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 ministry, 961 babies were delivered nationwide on December 25, 2025, up from 941 births recorded on Christmas 2024, marking an increase of 20 children.
Girls slightly outnumbered boys, with 487 girls and 474 boys born on the festive day.
Among districts, Nyarugenge recorded the highest number of births with 59 children, followed by Gatsibo (56), Rubavu (52), Gasabo (50), Bugesera (46), Musanze (45), Nyagatare (43), Ngororero (40), Kayonza (37), and Huye (33).
By province, the Eastern Province had the largest number of births, with 263 children, compared with 254 in 2024. The Western Province followed with 228 births, the Southern Province had 195, Kigali City recorded 140, and the Northern Province 135.
The health ministry also noted that births on Christmas increased significantly compared with non-holiday days, rising to 59% from the usual 41%.
The ministry emphasised that the high number of births underscores the importance of maintaining sufficient healthcare staff during holidays and festive periods, particularly on Christmas, to ensure safe deliveries and quality care.
Babies born on Christmas often hold a special place in families and communities. For many Christians, especially Catholics, being born on this day carries symbolic significance, as it coincides with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Beyond the personal joy of welcoming a child, a Christmas birth is seen as a blessing and a meaningful start, reflecting the themes of hope, renewal, and new beginnings that are at the heart of the holiday.
The ceremony, held at the Digital Transformation Center in Kigali, underscored a collective commitment to ensuring that the digital future is accessible to all.
The event brought together key partners and dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, a representative of the German development agency GIZ, officials from the Ministry of ICT, the Segal Family Foundation, Dot Foundation, the Rwanda Basic Education Board, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), and Dot Rwanda—highlighting the strong collaborative spirit driving this initiative forward.
Rwanda Assistive Technology Access is an NGO founded in 2018 by Rene William Ngabo, with a core mission to promote access to assistive technology and advance the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities.
It is driven by the belief that the right devices, equipment, and software can unlock limitless potential, and works to fill critical gaps in the assistive technology landscape in this digital era.
“Passion and commitment make things possible. At RATA, we bridge the gap in assistive technology because we believe the right devices and software can unlock limitless potential.
“Today, seeing our talented graduates gain real coding skills proves that when barriers are removed, ability becomes unstoppable,” said Rene William Ngabo, RATA’s Founder and Director, as he addressed the graduates, recognizing their resilience and the collective effort that made this milestone possible.
Marie Grace Niwemukiza, a representative from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), said the initiative aligns with Rwanda’s National Priorities.
This is a strong initiative aligned with NST2 and the One Million Coders Initiative, which is a key government priority to build a digitally skilled workforce,” she said. “Programs like this expand access to digital skills, strengthen inclusion, and support national efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.”
She further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting inclusive digital programs that broaden skills and employment opportunities, particularly for persons with disabilities.
She also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to inclusive digital programs that expand skills and opportunities, particularly for persons with disabilities.
The celebration underscored a unified commitment to inclusive progress.
GIZ representative Norman Schräpel addressed the graduates directly, affirming: “Training in coding for people who normally don’t have access to this kind of skills is making history.”
He emphasized the critical need for diverse perspectives in tech, addressing both gender gaps and the inclusion of persons with disabilities to build a truly representative talent force.
Echoing the sentiment of shared vision and resilience, the Ambassador of Israel, Einat Weiss, drew parallels between Rwanda and Israel, focusing on innovation as a cornerstone of development.
She commended the graduates’ extraordinary dedication, adding: “Seven months of coding is very hard and you set a standard.”
She concluded with a powerful call to action, urging stakeholders to make digital accessibility a standard, invest in inclusive design, and build partnerships that place persons with disabilities at the center of innovation.
The seven-month intensive program equipped the graduates with fundamental and advanced coding skills, preparing them to be active contributors to Rwanda’s growing tech ecosystem.
Selected as the top performers from RATA’s foundational digital literacy training, these graduates have now mastered coding, marking a significant leap in their tech careers.
They are now poised to pursue tech careers, participate in the local production of assistive technologies, and develop solutions for their communities, contributing to projects that leverage technology for social good.
In a communiqué dated January 2, 2026, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka dismissed allegations made by DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya in a statement issued on December 31, 2025. The group said the claims of territorial conquest and mass civilian casualties were “based on no credible or verifiable sources” and accused Kinshasa of manipulating public opinion.
