AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said in a statement that the initiative “constitutes a timely and constructive contribution to ongoing international efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance a political and diplomatic pathway.”
He said the initiative’s “emphasis on an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, respect for international humanitarian law, and the safeguarding of maritime security reflects key elements required to contain the current crisis.”
Youssouf reiterated his “deep concern” over the continued escalation in the Gulf and Middle East region.
He underscored that the effects of the conflict are already being felt globally, including on energy supply chains, food systems, and economic stability — particularly in Africa, a continent already confronting multiple and intersecting challenges.
Calling for restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained engagement, the AUC chief stressed that all parties must act fully in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter to safeguard international peace and security.
“A durable resolution can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiated solutions,” he added, stressing the AU’s readiness to work with international and regional partners for peace and stability in the region.
One pilot from the two-seat F-15 has been rescued, but the other remains missing. The A-10 Warthog reportedly managed to reach Kuwaiti airspace, where the lone pilot ejected and escaped.
U.S. officials later confirmed that two U.S. rescue helicopters, including a UH-60 Black Hawk, which undertook the search-and-rescue operations for the jets, were also struck.
The consecutive losses of U.S. aircraft came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iranian forces “can’t do a thing about” U.S. planes flying over Tehran.
Scrambling for pilot
This incident is the first known case of a U.S. warplane being downed inside Iranian territory and the fourth F-15 lost since the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
Crews were racing to locate the second pilot of the downed jet, which was believed to have crashed in Iran’s southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, near the border with Iraq, according to local authorities.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was combing an area near where the pilot’s plane came down in southwestern Iran, and the governor of the province said that anyone who captured or killed the pilot would be “specially commended,” reported Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA.
A television channel in the province advised citizens who encounter downed U.S. pilots to keep them alive and bring them to authorities for a “prize,” reversing earlier instructions that had encouraged harming them, NewsNation reported.
A reward of 10 billion tomans (6,600 U.S. dollars) has been set to find the pilot, reported the Iranian news outlets.
After weeks of relentless U.S. airstrikes, Iranians posted jubilant messages online celebrating the downing of the U.S. aircraft. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that what had begun as a military campaign had now been transformed into a hunt for their pilots.
Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News reported that Israel is assisting the United States with intelligence in locating the pilot.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the country had delayed planned strikes in the search area, citing Israeli officials. The Israel Defense Forces has not confirmed these reports independently.
“Miscalculation”
IRGC said Friday that the aircraft was hit by advanced air defense systems operated by its aerospace division.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that Iran’s drone and missile capabilities had been “decimated”. While he claimed that the U.S. military had achieved “total air dominance” over the region, military experts suggested that air superiority does not mean that there are no threats.
Iran has bolstered its defenses by constructing extensive underground missile facilities, networks of tunnels, and fortified bunkers across the country, said Federico Borsari, a non-resident fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis. “It is quite possible that some Iranian air defense assets are still operational and hidden and concealed in many locations across the country.”
The potential that a U.S. pilot remains alive and at large deep inside Iran has heightened the pressure on Washington in a war that has struggled to secure strong backing from the American public, according to opinion polls.
In a phone interview with The Independent, a British online newspaper, Trump said he hopes that’s “not going to happen” if Iranian forces find the missing airman.
Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.
The source added that Washington has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, particularly after an Iranian strike targeted a U.S. “military forces depot” on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island.
According to the agency, assessments suggest that the proposal was put forward following an intensification of the crisis in the region and “serious problems” for U.S. forces resulting from their country’s “miscalculation” of Iran’s military capabilities.
U.S. officials later confirmed that two U.S. rescue helicopters, including a UH-60 Black Hawk, which undertook the search-and-rescue operations for the jets, were also struck.
In an editorial published on Wednesday, the Hokkaido Shimbun described the incident as serious and warned against downplaying its implications. The article stressed that the Japanese government has yet to apologize to China, despite the gravity of the case.
According to the editorial, SDF personnel, who are expected to uphold the law, instead violated international norms protecting diplomatic missions. The newspaper criticized the government for treating the matter as an isolated act by an individual, urging authorities not to trivialize the situation.
The editorial also highlighted the need for preventive measures, including stronger education and discipline within the SDF, to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, host countries are obligated to protect diplomatic premises from intrusion, damage, disturbance of peace, or impairment of dignity. The newspaper noted that the Japanese government’s delayed response raises questions about its commitment to these obligations and could harm the country’s international credibility.
Additionally, the incident has prompted concerns over the adequacy of security arrangements for foreign diplomatic missions in Japan, the editorial added.
