“At the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” von der Leyen wrote on social media platform X.
At a later press conference with Zelensky, von der Leyen said territorial decisions must be made by Ukraine, and these decisions cannot be taken without Ukraine at the table.
She stated that Europe would firmly support Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved, and that the European Union (EU) will keep up diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. A 19th package of sanctions could be introduced in early September, according to von der Leyen.
She also noted that the EU welcomed Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article Five-like security guarantees, and that the Coalition of the Willing, including the EU, is ready to do its share.
Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the clause on collective defense. U.S. president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday that it was possible for the United States and several European nations to provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article Five.
Several other European leaders said Sunday they will accompany Zelensky to Washington. The German government announced that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington on Monday, joining other European leaders and Zelensky for talks with Trump.
Merz is expected to discuss the current state of peace efforts, a statement said, adding that security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine will be addressed.
The French presidency told the press on Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington on Monday together with Zelensky and other European leaders to advance coordination between Europe and the U.S.
ANSA news agency reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be in Washington on Monday to attend a meeting with Trump at the White House, together with Zelensky and other European leaders.
Other leaders also making the trip include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Enditem
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump wrapped up their talks in the U.S. city of Anchorage in Alaska, but no deal was reached. The talks, which lasted about three hours, focused primarily on the Ukraine crisis, as well as on reshaping bilateral relations that have largely stalled in recent years.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.” “No getting back Obama given Crimea…and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
Earlier, Trump shared a social media post from his supporter, which said, “Ukraine must be willing to lose some territory to Russia otherwise the longer the war goes on they will keep losing even more land!”
Also on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC News’ “This Week” that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky must make concessions to achieve a peace deal.
In a separate interview with Fox News, Rubio said that European leaders involved in talks with Ukraine “are very helpful being in the room sometimes,” particularly in providing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Rubio said he hoped the Europeans would also help to push Ukraine toward a potential peace deal by “giving ideas about what accommodations can be made.”
Meanwhile, Rubio did not rule out the United States imposing more sanctions on Russia. In an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said doing so would signal the failure of Trump’s efforts to reach a ceasefire or lasting peace in Ukraine. “The minute he takes those steps, all talks stop,” he said.
Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said the White House extracted critical wins from its Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska.
Security guarantees offering Ukraine “Article 5-like protections” are the real prize, Witkoff said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” They’re “game-changing,” he added.
“We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” Witkoff said.
“We didn’t think that we were anywhere close to agreeing to Article 5 protection from the United States in legislative enshrinement within the Russian Federation, not to go after any other territory when the peace deal is codified,” he added.
Article 5 protection generally refers to the collective defense provision within NATO, which states that an attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies.
On Friday, a Trump-Putin meeting was held in Anchorage, Alaska, with no deal reached. Zelensky will travel to Washington, alongside a number of major European leaders, to meet with Trump on Monday.
“At the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday on X.
At a later press conference with Zelensky in Brussels, von der Leyen said the EU welcomed Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees, adding that it was essential to have a trilateral meeting between the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the United States “as soon as possible.”
The ministry announced in a press release that Hussein Moallim Hassan, a key figure in the al-Shabab terrorist group for over 15 years and one of its most wanted senior leaders, was killed on Saturday night.
The deceased had played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks against civilians in the central and southern regions of Somalia, said the ministry.
It added that the elimination of Moalim provided strategic impetus to the intensified campaign to degrade al-Shahab terrorists, including those in the group’s leadership structure.
Somalia’s security forces have vowed to step up air and ground operations to flush out al-Shabab militants in the central and southern regions of the country.
He made the appeal on Friday, August 15, 2025, during the official inauguration of the Mugera Basilica, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and attended by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. Located in Gitega Province, Mugera Parish has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica, the first of its kind in Burundi.
President Ndayishimiye expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for choosing Mugera as the first Basilica under his papacy, and invited him to personally celebrate Mass there.
“We have come to receive the gift from our father, Pope Leo XIV, who has granted Mugera Church the title of Basilica. We invite him to come and bless it at a time he finds suitable—let him come to his home,” the President said.
He added that a papal visit to Burundi would include a Mass at the new Basilica.
