In a message posted on X on January 3, Nduhungirehe questioned MONUSCO’s response to a drone strike carried out by the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in Masisi Centre, which targeted a civilian area.
“To better understand this so-called ‘condemnation,’ which is remarkably mild, MONUSCO does not even mention its allies, the FARDC, as the perpetrators of this war crime against Congolese civilians in Masisi Centre,” Nduhungirehe wrote.
The drone strike, which took place on January 2, reportedly killed six civilians and injured at least 41 others.
Following the incident, MONUSCO issued a statement expressing regret and condemning attacks against civilians, including those involving drones. However, the statement stopped short of explicitly identifying FARDC as responsible for the attack.
Nduhungirehe argued that this omission raises serious questions, particularly given MONUSCO’s own public disclosures regarding its cooperation with the Congolese army.
“Let us recall that on November 4, 2025, MONUSCO itself informed the public on X that it had provided training to 120 FARDC soldiers in Ituri, particularly in the use of drones and heavy weapons,” he said.
The minister’s remarks add to longstanding criticism of MONUSCO’s role and effectiveness in eastern DRC, where the mission has operated for more than two decades. Critics argue that despite its mandate to protect civilians, insecurity persists, with armed groups and state forces repeatedly implicated in abuses.
According to the United Nations, MONUSCO has more than 16,000 uniformed personnel deployed across the DRC. The mission’s budget for the 2024/2025 financial year stood at approximately $918 million.
Despite this long-standing presence and significant financial investment, violence against civilians, particularly in eastern DRC, continues, prompting renewed scrutiny of MONUSCO’s conduct, partnerships, and accountability.
Rodriguez made the statement during a live speech on a state-run television station Saturday afternoon, adding that Venezuela will never become a colony of any country.
Accompanied by the ministers of the interior, foreign affairs and other officials, the vice president demanded that the United States release Maduro and his wife, and urged the Venezuelan people to remain calm, face the challenges together and defend national sovereignty.
Noting that the attack on Venezuela may happen in any other country in the region in the future, Rodriguez said Venezuela is ready to defend its natural resources and will never become a colony of any country or a slave of any empire.
The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday, seizing Maduro and his wife.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed at a press conference Saturday morning that Rodriguez had been sworn in as president of Venezuela, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “just had a conversation” with her.
“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump claimed while speaking to reporters.
The international community is deeply shocked by the U.S. raid on Maduro, strongly condemning the blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president.
Speaking at a press conference in Florida on Saturday, Trump said Washington would govern Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” to new leadership could be achieved. He said the US wanted to avoid a scenario in which Maduro’s removal resulted in another government that perpetuated the country’s long-running political and economic crisis.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said. “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.”
Trump’s remarks came hours after he announced on Truth Social that US forces had carried out strikes on Venezuela and captured Maduro and Flores. In a subsequent phone interview with Fox News, he confirmed that the pair were being transferred to New York, where Maduro has been indicted and could appear in court as early as Monday.
The operation, which US officials said had been planned for months and executed without congressional authorisation, marks a dramatic escalation in Washington’s campaign against Maduro.
The US has intensified its military operations in recent months, citing efforts to combat alleged drug smuggling linked to Venezuela, including strikes on speedboats and ports. Over the past few weeks, Trump has made repeated references to military actions in Venezuelan territory, with prior reports indicating strikes in Zulia, an oil-rich state, and the seizure of two sanctioned oil tankers.
Trump did not spell out what US governance of Venezuela would entail but said American oil companies were ready to invest billions of dollars to repair the country’s dilapidated oil infrastructure.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country,” he said, adding that Venezuela’s oil wealth would ensure the operation would not cost US taxpayers.
Trump also warned that further military action was possible, saying the US was prepared to launch a “second and much larger attack” if necessary, and did not rule out deploying ground troops. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro would “face the full wrath” of the US justice system. Charges unsealed on Saturday include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offences. Federal prosecutors allege Maduro used state institutions to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking to the United States, claims he has long denied.
