According to RIB data, 47 cases of genocide ideology were recorded during the period from April 7 to April 13, 2026, representing a 38.2% decrease compared to 76 cases reported during the same period in 2
The number of suspects arrested also declined by 27.2%, falling from 81 in 2025 to 59 in 2026.
Cases related to discrimination and divisionism similarly decreased, with five recorded cases compared to six in the previous year, a 16.7% reduction.
By region, the Southern Province recorded the highest number of arrests with 14 cases, accounting for 29.8% of the total. The Eastern Province recorded 13 cases, the Western Province 10, while Kigali had seven cases. The Northern Province recorded three cases.
The government has repeatedly stated that, despite 32 years since the end of the Genocide against the Tutsi, genocide ideology remains a concern both domestically and abroad.
On April 8, 2026, during the launch of the International Conference on Genocide Prevention, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Bizimana Jean Damascène called for stronger efforts to combat such ideology.
He stated that in some contexts, international actors would strongly condemn collaboration with perpetrators of Nazi-era crimes, yet similar responses are not always seen in relation to groups accused of promoting genocide ideology in the Great Lakes region.
He specifically cited the presence of the armed group FDLR, which he said continues to spread genocide ideology and operate in cooperation with actors in the region, including authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He urged the international community not to remain passive in the face of continued spread of genocide ideology in the region.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed that 59 people were arrested during the national commemoration week of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on suspicion of genocide ideology and related offences.
The final decision will be made by the United Nations Security Council. The Mechanism was tasked with handling residual cases from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including tracking fugitives and overseeing ongoing legal matters.
Among the most prominent recent cases handled by the IRMCT are those of Félicien Kabuga and Fulgence Kayishema. Kabuga, arrested in 2020, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to severe health and cognitive issues.
Once considered a key financier of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he remains detained in The Hague, as medical experts ruled he cannot travel. No country has agreed to host him except Rwanda.
Kayishema, arrested in 2023 in South Africa, continues to resist extradition to Rwanda, despite a 2012 ICTR ruling determined that his case should be transferred to Rwanda’s High Court.
If no legal obstacles arise, he is expected to be transferred via Arusha before facing trial in Rwanda, as national courts cannot overturn decisions made by international tribunals.
In June 2026, the UN Security Council will also decide whether to renew the mandates of IRMCT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Abubacarr Tambadou, or to formally wind down the institution’s operations. According to Tambadou, this meeting will determine whether the Mechanism continues operating in Arusha or begins its closure process.
If the IRMCT ceases operations, remaining cases will likely be handled by national jurisdictions. Countries such as France, Belgium, and others in Europe have already taken steps to prosecute genocide suspects or extradite them to Rwanda.
Since the establishment of the ICTR in 1995, 92 individuals were indicted for their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Of these, 62 were convicted, 10 were transferred to Rwanda for trial, and three cases were left to the IRMCT in 2010. Ten individuals were acquitted.
Beyond trials, the IRMCT also oversees enforcement of sentences and management of archives. Its closure raises concerns about genocide convicts currently imprisoned in countries like Senegal and Benin, as their future custody arrangements remain unclear once UN oversight ends.
Reports indicate that the UN has been funding their detention, particularly in Africa.
Discussions are ongoing about whether host countries will assume responsibility for these prisoners or transfer them to Rwanda. The country has indicated readiness to receive them, given the capacity to host them at modern prison facilities such as Mpanga Prison in Nyanza.
Meanwhile, Rwanda continues to pursue justice for genocide suspects abroad. Over 1,100 arrest warrants have been issued to various countries, with more than 500 suspects believed to be in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, cooperation, especially from African nations, has been limited.
On April 11, 2026, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, criticized the lack of action from African countries during a commemoration event in Kicukiro.
He emphasized that while European countries are often blamed, many African states have not taken sufficient steps to prosecute or extradite suspects.
France alone is currently handling around 40 pending genocide-related cases, while the United Kingdom is reported to host five suspects but has neither prosecuted nor extradited them.
As the IRMCT approaches its possible closure, the question remains: will justice for the remaining genocide cases be fully realized, or will responsibility shift unevenly across national jurisdictions?