“From today, this Basilica is his home. Mugera Church has long been a symbol of faith for all Christians, welcoming even Protestants. It is a place for all Burundians. We are deeply grateful to the Pope for this gift,” Ndayishimiye said.
The President emphasised the significance of the Basilica for national unity and called on Burundians to contribute to its development.
“This is the first Basilica under Pope Leo XIV. We hope it will become a place where we meet God—a space of peace, reflection, and inspiration to build our country,” he said.
He further urged the Pope to consider granting Burundi a Cardinal to oversee the Basilica.
“While the Basilica has been conferred, a Cardinal is still needed to shepherd it. We hope that all who pray here will feel at home, as Saint Peter once guided his followers. This will be a hub uniting Christians across the region,” the President said.
The Mugera Parish was founded in 1908 during the reign of King Mwezi Gisabo by missionaries Father Van Der Burgt and Father Van Der Wee. In 1922, as Burundi became an independent Vicariate, Mugera became the seat of its first Bishop, Monsignor Julien Louis Gorju, making it the country’s first cathedral.
Mugera, formerly known as ‘Mu mana za Mugera,’ also produced the first Burundian priests, Father Patrice Ntidendereza and Emile Ngendagende, who were ordained in 1925.
The Senegalese soldier was among the African peacekeepers deployed to Rwanda in 1994 under the United Nations mission. The veterans are currently on a seven-day visit to Rwanda.
On April 7, 1994, Belgium decided to pull out its troops from Rwanda, a move that severely weakened UNAMIR. That same day, Belgium launched a strong campaign to have the entire mission dissolved and withdrawn from Rwanda.
Under Belgian pressure, the UN Security Council on April 21, 1994, drastically reduced UNAMIR’s presence, leaving only 270 soldiers—too few and ill-equipped to protect those being massacred.
Brig. Gen. Faye explained that they had every right to leave, since that was the official order. He was then part of the observer group assigned to monitor military activities.
“Those who left for Nairobi received $135 per day, while those of us who stayed under gunfire in Rwanda were given only $93. If we had left, we would have enjoyed good hotels, comfort, and safety. But choosing to remain here was choosing death. It was a major decision and a symbol of sacrifice for those who stayed,” he recalled during an engagement with young people at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
“Every day, we came closer to death. But our greatest joy was that sometimes we managed to save two or three lives, whether in areas controlled by the UN or by the Rwandan army,” he added.
{{Mistaken for an ‘Inyenzi’
}}
Brig. Gen. Faye recalled an evening when he encountered Interahamwe who accused him of being an Inyenzi (a derogatory term for RPF Inkotanyi soldiers), even though he had already explained he was not Rwandan.
“That day I had been asked to escort a nun living near the Bralirwa factory. As we neared the convent, we saw three armed men who suddenly began shouting, ‘Inyenzi, Inyenzi.’ That was the first time I ever heard the word.”
He explained that after escorting the nun safely inside, he returned to find the armed group had grown from three to eight men.
“One had a rifle, the rest carried other weapons. I didn’t run. Instead, I approached them and said, ‘Don’t mistake me—I am not an Inyenzi, I am from Senegal.’ One of them said, ‘But you look like them.’ I replied, ‘Yes, but I am not.’ He told me, ‘You know, those people are witches. They can reach anywhere.’ In the end, they let me go.”
{{Remembering His Fallen Comrade
}}
Brig. Gen. Faye also remembered his close friend, Capt. Mbaye Diagne, describing him as an inseparable companion, since they had served together in another mission for four years before being deployed to Rwanda.
Capt. Mbaye, also Senegalese, was among the UN peacekeepers deployed to Rwanda in 1993 following the Arusha Accords between the Rwandan government and the RPF-Inkotanyi.
He served as a UN military observer, tasked with reporting information to UN leadership. Upon arrival, he was based at Hôtel des Mille Collines.
When President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, the genocide began almost immediately. The first victim was Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana, who was assassinated.
Hearing rumours of her death the following morning, Capt. Mbaye drove alone to her house to verify, without waiting for orders. He found that she had indeed been killed, along with the ten Belgian soldiers guarding her. Nearby, he discovered her children hiding and, though unarmed, managed to rescue them.
He placed the children in the boot of his car, covered them with clothes, and drove them to Hôtel des Mille Collines, where many had sought refuge.
