The resolution passed with 10 votes in favor, none against, and five abstentions, including France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia.
Reaffirming the UN’s mission to maintain global peace and resolve conflicts, the resolution calls for an immediate end to hostilities and mourns lives lost without assigning blame to Russia.
Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea emphasized that while the resolution is not a “peace deal,” it provides “a path to peace.”
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that peace must be “just, sustainable, and comprehensive.”
Earlier, the UN General Assembly rejected the U.S. draft and instead approved a resolution submitted by Ukraine and European allies, reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while advocating for a just and lasting peace.
UN Security Council resolutions are legally binding under international law.
Speaking in Port Sudan, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin announced plans to escalate actions, accusing Kenya of hostility.
According to reports, Hussein mentioned submitting a memorandum to the African Union and imposing economic sanctions, including a ban on Kenyan tea imports.
Sudan criticizes Kenya for hosting the RSF’s signing of the Sudan Founding Charter, which aims to establish a parallel government. Hussein condemned this as interference and a violation of international agreements.
Since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF began in April 2023, it has claimed at least 29,683 lives by the end of 2024, according to crisis monitoring reports.
This initiative is a collaboration between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to a statement released late Monday.
The two regional blocs have selected former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to lead their joint peace process in the DRC.
This appointment follows a joint summit held on February 8, where the EAC and SADC proposed merging the Nairobi Process, an EAC-led mediation effort led by Kenyatta, with the Luanda Process, a separate peace initiative facilitated by Angolan President João Lourenço under the African Union.
Both peace processes have encountered obstacles. The Nairobi Process has reportedly reached an “impasse,” according to Kenyatta’s spokesperson, Kanze Dena. Meanwhile, a peace summit under the Luanda Process was abruptly canceled in late December.
As part of their renewed efforts, the EAC and SADC have scheduled a ministerial meeting for February 28.
The M23 rebels have taken control of multiple towns, including Goma and Bukavu, the capital cities of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, respectively.
The eastern DRC remains a battleground for various armed groups. This renewed mediation effort signals a fresh attempt to bring stability to the region, though the success of the initiative will depend on cooperation from all parties involved.
Reports indicate that calm has been restored in all areas captured by the M23 rebel group, which disclosed intentions to continue fighting for the Liberation of DR Congo, shall Kinshasa maintain reluctance on direct negotiations.
Chi-Man Kwan was received by President Kagame on February 24, 2025.
According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, Kwan is in Rwanda to attend the Inclusive Fintech Forum, an international conference on financial technology, taking place from February 24 to 26, 2025.
President Kagame is expected to officially open the IFF conference on February 25, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Center, where leaders from different sectors around the world will be in attendance.
This forum is organized by the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) in collaboration with Elevandi, a company specializing in financial technology, and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). The partnership aims to establish the forum as a key platform for global financial technology solutions.
According to the 2024 FinSope report, financial services in Rwanda reach 96% of the population, with 86% of them accessing these services through mobile phones.
Insights gathered from the more than 3,000 participants attending this forum will help shape discussions at major global conferences, including the Singapore FinTech Festival, Japan FinTech Festival, 3i Summit, and Point Zero Forum.
Raffles Family Office is one of the leading firms in Southeast Asia, providing wealth management and advisory services to high-net-worth families. The firm manages assets worth billions of US dollars.
On the same day, President Kagame also met with Benjamin Fernandes, CEO of NALA; Marlon Chigwende, Founder of Admaius Capital Partners; Madhusudanan Madhu, Co-Founder of M2P; Parag Bhise, CEO of Nucleus Software, and Prajit Nanu, CEO of Nium. The CEOs are in Rwanda for the Inclusive FinTech Forum.
Their discussions revolved around the growing FinTech sector in Rwanda and the various opportunities for partnerships offered by the ease of doing of business in Rwanda.
The soldiers sustained injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group and were evacuated on medical grounds to receive specialized care in their home countries.
