Lourenço serves as the African Union-appointed mediator in the ongoing Luanda Process aimed at addressing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The visit comes amid rising tensions between Rwanda and DRC, following the resurgence of fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese Army.
DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim strongly denied by Kigali, which instead urges DRC to address its internal issues without implicating Rwanda.
Rwanda has also criticized DRC for its collaboration with the FDLR, a terrorist group, which threatens Rwanda’s security.
Minister Antonio’s arrival follows the postponement of Luanda talks between Presidents Lourenço, Kagame, and DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi, which were set for December 15, 2024.
The postponement occurred after DRC’s ministerial delegation refused to engage in talks with the M23, despite earlier commitments to do so through the “Nairobi Process,” led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
DRC’s reversal on the talks has delayed progress on critical issues, including plans to dismantle the FDLR and remove Rwanda’s security measures at its border.
Despite the setback, Angola’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed President Lourenço’s continued commitment to mediating efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader region.
One of the plots involved a young woman believed to be attempting a suicide bombing in Mosul, a city that was once a stronghold of the Islamic State.
According to media reports, the pope shared these details in an excerpt from his upcoming autobiography Spera (Hope), which was released on December 17, 2024, on his 88th birthday.
In the excerpt, he recalled the high security risks surrounding the visit, stating, “I had been advised against that trip by almost everyone, which would have been the first by a pontiff in the Middle Eastern region devastated by extremist violence.”
Despite the warnings, Francis felt compelled to make the journey. He explained, “If your grandfather’s house burns down, if in his country his descendants risk their lives or have lost it, the [best] thing to do is to reach the house as soon as possible.”
Pope John Paul II had also planned a visit to Iraq to open the Jubilee Year 2000, but was prevented by Saddam Hussein.
Francis said he felt it was important not to disappoint the people again, emphasizing the significance of the visit to the region’s religious communities.
The full autobiography will be published in Italian in mid-January 2025.
This pledged was disclosed on December 16, 2024, during the One UN Steering Committee meeting, which brought together government officials, UN agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and representatives from the private sector.
The meeting focused on reviewing the UN system’s progress in delivering as one in Rwanda.
Yusuf Murangwa, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, commended the UN system in Rwanda for aligning its cooperation with the country’s medium and long-term strategies.
“The One UN Committee provides an opportunity to assess our progress and discuss the way forward, specifically how the UN will continue to align its interventions with our National Strategy for Transformation Two. This is about delivering as one—not just the UN system, but all of us working together,” he noted.
Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Rwanda, explained that the new UNSDCF aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, NST2, and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.
It prioritizes, among others, economic and social transformation, as well as transformational governance, to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development.
“Key focus areas include innovative financing, climate-smart growth, human capital development, and strengthened governance systems to promote peace and accountability,” she said.
The Joint One UN Committee aims to provide strategic direction and oversight for the UNSDCF, ensuring its alignment with national, regional, and international development processes, such as Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Additionally, it connects with other processes like the Voluntary National Reviews and the Universal Periodic Review.
This platform also serves as an accountability mechanism for the Cooperation Framework, supporting the collective effort towards the 2030 Agenda.
Officials and local residents confirmed the tragedy, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in river transportation.
The vessel, which departed from the town of Inongo, northeast of Kinshasa, was believed to be carrying over 100 passengers.
The accident occurred just a few hundred meters into its journey. In addition to passengers, the boat was heavily loaded with goods, according to local accounts.
David Kalemba, Inongo’s river commissioner, attributed the disaster to overloading, particularly on the boat’s roof. He reported that 25 bodies had been recovered by Tuesday evening, but fears remain that the death toll will rise as the search for survivors continues.
“Among the dead are children, but it’s difficult to determine the exact number as the boat carried many passengers,” said Alex Mbumba, a resident in the area.
