Local residents reported that the victims were members of vigilante groups and civilians protecting themselves from armed gangs known for kidnapping for ransom.
According to reports, the airstrikes targeted militant groups in the Zurmi and Maradun areas.
Governor Dauda Lawal expressed his condolences to the community.
The military confirmed conducting the airstrikes, claiming they successfully targeted criminal gangs causing havoc in the region.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) acknowledged the loss of civilian lives, stating it was investigating the incident.
They emphasized that the operation had rescued kidnap victims and eliminated bandits but expressed concern over the civilian casualties.
A thorough investigation is underway, and the findings will be shared with the public.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in Charge of Operations, Vincent Sano, on Monday, January 13, urged Police officers set to be deployed to the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, to remain professional during their one year tour-of-duty.
DIGP Sano was briefing a female-dominated contingent of Rwanda Formed Police Unit Three rotation Seven (RWAFPU3-7) composed of 160 Police officers, at the RNP General Headquarters, Kacyiru.
The contingent commanded by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Donatha Nyinawumuntu, will replace RWAFPU3-6 deployed in the capital Juba under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
DIGP Sano urged the officers to apply the training they received, emphasizing dedication, professionalism, and exemplary conduct to execute their responsibilities effectively.
“You have been selected to represent the country and the RNP on this mission because of your competence. You were given preparatory training for the tasks ahead, in addition to your prior experience in maintaining security within the country. In this mission, continue to work with diligence and good conduct to uphold the trust placed in you,” DIGP Sano said.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining harmony and mutual respect among themselves and with colleagues from other contributing countries while respecting diversity.
“In your new assignment, you will work with people from various countries; collaborate with them well, uphold our Rwandan culture and values while respecting the culture and beliefs of others,” the Deputy Police Chief said.
He reminded them that the mission is a “collective responsibility”, urging them to work as a team, follow instructions, and seek guidance when faced with uncertainties.
He concluded by advising them to maintain hygiene, handle the contingent owned equipment well, prioritize their work, avoid distractions like unnecessary use of social media, and to continue projecting a positive image of Rwanda and its police force.
The relentless fires, fueled by extreme drought and powerful winds, have claimed at least 25 lives, with over a dozen individuals still missing.
Communities across the region are grappling with destruction on a massive scale, as the fires have consumed more than 40,500 acres and obliterated upwards of 12,300 structures.
The largest blaze, known as the Palisades Fire, was only 14% contained as of Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, the second-largest wildfire, was slightly more contained at 33%, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
As firefighters battle to gain control, residents face yet another challenge: widespread power outages.
More than 80,000 households are in the dark as Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power in anticipation of strong winds expected to hit the area on Tuesday.
According to the European Commission, these measures could negatively impact transatlantic trade and cooperation.
Officials highlighted that allowing EU entities to procure these advanced chips freely aligns with both U.S. economic goals and national security priorities.
The Biden administration’s updated rules on chip exports are seen as part of a broader effort to restrict advanced technology from reaching rival countries like China.
The two leaders met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, an event focused on strengthening global partnerships to address climate change and explore innovative solutions.
This conference aims to advance the adoption of renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies to combat climate-related challenges. Participating nations are encouraged to adopt strategies for sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Rwanda and Nigeria share a strong partnership in areas such as diplomacy, politics, and security. The two countries have working relations in aviation, technical cooperation, and healthcare, where Nigerian medical professionals collaborate with Rwandan counterparts to improve public health.
These discussions underscore the importance of Rwanda-Nigeria relations, marked by mutual support and shared priorities in various sectors.
On May 29, 2023, Kagame joined other leaders across the globe at the inauguration of President Tinubu, who won Nigeria’s February 2023 elections with 8.8 million votes, succeeding Muhammadu Buhari after two terms.
While in Abu Dhabi, President Kagame is scheduled to attend the 16th edition of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards, organized by the UAE to honor innovators and organizations creating impactful solutions to climate challenges. Small and medium enterprises and NGOs are among the award recipients.
The Head of State will also address fellow leaders during the summit’s opening session, a gesture reminiscent of Rwanda’s commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation.
The project will expand the road segment between Nyabugogo (Kigali) and Ruyenzi (Kamonyi District) to four lanes, with climbing lanes added to facilitate heavy truck movement.
