In a communiqué released by Lawrence Kanyuka, Head of the Department of Communication, the armed group said the facility served as a central hub for the planning, coordination, and execution of drone operations, which it says were used in attacks against civilians as well as AFC/M23 positions in areas under its control.
The group said the drone strikes affected several territories in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, including Masisi, Walikale, Rutshuru, Lubero, Kalehe, Mwenga, and Minembwe.
“The AFC/M23 will never stand idly by while innocent civilians are systematically targeted,” the communiqué said, warning that the group would act “to neutralise these threats at their source” if such attacks continue.
The statement also called on the Kinshasa government to make what it described as “an unequivocal choice between peace and war,” adding that “if it chooses peace, it must strictly respect the ceasefire.”
The AFC/M23 further rejected any attempt by the government to shift responsibility for the attack, asserting that it carried out the Kisangani operation.
“The AFC/M23 carried out the operation in Kisangani. The Kinshasa regime is fully aware of the military equipment it abandoned at the airports of Goma and Kavumu and must also understand that the use of drones and mercenaries is neither exclusive to nor the sole prerogative of Kinshasa,” the statement reiterated.
The group issued an appeal to the international community, urging immediate action to end abuses against civilians and to address impunity for alleged crimes.
“The AFC/M23 issues an urgent appeal to the international community to act without delay to put an end to the barbarity of the Kinshasa regime and to end impunity for crimes committed against civilians,” the AFC/M23 stated.
Citing unnamed sources, the Fars news agency reported that the drone “successfully” monitored military movements in areas adjacent to Iran and transmitted data to ground bases in real time. The report described such missions as vital for the “overall monitoring” of the region.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted an informed source as saying that Iran had lost contact with one of its drones, the cause of which is under investigation and will be announced once it is determined.
The U.S. Central Command said earlier in the day that a U.S. F-35C warplane “was forced” to shoot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea. The command said the drone had “unnecessarily maneuvered” toward the USS Abraham Lincoln while the carrier was transiting international waters approximately 800 km from the Iranian coast.
According to the U.S. statement, the drone was shot down in “an act of self-defense.” No U.S. troops were injured, and no equipment was damaged in the encounter, the military said.
The encounter comes amid tentative prospects for U.S.-Iran talks in the coming days.
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to pursue “fair and equitable” negotiations with the United States.
Writing on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said the move followed requests from regional governments to respond to a negotiation proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump. He said any talks must take place within a framework of “dignity, prudence and expediency.”
While Türkiye has offered to mediate, Tehran appears to be seeking to limit the scope of the discussions. U.S. outlet Axios, citing informed sources, reported that Iran prefers Oman as a venue and favors direct talks with Washington rather than a broader format involving Arab and Muslim states.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said consultations were underway to finalize a venue for talks expected in the coming days, the official IRNA reported. Baghaei said Türkiye, Oman, and several other regional countries had expressed readiness to host the talks, which Iran highly values.
The diplomatic push, however, has drawn resistance from Israel.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, ahead of a possible meeting later this week with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.
After the meeting, Netanyahu’s office said Iran “has repeatedly demonstrated it cannot be trusted to keep its promises.”
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that Israeli officials are seeking U.S. assurances of “operational freedom of action” against Iran and are pressing for a complete halt to Tehran’s ballistic missile program and uranium enrichment.
Complicating matters further, Iran is also facing a diplomatic dispute with the European Union.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned EU ambassadors on Tuesday to protest the bloc’s recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization over its role in the “crackdown” on nationwide protests. Tehran previously responded by designating EU militaries as “terrorist groups.”
Also on Tuesday, Iranian authorities said they had arrested 139 foreign nationals in the central city of Yazd during recent anti-government protests. The city’s police chief said those detained were involved in “organizing, inciting or directing unrest” and, in some cases, had contacts outside the country, according to Tasnim. The nationalities of those arrested were not disclosed.
Weeks of protests erupted across Iran from late December to January over the sharp depreciation of the rial. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations escalated into clashes that caused casualties and damage to mosques, government buildings, and banks. Tehran has blamed the unrest on the United States and Israel.
Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, a member of the team, posted the announcement on Facebook, stating that four masked gunmen carried out a “treacherous operation” by storming Gaddafi’s residence at noon in the city of Zintan.
The attackers reportedly disabled surveillance cameras before a “direct armed confrontation” ensued, resulting in his death.
The political team called on the Libyan judiciary and the international community to investigate the “crime” and identify the perpetrators and those who “masterminded” the attack. Authorities in Tripoli and Zintan have not yet confirmed the details of the incident.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has remained a significant and polarizing figure in Libya since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ended his father’s rule.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said the EU states’ envoys were called in by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi and the relevant director generals at the ministry, describing the bloc’s labeling of the IRGC as “a strategic mistake and an unforgivable insult” to Iran.
According to the statement, the EU members’ ambassadors gave the assurance that they will relay Iran’s protest to their governments as soon as possible.
The EU decided last week to add the IRGC to the bloc’s terrorist list.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday the European ambassadors had been summoned by the ministry on Sunday and Monday.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday his country considers EU militaries “terrorist groups” in response to the bloc’s action.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the consignment comprises 20 metric tons of food, emergency relief items, and essential medicines to support affected communities.