This tragedy is the fourth boat accident in Maï-Ndombe province this year. The region, surrounded by rivers, relies heavily on water transport due to a lack of roads. However, safety measures are often neglected, and overloading is a persistent issue. Many residents, unable to afford other means of transport, have no choice but to rely on overcrowded vessels.
Deadly boat accidents are common in the DRC. In October, at least 78 people drowned when an overloaded boat sank on Lake Kivu in the east. Earlier in June, 80 lives were lost when a similar accident occurred on the Kwa River near Kinshasa.
The latest incident has prompted renewed calls for government action. Residents and officials have urged authorities to equip river transport services with safety measures such as flotation devices and to enforce stricter regulations.
“The government must act to improve safety on the waters of our province because navigation conditions are dangerous,” said Mbumba.
The agreement, signed on December 18, 2024, under the Financing Green and Gender-Sensitive Public Spaces project, follows a previous 20 million euro grant intended to support investments in environmental protection initiatives.
The Minister of Finance and Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for its strong development partnership with Rwanda and expressed optimism for continued cooperation.
He further noted that the grant would contribute to enhancing climate resilience in both rural and urban areas of secondary cities.
“Some of the investments to be made as part of this project include wetlands rehabilitation, improvement in stormwater management, and green infrastructure for the social and economic development of the areas involved,” he said.
Rwanda has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, with a budget of $11 billion allocated for addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental conservation through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
German Ambassador to Rwanda, Heike Uta Dettmann, praised Rwanda for being an ambitious partner and effectively utilizing received support to improve the lives of its people.
“This investment will provide critical support to strengthening the resilience of cities to climate change and the quality of life of the urban population, and particularly for women, because it’s all over the world that women are a huge part of everything,” she stated.
This project is part of the bilateral climate and development partnership between Rwanda and Germany, signed in 2022. According to Amb. Dettmann, this partnership is already valued at over 260 million euros.
The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) program, which aims to address the effects of climate change and protect the environment, has a budget of $11 billion, with $6.2 billion required for implementation by 2030.
Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), confirmed that the grant would help close the existing funding gap for Rwanda’s climate change mitigation and environmental resilience programs.
She added that, based on current stakeholder participation, there is confidence that by 2030, the necessary funding will be secured.
Currently, the Rwandan government allocates 10% of its budget to environmental protection and addressing climate change impacts.
Andrey Kaprin, General Director of the Radiology Medical Research Center under the Russian Ministry of Health, made the revelations on Radio Rossiya, as reported by the Russian news agency TASS.
Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, disclosed that the mRNA-based vaccine had shown positive results in pre-clinical trials, suppressing tumour growth and the potential for metastases.
Gintsburg also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in expediting the development of personalized cancer vaccines.
He noted that neural networks could reduce the time required to compute personalized mRNA vaccines from a lengthy process to just 30 minutes to an hour.
“Now it takes quite long to build [personalized vaccines] because computing how a vaccine, or customized mRNA, should look like uses matrix methods, in mathematical terms. We have involved the Ivannikov Institute which will rely on Al in doing this math, namely neural network computing where these procedures should take about half an hour to an hour,” Russia’s vaccine chief said.
Details such as the vaccine’s name, the types of cancer it targets, and specifics of the clinical trials have not yet been disclosed.
Russia’s announcement comes amid global efforts to advance cancer vaccine technology.
For instance, the UK government has partnered with German company BioNTech to develop personalized cancer treatments, aiming to reach 10,000 patients by 2030.
Similarly, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck & Co are working on an experimental cancer vaccine for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Preliminary results from a mid-stage study revealed the vaccine reduced the risk of recurrence or death by half after three years of treatment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier hinted at the progress during a February 2024 forum on future technologies in Moscow.
“We have come very close to creating so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation,” Putin said, expressing hope for their use in individual therapy soon.
Globally, vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV) have already demonstrated success in preventing cancers like cervical and liver cancer, respectively.
Russia’s efforts represent a new addition to ongoing developments in mRNA-based cancer vaccines.