IRMCT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz whose mandate comes to an end in June 2026 requested the extradition of Rwandans from Niger to their home country. Kayishema, arrested in 2023 in South Africa, continues to resist extradition to Rwanda, despite a 2012 ICTR ruling determined that his case should be transferred to Rwanda’s High Court.
Experts say that, given the complexity of the strait and the potential blowback to U.S. own interests, a full blockade may be difficult to sustain. Nevertheless, this “reckless move” could further disrupt the global economy and heighten the risk of renewed regional conflict.
“Reckless move”
After U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday to block ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said that U.S. forces will begin implementing a blockade of “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” on Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (1400 GMT).
In accordance with Trump’s proclamation, the blockade will be enforced “impartially” against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including “all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” according to the statement.
On Monday afternoon, the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz came into effect.
In a press conference following the blockade, Trump warned that the U.S. military will “eliminate” any Iranian ship if it comes close to the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026.
The blockade adds yet another hurdle to a globally vital shipping route already battered by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.
U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “is not just a geopolitical escalation but a reckless move that risks choking the global economy, with American consumers bearing the brunt,” Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency opined on Monday.
Unsustainable blockade
While the United States seeks to pressure Iran by blocking the strait to secure concessions on issues such as the reopening of Hormuz, experts say that a full blockade is unlikely to be either feasible or sustainable.
The United States is likely to rely on enhancing its naval presence, intensifying monitoring and inspection operations, and possibly imposing “selective restrictions” on the movement of certain vessels, said Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
“However, it is unlikely that the naval blockade would be complete or absolutely effective, given the complexities of maritime routes and the entanglement of international interests,” Alshaabani added.
Mohammed Al-Jubouri, a professor at al-Iraqia University in Baghdad, echoes Alshaabani’s assessment.
“Iran does not need to engage the U.S. fleet directly to undermine the blockade,” Al-Jubouri said. “It suffices for Tehran to employ tactics involving fast-attack craft, naval mines, coastal missile batteries, or even proxy attacks in other parts of the region. Such tools are capable of transforming any blockade into a prolonged war of attrition.”
A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026.
Abu Bakr al-Deeb, an advisor at the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies, argues that a complete blockade could end up shooting the United States in the foot, ultimately working against its own interests.
“The United States can impose temporary or partial control, but it would face immense difficulty in transforming that control into a stable, long-term blockade without incurring significant political and economic costs,” he added.
Far-reaching impact
Even if a long-term blockade may be beyond Washington’s reach, the move is sure to send additional shockwaves through a global energy market already roiled by ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and could further jeopardize the fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran, raising the risk of renewed conflict.
A blockade of a strait as vital as Hormuz cannot remain a “purely American affair” in terms of its impact, al-Deeb said, adding, “The global economy — particularly Asia and Europe — would suffer immediate and direct harm.”
Following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict on Feb. 28, Brent Crude oil prices have already soared, reaching highs of over 120 U.S. dollars per barrel by early April.
Oil could rise to 150 dollars a barrel under a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Jorge Montepeque, managing director at Britain-based Onyx Capital Group, told Bloomberg.
Gas prices are displayed at a petrol station in London, Britain, March 26, 2026. The strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran have triggered a sharp spike in global oil prices.
The U.S. blockade is also believed to raise the risk of hostilities reigniting between Washington and Tehran, potentially undermining the ceasefire that was just agreed upon last week.
“The U.S. insistence and lack of flexibility regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz … reveals Washington’s intention to use these issues as a pretext for launching further strikes and attacks,” said Al-Jubouri.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed to use new military capabilities if the war with the United States and Israel continues.
“We have not yet used our capabilities, and if the war continues, we will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about,” IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said after the U.S. blockade took effect.
Iranian soldiers patrol the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, April 30, 2019.
The initiative, titled “Blueing the Caspian Sea: Building Capacities for Pollution Management and Biodiversity Conservation,” is expected to benefit Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
The project will receive 11.74 million dollars in grant financing from the Global Environment Facility.
The implementation will be coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme, while the United Nations Office for Project Services will receive a 183,489 dollar grant to develop environmental and social framework tools and strengthen cross-country cooperation.
