According to a statement released by the presidency, South Africa will consider Israel’s response and decide whether to request the court’s permission to make further written submissions in reply, or to proceed directly to the oral phase of proceedings.
Israel submitted its response on March 12, following two extensions granted by the court to a deadline initially set for July 28, 2025, in reply to South Africa’s memorial filed on Oct. 28, 2024, according to the statement.
“South Africa remains committed to playing its part, along with others, to fulfil the promises of the Genocide Convention and the UN Charter,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in the statement.
Ramaphosa called for defending the principles of international law and reasserting the vital role of the United Nations and international dispute settlement mechanisms such as the ICJ.
The situation in Gaza has been compounded by the escalating crisis in the Gulf and Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon, raising the risk of a wider conflict with grave implications for regional and international peace and security, the statement said.
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case before the ICJ against Israel over alleged acts of genocide in Gaza. The ICJ has yet to rule, while South Africa has reiterated it would continue to pursue the case until a judgment is delivered.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country remains committed to playing its part, along with others, to fulfil the promises of the Genocide Convention and the UN Charter.
During the appointment ceremony at the presidential palace, Randrianirina said that he needed the “integrity” of Rajaonarison, who has long worked in the anti-corruption field.
“We must show the Malagasy people that the nation needs upright and incorruptible individuals,” he said.
The president also stressed that he expects the new prime minister to promptly form a government tasked with implementing the national refoundation policy and delivering tangible results as soon as possible.
Before his appointment, Rajaonarison served as director general of Madagascar’s Financial Intelligent Unit, a national entity in charge of the fight against money laundering and terrorism funding.
This appointment comes six days after Randrianirina dissolved the government led by former Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo.
Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina (C) attends the appointment ceremony of new prime minister at the presidential palace in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 15, 2026. Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina appointed Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister on Sunday. Mamitiana Rajaonarison attends the ceremony of his appointment as Madagascar’s new prime minister at the presidential palace in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 15, 2026.Mamitiana Rajaonarison (front) attends the ceremony of his appointment as Madagascar’s new prime minister at the presidential palace in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 15, 2026. Mamitiana Rajaonarison (1st R) accepts congratulations after his appointment as Madagascar’s new prime minister at the presidential palace in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 15, 2026.
The RN5 road, which is commonly used for transportation, passenger travel, and trade, connects residents from the Uvira territory located in the Ruzizi Valley.
On the morning of March 15, 2026, traders traveling from the Runingu center towards Sange were turned back by FARDC and Wazalendo forces.
Radio Maendeleo reported that some passengers traveling from Bukavu to areas in the Ruzizi Valley or the city of Uvira were also blocked, causing a build-up of people at the Sange center as they awaited further instructions.
After a prolonged period of confusion, these residents were informed that no vehicles, motorcycles, or pedestrians were allowed to proceed into the city of Uvira from areas controlled by the AFC/M23 group.
The road had been functioning smoothly from the beginning of December 2025 until January 2026, when AFC/M23 controlled all the areas in the Ruzizi Valley and the city of Uvira.
Since AFC/M23 withdrew from the city of Uvira in mid-January 2026, traffic has significantly decreased on this road due to the fact that travelers now pass through areas controlled by opposing factions.
The FARDC and Wazalendo forces have stated that this decision was made to ensure security in the controlled areas, but the residents do not agree, as they are calling for increased security rather than restrictions on their livelihoods.
FARDC and Wazalendo reportedly blocked the key road between Bukavu and Uvira on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, announced his departure in a video posted on X, saying he had gone abroad for “critical engagements outside Uganda” and would return at the right time.
Wine, a pop star turned politician, had decided earlier this year not to challenge the election results in court, citing concerns over Uganda’s judicial process.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared the winner, securing a seventh term with about 72 percent of the vote, while Wine received around 25 percent.
In his video message late Saturday night, Wine noted that he had been in hiding due to heightened security around his home in Kampala, and he reaffirmed his commitment to political activism and advocacy through constitutional channels.
“At the right time I will come back and continue with the cause,” he said.
Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also Museveni’s son, has indicated that authorities are aware of Wine’s movements, though no charges have been specified.
During the election period, the African Union Election Observation Mission noted there was no evidence of widespread irregularities, though it criticised the temporary internet shutdown imposed during and after polling.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission acknowledged some procedural challenges on voting day but maintained that the election’s overall credibility was intact.