Additional infrastructure will include drainage systems, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian sidewalks, ensuring a safer and more efficient transport corridor. “We aim to add lanes on uphill sections, allowing trucks to move without obstructing other vehicles,” he explained.
Kabera emphasized the importance of climbing lanes, which will separate trucks from smaller vehicles on ascents and revealed that expropriation activities will precede construction to clear the path for these upgrades.
Funding for the $120 million (approximately Frw166 billion) project comes from a loan agreement signed on September 13, 2023, in Busan, South Korea, between the Rwandan government and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).
The loan, approved by Parliament on November 13, 2024, will be repaid over 40 years with a 15-year grace period and a nominal interest rate of 0.01%.
The project involves rehabilitating the entire 45-kilometre road, widening 12.2 kilometers to four lanes, and adding 11.9 kilometers of climbing lanes for trucks. These enhancements are expected to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion, supporting Rwanda’s broader infrastructure development goals.
According to a statement released by the police on X, four of the robbery suspects were neutralized during the operation. A fifth suspect was severely injured and is currently in critical condition.
The suspects were already on the police watch list, and authorities suspect they may have been involved in a series of similar robberies that have taken place recently.
“Police have thwarted a bank robbery at Acacia Mall, neutralizing four suspects involved in a Stanbic Bank heist. A fifth suspect is in critical condition. These individuals were already on the police watch list and are believed to be linked to a series of robberies,” Police said.
The robbery attempt comes at a time when bank robberies have been on the rise in Uganda, with criminals targeting commercial banks and their clients.
However, thanks to the swift actions of the Ugandan police, this particular heist was unsuccessful, and the dangerous criminals were brought to justice before they could cause any harm.
Ugandans online have praised the efforts of the police, with many expressing their gratitude for the quick response and ability to prevent a major crime. Social media users are celebrating the police for their dedication and commitment to keeping citizens safe, and there is widespread appreciation for the police’s timely intervention.
“Commendable work done today. All gangs of this category should be put out of Action so that our prisons don’t get too congested by people who don’t want to work,” said an X user identified as Edmund Tumushabe.
The authorities are expected to provide more details soon as investigations continue.
This was announced by the State Minister at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Olivier Kabera, while addressing the Committee on Governance and Gender affairs in the Chamber of Deputies. He was clarifying on issues raised by the Office of the Ombudsman.
One of the concerns highlighted by the Ombudsman was the delayed compensation of citizens for land and property affected by infrastructure projects such as roads, water systems, electricity installations, and other initiatives.
Minister Kabera assured the Members of Parliament that the issue is well understood and that efforts are being made to resolve it urgently, with a clear plan to address it by June 2025.
He explained that in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the energy sector had around 20,000 compensation cases valued at Frw6.8 billion of which payments exceeding Frw1.8 billion had already been made.
For water-related projects, 19,000 cases required payments amounting to Frw11.8 billion. Out of this, Frw10.4 billion had been disbursed, while compensation worth Frw1 billion is still pending.
Regarding transport infrastructure, such as roads, 10,907 individuals were owed over Frw18.8 billion in compensation, but slightly more than Frw10 billion had been paid.
In the housing sector, 252 properties valued at Frw10.2 billion were involved, with 117 of these, worth more than Frw2.5 billion, already compensated, while the remaining funds are still being sourced.
“We are doing our best to ensure that by 2025, this issue will be resolved. Last week, we held discussions with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. We want to put in more effort to solve compensation issues and other related challenges,” Kabera said.
He acknowledged recurring obstacles, such as citizens not having proper documentation for their properties, which complicates land transfer processes. Additionally, some projects commence before adequate funding is secured.
“On our side, we must focus on better planning. Where possible, we should leverage technology or find other solutions,” he added.
During a recent media briefing, President Kagame addressed the issue of citizens being displaced without proper compensation or experiencing delays in receiving it. He noted that the delays often stem from multiple factors, including errors by both citizens and authorities, but assured that the matter is being addressed urgently.
{{Why are citizens displaced without receiving compensation?}}
MP Germaine Mukabalisa questioned why citizens are not properly compensated before being relocated for infrastructure projects.
“There was a resolution that no citizen’s property should be affected without prior compensation, but this still happens. What is being done to ensure that citizens with proper documentation are not displaced without receiving their rightful compensation?” she asked.