He made his criticisms during an interview with Jeune Afrique where he addressed concerns about his personal reputation, recent U.S. sanctions and rumors that once circulated about his health.
“Those who apply sanctions, they’ll do what they want, any day. You don’t have to have done anything wrong, but because they support somebody who has done something wrong, or is doing something wrong, they will apply it if it is based on interest,” he stated.
On March 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the RDF as an institution and four senior military officials; Chief of Defence Staff Gen Mubarakh Muganga; Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi; Commander of the RDF Special Operations Force, Brig Gen Stanislas Gashugi; and Commander of the RDF’s Fifth Division, Maj Gen Ruki Karusisi.
In early December 2025, Rwanda and the DRC signed the Washington Accords in Washington, D.C., aimed at restoring peace in eastern DRC.
Despite the agreements, however, a DRC-allied coalition—including the genocidal FDLR militia, mercenaries, Burundian soldiers, and Wazalendo militia, continued launching attacks on AFC/M23 positions and densely populated areas using ground and drone offensives.
The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebel coalition, which resumed fighting in 2021 to defend the rights of marginalized Tutsi communities targeted by the DRC government after previous talks failed.
The United States statement imposed sanctions, accusing Rwanda of backing the M23, allegations Kigali has consistently denied, while urging the Democratic Republic of the Congo to end its collaboration with the FDLR, which has launched attacks on Rwandan territory on multiple occasions.
During the fighting in DRC, Rwanda was targeted multiple times, prompting the country to establish defensive measures along its border.
In its statement released on March 2, 2026, the Rwandan government insisted that the sanctions unfairly target only one party to the peace process while ignoring violations by the DRC side.
Commenting on these sanctions, Kagame also emphasized that Rwanda’s global reputation is important, but it cannot be compromised by sanctions that ignore the root causes of conflicts.
On the topic of public perception, Kagame also reflected on his brief disappearance from public view last year, which had sparked health rumors. He explained that the time away was personal, spent with his grandchildren, and not related to any illness.
The President reassured the public of his robust health, comparing himself favorably to others worldwide.
“But let me tell you, if you take 100 people randomly from anywhere to investigate how healthy they are—here, France, London, the UK, America—and include me among them, I would come among the top 10.”
President Kagame has criticized biased sanctions against Rwanda
In an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique, Kagame criticized the hypocrisy by international actors calling for lifting of defensive measures without taking Rwanda’s security concerns into consideration.
“We refuse to remove defensive measures, whether it means troops or whatever else. We call it defensive measures. And in your logic, why would a threat be against me and you are asking me to remove my defensive measures but you’re not dealing with a threat? What is the logic?” he said.
Kagame stressed that the defensive measures are intended solely to secure Rwanda’s borders and prevent any hostile force from crossing into the country.
He emphasized that the FDLR terrorist group remains a persistent threat, making the continuation of measures put in place essential.
Since January 2025, when AFC/M23 forces captured Goma, Kagame highlighted that the security situation in Eastern Congo has improved. He highlighted that the presence of M23 on the border guarantees better border security with the DRC.
“The situation today is better than it was before. Anybody can make their own assessment. It is better there in Goma and better in Bukavu than it was before. There is no question about it. The whole border now is secure.”
Despite criticism from some international actors, Kagame maintained that Rwanda’s defensive posture is necessary to ensure no threat crosses into Rwanda.
“The easiest thing to do here is to blame Rwanda and keep all the penalties and whatever on Rwanda because it is easy. They are doing what is easy for them to do. […] But can it give a solution when you are keeping quiet about the root cause?” he wondered.
He also hinted at the possibility of compromise but warned that previous agreements with the DRC had not been fully respected.
“A compromise solution has been indicated in many of these agreements we have had, including the one in Washington, D.C., but previous agreements have never been respected by DRC.”
President Kagame has defended Rwanda’s defensive measures during an interview with Jeune Afrique.
Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohi El-Din Salem, UN officials and representatives of the Khartoum State government attended the reopening ceremony.
In a statement, the Sudanese minister said the reopening reflects the resumption of cooperation between the Khartoum State government and the UN, hailing the step as a “positive indicator” of renewed international partnerships and support for the country’s stabilization efforts.
For his part, Associate Administrator of the UNDP Xu Haoliang said the return of UN agencies to Khartoum represents important support for Sudan in the current phase.
Xu said the UNDP is focusing on humanitarian response while strengthening the capacities of national institutions and local communities, contributing to recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The UN had previously relocated a large portion of its operations outside Khartoum, while maintaining some humanitarian activities through field offices in other states, amid significant challenges related to access and the deterioration of infrastructure and basic services.
Sudan is facing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the region. The ongoing war has displaced millions internally and externally, alongside a sharp decline in health and education services and surging food insecurity.
