The bus, operated by International Express, was traveling from Kigali to Musanze when it veered off the road and rolled down a hill, approximately 800 meters from the main road.
Rulindo District Mayor, Mukanyirigira Judith, had earlier confirmed 16 fatalities, but the death toll later rose to 20 lives which had been lost in the accident. She said that the bus was carrying 52 passengers when it lost control in the mountainous area.
“The vehicle went off the road and rolled down the slope. We are still investigating the cause of the accident,” said Rwanda National Police spokesperson, ACP Boniface Rutikanga.
The Government of Rwanda issued a statement expressing its condolences to the families of the victims. Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente conveyed the government’s deepest sympathy and confirmed that the injured were immediately transferred to local hospitals for medical care.
“The Government of Rwanda extends its deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in today’s tragic road accident that claimed 20 lives and left several others injured in Rusiga Sector, Rulindo District,” he said in a statement.
The government has assured continued support for the bereaved and the injured, emphasizing the importance of road safety.
“We remind all road users, especially drivers, to follow the laws and regulations concerning road safety to prevent accidents and save lives,” added the Prime Minister.
The new operating times were announced by the administration of North Kivu, which was established by M23 rebels following their recent capture of the area.
According to a statement from Governor Bahati Musanga Joseph, the border will now open at 6:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM, providing a longer window for people and goods to cross.
“Starting from Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the Grande Barrière border (La Corniche) connecting Rwanda and the DRC will open at 6:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM,” the statement said.
Musanga emphasized that officials on both sides of the border would work together to ensure the smooth flow of activities and keep the crossing efficient and safe for all.
Previously, before the M23 rebels took control, the border’s opening time was later in the morning, and it closed earlier in the evening, limiting the time available for movement.
Speaking at a consultative meeting organized by the Rwanda Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on family well-being and child protection, she emphasized the need for religious groups to address issues affecting Rwandan families.
Uwimana referenced advice given by President Kagame during the National Prayer Breakfast, urging everyone to fulfill their responsibilities better. “No one is perfect, but we must all do what is right,” she advised.
While Rwanda has made strides in family development and children’s rights, challenges remain, especially those related to conflict. A 2024 report from the Rwanda Governance Board highlighted issues such as alcoholism, lack of family communication, infidelity, and abuse of technology.
The Minister stressed the importance of nurturing children in a way that prepares them for the future. “Children are raised at home, in schools, in churches, and on social media. We must reflect on the upbringing we provide,” she noted.
She also emphasized that family development should respect children’s rights, focusing on guidance with love, compassion, and authority. “Parental guidance is always necessary,” she added.
Minister Uwimana called for stronger collaboration and resources to prevent family issues, urging a proactive approach rather than reactive measures.
On his part, Archbishop of Kigali, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, reinforced the importance of family as the foundation for national development. He called on religious leaders to assess whether current values align with the needs of building healthy families.
Both leaders agreed that religious organizations play a crucial role in shaping families and must work together to find sustainable solutions for future generations.
This statement was made by M23’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, on February 11, 2025, after leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) called for the airport’s reopening to facilitate humanitarian aid, three days earlier.
“The technical issues, including unexploded bombs and the damaged runway, have created obstacles to reopening Goma’s international airport,” Kanyuka explained.
In addition, EAC and SADC leaders urged M23 to open key roads, such as the Goma-Bunagana, Goma-Lubero, and the route linking Goma to Bukavu through Lake Kivu.
In response, M23 confirmed that all these roads and water routes are accessible, but called on the SADC forces present in the DRC to use the available routes and return to their home countries.
Kanyuka further stated that while M23 supports the decisions made at the summit, especially regarding political talks with the DRC government, M23 must be part of the discussions on how these decisions will be implemented.
He also reminded that M23 declared a ceasefire on February 3, but reported that DRC and Burundi forces were preparing attacks on civilians in areas under M23 control, including Nyabibwe and the Kalehe center. He warned that M23 would retaliate if these attacks continue.