The ministry indicated that an additional shipment of humanitarian assistance is expected to arrive in Mozambique in the coming days as part of Rwanda’s continued support.
The Commonwealth recently called on member countries, regional partners, and international agencies to provide urgent support to Mozambique following the disaster caused by weeks of relentless rainfall.
“The Commonwealth mourns with the families and communities enduring this hardship,” Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said, emphasising the urgent need for a coordinated international response.
Rwanda’s intervention in Mozambique is part of a broader pattern of international humanitarian engagement. In July last year, Rwanda delivered a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza to support civilians affected by the protracted conflict in the Middle East.
In partnership with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, over 40 tons of food and medical supplies were dispatched and received in Amman by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation for onward distribution to Gaza.
That delivery marked Rwanda’s fourth humanitarian shipment to Gaza since the conflict erupted in October 2023. It followed earlier consignments in May 2025, November 2024, and October 2023, which together included food, medicines, water, and fortified nutritional supplies for children.
Beyond humanitarian aid deliveries, Rwanda has also provided technical support in post-disaster recovery efforts. In January 2026, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) deployed a contingent of military engineers to Jamaica to assist with reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Working alongside the Jamaica Defence Force, the team has been engaged in rehabilitating critical infrastructure and rebuilding homes in affected communities.
The AYuTE (Agriculture, Youth, and Technology) Challenge is Heifer International’s flagship youth agritech innovation program. It is designed to identify and support scalable, youth-led enterprises that respond to challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Through innovation-driven solutions, the Challenge promotes increased productivity, higher farmer incomes, and stronger resilience across agricultural value chains.
As the Challenge enters its 2026 edition, it builds on a proven record of impact. Previous cohorts of innovators leveraged AYuTE support to strengthen operations, refine business models, expand market reach, and create jobs.
The decision to increase the prize pool this year reflects both the growing ambition of youth-led agribusinesses in Rwanda and Heifer International’s commitment to accelerating their growth and long-term impact.
The experience of past participants highlights what is possible through the Challenge. Reflecting on her journey, Mugeni Niyidukunda, First Runner-Up of the AYuTE Challenge 2025 and founder of Avocare Ltd, a Rwandan company producing premium, cold-pressed extra virgin avocado oil, and avocado-based products, shared how AYuTE support unlocked critical growth opportunities.
“The AYuTE Grant has been a transformative catalyst for Avocare Ltd. It enabled us to expand our production and storage facilities, increasing our avocado intake capacity from two tons per day to between six and ten tons per day. The support also allowed us to establish a modern factory capable of processing up to five tons per day, create more than thirty jobs for youth and women, and strengthen partnerships with over 300 avocado farmers nationwide,” she said.
Similarly, Tresor Gashonga, Founder and CEO of Incuti Foods and winner of the AYuTE Challenge 2025, described how targeted investment translated directly into measurable business growth: “The Rwf 25 million AYuTE Fund investment was a momentous change for Incuti Foods. It enabled us to increase production capacity from 5,000 to 30,000 bottles per month, expand our customer base from 70 to 100 grocery stores, grow smallholder farmer partnerships from 50 to 100, and create 18 new jobs mainly for youth.”
Taken together, these success stories underscore the broader impact of the AYuTE Challenge. Commenting on the launch of the 2026 edition, Verena Ruzibuka, Country Director of Heifer International Rwanda, emphasized both the results achieved so far and the opportunity ahead.
“The growth journeys of innovators like Mugeni and Tresor demonstrate the real, measurable impact the AYuTE Challenge delivers, scaling production, creating jobs, strengthening farmer partnerships, and building resilient agribusinesses.
“By increasing the total cash prize to Rwf 65 million this year, we are raising the bar for what young innovators can achieve. We encourage ambitious youth with innovative solutions to the smallholder farmers’ farming systems to apply and be part of Rwanda’s next generation of agritech leaders,” she stated.
{{Who can apply}}
The 2026 AYuTE Challenge Rwanda is open to youth-led local startups and innovators. Applicants must be aged 18–35, based in Rwanda, and have developed a technology-enabled solution that addresses challenges faced by smallholder farmers and has strong scalability potential.
{{How to apply}}
Interested innovators can apply online via the official application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AyuTe-Rwanda-Challenge-2026
Applications are now open and will close on February 27, 2026.
Now in its 33rd edition, the leading global platform for the fruit and vegetable industry is expected to attract around 2,600 exhibitors from more than 90 countries and trade visitors from over 150 nations.
Rwanda is poised to make a strong showing at the fair, represented by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) representatives from the Rwandan Embassy in Germany and Rwandan companies specializing in the export of fruits and vegetables.
The participation aims to promote Rwanda’s high-quality horticultural products, build new business partnerships, and expand the country’s footprint in international markets, particularly in Europe.
Fruit Logistica serves as a vital hub for the entire fresh produce value chain, connecting growers, suppliers, buyers, distributors, logistics experts, and innovators. It offers unparalleled opportunities to discover emerging trends, technologies, and market insights.