World Bank funding will support two components: pollution monitoring management worth 3.15 million dollars, aimed at developing systemic approaches and comparable water quality assessments, and biodiversity planning management worth 4.25 million dollars to improve protected area management and track population status.
The project seeks to enhance pollution control systems and increase the effectiveness of marine protected areas across the Caspian Sea, which hosts around 400 endemic species.
The bank warned that the sea’s level has decreased significantly in recent decades and could drop by 8 to 30 meters by 2100 due to climate change and economic use of water resources.
In Azerbaijan, the initiative will assist the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in developing a marine pollution monitoring scheme, including policy tools, a national seminar and staff training.
The project will also support biodiversity measures focused on Caspian seals and sturgeon, alongside plans to expand marine protected areas within Absheron National Park.
More than 7.89 million voters were registered, with turnout reaching 58.75 percent. The results show Wadagni, the incumbent Minister of Economy and Finance, backed by the ruling coalition, defeated opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin.
Wadagni’s running mate, Mariam Chabi Talata, will serve as vice president.
During the campaign, Wadagni pledged to build on reforms of the past decade and pursue a shift from a primary industry-driven model to a modern economy focused on industrialization, digitalization and regional integration. He said the emphasis would move from expanding economic scale to achieving higher-quality growth.
Political figures, electoral institutions and observers said the voting process was generally smooth and orderly. Benin’s Constitutional Court is expected to announce the final results within five days. Under the electoral code, the president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term.
Wadagni, 49, previously worked at Deloitte before joining the government after Patrice Talon was elected president in 2016. He has since served as Minister of Economy and Finance. Wadagni was reappointed in 2021 and promoted to senior minister, playing a key role in implementing Talon’s economic policies.
Romuald Wadagni casts his ballot at a polling station in Lokossa, Benin, on April 12, 2026. Romuald Wadagni won Benin’s presidential election held on Sunday, according to preliminary results released Monday by the country’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission.
The commemoration brought together members of the Rwandan community, Luxembourg officials, and friends of Rwanda on April 11, 2026.
Speaking at the event, Amb. Munyangaju stressed that remembering the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi is a responsibility shared by all, while expressing gratitude to those who joined Rwandans in honoring the victims.
“We are gathered here not only to remember but also to reaffirm our responsibility,” she said.
She highlighted the scale and brutality of the genocide, noting that in just 100 days, more than one million Tutsi were killed.
The ambassador emphasized that the genocide was not a spontaneous tragedy but a carefully planned and executed crime, rooted in decades of division, hate propaganda, discrimination, and systematic dehumanization of the victims.
She also pointed to the failure of the international community to act, despite clear warning signs, while commending the resilience and courage of survivors.
According to her, testimonies from survivors underscore the importance of remembrance and the collective responsibility to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
Amb. Munyangaju called on the international community to play an active role in preserving historical truth, supporting survivors, and combating hate speech and genocide ideology that continue to spread. She warned that, 32 years later, genocide ideology has not disappeared but has instead evolved.
Hate speech and genocide denial, she said, are increasingly spreading on social media, with coordinated networks disseminating misinformation across different parts of the world.
She stressed that genocide denial is not an expression of opinion but a continuation of the crime itself, urging countries to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2150, particularly in prosecuting genocide suspects and addressing the challenge of impunity.
The ambassador also raised concern over the situation in the region, especially in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where genocide ideology continues to spread, particularly through the FDLR, a group formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
She strongly condemned hate speech and violence targeting Congolese Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities, warning that such acts, if left unchecked, could escalate into further killings. “The silence in the face of these warning signs amounts to complicity,” she said.
Amb. Munyangaju commended the Government of Luxembourg for its continued solidarity with Rwanda during commemoration periods, including its support in providing land for the construction of a Genocide memorial, describing it as a strong symbol of partnership.
“These actions honor the victims and send a clear message: peace is a choice, justice is essential, and hate speech must never be tolerated,” she noted.
She also urged young people to play an active role in preserving history and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to working with international partners in fighting genocide ideology, promoting unity, and strengthening reconciliation.
