In a strongly worded statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rwanda accused the DRC, supported by certain ECCAS member states, of instrumentalising the regional bloc for its own political agenda. The move, according to Rwanda, became evident during the 26th Ordinary Summit held on Saturday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Rwanda says that during the summit, its rightful turn to assume the rotating chairmanship of the organisation, as stipulated under Article 6 of the ECCAS Treaty, was deliberately bypassed.
Kigali described the development as a continuation of a pattern of exclusion and disregard for the rules governing the community.
“The distortion of the organisation’s purpose was once again evident… where Rwanda’s right to assume the rotating Chairmanship… was deliberately ignored in order to impose the DRC’s diktat,” the statement read.
This is not the first time Rwanda has raised concerns over its treatment within ECCAS. The government referenced a letter previously addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union in which it protested its “illegal exclusion” from the 22nd Summit held in Kinshasa in 2023, under DRC’s presidency. The letter, Rwanda said, went unanswered and no corrective action was taken by the community.
Citing a consistent violation of its rights under ECCAS’s constitutive texts and a lack of institutional accountability, Rwanda concluded there is “no justification for remaining in an organisation whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles and intended purpose.”
Established in 1983 and headquartered in Gabon, ECCAS brings together 11 countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Rwanda’s withdrawal marks a major shift in the region’s diplomatic landscape, particularly at a time when relations between Rwanda and the DRC remain tense due to broader geopolitical and security concerns in the Great Lakes region. While the M23 rebel movement continues to tighten its grip in North and South Kivu provinces of eastern DRC, Rwanda has repeatedly raised concerns over the Congolese government’s collaborations with FDLR, a group formed by the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Kigali maintains that the Congolese army’s continued engagement with the FDLR not only undermines regional peace efforts but also contravenes multiple agreements aimed at dismantling genocidal forces operating in the region. Rwanda views this alliance as an existential threat to its national security and stability.
Kinshasa, on the other hand, continues to accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group’s offensives. Kigali has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, insisting that they serve to deflect attention from the real issue, which is the DRC’s failure to address the presence of armed groups within its territory.
Building on the achievements of the first phase, the current phase will continue supporting 299 women from the initial cohort and introduce 300 new participants, bringing the total number of direct beneficiaries to 599.
The initiative, which targets communities in Mushubati and Gihango sectors, will benefit more than 2,800 individuals in total, with an investment of USD 1,773,841 (equivalent to approximately Frw 2.55 billion).
This project represents the second phase of KOICA’s broader UPG – Kira Wigire program, implemented by World Vision Rwanda to empower vulnerable communities in Rutsiro. The first phase ran from 2021 to 2023, focusing on socio-economic development and self-reliance.
The project will provide training through programs like “Hinduka Wigire” and “Kora Wigire”, alongside capacity building in agriculture, livestock farming, savings and loan group formation, and market and financial institution linkages.
One of the beneficiaries from the first phase, Vestine Munezero from Congo Nil Cell in Gihango Sector, shared her journey of transformation.
She said, “I used to live in a house made of unplastered bricks that made me feel ashamed, and my husband had abandoned me. Since we were organized into savings groups, I’ve renovated my house, bought chickens, goats, and rabbits, and I’m now able to afford school fees for my children. I’ve achieved all this in just three years through this project.”
Pauline Okumu, National Director of World Vision Rwanda, praised the partnership with local leaders and KOICA, stating that the initiative aligns with national development goals.
She highlighted how the project complements government planning, particularly by empowering citizens through savings groups and income-generating activities.
Kim Kwonho, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Rwanda, echoed these sentiments. He emphasized that the first phase had brought significant improvements in nutrition, economic resilience, and overall well-being among women-headed households.
In the second phase, KOICA views the 599 women not just as beneficiaries, but as entrepreneurs capable of driving meaningful change in Rwanda.
Emmanuel Uwizeyimana, Vice Mayor for Economic Development in Rutsiro, also commended KOICA and World Vision, noting the project’s role in expanding livelihoods.
“This is a great project that has helped our citizens lift themselves out of poverty. As residents of Rutsiro, we consider this project our own because over the past three years, we have witnessed remarkable improvements in the livelihoods of our community. We encourage beneficiaries to continue working hard to achieve even greater results and to target international markets with their products,” he noted.
Impact data from the first phase shows remarkable progress. Between 2021 and 2023, the proportion of households eating two meals a day rose from 35% to 72%, and those consuming a balanced diet increased from 6.7% to 57%.
Community based health insurance coverage improved from 83.6% to 97%, while households saving at least Frw 5,000 per month jumped from 3% to 47%, with some saving up to Frw 44,000 monthly.