The evacuees include 129 soldiers from the Republic of South Africa Battalion, 40 from the Malawi Battalion, and 25 from the Tanzania Battalion.
They arrived at the Rwandan border at around 1:00 p.m., where they were first searched by security officials before proceeding to have their passports stamped at the immigration office. They remained at the border in Rubavu until the evening, finally departing from the city at around 6:30 p.m. to head toward Kigali.
Some of the soldiers were confined to wheelchairs, having lost their legs in the intense battles they fought. Some were dressed in military uniforms, while others wore civilian clothes.
They were escorted from the La Corniche One-Stop Border Post to Kigali International Airport by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Military Police.
The repatriation follows increasing pressure for the SADC mission to withdraw after 18 soldiers, including 14 from South Africa, were killed in clashes with M23 rebels.
The M23 fighters overpowered the Congolese army and the mission’s forces, capturing Goma and surrounding the remaining troops.
The deadly confrontation also resulted in the deaths of two Malawian and two Tanzanian soldiers during skirmishes in Sake and Goma, North Kivu Province.
Reports of the soldiers’ planned departure from Goma first emerged on Friday. However, the process was delayed at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.
For two weeks, discussions had been ongoing regarding their return, with the United Nations mediating talks with M23 rebels, who have long demanded the withdrawal of SADC forces from the DRC.
Among the injured soldiers, one has reportedly suffered a severe disability, losing both legs. Another, a young soldier, lost his eyesight during the war.
Several others sustained grenade injuries, which led to further complications due to the harsh living conditions they endured at the Sake military base. Reports indicate that among the soldiers, two women are expectant.
The repatriation comes even as South Africa’s Parliament continues to press President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw troops, criticizing the deployment as sacrificing soldiers in a foreign conflict for private interests.
The mounting losses have intensified debates over the country’s continued military involvement in the DRC.
The petition claims Musk is supporting a foreign government that threatens Canada’s sovereignty.
The petition was initiated by British Columbia writer Qualia Reed and was sponsored by New Democratic Party member Charlie Angus.
It accuses Musk of acting against Canada’s national interests by advising Trump, who has repeatedly suggested annexing Canada during his second term.
Musk, born in South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who is from Regina, Saskatchewan. Despite leading U.S. companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), Musk faces criticism for supporting Trump’s push to reduce the U.S. federal government’s size.
Under Canadian parliamentary rules, petitions require at least 500 signatures to be considered. Reed’s petition has far exceeded this, collecting approximately 167,000 signatures by Monday.
The petition asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to revoke Musk’s citizenship immediately. The House of Commons will resume on March 24 unless a general election is called beforehand. The petition remains open for signatures until June 20.
Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration has led to significant budget cuts across U.S. federal agencies, affecting thousands of public employees.
Despite criticism, Musk recently appeared at a conservative event in Maryland, where he playfully waved a large chainsaw. On social media, he continues to express support for Trump’s policies.
The new officers, including 346 men and 200 women, completed their training on February 24, 2025, at the RCS training school located in Nsinda, Rwamagana District, after an 11-month program.
According to SSP Jean Pierre Olivier, the head of the RCS training, 550 trainees initially began the program. However, two left to pursue further education at the Rwanda National Police College, while two others failed to complete the training due to misconduct.
He highlighted that the recruits received training on correctional practices, respect for inmates’ rights, military drills, firearms handling, self-defense without weapons, and various government policies to support their future responsibilities.
At the pass out ceremony, Dr. Biruta emphasized the government’s commitment to reforming and advancing the RCS. He encouraged the new officers to ensure the safety and security of correctional facilities.
“We expect you to safeguard the country’s security by effectively managing correctional facilities, applying the rehabilitation principles you’ve learned, respecting inmates’ rights, and avoiding misconduct or criminal behavior. Strive to contribute positively to the nation and the Rwanda Correctional Service,” he said.