Earlier, the UN warned of growing humanitarian needs in Sudan as the war approaches its third year. According to the Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2026, recently announced by the UN, about 33.7 million people in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance this year — an increase of 3.3 million compared to 2025.
The ongoing war has displaced millions internally and externally, alongside a sharp decline in health and education services and surging food insecurity.
According to the report, the B1 bridge, located in the provincial capital Karaj, is one of the highest bridges in the Middle East and among the most complicated projects in Iran. It was targeted twice with missiles on Thursday.
IRNA cited Qodratollah Seif, the province’s deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, as saying that among those killed and injured were the inhabitants of Bileqan village, passengers and the families who had gathered in the nearby areas for the Nature Day, a traditional Iranian holiday marking the end of the Nowruz holidays.
He added that there were no military activities in the areas surrounding the bridge, stressing that the structure was under construction and scheduled to be inaugurated in the coming days.
Seif said those injured in the strikes were immediately transferred to nearby medical centers, and some of them were hospitalized.
Condemning the attacks in a post on social media platform X, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, “Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender.”
He added, “It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray. Every bridge and building will be built back stronger. What will never recover: damage to America’s standing.”
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East.
The B1 bridge, located in the provincial capital Karaj, is believed to be one of the highest bridges in the Middle East and among the most complicated projects in Iran.
She emphasized that these assaults are, in fact, conducted by the Congolese Army (FARDC) in coordination with Burundian troops and the Wazalendo forces.
Makolo’s remarks came in response to statements by DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, who had insisted that attacks on the Banyamulenge in Minembwe are perpetrated by M23.
Addressing Muyaya’s claims, Makolo highlighted the deliberate misrepresentation of facts, referencing what has become known as the classic poisonous tactic.
“‘Accusation in a mirror’ – where perpetrators falsely attribute their own crimes to their intended victims. Often used to incite violence or genocide, reversing reality to portray attackers as defenders against a threatening out-group and preemptively shift blame,” she stated.
The DRC has long propagated false narratives in its conflict with M23. Even during moments of ceasefire agreement; FARDC, Burundian forces, FDLR, and allied groups have continued attacks in areas controlled by M23.
Peace talks in Doha included agreements on prisoner exchanges and temporary ceasefires, yet FARDC reportedly violated them by continuing targeting civilians.
Rwanda maintains that sustainable peace in the region will only be possible when the DRC takes decisive action against the FDLR, the terrorist group responsible for spreading genocidal ideology throughout the region.
The Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has dismissed DRC’s false claims on attacks against the Banyamulenge community.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 1.1 million Lebanese have been displaced as displacement orders continue to affect new areas.
OCHA said nearly 15 percent of Lebanon’s territory has been affected by displacement orders over the past month. While many families have fled to collective shelters, relatives’ homes or informal settlements, others have remained behind in affected areas and are in urgent need of assistance.
Half of the healthcare facilities supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in affected conflict areas have been forced to close due to violence. Many healthcare workers themselves have been displaced. Hospitals and primary healthcare centers that remain operational are overwhelmed and understaffed.
Humanitarian partners are working to sustain essential services where possible. UNFPA has deployed nine mobile health units across Lebanon, providing maternal health services and emergency obstetric care in collective shelters. The units also offer psychosocial support, care for survivors of sexual violence and the distribution of dignity kits and essential supplies for pregnant women and new mothers.
However, OCHA said the humanitarian response is facing growing logistical constraints. Disruptions to major global transport routes are delaying the delivery of critical supplies. While aid agencies are attempting to reroute shipments and secure alternative supply lines, significant gaps remain as needs continue to rise sharply.
The office renewed its call on the international community for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, healthcare facilities and humanitarian workers, full and unimpeded humanitarian access, particularly to southern Lebanon, and urgent funding to meet rapidly expanding needs.
UN peacekeepers along the Blue Line, known as UNIFIL, describe the situation as bleak and concerning.
UNIFIL said the Israel Defense Forces have expanded their incursion westward, with tanks and clashes reported in Sector West, roughly 12 km north of the Blue Line.
In Gaza, OCHA said humanitarian needs continue to far exceed what aid organizations can provide. Only one crossing is currently open for cargo to enter the Gaza Strip.
On food security, UN agencies and partners reported that distributions for March were completed, reaching every other family with rations covering half of minimum caloric requirements.
UN aid partners are also serving nearly 1.5 million meals daily and producing about 130,000 two-kilogram bread bundles daily. Still, OCHA said it is insufficient. Limited entry of commercial goods, particularly cooking gas, continues to constrain food preparation, forcing nearly half of households to rely on unsafe cooking methods such as burning trash.