The announcement drew swift criticism from legal experts and foreign leaders, who warned the operation could violate international law and destabilise the region. With Washington yet to clarify how it plans to govern Venezuela or for how long, uncertainty looms over the country’s political future.
“The European Union calls for de-escalation and a resolution in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” he wrote on X.
He said the bloc would continue to support a peaceful, democratic and inclusive solution in Venezuela, and backed efforts by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, working with member states, to ensure the safety of European citizens in the country.
Earlier on Saturday, Kallas said the EU was closely monitoring developments and called for restraint, stressing that the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected.
Kallas said she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas, adding that the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela was the bloc’s top priority.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.
Venezuela on Saturday denounced a “military aggression” by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.
The report describes the crisis as endemic, systemic and worsening, noting that while armed conflict remains a major driver, cases have been documented in communities across all provinces and have risen sharply since 2022.
Data compiled by child protection and gender-based violence service providers show that the scale of abuse continues to grow. In 2024, nearly 45,000 cases of sexual violence against children were recorded, representing almost 40 per cent of all reported sexual violence cases nationwide, three times higher than in 2022. UNICEF warns that the true toll is likely far higher due to widespread under-reporting caused by fear, stigma, insecurity and limited access to services.
“Case workers describe mothers walking for hours to reach clinics with daughters who can no longer walk after being assaulted. Families say that fear of stigma and retaliation often keeps them from reporting the abuse,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Stories like these are repeated across provinces, exposing an entrenched crisis driven by insecurity, inequality and weak support systems.”
The report highlights distinct regional patterns. The highest number of cases has been recorded in conflict-affected eastern provinces, particularly North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, where displacement and weakened protection systems expose children to extreme risk. However, significant numbers have also been documented in Kinshasa and the Kasai region, where poverty, food insecurity and school dropout increase girls’ vulnerability to exploitation and early marriage.
Adolescent girls account for the largest and growing share of survivors nationwide, UNICEF said. Boys are also victims of sexual violence but remain significantly under-represented in reported cases. Children with disabilities face heightened risks, as physical, social and communication barriers increase their vulnerability and limit access to care and justice.
Separate UN-verified data cited in the report show that cases of sexual violence against children were already high in 2022 and 2023, before rising by nearly 30 per cent in 2024. Preliminary figures from early 2025 suggest the situation remains acute, with cases reported in the first six months potentially accounting for more than 80 per cent of the total recorded last year.
Survivors often suffer severe physical injuries, unwanted pregnancies, increased risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and long-lasting psychological harm, including anxiety, depression and social rejection. Yet access to life-saving support remains limited.
The global UN organisation, dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, said it is working with the Congolese government and partners to provide survivor-centred services, including clinical care, psychosocial support, safe spaces and case management. Between 2022 and 2024, the number of child survivors assisted by UNICEF increased by 143 per cent, reaching more than 24,200 children in the most affected provinces in 2024.
However, insecurity and global funding cuts have forced many UNICEF-supported safe spaces, mobile clinics and community-based protection programmes to scale back or close. By mid-2025, only 23 per cent of gender-based violence interventions were funded, down from 48 per cent in 2022, placing hundreds of thousands of children, about 300,000 of them in conflict-affected eastern regions, at risk of losing access to critical support.
UNICEF has called on the government, parties to the conflict, civil society and international partners to prevent and end all forms of sexual violence against children, strengthen accountability through investigations and prosecutions, and increase sustained investment in protection and prevention services.
“Addressing this crisis of sexual violence requires an immediate response and adherence to international law in conflict settings,” Russell said. “Perpetrators must be held accountable, and women and children must have access to protection and support.”
The event, organised by the Rwanda Community Abroad (RCA) with the support of the Rwanda Embassy, was attended by Ambassador Major General Joseph Nzabamwita and his spouse. It drew mainly Rwandan students from various universities, alongside embassy staff and their family members.