Furthermore, contributions to Rwanda’s national long-term savings scheme, Ejo Heza, rose from 0% to 69.5% among beneficiaries, demonstrating the project’s effectiveness in promoting financial security and self-reliance.
In the phone talks initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi said that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations requires the two sides to take the helm and set the right course, adding that it is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions.
Noting that at the suggestion of the U.S. side, the two countries’ lead officials recently held an economic and trade meeting in Geneva, Xi said it marked an important step forward in resolving the relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, and was welcomed by both societies and the international community.
The two sides need to make good use of the economic and trade consultation mechanism already in place, and seek win-win results in the spirit of equality and respect for each other’s concerns, he said, adding that the Chinese side is sincere about this, and at the same time has its principles.
The Chinese, Xi said, always honour and deliver what has been promised, urging both sides to make good on the agreement reached in Geneva. In fact, China has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement, Xi added.
The U.S. side should acknowledge the progress already made, and remove the negative measures taken against China, he said.
The two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military, and law enforcement to build consensus, clear up misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation, Xi added.
Xi emphasised that the United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on “Taiwan independence” will not be able to drag China and the United States into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict.
Trump said that he has great respect for Xi, and the U.S.-China relationship is very important.
The United States wants the Chinese economy to do very well, and the United States and China working together can get a lot of great things done, he said.
Trump said the United States will honour the one-China policy.
The meeting in Geneva was very successful and produced a good deal, he said, adding that the United States will work with China to execute the deal.
The United States loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, Trump said.
Xi welcomed Trump to visit China again, for which Trump expressed heartfelt appreciation.
The two presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another round of meeting as soon as possible.
The draft, introduced after months of mediation in Doha, was intended to build momentum toward ending the years-long conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. But according to an AFC/M23 representative who spoke to Reuters, the proposal is “not recent and has not been updated for over a month.”
The source further indicated that the proposal “takes more into account Kinshasa’s expectations” than the rebels’ own positions.
The talks, mediated by Qatar with backing from Washington and African leaders, have seen limited visible progress.
Some delegates from both camps have reportedly left Doha for consultations with their leadership, further casting doubt on the immediate trajectory of the process.
While one source briefed on the negotiations suggested the discussions had entered a “deeper phase,” with both parties engaging on the root causes of the conflict, voices within the AFC/M23 delegation remain sceptical.
Qatar moved to mediate the conflict between the rebels and President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration following the capture of large swathes of eastern DRC, including the cities of Bukavu and Goma.
The conflict has been ongoing for years. The rebels accuse the Congolese administration of poor governance, persecution, and the marginalisation of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the east.
While diplomatic ties were formally established in 1971, it was in 1995, following then Vice President Paul Kagame’s first official visit to China, that the relationship became more active across trade, political and investment fronts.
“It has been an exciting journey and we have seen a lot of results in many spheres of national life,” said Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, James Kimonyo, in a recent exclusive interview with IGIHE.
“Thanks to the excellent relations between Rwanda and China, we’ve moved from engagement to action,” he added.
That action is increasingly evident in the area of trade. In 2019, Rwanda was exporting only about $35 million worth of goods to China. By 2024, that number had jumped to nearly $160 million, an increase of over 350 percent in just five years.
The range of Rwandan products entering China has also diversified, from coffee and tea to chilli and other non-resource goods, all benefiting from China’s zero-tariff policy for least developed countries. China, meanwhile, continues to export close to $500 million worth of products to Rwanda annually, underscoring a growing but still imbalanced trade relationship.
But the real shift, according to Ambassador Kimonyo, is in direct investment. Between November 2023 and May 2024, more than 26 Chinese companies visited Rwanda, many of them returning with concrete investment proposals.
“The quick move by the companies is an indication that they are already weighing and they are so excited about the investment opportunities that Rwanda is presenting,” Kimonyo said.
He confirmed that China was the leading contributor to foreign direct investment in Rwanda last year, ahead of India and the United States.
“This all begins with what our government has done in terms of creating a very conducive, attractive environment for investment,” he said.
“The Chinese are very conscious, very aware and very excited, sometimes skeptical at first but once they see what’s on the ground, the interest becomes real.”
The surge in investor confidence aligns closely with China’s own evolving policy direction. During its recently concluded Two Sessions political meetings, an annual gathering similar in function to Rwanda’s Umushyikirano, China placed new emphasis on what it calls “high-quality development” and “new forces of production.” These themes center around environmentally sustainable growth powered by innovation and advanced technology.