Amb. Munyangaju further expressed appreciation to the commune of Mersch for allocating land for the construction of a memorial to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and to participants who took part in a wreath-laying ceremony held in Moesdorf, in Mersch district.
Attendees included staff from the Rwandan embassy in Luxembourg, members of Ibuka Luxembourg, and the Rwandan community organization RDL asbl.
Photos of the commemoration event in Luxembourg
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Luxembourg, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju has called on the international community to remain committed to ensuring that genocide never happens again anywhere in the world..Kalisa Didace President of Ibuka Luxembourg speaking at the event. Karurenzi Donatille, one of the authors of the books that were launched welcoming readers.Books featuring testimonies of genocide survivors were launched during the event. Lidia Umurerwa shared a testimony of her survival during Genocide against the Tutsi.
The sad news was confirmed by his family noting that the mourning is taking place in Kabuga.
Nkulikiyimfura had served for many years as the head of Akagera Aviation. Prior to that, he worked at RwandAir, where he held the position of Head of Operations.
In a statement, Akagera Aviation described him as a visionary and leader who contributed significantly to the company and to the development of Rwanda’s aviation sector since 2010.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our Managing Director, Mr. Patrick Nkulikiyimfura, on 12th April 2026. A visionary leader, his impact on Akagera Aviation and Rwanda’s aviation industry was profound. Our thoughts are with his family. May he rest in peace,” the statement read.
Patrick Nkulikiyimfura, who had long served as the Managing Director of Akagera Aviation died on Sunday, April 12, at the age of 57.
This is not a routine diplomatic stop; it is a calculated recognition of a continent that has become the new center of gravity for the world’s most pressing conversations on faith, diplomacy, and unity.
The 11-day itinerary, spanning Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, is a grueling schedule involving 18 flights and 11 cities. In practice, it represents a bold pivot toward the Global South, moving Africa from the periphery of international discourse to its vital center.
A strategic opening in Algiers
The decision to launch the tour in Algeria is a significant diplomatic statement. As a nation where Islam is the bedrock of social life, Algeria has never before hosted a Catholic Pope. By beginning his journey here, Leo XIV is prioritizing interfaith dialogue over traditional denominational strongholds.
Pope Leo is the first pope to visit Algeria.
The symbolism is profound: the Pontiff’s schedule includes a historic visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the world’s largest, followed by a meeting with the local Christian community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. These visits are an active demonstration of how divergent faiths can occupy the same intellectual and physical space.
Furthermore, the visit serves as a historical homecoming. On April 14, the Pope travels to Annaba, the ancient Hippo Regius, to pray at the ruins where Saint Augustine, a foundational architect of Western thought, lived and ministered. For Leo XIV, an Augustinian himself, this is a nod to the African roots of Christian philosophy, a reminder that the continent’s contribution to global thought is as ancient as it is essential.
The new heart of global Catholicism
Beyond the symbolism lies a demographic reality: Africa is now the primary engine of the Catholic Church’s growth. The continent is home to over 256 million Catholics, representing roughly one-fifth of the global total. While participation in the West plateaus, African congregations are expanding at a rate that has fundamentally inverted the old “missionary” narrative.
Pope Leo XIV visits Maqam Echahid (Martyrs’ Memorial) monument in El Madania, Algiers, Algeria, April 13, 2026, to begin his apostolic journey to Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Today, Africa no longer just receives the faith; it exports it. African priests and lay leaders are increasingly filling the administrative and spiritual voids of the Global North. By visiting Cameroon and Angola, Leo XIV is engaging with the very people who will dictate the future trajectory of the institution.
Navigating high-stakes realities
Each stop on the itinerary is strategically calibrated to address specific regional or global tensions, moving the journey beyond simple ritual into the realm of high-stakes diplomacy.
From Wednesday, April 15, to Saturday, April 18, the Pope will visit Cameroon, a nation of 30 million people, where he will venture into Bamenda. This region has been marked by years of socio-political tension, making his “Meeting for Peace” at St. Joseph’s Cathedral a high-stakes effort toward national reconciliation.
Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists during the flight heading to Algiers on April 13, 2026. Pope Leo XIV embarks on April 13 on an 11-day visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea for his first major international trip since becoming pontiff in May 2025.
This serious diplomatic mission will be balanced by a massive show of faith in Douala, where an estimated 600,000 faithful are expected to gather at Japoma Stadium for a landmark Eucharistic celebration.
The journey then shifts to Angola from Saturday, April 18, to Tuesday, April 21. During this leg, the Pontiff will travel to the Marian shrine of Mama Muxima, a site of profound cultural and spiritual devotion, to pray for peace in a nation still navigating the scars of its civil war history.
His itinerary also includes a visit to Saurimo, a hub of the diamond industry, where he intends to highlight the human dignity and ethical stakes involved in Africa’s vast natural resource wealth.
The tour concludes in Equatorial Guinea from Tuesday, April 21, to Thursday, April 23, with a final focus on “works of mercy.” In the capital and beyond, Leo XIV will visit the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital and engage with academics at the National University’s León XIV Campus, a sequence of events designed to bridge the gap between grassroots social care and the continent’s growing intellectual influence.
The sheer scale of the mission, covering nearly 18,000 kilometers, underscores its urgency. For a 70-year-old leader, the pace is demanding, but the objective is clear: visibility. By visiting coastal hubs, diamond centers, and conflict-affected regions, the tour brings a global spotlight to areas frequently overlooked by the Western media apparatus.
Ultimately, this tour is an exercise in recognition. It acknowledges a continent that is no longer “in waiting,” but is actively leading global conversations. Over these 11 days, Pope Leo XIV is not merely visiting four nations; he is engaging with a continent that is currently writing the next chapter of global history. In a world defined by fragmentation, this move to center Africa may well be the most important diplomatic statement of his papacy.
Pope Leo XIV disembarks the papal plane upon his arrival at Houari Boumediene International Airport to begin his apostolic journey to Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, in Dar El Beida, Algiers, Algeria, April 13, 2026.
He made the remarks on April 13, 2026, during the closing of the Commemoration Week at national level, as politicians and leaders gathered to honor fellow politicians who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi for opposing the extermination campaign.
The commemoration took place at the Rebero Genocide Memorial, a site dedicated to preserving the memory of politicians who stood against injustice and resisted divisionism.
Kalinda explained that discriminatory politics rooted in ethnic division played a central role in leading Rwanda to genocide, stressing the need for vigilance among current political actors.
“The Genocide against the Tutsi was the outcome of a series of poor leadership decisions, starting with colonial rule that fractured Rwandan unity and institutionalized ethnic divisions, followed by the First and Second Republics which entrenched discrimination against Tutsis as state policy,” he said.
He emphasized that remembrance is essential in preserving truth and countering genocide denial.
“Remembering is crucial to uphold the truth about the Genocide against the Tutsi, to show that it was planned, and to fight against denial and minimization while preventing its recurrence in Rwanda and elsewhere,” he added.
Kalinda noted that, in the aftermath of the genocide, Rwandans chose a path of unity, building a nation free from discrimination as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Good governance that prioritizes unity and equal opportunities for all Rwandans is the path we chose. The progress made over the past 32 years is remarkable and gives hope for the future of our country,” he said.
He, however, warned that elements of genocide ideology, denial, and minimization still exist and must be actively confronted. He called on politicians to take the lead in combating such tendencies and in educating the youth about the country’s history.
Kalinda also reminded attendees that although the Commemoration Week has concluded, the 100-day commemoration period of Kwibuka32 continues.
Frank Habineza, spokesperson for the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations (NFPO), said the politicians being remembered were killed for their courage in rejecting injustice and authoritarian rule.
“The politicians we honor today were killed because of their bravery in resisting oppression and injustice. They stood for a country governed with dignity and equality for all,” he said.
He highlighted that Rwanda’s 11 registered political parties currently work together toward national development, stressing that differing opinions should not be equated with conflict.
“Having different views is not fighting or undermining the achievements made over the past 32 years. Our role is to contribute ideas and solutions while remembering the painful history that led to the Genocide against the Tutsi,” he noted.
Habineza urged political party members to reject any attempts to reintroduce divisive politics.