In his opening remarks, RCA Russia leader Alex Rukeratabaro thanked the Ambassador for attending the celebrations and for his continued support of community activities that promote unity and Rwandan culture in the Russian Federation. He also welcomed new members to the community and encouraged them to actively take part in RCA programmes and initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Nzabamwita shared key highlights from President Paul Kagame’s end-of-year message, reflecting on Rwanda’s milestones in 2025, the country’s continued progress, and the critical role of young people in sustaining these gains. He emphasised the importance of innovation and youth participation in addressing national challenges and shaping Rwanda’s future.
The Ambassador recalled several achievements that enhanced Rwanda’s international standing during the year, including the inaugural International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA), now led by former Ambassador of Rwanda to Russia Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, as well as the annual Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA).
He also commended the RCA football team for reaching the quarter-finals of the UN Games of Friendship tournament held last September, where Rwanda received a trophy for having the best fans. Ambassador Nzabamwita encouraged new students to volunteer in various community activities, including sports teams, traditional dance troupes, music and cultural preservation initiatives, as well as event organisation and protocol, as a way of positively representing Rwanda abroad.
The celebrations continued in a lively and festive atmosphere, with guests sharing meals, drinks and dances. The evening featured performances by the cultural dance troupe Imena mu Nganzo, a live music band and other entertainment, marking a warm and reflective start to the new year for the Rwandan community in Russia.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, adding that further details would be shared later.
Earlier on Saturday, Maduro declared a state of emergency, accusing the United States of “very serious military aggression” after explosions and aircraft-like sounds were reported across Caracas. Footage published by Venezuelan television station NTN24 showed plumes of smoke rising from the city, with eyewitnesses describing chaotic scenes. “My heart was pumping and legs were shaking,” one resident told the BBC.
The US has intensified its military operations in recent months, citing efforts to combat alleged drug smuggling linked to Venezuela, including strikes on speedboats and ports. Over the past few weeks, Trump has made repeated references to military actions in Venezuelan territory, with prior reports indicating strikes in Zulia, an oil-rich state, and the seizure of two sanctioned oil tankers.
The Venezuelan government has condemned the US actions, calling them “extremely serious military aggression” and urging grassroots organisations and militias to mobilise in response. Maduro has consistently accused the Trump administration of attempting to force regime change in Caracas.
“I was held for six months. Every day was a nightmare,” Mwiza, now living with disabilities caused by the abuse, testified during a protest by Congolese refugees in Rwanda, organised to condemn a recent anti-Tutsi slur by Major General Sylvain Ekenge, the suspended FARDC spokesperson.
“I was raped by over 100 soldiers. Everyone, including elders, their children, and even their guards, assaulted me, all to ‘experience what a Tutsi woman is like.’ I contracted HIV and sustained disabilities. I am now on medication.”
Ekenge’s remarks, widely condemned as incitement against Tutsis, included warnings against marrying Tutsi women, reflecting entrenched anti-Tutsi sentiment within the DRC military. Refugees in Rwanda expressed outrage at the comments, staging demonstrations demanding accountability and protection for Congolese Tutsis.
Mwiza’s ordeal began six months before fleeing to Rwanda, when FDLR soldiers abducted her and her niece from Shangi and took them to Kirolirwe in Masisi territory. While Mwiza survived, her niece was killed.
“They did whatever they wanted, denying me water, denying me care. Sometimes they told me to call Kagame [President Paul Kagame] to rescue me, but all I could do was pray. Everyone struck me, even children, because they were ordered to.”
Her escape came through the unexpected aid of a local soldier who recognised her plight. “He said my blood would not be accounted for. He helped me leave Kirolirwe secretly and guided me to Bishoga,” Mwiza recounted. From there, she moved cautiously to Nyamitabo, where M23 forces were stationed. She finally reached the Nkamira temporary camp in Rwanda, traumatised but alive.