President Museveni, in his victory address, called for national unity and peace. He outlined priorities for his new term, including wealth creation, poverty reduction, improved public services, and an ongoing fight against corruption.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, announced his departure in a video posted on X, saying he had gone abroad for “critical engagements outside Uganda” and would return at the right time.
There is no clear evidence that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said at a news briefing.
He said the United States is planning for Iran’s various measures and “that’s not a strait we’re gonna allow to remain contested.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
Hegseth also told reporters that strikes carried out by the United States and Israel have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
“Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck,” he said.
Iran’s missile volume is down 90 percent and that of their one-way attack drones was down 95 percent as of Thursday, Hegseth further said.
Hegseth threatened that “today will be yet again, the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran.”
Hegseth also told reporters that the U.S. Central Command has designated an investigating officer to complete a command investigation into a strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed over 160 people, mostly pupils.
The Feb. 28 strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab occurred during U.S. operations targeting a nearby Iranian military base.
According to reports, a preliminary finding from an ongoing military investigation indicates that the school was struck by a U.S. Tomahawk missile.
A fire breaks out on a Thai cargo ship after it was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026.
“The full cost to the Government of Rwanda is at least 10 times more, in addition to the ultimate sacrifice of loss of soldiers’ lives, all to stabilize Cabo Delgado,” she said.
Makolo was reacting to a report by Bloomberg indicating that the European Union’s funding to Rwandan forces deployed in Cabo Delgado could come to an end in May 2026.
The €20 million package was approved by foreign ministers of the European Union during a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on November 18, 2024. It followed another €20 million support package granted to Rwandan troops in December 2022, about a year and a half after they began the deployment.
The reported halt in funding comes after the United States announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on March 2, 2026, accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, allegations Kigali has repeatedly denied.
A spokesperson for the European Union said the assistance programmes approved in 2022 and 2024 will expire in May 2026, adding that the bloc is reviewing the implications of the recent US sanctions targeting Rwandan military leaders.
Bloomberg reported that there are currently no plans to extend the funding.
Makolo noted that Rwanda’s continued deployment in Cabo Delgado, if deemed necessary, depends on sufficient and predictable support.
“The sustainability of Rwanda’s bilateral counter-terrorism deployment in Mozambique, if our forces are actually needed, depends on adequate, predictable funding,” she said.
She recalled that Rwanda first deployed its forces in 2021 following a request from the Mozambican authorities.
“Rwandan Forces went to Cabo Delgado in 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, to work with a brotherly African country that needed the support; money was not the first consideration,” she said.
Makolo highlighted the impact of the mission, noting that civilians have returned to their homes, children have gone back to school, businesses have reopened, and major foreign investments have resumed.
Cabo Delgado is rich in natural gas resources and hosts major liquefied natural gas projects led by TotalEnergies, valued at around $20 billion.
The project has also received backing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Makolo stressed that the work carried out by the Rwanda Defence Force has benefited both local communities and companies investing in LNG projects.
“To be clear, the work of RDF in countering terrorism in Cabo Delgado has benefitted the Mozambican people and the companies investing in LNG, and supporting that work is not a favor being granted to Rwanda,” she said.
“Should the RDF Command assess that the work being done by Rwandan Security Forces in Cabo Delgado is not appreciated, they would be right to urge the government to end this bilateral counter-terrorism arrangement and pull out,” Makolo concluded.
Rwanda first deployed its forces in 2021 following a request from the Mozambican authorities.
During the summoning, the direct involvement of Britain and France in this “terrorist attack,” which killed seven people and injured over 40, was pointed out, the ministry said in a media release.
“It is clear to us that the missile attack on Bryansk would not have been possible without the involvement of British and French specialists, as well as without the transfer of intelligence” to Kiev, it said.
It was also stated that Moscow views the shelling of Bryansk as a deliberate provocation aimed at undermining the intensified efforts to peacefully resolve the Ukraine crisis.
Moscow demanded that the United Kingdom and France issue a clear public response with a firm and unequivocal condemnation of the attack.
“Failure to do so will be considered solidarity with the terrorist methods, which is a disgrace for countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council,” the release added.
Ukraine’s military hits Russian missile plant in Bryansk. Photo by Reuters
Barrot made the announcement during a two-day trip to the country.