On health, OCHA said that UN-supported emergency medical teams provided about 23,000 consultations across Gaza during the final week of March. However, persistent delays in clearing specialized medical and surgical equipment are limiting the ability to deliver complex care.
On shelter, the office said most of Gaza’s population is still displaced, and assistance is largely confined to short-term solutions. More durable shelter support depends on the entry of materials that are difficult to approve, including equipment needed to clear debris and unexploded ordnance or repair damaged homes.
During the last week of March, humanitarian partners assisted nearly 14,000 families with tarpaulins and household items, prioritizing those affected by flooding from recent rainstorms.
In education, last week’s rains damaged at least 15 temporary learning spaces, disrupting schooling for around 20,000 students. UNICEF and its partners continued setting up specialized learning tents and distributing stationery and recreational materials for children.
In the West Bank, OCHA data showed that violence has surged since the regional escalation began on Feb. 28. Two-thirds of Palestinian fatalities recorded in the first quarter of this year occurred after that date. Four Palestinians women were killed by falling munitions during an Iranian missile attack.
The office also reported more than 200 settler attacks in March that caused casualties or property damage, affecting over 100 Palestinian communities.
OCHA said that Palestinians must be protected, perpetrators of unlawful attacks must be held accountable, and policies driving displacement, insecurity and humanitarian needs must be reversed.
This photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows the building and vehicle damaged in Israeli strikes in the Jnah area of Beirut, Lebanon. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
The meeting was chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. Institutions, communities and individuals have been encouraged to take part in the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The cabinet also approved different draft laws, discussed the economic implications of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly its impact on global energy and commodity markets, and several appointments in key government institutions.
Cabinet resolutions
On Thursday, 2 April 2026, His Excellency Kagame Paul, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, chaired a Cabinet Meeting at Urugwiro Village.
1. Cabinet was briefed on preparations for the 32nd Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi (Kwibuka 32).
The national commemoration week will be observed from 7 – 13 April 2026 in Rwanda and abroad. Institutions, communities, and individuals are encouraged to actively participate in remembrance activities.
As Rwanda commemorates Kwibuka32, Cabinet called upon all citizens to reject genocide ideology in all its forms.
In light of its continued resurgence in the region and beyond, it is essential that all Rwandans come together to safeguard national unity, reconciliation, and the country’s peace and stability.
2. Cabinet discussed the economic implications of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly its impact on global energy and commodity markets.
Cabinet emphasised the need to continuously sustain Rwanda’s macroeconomic stability, mitigate inflationary pressures, and ensure that citizens are consistently informed and engaged throughout this process.
3. Cabinet was briefed on the recently published education statistics and the key measures driving continuous improvement across the education sector.
4. Cabinet approved the following draft laws:
Draft law approving ratification of the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for Rwanda’s energy sector result-based financing.
Draft law approving ratification of the Financing Agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association, relating to the credit for the Rwanda inclusive and resilient job creation development policy financing.
Cabinet approved the following policies/strategies/programmes:
National Lottery Operating Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Moja Rwanda Limited.
Power Purchase Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and G2P Energy Limited related to their investment in generating electricity from methane gas.
Partnership Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Teleperformance Rwanda Limited related to their investment in telecommunication.
Cabinet granted agrément to the proposed Ambassador and Honorary Consuls as follows:
Mr. El Houssein Nagi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the Republic of Rwanda, with residence in Addis Ababa
Mr. Irene Ndikumwenayo, Honorary Consul of Grenada to the Republic of Rwanda.
Mr. Hugh Delaney, Honorary Consul of Ireland to the Republic of Rwanda.
Cabinet approved the following appointments:
Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI)
Mr. Niwenshuti Richard, Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Tubane Chance, Chief Operating Officer
Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
Mr. Nsengiyumva Joseph Cedrick, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Mr. Kayibanda Richard, Chief Licensing Officer
The Office of the Ombudsman
Ms. Mbabazi Judith, Deputy Ombudsman in charge of Preventing and Fighting Injustice.
Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS)
CP Badege Theos, Deputy Commissioner General
National Electoral Commission (NEC)
Mr. Nkiko Albert, Commissioner
National Prosecution Authority (NPPA)
Mr. Habimana Donath, National Prosecutor
AOB
The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board informed the Cabinet of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum , scheduled in Kigali from May 14 to May 15, 2026.
The Minister of Infrastructure informed the Cabinet of the Nuclear Innovation Summit for Africa scheduled in Kigali from May 18 to May 21, 2026.
President Paul Kagame chaired a Cabinet Meeting at Urugwiro Village on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
