinary meeting and summit on the situation in Eastern DRC on Wednesday,” said President Ruto, who also serves as the EAC Chairperson.
“The situation in Eastern DRC now demands our collective focus. And as the chair of the East African Community, I will be convening this meeting.”
The crisis in Eastern DRC has persisted for decades, marked by conflicts involving armed groups, regional interventions, and humanitarian challenges, including the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
In an escalation of the conflict, M23 rebels have in recent weeks captured key towns in the eastern region in renewed fights with the Congolese army and a coalition of armed groups including FDLR, a genocidal force linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Goma, the capital and largest city of the North Kivu Province, fell under the control of M23 fighters on Monday, prompting concerns from various quarters on the security situation in the eastern Congo.
In his address to the media, President Ruto termed the situation in the volatile regions “very complicated”.
“This is a situation that has festered for 30, 40 years. We’ve had a UN peacekeeping mission there for the last 20 years. We’ve had forces from the East African Community in and out. We’ve had forces from SADC in and maybe out,” he stated.
M23 asserts that its fight is centred on defending the Tutsi minority in eastern DRC, who have faced decades of marginalization and persecution. Peace processes proposed to mediate the dispute in Luanda, Angola, and Nairobi, Kenya, have previously faced challenges, as the Congolese government opposes the inclusion of the group in the talks.
President Ruto emphasized that a military solution is not viable, advocating instead for dialogue and engagement with all stakeholders to find the root cause of the problem.
“Engagement, dialogue, consultations is the only viable way out of the situation in DRC,” he said. “A direct engagement with M23 and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in Eastern DRC is a necessity.”
He confirmed that the summit will bring together regional leaders, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, both of whom have confirmed their attendance. The two leaders differ sharply on the root causes of the crisis that has led to tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
The Kenyan Head of State stressed that the ongoing crisis in Eastern DRC and several other parts of the continent has significant implications for regional stability and development.
“Without and unless we deal with the conflicts in our continent, it will become almost impossible to undertake any meaningful investment or development or economic activity in our continent,” President Ruto stated during the retreat.
He emphasized the need for Africa to rethink its approach to peace and security, noting, “Our response has been uncoordinated, under-resourced, and not very well planned.”
The retreat proposed the establishment of a high-level panel to strengthen the continent’s conflict response and financing mechanisms.
As the region prepares for Wednesday’s summit, hopes are high that the engagement will pave the way for meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies to resolve the long-standing crisis in Eastern DRC.
When asked late Monday about Microsoft’s involvement, Trump responded, “I would say yes,” adding that there is “great interest in TikTok.”
However, he stopped short of naming other US firms potentially interested in the deal.
“I like bidding wars because you make your best deals,” Trump remarked while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Washington, DC.
Both TikTok and Microsoft are yet to comment on the matter.
The video-sharing app briefly went offline in the US on January 18, complying with a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of the platform or face a nationwide ban.
President Trump’s decision to suspend the enforcement of this law for 75 days upon taking office gave his administration time to seek alternatives.
The move marks a significant policy shift from his previous stance during his first term when he attempted to ban TikTok outright over alleged national security concerns. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump reversed course, pledging to “save” the platform while addressing security fears.
The controversy surrounding TikTok has spanned administrations. Former President Joe Biden signed the law mandating ByteDance’s divestment, citing bipartisan concerns over the platform’s potential to harvest Americans’ personal data and influence public discourse. Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law.
The police chief made the remarks during the official opening of the 49th EAPCCO Permanent Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Kigali on Monday, January 27, 2025.
Addressing the gathering of heads of criminal investigations and Interpol central bureaus from 14 East African countries, IGP Namuhoranye emphasized the importance of collective resolve in combating evolving threats like terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, and organized financial crimes.
He stressed that criminal fugitives should not be able to find safe havens across the region’s borders, calling for more collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
“Your resolve should send a strong message to criminals and fugitives in the region that they will not find safe havens across our borders,” said IGP Namuhoranye.
The meeting, which is part of ongoing efforts by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), serves as a platform for member countries to discuss security concerns and align strategies to tackle transnational crime.
IGP Namuhoranye urged the police chiefs to enhance the capacities of investigators and harmonize operational approaches to improve regional policing efforts.
The event comes ahead of the 26th EAPCCO Annual General Meeting, which will take place on January 29, 2025, at Kigali Convention Centre.
The 49th PCC meeting includes discussions on critical security issues such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, with key sessions including counter-terrorism and cybercrime subcommittee meetings.
EAPCCO’s regional cooperation aims to consolidate efforts to disrupt criminal activity, particularly human trafficking, illicit drug trade, and intellectual property crimes, which have become increasingly sophisticated across the region.
Africa Apollo Sendahangarwa, the CEO of EAPCCO and Head of the Interpol Regional Bureau, also reinforced the need for a unified approach to combat these crimes. He highlighted the use of modern technologies by criminals and the financing of terrorism, urging member countries to work together to effectively counter these threats.
The ongoing PCC meeting is expected to lead to more coordinated and actionable plans in addressing the growing challenges posed by transnational criminal networks in the region.