Brig. Gen. Faye recalled:
“When he got to Agathe’s house, he called me and told me she had been killed, but that he had found her children. He immediately informed Gen. Romeo Dallaire. From that day on, he kept saving lives until May 31, 1994—the day he was killed.”
On May 31, 1994, while carrying a message from Gen. Dallaire to the then Rwandan army chief, Augustin Bizimungu, Capt. Mbaye was stopped at a roadblock. A mortar shell exploded near his car, striking him in the head and killing him instantly—just as he was preparing to return home to Senegal.
Brig. Gen. Faye said he was among the first to arrive at the scene.
“Among the Senegalese contingent, there were several officers like Capt. Mbaye. Though not all had his level of courage, they shared the same spirit. Of the 29 observers, 25 chose to remain in Rwanda, carrying out different missions. They led by example, alongside us and other soldiers from countries such as Togo.”
Brig. Gen. Faye was among a group of former UN peacekeeping soldiers who recently visited Rwanda to share their experiences from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, particularly with youth and members of the Rwandan Defence Force.
Speaking to business leaders and global delegates, he outlined how Rwanda’s bold choice to “think big” has transformed a nation once deemed doomed into a beacon of resilience and progress.
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi left Rwanda in ruins, with one million lives lost in just 100 days. Institutions were shattered, the economy collapsed, and hope seemed lost. Yet, as Minister Nduhungirehe explained, Rwanda refused to accept despair.
“We chose to stay together, to be accountable, and to think big,” he said, describing three defining decisions that reshaped the nation’s DNA.
Rejecting a one-size-fits-all development model, Rwanda forged its own path with homegrown solutions rooted in its culture and context. The Gacaca community courts, inspired by traditional dispute resolution, processed over two million genocide-related cases in a decade, delivering justice and reconciliation where conventional courts would have taken a century.
“Gacaca means grass,” Nduhungirehe noted, recalling how village elders once settled conflicts on grassy patches, a practice revived to heal a fractured society.
Other innovations drew from Rwanda’s traditions. Umuganda, a monthly community work day, unites citizens for public projects like tree planting and building homes for the vulnerable, making Kigali one of Africa’s cleanest cities.
Imihigo, or performance contracts, hold public officials accountable with measurable targets, fostering a results-driven culture. The Girinka program, meaning “own a cow,” has lifted thousands out of poverty by providing cows to poor families, with recipients passing on calves to neighbours in a chain of solidarity.
Rwanda’s ambition extended to gender equality, with women now holding 61% of parliamentary seats, the highest globally.
“After the genocide, women were victims beyond men, facing sexual violence and loss,” Nduhungirehe said. Reforms ensured equal rights to inheritance and services, while gender-responsive budgeting prioritizes women in education, health, and agriculture. Programs like One Laptop Per Child aim to leapfrog Rwanda into the digital age.
The minister highlighted Rwanda’s defiance of sceptics who called its goals too ambitious. Despite pressure from international partners like the World Bank and IMF to scale back, Rwanda invested in five-star hotels and tourism campaigns like Visit Rwanda, partnering with soccer giants Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich.
“They told us we were a poor country, that we should stay where we are,” he said. “We refused, and it’s paying off.”
Rwanda’s Vision 2020 lifted millions out of poverty and established universal healthcare and free primary education. Now, Vision 2050 aims to make Rwanda an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050, with a GDP per capita target of $12,000.
“Even if we don’t fully reach our goals, we know we’ll be close,” Nduhungirehe said, emphasising the power of ambition.
The minister also addressed Rwanda’s global partnerships, including its role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative since 2018, which has funded roads, hospitals, and irrigation projects.
On the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nduhungirehe noted that FDLR, a militia group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, continues to destabilise the region from DRC territory.
He highlighted a peace agreement signed with the DRC in Washington on June 27, 2025, aimed at neutralising the FDLR, lifting Rwanda’s defensive measures, resolving political issues for Congolese of Rwandan descent, and fostering joint economic projects like methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu and critical minerals development.
“We hope to change the narrative from blood minerals to shared prosperity,” he said, stressing Rwanda’s commitment to implementing the agreement in good faith.