Russia’s previous vaccine projects include the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, which was distributed internationally during the pandemic. However, Sputnik V faced challenges domestically due to vaccine hesitancy.
António, who is visiting as a special envoy of Angola’s President João Lourenço, appointed by the African Union to mediate between Rwanda and the DRC, will hold talks with Rwandan officials.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed the visit, stating, “He will arrive in the afternoon as a special envoy for the Luanda Dialogue mediator, President Lourenço of Angola.”
The visit follows the postponement of a meeting initially scheduled for December 15, 2024, in Luanda, which was set to bring together President Lourenço, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.
This decision came after DRC representatives at the ministerial level refused to engage in dialogue with the M23 armed group, despite previous commitments under the “Nairobi Process” led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
During his Kigali visit, Minister António is expected to discuss resolving the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC through the ongoing Luanda Dialogue mediated by President Lourenço since 2022.
In a statement earlier this week, President Lourenço expressed optimism that a summit in Luanda with Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi would eventually lead to a lasting peace agreement.
However, the DRC’s withdrawal from the planned discussions has undermined previous progress, including agreements to dismantle the FDLR armed group and to lift border restrictions imposed by Rwanda.
Angola remains committed to mediating peace efforts in eastern DRC and the broader region, despite challenges. Minister António noted that substantial agreement had been reached, with 99% of the framework for peace finalized, but a last-minute request for postponement stalled the process.
Nduhungirehe highlighted that Angola had informed Rwanda on November 30, 2024, that DRC had agreed to negotiate with M23 under the Nairobi Process, only for DRC to backtrack later.
President Lourenço has since engaged Tshisekedi and Uhuru Kenyatta in further discussions on how to advance talks between the DRC government and armed groups, particularly the M23.
Angola continues to urge all parties to prioritize the well-being of citizens and work toward a lasting resolution to the conflict that has plagued eastern DRC for over three decades.
The DRC government has reiterated its refusal to negotiate with the M23, labeling the group as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, M23 insists that resolutions impacting them are invalid without their direct involvement in the discussions.
Hategekimana served as a Gendarme in Nyanza during the Genocide and was accused of orchestrating deadly attacks against Tutsi civilians at Nyamure Hill, Nyabubare, ISAR Songa, and roadblocks in Nyanza.
He was also implicated in the murder of Narcisse Nyagasaza, the then Mayor of Ntyazo Commune, for attempting to help Tutsi escape to Burundi via the Akanyaru River.
In November 2024, Hategekimana launched an appeal, denying all charges and claiming that testimonies against him were fabricated. However, witnesses maintained their accounts, describing his direct involvement in the atrocities.
The Paris court dismissed his claims and reaffirmed the life sentence, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes and his leadership role in promoting genocidal ideology.
Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana, Rwanda’s Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, welcomed the verdict, stating, “Justice has been served at the Paris Assize Appeals Court.
Adjutant Philippe Hategekimana, alias Biguma, is unequivocally convicted of being a key perpetrator of the Genocide in Nyanza and its surrounding areas. Those he murdered have received justice.”
Jean Noé Mwizerwa, President of the Rwandan Community in France (CRF), highlighted the historical significance of the ruling, noting that it ended over 30 years of impunity. “This verdict closes a chapter of impunity for Hategekimana, who sought refuge in France under a false identity and obtained citizenship over three decades ago,” he said.
Hategekimana, who acquired French citizenship in 2005, was arrested in Cameroon in 2018 and extradited to France. His trial began in September 2021.
According to the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR), the court’s decision is a testament to ongoing efforts to bring genocide perpetrators hiding abroad to justice.
Richard Gisagara, a lawyer representing the victims, affirmed, “Philippe Hategekimana, alias Biguma, has been found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity in his appeal. His life imprisonment sentence has been upheld. Justice has prevailed! My thoughts are with those who perished in Nyanza, Ntyazo, Nyabubare, ISAR Songa, and beyond.”