The DRC government has alleged that fighting along the Kamanyola–Uvira axis since early December involved bombs and kamikaze drones, leaving more than 1,500 civilians dead and displacing over 500,000 people. Kinshasa has also claimed that observed troop movements pointed to a planned military manoeuvre towards Fizi and an advance along the strategic Kalemie axis in Tanganyika province.
AFC/M23 disputes this account, arguing that government forces sought to reoccupy areas following what it described as the withdrawal of its own fighters, using those locations as bases for sustained offensives. The group accused Congolese forces of launching repeated attacks on its positions and on densely populated areas, particularly in Uvira and Makobola, and alleged cases of mass rape and systematic looting by government troops.
According to the communiqué, civilian deaths resulted from airstrikes and what it termed indiscriminate bombings allegedly carried out by forces allied to the Kinshasa government, including the Congolese army (FARDC), the FDLR, Mai-Mai Wazalendo militias, foreign mercenaries and Burundi’s national defence forces. AFC/M23 said these attacks hit populated areas such as Kamanyola, Luvungi and Sange, reporting eight deaths and 55 injuries in Kamanyola alone.
The group also accused Congolese security forces of using heavy artillery to disperse a civilian march in Uvira on December 22, 2025, saying the action endangered lives and violated fundamental rights.
AFC/M23 further condemned what it described as repeated ceasefire violations, hate crimes and coordinated attacks by forces allied to Kinshasa across land, lake and air. It criticised the anti-Tutsi slur made by FARDC spokesperson General Sylvain Ekenge on state broadcaster RTNC in late December, arguing they reflected an official government policy rather than isolated remarks.
In its statement, AFC/M23 warned of what it called a “real and imminent risk of genocide” against Congolese Tutsis, citing hate speech, discrimination and continued breaches of the ceasefire, which it said contradict the Doha Framework Agreement. It referenced multiple international and regional human rights conventions, arguing that current actions amounted to serious violations of international law.
The country saw at least 407 mass shooting incidents in 2025, defined as shootings in which four or more people were killed or injured, not including any shooter who may also have been killed or injured in the incident, according to the GVA, a nonprofit organization formed in 2013 to provide free public access to accurate information on gun-related violence in the United States.
The data also indicated that 224 children aged 11 or younger were killed by gunfire, while 461 others in the same age group were wounded during the year. In addition, 1,030 adolescents aged 12 to 17 were killed in shootings, and 2,733 were injured.
The GVA’s gun-related death statistics include homicides, murder, defensive gun use and accidental shootings, but exclude suicides. However, citing preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the GVA reported that more than 24,000 people died in firearm suicides in 2025.
Local media noted that although shooting-related deaths and injuries have declined for four consecutive years since 2021, more than 40,000 people were killed or injured by gunfire in 2025, with suicides excluded. This means that, on average, more than 110 people were killed or injured by gun violence per day last year.
Giving out his New Year message early on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the world to invest “more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars.”
“It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice,” Guterres said. “Our future depends on our collective courage to act. This new year, let’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace.”
In his annual New Year’s Eve address on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the unity of the Russian people “determines the sovereignty and security of our Fatherland, its development, and its future.”
“The New Year is, above all, a time when we hope for the best, for goodness and good luck,” Putin noted. “It is a special and magical holiday, when we open our hearts to love, friendship, and compassion, to sympathy and generosity.”
As South Africa hosted the first G20 summit on African soil in 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that the country stands proud that its presidency ensured the voices of Africa and the Global South were “recognised, reflected and respected.”
“Despite the challenges we face, our country is getting stronger, our economy is improving,” he added. “As we prepare to welcome a new year, let us remain united to building the South Africa of our dreams.”
Vowing “a sweeping leap and growth in all fields,” South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged commitment to stable growth underpinned by peace in 2026.
“Solid peace is another word for growth, and strong security is the driving force of prosperity,” he said in his New Year’s speech on Thursday morning, noting his government will step up efforts to bolster regional peace and stability through cooperation.
Despite fractured trade and rising geopolitical tensions, global economic growth proved “more resilient than anticipated,” said Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday.
“Let us carry this mindset into the new year — resilient and united, determined and hopeful,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised to “defeat the decline and division offered by others” in his New Year message on Wednesday.
“Things have been tough in Britain for a while,” he began, promising that more people will feel once again a sense of hope in 2026, “a belief that things can and will get better, feel that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my government will make it that reality.”