Responding to questions, Nduhungirehe credited President Paul Kagame’s visionary leadership. A delegate from his team recounted Kagame’s post-genocide call to “transform suffering into a creative force,” choosing unity over bitterness. This clarity of vision, coupled with accountability, has driven Rwanda’s progress, from performance contracts for mayors to resisting external pressures to conform.
“Development should never be about fitting into a frame designed elsewhere,” Nduhungirehe remarked. “It should be rooted in values, driven by pragmatism, and flexible enough to adapt.”
The talks, which lasted about three hours, focused primarily on the Ukraine crisis, as well as on reshaping bilateral relations that have largely stalled in recent years.
Though Trump said progress was made during the meeting, no concrete deal was agreed upon, while Ukraine and other European countries voiced concerns about being marginalised.
{{No deal reached
}}
At a joint press conference following the meeting, Trump said “many points” had been agreed upon, noting “great progress” had been made, though no formal deal was reached.
Putin said he agreed that Ukraine’s security should be ensured, adding that the understanding reached could help pave the way toward peace.
Russia is sincerely interested in ending the conflict, Putin said, stressing the need to address the “primary causes” of the conflict and warning Ukraine and European countries not to “throw a wrench in the works.”
In an interview with Fox News after the meeting, Trump said it is up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to strike a ceasefire deal, while indicating that he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, and had “largely agreed”.
The U.S. president also said a meeting involving Zelensky, Putin and himself would be arranged soon.
The meeting marked the first visit to the United States by a Russian head of state in nearly a decade and the first face-to-face meeting between the two countries’ presidents since 2021.
In addition to the conflict, Putin also expressed hope that the meeting would serve as “a starting point” for restoring “business-like” and “pragmatic” relations between Russia and the United States, highlighting potential for Russia-U.S. cooperation in trade, high technology, space exploration and the Arctic.
The two leaders also left the door open for the next meeting, as Putin invited Trump to meet “next time in Moscow” during the press conference.
“I’ll get a little heat on that one,” Trump replied. “But I could see it possibly happening.”
{{Many differences remain
}}
Despite the moderately friendly atmosphere between the two leaders – Trump welcomed Putin with a red carpet at the airport, which, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, drove Western media “insane” – many differences still remain between the two sides.
The two leaders did not reach an agreement on “probably the most significant” aspect of their meeting. “We didn’t get there,” Trump told reporters before leaving the press conference room, without taking questions.
“For the man who likes to tout himself as a peacemaker and a dealmaker, it appears that Trump will leave Alaska with neither,” according to a BBC report, noting that Putin and Trump still have major differences in opinion over the Ukraine crisis.
The U.S. president also admitted in the Fox News interview that he was wrong to think the conflict would be easily solved. “I thought this would be the easiest of them all, and it was the most difficult,” Trump said.
The summit in Alaska was productive, and the U.S. side received the Russian side “very well,” said Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s top economic envoy, on Telegram.
The two countries would continue building relations despite “resistance,” Dmitriev said.
Putin’s remarks at the press conference, especially his emphasis on the “primary causes” of the conflict and his warning to Ukraine and European countries not to disrupt the talks, were seen by some in the West as evidence of “the summit’s lack of actual progress.”
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide downplayed the meeting’s “progress.” “Too little concrete information has come out,” he said.
{{Worries of Europe
}}
Similar to a virtual meeting held on Wednesday before the Alaska summit, Trump, on his return flight after the meeting, had phone conversations with Zelensky and several other European leaders to brief them on his talks with Putin.
Zelensky announced after the calls that he would visit the White House on Monday to discuss “all of the details” regarding ending the conflict.
The talks covered the possible establishment of a trilateral format between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, he said, voicing support for Trump’s proposal for such a meeting.
Zelensky also underscored the importance of ensuring that European countries are involved in the peace process in order to provide Ukraine with reliable security guarantees together with Washington.
Worries about being marginalized have been growing across Europe in recent days, due to the absence of European voices at the Alaska summit.
In a joint statement following the phone call with Trump, leaders of the European Union (EU), France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Finland and Poland reiterated support for “ironclad security guarantees” for Ukraine and a trilateral summit “with European support.”