The spokesperson stated that if SADC and Burundi forces want peace in eastern DRC, they must respect the decisions made by EAC and SADC leaders and withdraw from the region.
The call, issued in a letter signed by Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, comes in response to an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which halted the disbursement of USAID and Center for Disease Contral funds pending review.
The funding suspension has affected numerous healthcare workers whose salaries and operations depended on American financial assistance.
“With immediate effect, all activities related to the disbursement of federal financial assistance have been paused. As a result, operations and emoluments directly supported by the U.S. government are suspended,” Dr. Atwine stated in the letter.
“However, in the meantime, we encourage contracted staff willing to continue working in the spirit of patriotism as volunteers to reach out for possible integration into the existing healthcare system,” she added.
The funding freeze has raised concerns about potential disruptions in essential health services, particularly in HIV/AIDS programs, maternal health, and infectious disease prevention. Uganda heavily relies on foreign aid, with U.S. funding playing a critical role in supporting public health initiatives.
Some affected health workers have expressed frustration over the government’s call for voluntary service.
“Many of us have families to feed and bills to pay. It’s not realistic to expect us to work without pay,” said a healthcare worker formerly supported by USAID, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Others worry about the long-term impact of the suspension on Uganda’s health system. “These programs have saved millions of lives. If funding is not restored soon, we could see a serious crisis,” said Dr. James Okello, a senior medical officer.
The Ugandan government says it is in discussions with U.S. officials to find a resolution. “We remain optimistic that engagements with the U.S. government will yield a positive outcome,” Dr. Atwine reassured, urging health workers to stay patient during the process.
However, with no immediate solution in sight, the uncertainty has left many health workers and beneficiaries anxious about the future of critical medical programs in the country.
On January 29, 2025, EAC ministers convened virtually to address the security crisis in eastern DRC. The meeting came just two days after the armed group M23 seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
While the DRC’s Minister of Regional Cooperation was expected to participate, he was notably absent, despite the meeting’s critical relevance to his country’s ongoing conflict.
Minister Nduhungirehe revealed that the official explanation for the absence was a technical mishap.
“The reason that was given to us is that the DRC Minister of Regional Cooperation, who had previously confirmed his attendance, eventually connected…. to the wrong link!” he posted on X.
A second high-level meeting was held on February 7, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This gathering, bringing together ministers from the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was a preparatory session for a summit of regional heads of state focused on resolving the DRC crisis.
According to Nduhungirehe, 14 ministers from six EAC countries, six SADC nations, and two states belonging to both blocs (DRC and Tanzania) were invited. While 13 ministers attended, DRC’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, was absent and was instead represented by the country’s ambassador to Botswana.
“Here again, we were given an excuse…even two! At the beginning of the meeting, we were informed, by the DRC Ambassador to Botswana, that the DRC Foreign Minister was ‘on her way,’ but an hour later, the version had changed: she had in fact a ‘technical problem with her plane’!” Nduhungirehe said.
He further revealed that, despite these explanations, it was later confirmed that Minister Kayikwamba was in Europe at the time, lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda.
“But we now know that the Foreign Minister of DRC was all this time in Europe, begging for sanctions against Rwanda,” he added.
Rwanda and the DRC have endured strained relations for the past three years. France, Turkey, and Qatar have attempted to mediate between the two countries, but Kinshasa rejected these initiatives, insisting that the conflict should be resolved by Africans.
Nduhungirehe criticized the DRC’s stance, questioning how its officials could reject African mediation while seeking intervention from European nations such as Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
He also reiterated that the security crisis in eastern DRC is not caused by Rwanda and argued that it is unfair to hold Rwanda accountable for conflicts fueled by Congolese actors.
During the extraordinary summit of EAC and SADC heads of state on February 8, 2025, regional leaders called on the DRC government to engage in political dialogue with all conflicting parties, including M23, to establish lasting peace.