In his speech, French President Emmanuel Macron outlined his three wishes for the French people: unity, strength and hope.
“We must stand firm on what we cherish: humanity, peace, and freedom,” he said Wednesday. “So, let us look ahead and look far into the future, as citizens and as a nation. I wish you a very happy and prosperous year 2026.”
The demonstrations took place at Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District and Kigeme Camp in Nyamagabe District, where refugees marched peacefully around the camps, carrying placards and chanting messages condemning what they termed incitement and discrimination.
Maj Gen Ekenge appeared on Congolese national television on December 27, 2025, during a programme discussing the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in areas affected by ongoing fighting in South Kivu Province. During the broadcast, he made remarks that refugees say targeted Congolese Tutsis, including comments discouraging intermarriage with Tutsi women.
The statements triggered widespread criticism and diplomatic pressure, prompting Congolese authorities to suspend Maj Gen Ekenge from his duties.
Mahama Refugee Camp, one of the protest sites, hosts about 72,100 refugees, including approximately 27,000 Congolese nationals. Many have lived in exile for more than three decades, while others were born in refugee camps after their families fled violence in eastern DRC.
Chantal Umutoni, a refugee at Mahama Camp, said the demonstration aimed to draw international attention to what she described as long-standing discrimination and insecurity facing Congolese Tutsis.
“We cannot celebrate festive seasons like others while our relatives continue to be killed or forced to flee, and the world remains silent,” she said.
She accused the DRC government of portraying Congolese Tutsis as foreigners in their own country and condemned the remarks made by the FARDC spokesperson, warning that such language could incite violence.
Umutoni and other protesters called for Maj Gen Ekenge to be held accountable under international law, arguing that his statements could encourage attacks against Tutsi women or reinforce social exclusion based on ethnicity.
Justine Mukakayonga, who has lived as a refugee for 30 years, said the remarks underscored the persistence of the violence that forced her and others to flee.
“These comments show that the conditions we escaped still exist and that the Congolese state is not ready to end them,” she said, appealing to the international community to advocate for refugees’ rights and facilitate their safe return home.
Twenty-five-year-old Eric Mandera said he was saddened by having been born in exile while what he described as hate speech against his community continues to circulate in his country of origin.
Another protester, Justin Ndagijimana, warned that labelling a particular ethnic group as untrustworthy fuels social exclusion and violence.
“When leaders portray citizens of a certain group as suspicious, it sends a message that they should be isolated or eliminated,” he said. “We are citizens like any other and deserve equal rights, including the right to return to our land and live in safety.”
Christophe Ndayisaba, a representative of Congolese refugees, said the protests were directed not only at Maj Gen Ekenge but also at what he described as a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric among senior DRC officials.
“Suspension alone is not enough,” he said. “We are calling for justice and concrete action from the international community so that this problem is addressed and refugees can return home with dignity.”
Similar demonstrations were held at Kigeme Refugee Camp in Gasaka Sector, Nyamagabe District, which hosts 14,415 Congolese refugees. Many have lived in exile for years, including individuals born in refugee camps who have never seen their ancestral homes due to repeated displacement.
At Kigeme, protesters marched with placards and loudspeakers, criticising the DRC government and condemning what they described as the continued spread of hate speech.
Judith Mukansanga, originally from Masisi in North Kivu Province, spoke to IGIHE while caring for her grandchild. She described the hardships of refugee life, particularly during a period when others were celebrating the New Year.
“While others celebrate, we struggle to survive,” she said, explaining that her daughter had left the child with her in search of work. “Life in exile is extremely difficult, yet the international community looks on. We want help to return to our ancestral land.”
She added that persistent hostility towards certain Congolese communities reflected a lack of political will to resolve the refugee crisis.
The DRC government has repeatedly denied targeting any ethnic group and has dismissed claims that Congolese Tutsis are persecuted. However, refugees and rights advocates point to ongoing military operations, allied armed groups, and public statements by senior officials as evidence that ethnic tensions and discriminatory rhetoric persist.
In a national address, Hassan said the government has established a national reconciliation commission aimed at healing divisions and restoring trust among citizens. She urged Tanzanians not to allow ideological or political differences to divide the nation or derail its development agenda.
“Differences are part of democracy, but they must never be used to divide the nation,” the president said, emphasizing that peace, unity, and solidarity are the foundations of patriotism and sustainable development.
Highlighting recent economic performance, Hassan said average inflation stood at 3.4 percent in 2025, while economic growth reached 5.8 percent, up from 5.2 percent in 2024.