“This is the first time in eight years that a French foreign minister is present in Bangui and my presence marks the complete restoration of relations between our two countries after a period of strain and tension,” Barrot told reporters.
He said France was looking forward to “reinforcing our relations in all sectors”.
In 2024, Faustin-Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic, met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of efforts to resume ties.
In a social media post, Trump said the United States had already “totally obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island, but that the island’s oil facilities were deliberately spared for now. He made clear that if Iran or any other force interfered with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, those energy assets could be hit.
The warning comes amid a broader and escalating conflict that began in late February with coordinated U.S. and Israeli bombardments on Iran.
Iran’s armed forces have responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. bases, Israel, and shipping traffic in the Gulf, prompting closures of some sea routes.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most significant maritime passages, with about 20% of global oil supplies normally passing through it each day. Disruptions there have already disturbed energy markets and driven global oil prices higher.
Iran’s government has vowed that any attack on its energy infrastructure would prompt retaliation against energy facilities linked to the United States and its allies. Oil markets are closely watching the situation, as even small disruptions at Kharg Island could tighten already strained global supply.
Trump threatens to hit Iran’s Kharg Island oil network if shipping lanes remain blocked.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the alleged strategy hinges on cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an terrorist group formed by individuals linked to the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The effort reportedly seeks to create a broader coalition of groups opposed to Rwanda’s government.
At the center of the reported initiative is Jean‑Luc Habyarimana, the son of the late president. Sources indicate he is being positioned as a figure capable of rallying remnants of the Hutu Power network and helping reorganize opposition groups under a new structure.
During a recent visit to Kinshasa, Jean-Luc reportedly met Désiré Cashmir Eberande Kolongele, President Tshisekedi’s special advisor on security matters.
According to individuals familiar with the meeting, he conveyed a message that plans were being developed to form a strong military alliance initially focused on confronting AFC/M23, before potentially expanding operations toward Rwanda.
Sources further claim that Jean-Luc, working with officials in the Congolese Ministry of Communication and Media, helped establish a platform known as Xtrafrica. The platform is reportedly used to promote narratives rehabilitating the image of Habyarimana, criticize the Rwandan government and support Tshisekedi’s regional agenda.
Meanwhile, Agathe Kanziga, the widow of Habyarimana, along with other figures associated with the Hutu Power ideology, is said to have advised Jean-Luc to rebrand the FDLR under a new name, the FCLR (Front Commun pour la Libération Rwandaise), in an effort to improve its international image while maintaining its existing structure and ideology.
The broader strategy reportedly involves bringing together political and military figures opposed to Rwanda’s government by offering them refuge and support in Congo.
Attention has also reportedly turned to Nyamwasa, a former senior officer in the Rwanda Defence Force who later founded the Rwanda National Congress (RNC).
Sources say he has been attempting to unite armed, political and propaganda networks in opposition to Rwanda’s leadership.
During a reported trip to Kinshasa in September 2024, Nyamwasa is said to have met leaders of the FDLR to discuss strengthening cooperation. Congolese officials familiar with the matter claim he has remained in close contact with Gaston Iyamuremye, the commander of the FDLR, a relationship described as key to efforts to align the RNC with the group.
In January 2026, Byiringiro reportedly appointed his brother-in-law Cyprien Ngabo as a liaison between the FDLR and an RNC faction led by Frank Ntwali, further indicating growing coordination between the groups.
Sources also claim that cooperation dates back several years. In early 2025, Byiringiro is said to have sent Emmanuel Hakizimana, an RNC member based in Canada, to the United States to represent the FDLR at a meeting of so-called Rwandan opposition figures.
The meeting was reportedly part of a long-running effort to unite fragmented groups opposed to Rwanda’s government. With alleged financial and political backing from individuals close to Tshisekedi, recruitment into the anti-Rwanda coalition is said to have intensified, involving supporters based in Uganda and prominent RNC-associated figures such as Charles Kambanda, Eugène Gasana, and Christine Uwizera Coleman.
Sources claim the initiative is becoming increasingly visible, pointing to alleged logistical support for the FDLR and outreach to individuals linked to or associated with the genocide, as part of a broader effort to unite groups opposed to Rwanda’s government under a single front.
New details have emerged on the coordination between President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and son of former Rwandan President Jean Luc Habyarimana.