In Rwanda, she joined the Mvura Nkuvure rehabilitation programme, which has helped her begin to rebuild her life despite deep psychological and physical scars. Her husband and father were killed, but her children have since been reunited with her.
“I survived because of God and those who helped me. But no one should endure what I went through,” she said.
Mwiza’s story is part of a decades-long pattern of violence targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking Tutsis in the DRC. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the DRC harboured elements of the Interahamwe and forces loyal to former President Juvenal Habyarimana, cultivating anti-Tutsi ideology. Some of these individuals formed armed groups that evolved into the FDLR.
The FDLR continues to terrorise Congolese citizens, often with tacit DRC government support. Incidents include home burnings, kidnappings, killings, and sexual violence.
In October 2023 alone, nearly 300 homes in Nturo village were destroyed, with residents accused of supporting M23. Social media footage has repeatedly shown Congolese civilians attacking Tutsi neighbours, in some cases committing acts of extreme cruelty, including cannibalism.
Rwanda now hosts over 120,000 Congolese refugees, many fleeing decades of violence and displacement. Mwiza urges the international community to intervene to end decades of hatred and persecution of Congolese Tutsis.
Their two-year term officially started on January 1, but Friday was the first working day of the council for 2026 after the Christmas and New Year break.
A flag installation ceremony was held to mark the start of their responsibilities.
Kazakh UN ambassador Kairat Umarov, who co-hosted the ceremony, congratulated the five new council members and wished them “perseverance, unity of purpose, and success” in their term.
“We hope that you will make meaningful contributions over the next two years to address critical global challenges and reinforce the council’s mandate to promote peace and security,” he said.
The installation of flags serves as a visible reminder that service on the Security Council is both a privilege and a responsibility. It marks the beginning of the demanding mandate carried out on behalf of the entire UN membership, said Umarov.
Somali UN ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, as president of the Security Council for the month of January and co-host of the ceremony, welcomed the five new members and wished them a successful and impactful term.
“Over the coming two years, your voices and your efforts will be essential in guiding our collective pursuit of peace and security,” he said.
The Security Council has a unique mandate to respond to threats to peace and to foster cooperation, and to support the most vulnerable by working together, upholding the principles of multilateralism, and demonstrating respect for the UN Charter, said Osman.
The five countries replaced Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.
The 15-member Security Council has five permanent members, including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. Five non-permanent members are replaced each year.
According to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the new intervention ensures that every baby born in Rwanda receives a dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, a critical window for preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
Hepatitis B is a highly infectious viral disease that can be passed from an infected mother to her child during childbirth. Health experts warn that when infection occurs at birth, up to 95 per cent of affected infants go on to develop chronic Hepatitis B, significantly increasing their risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer later in life. The birth dose vaccine is widely recognised as the most effective and cost-efficient way to prevent such transmission.
Globally, an estimated 296 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B, while viral hepatitis causes more than one million deaths each year, largely due to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
RBC noted that the country has already made notable progress in hepatitis prevention and control through strong immunisation systems, widespread screening and free access to treatment. National data indicate a low Hepatitis B prevalence of approximately 0.26 per cent, reflecting the impact of sustained public health interventions.
“Introduction of the universal birth dose further strengthens Rwanda’s commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030,” the centre said in a statement on Friday, January 2, 2026.
To support the rollout, health facilities across the country have been equipped to administer the vaccine within 24 hours of birth, including for babies born outside health facilities. Health workers have also received targeted training, while cold chain systems have been strengthened to ensure vaccine safety and consistent availability.
RBC has called on health workers, parents, communities and partners to support the initiative by ensuring that all newborns receive the Hepatitis B birth dose on time.
The centre said the new measure underscores the importance of vaccination in safeguarding public health, emphasising that vaccines save lives and remain a cornerstone of disease prevention.