She further emphasized that even though infrastructure projects benefit society, citizens without proper compensation are left in dire situations.
“It’s true that we all benefit from the road, but when you put yourself in the shoes of a farmer whose field was taken for the road, and that field was their sole livelihood for five years, how do they survive? Why can’t we adopt the principle that no infrastructure project should displace citizens without compensation?” she questioned.
The Director General of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Imena Munyampenda, explained that some projects begin before the government has all the necessary funds, which hinders the timely compensation of affected citizens.
However, he assured that efforts are being intensified to ensure that projects are only implemented after citizens have received their compensation.
Kagame was welcomed into the UAE by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ADSW summit, one of the world’s premier platforms for advancing sustainability, will see global leaders, policymakers, and innovators convene to address critical environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, where President Kagame will join Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and other Heads of State and dignitaries for the ADSW 2025 event.
President Kagame is also scheduled to deliver keynote remarks on the first day of the ADSW Summit, offering insights on sustainable development.
He will also attend the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize awards ceremony, which recognizes and rewards small and medium enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and global high schools with impactful, innovative and inspiring sustainable solutions.
Under the theme, “The Nexus of Next: Supercharging Sustainable Progress”, ADSW 2025 aims to explore the role of advanced technologies in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future.
Spearheaded by President Nahyan and Renewable energy company, Masdar,
, the summit serves as a global platform to unite leaders from government, business, and civil society in their shared mission to advance clean energy solutions and sustainable development.
The report sheds light on the conflict involving the DRC’s army (FARDC), armed groups like the FDLR formed by remnant perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Wazalendo, European mercenaries, and MONUSCO, who have been fighting against the M23 rebel group for nearly three years.
Released on December 27, 2024, the report draws on information from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), FARDC, and senior officials in the Congolese government.
Despite MONUSCO’s mission to protect civilians in the region, it has allegedly supported FARDC with weapons and equipment, which have also reached terrorist groups like the FDLR.
The collaboration raises doubts about the reliability of information collected by the UN experts from MONUSCO, given its active involvement in the conflict.
{{Biased stance}}
The report lacks input from M23 representatives, focusing instead on testimonies from sources that often remain unnamed or unverifiable.
This approach undermines its credibility and raises questions about the impartiality of the research.
President Paul Kagame criticized such biased reports during a press conference on January 9, 2025, questioning MONUSCO’s effectiveness in addressing the FDLR threat over three decades.
He highlighted that despite the billions of dollars spent, MONUSCO has failed to resolve security challenges in Eastern DRC, choosing instead to shift blame onto Rwanda for Congo’s internal issues.
{{Overlooking the FDLR threat}}
The FDLR remains central to the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, given its history of cross-border attacks on Rwanda and its destabilizing presence in the region.
However, the UN Group of Experts’ report largely downplays the FDLR’s role and its integration into the Congolese military, portraying this as a strategy to cover the group’s continued existence.
Besides, MONUSCO, which has been tasked with dismantling armed groups in DRC like the FDLR, now appears to be aligned with forces aiming to destabilize Rwanda.
{{Alleged links between M23 and ADF}}
The report also alleges a connection between the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group associated with the Islamic State and known for crimes against humanity.
This claim, based on unverified social media rumors, has been dismissed by M23 as baseless.
M23 has repeatedly sought dialogue with the DRC government to address security issues, including the ADF threat.
Analysts argue that the UN’s narrative reinforces the DRC’s portrayal of M23 as a terrorist group, further justifying military operations against them despite their calls for peace.
{{Ignoring FARDC’s collaboration with militia groups}}
The report highlights FARDC’s alliances with armed groups like Wazalendo but fails to address their well-documented atrocities.
Wazalendo, which partly includes former FDLR fighters, has been implicated in attacks on Congolese Tutsi communities, such as the October 2023 massacre in Masisi.
The presence of over 1,600 European mercenaries fighting alongside FARDC also goes unmentioned, despite their use of weapons provided by MONUSCO.
This omission contradicts international norms, which prohibit the use of mercenaries in conflicts.
By overlooking the FDLR threat, FARDC’s alliances with militia groups, and the role of MONUSCO, the report risks undermining efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region.