“As much as China’s transformation has moved very fast, they want to make sure it does not come at the expense of the environment,” said Kimonyo. “So whether it is agriculture, it has to be climate-smart agriculture. If it is construction, the buildings have to be smart. In transport, there’s a big push toward electric vehicles. And in manufacturing, it must not damage the environment.”
For Rwanda, this vision offers not just a template but an opportunity to align national development goals with international investment standards.
“We stand to gain because of the innovations China has put in place,” Kimonyo said. “And the companies bringing those investments to Rwanda should also be able to ensure that what’s happening in China today in terms of high-quality development is what also happens in Rwanda.”
President Paul Kagame’s participation in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing underscored that alignment. During his visit, Kagame met with President Xi Jinping to review ongoing cooperation and discuss future collaboration in key sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and digital technology.
“The goal is to ensure our young people access cutting-edge education and that the skills they acquire here are going to be useful in our labor market,” Kimonyo said, referencing the education deals discussed during the summit.
As part of the long-term strategy, Rwanda is seeking both public and private investment from China. Public partnerships are being pursued in areas like health and energy, while the private sector is expected to drive growth in manufacturing, agriculture, and digital services.
“We know Rwanda has embraced the private-led growth philosophy,” Kimonyo said. “So engaging with the private sector and increasing the number of companies investing in Rwanda is going to be very critical for us going forward.”
People-to-people exchange is another pillar of the relationship. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Rwanda had around 2,000 students in China. While that number dipped during the global shutdowns, it has since rebounded to nearly 1,000 today, most of them pursuing advanced education. A smaller group is active in private business or employed by local Chinese companies, contributing further to the economic link between the two nations.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Kimonyo believes the next phase of Rwanda–China cooperation will be defined by smart partnerships and shared values around innovation and sustainability. He emphasized that as China refines its economic model to address climate and efficiency concerns, Rwanda is positioning itself to absorb the best of that experience.
The celebration commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim, whom God commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail. At the last moment, God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead.
The national Eid al-Adha prayer was held at Kigali Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, beginning at 6 am. The event was well-attended by Muslims from different parts of the country, who joined in the communal prayer.
Eid al-Adha is traditionally marked by a special prayer followed by the ritual slaughtering of animals such as goats, sheep, cows, or camels. The meat from the animals is divided into three portions: one for the family, one for neighbours, and one for those in need, reflecting the festival’s emphasis on charity and community sharing.
Minani Hemedi, who celebrated the festival in Nyamirambo, told IGIHE that for them, Eid al-Adha is like a harvest festival and a time to come together with others.
“It’s the day our forefather, the Prophet Ibrahim, was commanded to offer a sacrifice. As he prepared to offer his son, he was given a ram to sacrifice instead. Muslims, wherever they are, are called to slaughter animals — starting with small livestock like goats or sheep, as well as cattle or camels,” he revealed.
The celebration typically lasts for three days, during which families come together to pray, share meals, and extend support to the less fortunate.
The festival is a time for Muslims to express their faith, gratitude, and commitment to helping others, regardless of their neighbours’ beliefs or backgrounds.
In the three years since Spiro began operations in Rwanda, the company has distributed nearly 4,000 electric motorcycles. This initiative aligns with Rwanda’s national goal to phase out fuel-powered motorcycles as part of efforts to reduce air pollution.
Joseph Nsabimana, who has been a motorcycle taxi rider for five years and has been using a Spiro electric motorcycle for two months, highlighted the financial benefits. He explained that switching to an electric motorcycle helped him save money he previously spent on engine oil.
He said, “Every month, I used to pay about Frw 12,000 for oil changes, which adds up to Frw 144,000 annually. With Spiro bikes, that’s money I now save and can reinvest in other areas of my life.”
Nsabimana also thanked the Rwandan government for introducing electric motorcycles and expressed a common wish among riders: that more charging stations be installed in various areas for convenience.
Shanton Ngabire, Spiro’s Head of Sales, announced that the company plans to distribute 25,000 motorcycles this year, some of which will be offered at discounted rates. Spiro also intends to build 400 charging stations across the country.
He noted, “Rusizi is the first district in the Western Province where we’ve opened a branch. Thank you for choosing Spiro. We will increase charging stations as requested. I assure you that wherever motorcycles can reach, we will install stations, not just along major roads.”
Spiro motorcycles come equipped with GPS technology, which allows the company to remotely disable a bike if it is stolen, enabling the owner to recover it easily.
Nsekarije Venuste, Head of Investment and Employment Promotion in Rusizi District, welcomed Spiro to the district highlighting that the electric motorcycles support Rwanda’s green development agenda.