Public debt remains sustainable, supported by efforts to refinance high-interest loans and extend repayment periods, she added.
The president said that foreign exchange reserves have risen to 6.6 billion U.S. dollars, enough to cover more than five months of imports.
Looking ahead, Hassan said Tanzania will begin implementing its National Development Vision 2050 in 2026, alongside a three-year medium-term strategy to boost government revenue through expanded use of electronic systems and stronger public financial management.
In his end-of-year message, Kagame said Rwanda remains fully committed to implementing the Washington Accord signed with the DRC on December 4, 2025. The accord, he noted, is a critical step toward addressing the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC and restoring regional stability.
The peace deal calls for, among other measures, the neutralisation of the FDLR militia group, which is linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Kigali maintains that FDLR continues to pose a security threat due to its entrenched genocidal ideology.
“Rwanda is fully committed to implementing this agreement, but any threat to the peace and security of our people is unacceptable. The threat of state-supported violent extremism is unfortunately still very real,” President Kagame stated.
Rwanda has repeatedly accused the Kinshasa administration of collaborating with the FDLR militia group amid the escalating conflict with the AFC/M23 rebels, threatening Rwanda’s security.
In his end-of-year message, President Kagame also reflected on Rwanda’s economic growth and national achievements in 2025, highlighting several milestones that elevated the country’s profile internationally. These included hosting the International Security Conference on Africa, the matriculation of the first class at the African School of Governance, and the launch of a new annual forum on nuclear power innovation for Africa.
Sports achievements also marked the year. Kigali hosted the UCI World Cycling Championships, the first time the event was held in Africa, which Kagame described as a source of national pride. Preparations are underway for the FIFA Series in 2026, aimed at nurturing Rwandan talent and strengthening the country’s presence in global sports.
Reflecting on Rwanda’s path forward, the President emphasised self-reliance, innovation, and collective responsibility as key to sustaining economic growth and national stability. He encouraged young Rwandans in particular to take ownership of the country’s future, acknowledging that progress may require sacrifices from individuals and the nation as a whole.
Speaking in his end-of-year address to Burundians on December 31, Ndayishimiye reiterated allegations he has made repeatedly in recent weeks, accusing Rwanda of undermining peace efforts in the Great Lakes region and of being responsible for insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
He claimed that Rwanda lacks commitment to regional peace, despite what he described as efforts by neighbouring countries to coexist peacefully. Ndayishimiye further alleged that Rwanda was responsible for attacks in the DRC and suggested that Burundi could be the next target, citing what he called hostile rhetoric from Burundians living in exile.
“What is happening in our neighbouring country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concerns us greatly,” he said. “The country attacking Congo harbours resentment against Burundi because it continues to protect killers who target our country. Nothing reassures us that after Congo, Burundi would not be next.”
The remarks stand in contrast to Ndayishimiye’s own role as a witness to the signing of regional peace agreements between Rwanda and the DRC, during which no evidence was presented to support claims that Rwanda had attacked Congolese territory. Throughout the negotiations and accompanying diplomatic engagements, Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict was not established, with Kigali repeatedly rejecting the accusations as politically motivated.
Analysts note that accusations against Rwanda have become a recurring narrative among officials in Kinshasa and its regional allies, often used to deflect attention from the AFC/M23 rebellion and to push for international sanctions against Kigali.
Ndayishimiye’s rhetoric also appears to place Burundi firmly within the political and security alignment of Congolese President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, alongside armed groups such as the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, which are actively engaged in fighting AFC/M23 in eastern Congo. The FDLR, in particular, is designated as a terrorist group and is linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
In his address, the Burundian president, who closed the border with Rwanda in January 2024, said relations between the two countries would remain strained unless individuals accused of attempting a coup in Burundi in 2015 are handed over.
Rwanda has repeatedly stated that Burundians residing in Kigali who are sought by Bujumbura are recognised refugees protected under international law and therefore fall outside Rwanda’s jurisdiction.
Kigali has also accused Burundi of contributing to deteriorating relations by cooperating with the FDLR and by supporting Congolese military initiatives that, according to Rwandan officials, openly seek to undermine Rwanda’s security.
Despite renewed calls for dialogue, Ndayishimiye’s latest remarks are likely to deepen diplomatic tensions, reinforcing a narrative that regional observers say risks further entrenching divisions rather than advancing stability in the Great Lakes region.