He said this ruling reinforces the importance of holding individuals accountable for crimes of Genocide, ensuring justice for victims and survivors while deterring future atrocities.
While delivering the sentencing on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Eldoret High Court Judge Justice Reuben Nyakundi said Biwott expressed cruelty for shooting her spouse 12 times.
The judge said there was no evidence that the accused person was in self-defense since nothing proved that her spouse had provoked her.
Nyakundi said the police officer abused her firearm, knowing fully well that it was not in order as per the law.
He said her act has tormented the deceased’s family, especially his aging mother who is now depressed and psychologically disturbed.
“Lilian, you had all what it takes to avoid the death of your husband, father to your children who are now orphaned but you choose to travel the wrong route,” said the judge.
He said cases of gender based violence and femicide have been on the rise in the country and thereby there is need for harsher punishment. “The premeditated way that the act was committed was gruesome” noted Nyakundi.
In line with the upcoming election of the next AUC chairperson for the 2025-2028 period, which is slated to take place in February 2025 during the AU Summit, the three candidates, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato, took part in a live debate recently.
During the televised debate broadcast live, the three candidates elaborated on their vision and strategies for implementing the Agenda 2063, the AU’s 50-year continental development blueprint, and driving Africa’s transformative vision for a prosperous, united, and peaceful Africa.
In his address, Youssouf underscored that strengthening the AU’s Peace and Security Council into a more proactive organ, operationalizing the African Standby Force, mobilizing resources to ensure stable financing of the union, boosting intra-African trade, and promoting the free movement of goods and people across Africa are among his major priorities if elected.
“The place of Africa on the international stage will be one of my priorities. The Africa that we want is the Africa of peace, integration and prosperity. If I’m given the chance of being the chairperson of the commission, I will do my best to make sure that our continent shines on the international stage,” Youssouf said.
The three candidates stressed their resolve to advance the transformative role of the AU in addressing Africa’s existing and emerging development and security challenges.
According to the AU, the February 2025 election process will be based on the principle of inter-regional rotation of the commission’s senior leadership positions. The Eastern Africa region will submit candidates for the role of chairperson, while the Northern Africa region will submit candidates for the role of deputy chairperson.
The remaining three regions (Central, Southern and Western Africa regions) will submit at least two candidates for the six portfolios of commissioners.
Odinga, on his part, underscored his conviction to strive for the realization of the founding fathers’ vision for a united Africa in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the AU, in 1963.
Describing himself as an ardent “Pan-Africanist and optimist,” Odinga promised to advance the continent’s progress through the promotion of quality education, health, value-addition, intra-African trade, and infrastructure development, among others.
“Africa is moving forward, but there is work to do, and I have what it takes to get us where we want to go. What remains now is action, and what I want to promise to the African people is that I’m going to lead from the front to ensure that we achieve the vision of the founding fathers of our continent,” he said.
Outlining his priorities, Randriamandrato highlighted the need to harness Africa’s robust potential to drive holistic economic development. He affirmed his commitment to augmenting the 55-member continental organization’s role in facilitating continental socioeconomic development if elected.
“We have our own house, the African Union, and there is an Africa, which is dynamic and moving forward. I am here before you today because I think it is indispensable, and it is a must to have the quality, competence and conviction (to lead the AU). I think that I have those qualities,” he said.
In February 2024, a Panel of Eminent Africans, composed of five personalities — one per region — was appointed to oversee the pre-selection of candidates for the eight positions.
According to the AU, the televised debate allows African citizens and other stakeholders to put forward questions to the candidates on how to propel the continent’s growth and ensure that Africa achieves its goals for integrated and sustainable development and becomes a major player in the global arena.
Experts have underscored the crucial need to advance the transformative role of the AU in addressing Africa’s existing and emerging development and security challenges.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, current AUC chairperson, who African leaders elected to lead the Pan-African bloc in January 2017 during the 28th AU Summit, is fast approaching an end to his second-term tenure at the helm of the AU Commission.