“European leaders are able to inform Trump of their ideas, and the U.S. will brief them on the summit outcomes, but Europe is in the position that the Ukraine conflict outcomes are being negotiated over its head and the continent’s leadership is essentially an observer,” said Neil Melvin, director of International Security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, ahead of the meeting.
“While Moscow and Washington decide our fate, we’re left out in the cold,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday, explaining why Hungary did not join a joint EU statement on Ukraine.
“It’s simple really: sit at the table or you’ll find yourself on the menu,” he said.
The case gained public attention after several journalists, including Ndayishimiye Reagan (Rugaju), Ishimwe Ricard, and former journalist Mucyo Antha Biganiro, were implicated in the investigation. Authorities allege that both military personnel and civilians colluded to misuse public resources for personal benefit.
On 5 August 2025, the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) issued a statement identifying suspects as two RDF officers and 20 civilians. They are alleged to have committed offenses such as complicity in issuing and receiving unauthorized documents and misusing public resources for unintended purposes.
In the following days, the number of defendants rose from 20, reaching 28 individuals brought before the court on 5 August 2025. Among them were three military officers: Capt Peninah Mutoni, Capt Peninah Umurungi, and Maj Vicent Muligande.
Also charged were the spokesperson of the Rwanda Revenue Authority, CSP Hillary Sengabo, and his colleague CSP Olive Mukantabana.
The case further involves 23 civilians, including sports journalists, as well as Kalisa Georgine, a former treasurer of APR FC, and Mugisha Frank (known as Jangwani), the former spokesperson for the club.
The Military Court ruled that all defendants should be tried in-camera for national security reasons, given that the allegations are closely connected to the Ministry of Defence.
{{Charges against key defendants}}
Capt Peninah Mutoni faces accusations including granting unauthorized documents to individuals, misusing public funds, and collusion in producing and using falsified documents, harges shared with Maj Vicent Muligande and Kalisa Georgine.
Capt Peninah Umurungi, CSP Hillary Sengabo, CSP Olive Mukantabana, and journalists Ndayishimiye Reagan and Ishimwe Ricard are accused of being accomplices in fraudulently obtaining documents issued by authorized institutions and misusing public resources for personal gain.
{{Case background}}
Reliable sources indicate that most allegations focus on Capt Peninah Mutoni, who worked in a department responsible for requesting airline tickets for Ministry of Defence staff and other designated individuals. She held the responsibilities from 2017 until late 2024.
It is alleged that Capt Peninah Mutoni exploited this position to fraudulently purchase tickets for individuals who were not eligible for Ministry-funded travel, including fans and journalists attending APR FC matches against Pyramid in Egypt and AZAM in Tanzania.
Capt Peninah Mutoni reportedly collaborated closely with Kalisa Georgine to solicit payments from individuals seeking these tickets. However, the funds provided were not used for their intended purpose but were instead added to the Ministry of Defence’s accounts. The two allegedly shared the proceeds for personal gain.
During the investigation, journalist Ndayishimiye Reagan reportedly admitted that in September 2024 he paid Kalisa Georgine $540 for a ticket and an additional $100 for a visa, after which Kalisa delivered the ticket at the airport. Similarly, Ishimwe Ricard reportedly paid Kalisa $700 for a ticket, which Kalisa then forwarded to Capt Peninah Mutoni.
For the APR FC versus Pyramid match, Ndayishimiye Reagan and Biganiro Mucyo Antha had tickets paid for by the Ministry of Defence. RwandAir invoiced the Ministry $1,013 for Mucyo Antha’s travel to Tanzania, billed as official duty.
Prior to being taken into custody, Ishimwe Ricard admitted the wrongdoing during a radio interview on SK FM on 31 July 2025, stating:
“What troubled me in this matter is that I traveled to Egypt, spending Frw 1.4 million for my ticket, and additional travel expenses […] How can a journalist be questioned about payment and even face imprisonment?”
{{CSP Sengabo designated as APR BBW employee}}
Beyond the funds reportedly used for APR FC matches, information indicates that military and correctional service officers returning from peacekeeping missions in South Sudan were provided with airline tickets by Capt Peninah Mutoni without proper authorization. Among them was CSP Hillary Sengabo.