He added, “I encourage all motorcycle taxi operators to adopt them. As one of their peers testified, these electric bikes are more profitable than petrol-powered ones.”
Currently, four charging stations have been set up in Rusizi and Nyamasheke Districts, in locations such as Bugarama, Kamembe, Ntendezi, and Nyamasheke, with another under construction in Buhinga.
Outside of Kigali City, Spiro has opened branches in Rwamagana, Kayonza, Muhanga, and now Rusizi, with upcoming plans to expand to Karongi and Musanze Districts in the near future.
President Idriss Deby announced the decision in a Facebook post on Thursday, June 5, declaring the suspension a matter of national dignity.
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” Deby wrote.
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride,” he added.
The announcement comes in response to Trump’s recent order reinstating and expanding travel restrictions on foreign nationals from 19 countries, including Chad, citing national security threats, terrorism risks, and poor cooperation on immigration enforcement.
Chad was placed under a full travel ban, meaning most of its citizens are barred from entering the United States. Other African nations under similar restrictions include Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, the Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. An additional three—Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo—face partial bans targeting tourist, student, and business visas.
The U.S. administration cited high visa overstay rates and poor vetting infrastructure in Chad as reasons for its inclusion. According to the Department of Homeland Security, certain visa categories from Chad had overstay rates exceeding 50 percent.
President Trump, in a video statement, said the bans were necessary to protect the U.S. from “foreign terrorists and other threats,” citing a recent terror incident in Boulder, Colorado.
“We don’t want them,” Trump said bluntly, referring to migrants from countries flagged in the executive order.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States.”
The escalating feud marks a stunning turn in a relationship that once saw the world’s richest man play a key role in Trump’s second-term administration and re-election effort. But what had been an uneasy partnership imploded this week in public, with blistering criticism exchanged across press conferences and social media platforms.
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump’s threat came as tensions boiled over following Musk’s vocal opposition to a sweeping tax and spending bill championed by the president.
Musk, who previously led Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and donated nearly $300 million to support his campaign and GOP allies in 2024, responded sharply.
Just minutes after markets closed, following a staggering 14% drop in Tesla stock that erased over $150 billion in value, Musk replied “Yes” to a post on his platform X that called for Trump’s impeachment.
It was a previously unthinkable gesture, given the Republican Party’s control of both chambers of Congress.
The rift had been building. Days earlier, Musk denounced Trump’s legislation as a “disgusting abomination” that would dangerously inflate the national debt, now at $36.2 trillion.
While Trump initially refrained from responding, he broke his silence Thursday during a press appearance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressing “very disappointed” feelings about Musk.
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump told reporters.
As the president spoke, Musk hit back on X, asserting: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” He also accused Trump of “ingratitude” and warned that the president’s economic policies, including his signature tariffs, would push the U.S. into a recession.
Further inflaming tensions, Musk appeared to reference Trump’s name in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files in a cryptic post on X.
The files refer to recently unsealed court documents from a long-running case involving Epstein, a disgraced financier accused of running a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls.
The documents list names of high-profile individuals alleged to have had ties to Epstein. While Musk did not elaborate, the implication that Trump may be connected to the scandal added fuel to an already volatile exchange.
Meanwhile, the clash sent shockwaves through financial markets and the political landscape. Tesla’s historic single-day stock plunge rattled investors, while lawmakers expressed concern about how the feud could impact the Republican Party’s cohesion ahead of the midterms.
“Musk was a major player in the ground game last cycle,” one GOP strategist told Reuters. “If he sits out the midterms—or worse, turns on us—it’s a huge problem.”
Musk’s threats to decommission key assets from SpaceX, including the Dragon spacecraft used in NASA missions, also alarmed government agencies. Though he later walked back that statement, the uncertainty underscored how deeply intertwined Musk’s companies are with federal operations.
{{From influence to isolation
}}
Just last week, Trump had given Musk a ceremonial Oval Office send-off after his resignation from the Department of Government Efficiency. Yet behind the scenes, tensions had been growing, particularly after Trump rescinded the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
According to White House aides, Musk had begun to lose influence within the administration even before the public fallout, as senior officials worked to curtail his control over staffing and budgeting.
While Trump now insists that Elon “was wearing thin,” Musk’s team has stayed mostly silent. A White House statement called the split “an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”
Still, the damage may be lasting. Musk has hinted at launching a new political movement and pledged to withhold future campaign donations. On Tuesday, he warned voters to oust any politicians who “betrayed the American people.”
Whether this political divorce is permanent or merely a prelude to a truce or part of Musk’s plan to distance himself from Trump’s controversial reforms remains to be seen.