“We will not accept anyone who seeks to take the country backward under any pretext,” he said.
Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana, outlined how politics of hatred were institutionalized under former leaders such as Juvénal Habyarimana and Grégoire Kayibanda.
He explained that although Habyarimana initially justified his rise to power by citing injustices, including discrimination in education, his regime went on to reinforce ethnic division and exclusion.
Dr. Bizimana noted that refugees who had been persecuted were denied the right to return and reclaim their property.
“Even those who attempted to secretly visit their families were chased away,” he said.
He also criticized ongoing efforts by some individuals, including Jean-Luc Habyarimana, to sanitize the legacy of the former regime, insisting that evidence of its role in persecuting Tutsis remains overwhelming.
Dr. Bizimana called on political leaders to prioritize educating young people about Rwanda’s history to prevent them from being misled.
“It is essential to properly educate the youth within political parties so they understand this history and engage in politics that unites Rwandans, supports national cohesion, and prevents the country from falling back into division,” he said.
He further urged young people to reject hate speech still propagated by some politicians influenced by past discriminatory ideologies.
“Hate speech persists among some politicians shaped by ethnic-based politics that deny the country’s inclusiveness. This ideology continues to influence them,” he said.
The minister stressed that unity cannot be built without understanding what destroyed it.
“We cannot build unity without first understanding what broke it and those responsible. That is what helps protect it and prevents the country from returning to divisive ideologies like those that characterized the regime which planned the Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said.
He concluded by urging today’s politicians to learn from Rwanda’s history and from past leaders who upheld integrity, emphasizing the need to safeguard national unity through truth and shared values.
François-Xavier Kalinda, President of the Senate, has warned that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was the result of a long history of bad governance.Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana, outlined how politics of hatred were institutionalized under former leaders such as Juvénal Habyarimana and Grégoire Kayibanda.Habineza urged political party members to reject any attempts to reintroduce divisive politics.The commemoration took place at the Rebero Genocide Memorial.Senior officials including Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva and Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe attended the event.
Speaking to reporters aboard the papal aircraft on Monday, the U.S.-born pontiff responded to Trump’s recent criticism by insisting that his messages should not be interpreted through a political lens.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo said. “And I’m sorry to hear that, but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the Church in the world today.”
The pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, stressed that his appeals for peace and reconciliation are not directed at any individual leader. He said his repeated warnings against what he called a “delusion of omnipotence” driving global conflicts were meant as a moral, not political, critique.
“I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said. “The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’”
In remarks to other reporters, Leo added plainly: “I have no fear of the Trump administration.”
The exchange comes after Trump launched a forceful attack on the pope over the weekend, criticizing Leo’s comments on the Iran war and accusing him of being “very liberal” and “weak on crime.” The president also suggested the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical Left” and condemned his opposition to aspects of U.S. foreign policy.
“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” Trump said while traveling back from Florida to Washington, escalating his criticism in both social media posts and comments to reporters.
In his posts, Trump also objected to the pope’s earlier remarks suggesting that talk of overwhelming military force in Iran reflected dangerous thinking, arguing that Leo had overstepped by commenting on geopolitical strategy. He further claimed the pope should avoid political issues altogether.
The White House’s criticism followed a period of heightened tensions between Washington and the Vatican, as Leo increasingly warned against escalating rhetoric around the Iran conflict. The pope has previously described threats of large-scale destruction as “truly unacceptable” and cautioned against what he sees as the religious justification of war.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, later said he was “disheartened” by the tone of the president’s remarks, stressing that the pope speaks as “the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel.”
Trump, however, doubled down on his criticism, reiterating that he was elected “in a landslide” to carry out his foreign policy agenda and suggesting the pope had been elevated in part due to his American nationality.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump said.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Pope Leo emphasized that he would continue his global tour of Africa, which began Monday with a visit to Algeria, where he is expected to meet civil authorities and later travel to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
“I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel,” he said. “And inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”
Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists during the flight heading to Algiers on April 13, 2026. Pope Leo XIV embarks on April 13 on an 11-day visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea for his first major international trip since becoming pontiff in May 2025.