According to sources, at the end of 2024, as CSP Sengabo prepared to return to Rwanda for leave, he coordinated with Capt Peninah Mutoni to purchase a RwandAir ticket. She reportedly provided her bank account details and transferred $534, after which Capt Mutoni arranged the ticket.
A similar situation reportedly occurred with CSP Olive Mukantabana, who is said to have received a ticket purchased by Capt Peninah Mutoni when she intended to travel from South Sudan. CSP Mukantabana stated that she received Capt Mutoni’s contact number through Capt Peninah Umurungi, with whom they were together in South Sudan.
Both were given tickets, but the funds they provided were not used to pay for the tickets; instead, they were registered as employees of APR BBW. Capt Peninah Umurungi also received a ticket purchased by Capt Mutoni. This arrangement is where the alleged forgery charges against Capt Mutoni originate.
It is reported that once Capt Mutoni realized the illegal transactions to secure the ticket for Capt Umurungi drew attention, she collaborated with a RwandAir employee to produce a false document indicating that Capt Umurungi had paid for it.
Another military officer involved in the case is Maj Vincent Murigande, who, according to Capt Mutoni, instructed her to purchase tickets for Sengabo and Mukantabana. He is also said to have received all emails requesting tickets, which were recorded under the Ministry of Defence, even though the recipients were not affiliated with it.
Brigadier General Déo Rusanganwa, Chairman of APR FC, recently stated that anyone who misuses Ministry of Defence resources must be held accountable.
“MINADEF provides us with budgets to uplift Rwandans, and if we misuse them, we will be held accountable. If someone among you is contacted to clarify matters and has no involvement, they will be cleared. Justice may take time, but it will prevail. I ask for patience from those affected, because our country cannot function like other places we know,” he said.
He added: “We must carefully manage the resources entrusted to us to nurture talent and ensure they are used for their intended purpose. Let us trust that justice will take its course. It may take a little time, but I am confident it will be resolved appropriately. We must also cooperate to safeguard the resources APR entrusts to us.”
The confrontation erupted on August 14, 2025, in the Tukolote area of Kindu city, Maniema province, following an incident in which the son of Amani Useni Josué, also known as Saddam, the Wazalendo commander, was assaulted by security personnel on duty.
Lt. Jérémie Gbe, spokesperson for military operations in eastern DRC, stated that among the dead were five of Saddam’s fighters, two soldiers, and two police officers, while eight others were injured.
The clashes prompted Maniema Governor Mussa Kabwankubi to place the Tukolote area under a curfew from 2:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Since the launch of the incentive programme in early 2024, the total amount disbursed has exceeded Frw1.5 billion, benefiting 130,000 end consumers.
According to the Ministerial Order relating to the VAT rewards, a final consumer is someone purchasing goods or services for personal use rather than resale or business purposes. This person is entitled to a reward equivalent to 10% of the VAT amount indicated on the invoice.
To qualify, consumers must register for the VAT reward programme by providing their name, a Rwandan mobile phone number, a Mobile Money or bank account, and a national ID. Registration can be done by dialing *800# or through the MyRRA platform. The same channels allow users to check their reward accounts and track issued invoices.
So far, nearly 200,000 end consumers have enrolled in the VAT reward programme, resulting in a total of over 4 million invoices requested, which have generated approximately Frw33 billion in VAT revenue.
To get the reward, the value added tax appearing on the invoice must have been declared and paid.
When requesting an EBM invoice, the consumer must ensure that the seller includes their registered phone number.
If a seller refuses to issue an EBM invoice, consumers are encouraged to report the incident to the RRA by providing details such as the trader’s name, Tax Identification Number (TIN), address, date of purchase, proof of payment, and any invalidated invoice.
Consumers, who report such cases receive an additional 50% reward from penalties imposed on the non-compliant trader.
Reports can be submitted to the RRA WhatsApp line: 0739008010. To boost participation, RRA last month launched a partnership with QT Global Software Ltd and AMBI Tech Ltd to provide additional incentives to final consumers.
Through TengaPromo, the more VATable invoices a consumer requests using their registered phone number, the more loyalty points they earn. These points correspond to weekly cash prizes they can play for, ranging from Frw5,000 to Frw1 million.
A total of 1,200 lucky winners can share up to Frw50 million in cash prize each month.