Speaking to international journalists recently, Professor Zheng Qi of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) outlined how the Party is rising to this challenge—not just through reforms or digital campaigns, but through a strategic effort rooted in ideological education, historical consciousness, and theoretical innovation.
During a recent exchange program in Beijing, international journalists were hosted at the Central Party School, a top-tier institution under the CPC Central Committee that plays a critical role in shaping the ideological direction of the Party and its governance capacity.
Professor Zheng Qi, from the Party Building Teaching and Research Department, addressed the group, detailing how the school is adapting its methods to resonate with a younger, globally minded Chinese population.
She explained that the CPC is not only addressing internal challenges such as corruption and governance capacity but is also focused on securing the support of the country’s youth. With this in mind, the Central Party School—once mainly responsible for training senior cadres—is now producing short video courses, hosting ideological outreach, and organising history education campaigns aimed squarely at younger audiences.
Founded in 1933 as the Marxist Communist School and renamed the Party School of the CPC Central Committee in 1935, the institution has played a central role in maintaining the ideological integrity of the CPC.
It trained generations of revolutionary and post-1949 leaders and became the intellectual engine behind major theoretical innovations that have shaped China’s modernisation. Since 1978, the school has been instrumental in supporting the country’s reform and opening-up agenda.
In 1994, the establishment of the National Academy of Governance aimed to professionalise China’s civil service, focusing on training mid-level and senior civil servants in public administration and policy. The two institutions were merged in 2018, creating a single entity with dual designations: the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and the National Academy of Governance.
It now stands as the highest-level educational institution within the CPC—an elite school for training Party cadres and promoting ideological and theoretical development. Its unique nature is reflected in the fact that nearly all of its students, faculty, and administrators are CPC members.
Professor Zheng Qi revealed that the CPC’s strategy to engage young people hinges on connecting ideology with current realities and cultural traditions.
“First, we need to always keep pace with theoretical development,” she said.
“Because our ideals and convictions are connected with our cultural practices and fine traditions. And they keep developing. So, from the past theoretical developments to today’s Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we endeavour to address the problems at present.”
By doing so, the Party seeks to show that its political thought remains relevant and responsive to the real-world issues that younger generations care about.
Recognising that many young Chinese are looking beyond material success and striving for personal meaning, the CPC is providing platforms that align national development goals with individual ambition.
“Many young people today may no longer be content with just meeting their material needs. They also aspire to have self-realisation,” Zheng said, noting that opportunities such as university teaching support and rural development initiatives are designed to “contribute their due share to our national development” while allowing them to “realise their potential and their value.”
To bring these ideas closer to youth, the Central Party School has taken to modern communication platforms.
“We also convey our theories—political theories—in a way popular among young people. We have many micro party courses. And me and many of my colleagues have made 10-minute-long courses,” Zheng explained.
“Those videos have been posted onto the Chinese version of TikTok and other new media platforms. They have been visited or clicked by a large number of netizens. In this way, we can enable young people to learn about our Party’s theories and to form their own opinion.”
Historical education also plays a key role in this engagement strategy. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party has prioritised campaigns that encourage young people to study the CPC’s and the nation’s past.
“General Secretary Xi also emphasised the importance of history,” said Zheng. “We have organized a study about Party history and our national history, by which we can draw inspiration and strength and show the important role of the CPC in China’s history.”
But this outreach to the younger generation is not taking place in isolation. Zheng underscored the broader internal challenges facing the CPC as it attempts to remain relevant and resilient.
“How can we continue to serve the people wholeheartedly or adopt a people-centred approach?” she asked, acknowledging that after over seven decades in power, the Party must remember “who we are and who we are for.”
She continued, “To govern such a country like China, we are facing so many arduous challenges of reform, which may be even more grave than when we just founded the PRC.”
Zheng noted that many of these reforms touch on entrenched interests and demand that the CPC constantly improve its governance capacity. She added, “This is attested to our leading capacity and governance level.”
Moreover, the CPC is grappling with the issue of corruption and the need to maintain the purity of its ranks—an issue Zheng said has contributed to the downfall of other political parties around the world.
“So, whether it’s in terms of resolve and our attitudes, as well as our reform measures, we can see that our Party has been committed to maintaining our purity,” she said. “People’s support rate or satisfaction rate for our combat against corruption is over 90%.”
In light of these challenges, the Party’s efforts to engage young people through theoretical development, historical education, and media-savvy communication are not merely tactics—they are existential necessities. And institutions like the Central Party School are playing an outsized role in ensuring that the CPC’s ideological roots remain strong, relevant, and persuasive in a rapidly evolving society.