“Fruit Logistica is where the global fresh produce trade comes to life and evolves. No other event brings together this level of international reach, innovation capacity, and market expertise across the entire value chain,” said David Ruetz, Senior Vice President at Messe Berlin, the event’s organizer.
For Rwanda’s exporters, the event represents a strategic chance to boost visibility, secure new export deals, and emphasize the sector’s focus on quality, traceability, and sustainable practices.
Rwanda continues to expand its reach to global markets. Between December 22 and 26, 2025, agricultural exports generated $15.6 million. The largest volumes of fruit were exported to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and France, alongside several African countries.
During the same period, Rwanda exported 241 tonnes of vegetables, with the UAE, the UK, and Spain emerging as the top destinations.
Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez said the move was aimed at protecting young people from the harmful effects of online content, including hate speech, pornography, disinformation and online abuse. Social media companies will also be required to implement robust age-verification systems to enforce the ban.
“Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone,” Sánchez said. “We will no longer accept that. We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
The prime minister said his left-wing coalition government has grown increasingly concerned about the impact of social media on minors, warning that risks such as addiction, manipulation and violence “cannot be accepted.” He stressed that age checks must be “real barriers that work,” not simple box-ticking exercises.
Spain’s announcement follows a similar move by Australia, which in December became the first country to ban social media access for under-16s. The decision is being closely watched by other European nations, including Britain and France, which are considering comparable age-based restrictions. In France, lawmakers are finalising rules to curb access for children under 15.
Sánchez also revealed plans to introduce a separate bill that would hold social media executives legally accountable for illegal and hate content hosted on their platforms. The proposed measures include criminalising algorithmic manipulation and the amplification of unlawful content, as well as establishing systems to track hate speech online.
In addition, prosecutors will explore potential legal infractions linked to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok, Sánchez said, citing concerns over disinformation and other alleged abuses.
The Spanish leader said the challenge of regulating social media extends beyond national borders. Spain has joined five other European countries in what he called a “Coalition of the Digitally Willing,” aimed at coordinating cross-border digital regulation. The group is expected to hold its first meeting in the coming days, though Sánchez did not name the participating countries.
“We know this is a battle that goes far beyond the boundaries of any one country,” he said, calling for broader European cooperation to rein in the power of global technology platforms.
Launched in 2016, the initiative allows individuals who can prove African ancestry, primarily descendants of those affected by the transatlantic slave trade, to apply for Ghanaian nationality. Over 1,000 people, including African American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, have successfully obtained citizenship through the program.
However, applicants have raised concerns over the complexity and cost of the process. Among the challenges are multiple stages of application, strict deadlines, and significant fees. The initial application costs $136 (about Rwf 197,000), with shortlisted candidates required to pay an additional $2,280 (Rwf 3.3 million) before attending a one-day citizenship orientation and receiving their nationality at a ceremony overseen by the president.
Dr. Erieka Bennet, ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum, which assists applicants relocating to Ghana, told the BBC that many found it “impossible” to submit required DNA evidence within the one-week deadline, and some questioned the reliability of the testing. She expressed confidence that the government would resolve these issues and resume the process.
Ghana has not provided a timeline for when applications will reopen, but has said updated guidelines and timelines will be issued “in due course.” The suspension has created uncertainty for prospective applicants planning relocation or investment in the country.
The program is part of Ghana’s longstanding Pan-African vision, championed by its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and was reinforced by the 2019 “Year of Return,” which sought to encourage Africans worldwide to reconnect with the country.
Ghana is not alone in targeting the African diaspora. Neighbouring countries like Benin and Sierra Leone also offer citizenship based on verified ancestral ties. Benin, through its “My Afro Origins” initiative, has already granted citizenship to high-profile figures, including director Spike Lee and singer Ciara, aiming to boost cultural ties, human capital, and tourism.
The motions, filed separately on Friday by left-wing parliamentary groups including La France Insoumise, the Democratic and Republican Left group (GDR) and the Ecologists, as well as by the far-right National Rally and its ally, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), accused the government of abusing constitutional powers to force the budget through parliament.
The first motion, put forward by 113 left-wing deputies, garnered 260 votes, falling 29 votes short of the 289 required for adoption, according to the National Assembly.
The second motion, tabled by 106 right-wing deputies, was also rejected, receiving 135 votes, well below the threshold needed to bring down the government.
According to the French Constitution, Article 49.3 allows the Prime Minister, with Cabinet approval, to force the passage of a bill (typically finance or social security) through the National Assembly without a vote. The bill is deemed adopted unless a motion of no-confidence is passed.
Lecornu first invoked Article 49.3 in the National Assembly on Jan. 20 to push through the revenue side of the budget bill, and used the mechanism again to adopt the expenditure side after his government survived two no-confidence votes on Jan. 23. Following another round of no-confidence motions last Tuesday, the government made a third and final use of Article 49.3 on Friday to have the budget adopted in its entirety.
With the no-confidence votes cleared on Monday, France’s 2026 state budget was definitively adopted, bringing to an end nearly four months of parliamentary debate and a prolonged political standoff over the budget bill, pending review by the Constitutional Council prior to promulgation.