The resolution emphasized that Kinshasa’s military approach would not yield results. Instead, leaders urged the DRC to acknowledge and address the underlying issues that led M23 to take up arms.
The warning was issued in a communiqué on February 10 by AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, condemning the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and its allies for allegedly committing atrocities against civilians.
“The AFC/M23 has heard the desperate cries of the civilian population in Bukavu. The FARDC and its allied forces continue to commit unspeakable atrocities against civilians, including assassinations and widespread looting. These crimes must stop immediately; otherwise, we will have no choice but to intervene to protect the Congolese population,” the statement reads.
Reports indicate that Bukavu has been gripped by fear following a surge in violent crimes, including targeted assassinations and looting of businesses and homes, sparking panic among residents.
M23 also refuted claims that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are being forced to return to liberated areas, asserting that those who have returned did so voluntarily under secure conditions.
Additionally, the group denied involvement in the atrocities committed at Munzene Central Prison, attributing these crimes to FARDC and its allies.
“MONUSCO must cease spreading false allegations that distort the truth and mislead public opinion. These baseless accusations only serve to inflame tensions and divert attention from the real perpetrators of these crimes,” the statement added.
The fighting in South Kivu intensified after M23 captured Goma on January 26, 2025. The group later announced plans to continue its advance toward Kinshasa but signaled a willingness to halt hostilities if the DRC government agreed to negotiations for a lasting solution.
The FARDC and its colation has reportedly suffered heavy losses after losing key cities in North Kivu, including Sake and Goma. As they retreat, soldiers have been accused of shooting civilians, committing acts of sexual violence, and engaging in looting.
The motion, lacking backing from the Socialist Party (PS) and the far-right National Rally (RN), secured only 115 votes, far short of the 289 required to unseat him, according to National Assembly Speaker Yaël Braun-Pivet.
This latest challenge followed Bayrou’s repeated use of Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to push through the Social Security financing bill.
After surviving two previous no-confidence votes, he invoked the same constitutional power on Feb. 5 to advance the bill’s second phase.
Undeterred by the failed motion, Bayrou once again employed Article 49.3 on Monday to approve the budget’s spending section for 2025.
According to Le Figaro, the bill allocates a 2.6% increase in health expenditures, raising the total to 264.2 billion euros (272 billion U.S. dollars).
Bayrou was appointed prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 13, following the ousting of Michel Barnier in a previous no-confidence vote.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked whether Palestinians currently residing in Gaza—who, under his proposal, face forced displacement—would have the right to return. He responded, “No, they wouldn’t.”
His remarks contradict statements from his administration, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who previously assured that Palestinians would be “temporarily relocated.” Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that residents would need to live elsewhere “in the interim” while Gaza undergoes rebuilding.
Pressed on where the roughly 2 million displaced Gazans would go, Trump suggested he could broker agreements with Jordan and Egypt. “I think I could make a deal with Jordan. I think I could make a deal with Egypt,” he said.
Both Jordan and Egypt have already rejected Trump’s calls to take in additional Palestinian refugees, with leaders from both countries voicing opposition. Despite this, Trump warned Monday that he could withhold U.S. aid if they refused his demand.
The president is set to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump’s plan to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its residents has sparked widespread criticism from countries across the Middle East and beyond.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the move as a “complete violation” of the deal and ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be fully prepared for any developments in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding security consultations to assess the situation.
Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, stated that Israel had failed to uphold its commitments, including allowing displaced people to return to northern Gaza and ensuring adequate humanitarian aid.
Until Israel complies and retroactively corrects its actions, the handover of hostages will be delayed, the group said.
Israel’s Hostages, Missing Persons, and Returnees Directorate insisted on the full implementation of the agreement, warning against any breaches.
The developments follow indirect negotiations in Qatar over the next phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19.
Under the agreement, 21 hostages have been released in exchange for Palestinian detainees, with further exchanges expected in the coming weeks.