He also urged the new officers to embody the values of the RCS while assuring them that the government will continue supporting their professional development and capacity-building initiatives.
Dororatha Ishimwe, a recruit from Nyagatare district, expressed her pride in joining the RCS and vowed to protect inmates’ rights while following the example of her dedicated predecessors.
Viateur Nikwigize shared that he learned how to maintain security, collaborate with other agencies, and is confident these skills will help him perform his duties effectively while upholding the country’s laws.
Steven Muhawenimana added, “I am proud to have completed my training and joined the RCS. My goal is to protect the rights of inmates and contribute to national security.”
These young men and women represent the seventh cohort of RCS trainees and will now be deployed to various correctional facilities across the country.
The 29-year-old Lawal was reportedly heading to the club’s training ground at St. Mary’s Stadium in Entebbe, Central Region of Uganda, but got involved in an accident on Entebbe Road that claimed his life.
Abdul Wasike, the Vipers SC head of communications confirmed the sad news on Monday. “It is a sad day as we communicate the death of our player Lawal. We are still trying to gather more information about the accident,” said Wasike.
The Nigerian forward, who played a pivotal part for SC Vipers, joined the club in 2022 from Rwanda Premier League side AS Kigali.
He previously played in the Nigerian Premier League with Kano Pillars FC, Wikki Tourists FC and FC Nasarawa.
A section of netizens had called on the EGOT-winning artist to cancel his show in Kigali, where he headlined the second edition of Move Afrika, citing the ongoing stand-off between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the root causes of the conflict in eastern Congo.
“I’m aware of what’s happening, and I’m aware of the calls for me not to do this show, but I really believe that the mission of Move Afrika is still important,” Legend said in a recent interview with the BBC.
He noted that fans should not suffer because of disagreements between leaders.
“It’s still important to bring international touring to Rwanda and to other places around the continent, and I didn’t want to abandon that mission just because I may not agree with everything that the leader of the country does. I don’t agree with everything the leader of my country does,” he remarked.
He added, “I don’t believe that we should punish the people of Rwanda and the people of other countries when we disagree with their leaders.”
Congolese authorities have long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group. Rwanda has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that M23 fighters are Congolese citizens fighting against decades of marginalisation and persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking nationals.
Additionally, Rwanda has dismissed claims that it has mineral interests in the DRC, instead arguing that Congolese leadership is using the accusations to divert attention from governance and mismanagement issues.
John Legend [performed in Kigali->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/john-legend-fires-up-kigali-in-thrilling-move-afrika-concert-photos-video] on February 21, 2025, despite the pressure, unlike Grammy-winning singer Tems, whose recent cancellation over the same conflict drew criticism from Rwandan fans.
Tems was scheduled to perform in Kigali on 22 March 2025 as part of her Born in the Wild world tour, which includes stops in major African cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Accra, and Addis Ababa. Her decision to pull out of the event sparked criticism from Rwandan fans.
Concerns over the lack of international tours in Africa have persisted for years, with some attributing it to inadequate entertainment infrastructure. Addressing this issue, John Legend emphasised the need for development in the sector.
“I think there does need to be more development when it comes to making it possible for more acts to come and tour here.”
Move Afrika, a pioneering music touring circuit by Global Citizen, aims to drive economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship across Africa through world-class entertainment events.
The 2025 tour will expand from East to West Africa, with Nigeria as the next host country.
The project also seeks to set a new gold standard for entertainment events, boosting demand for international and regional artists to tour Africa.
Mulubrhan completed the stage in a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 52 seconds, securing first place in a tightly contested finish. He edged out Rotem Tene of Israel Premier Tech, who finished second, and Lorrenzo Manzin of TotalEnergies, who claimed third place. Milan Menten (Lotto) and Brady Gilmore (Israel Premier Tech) rounded out the top five.
A total of 51 riders clocked the same time as the stage winner, underscoring the intensity of the competition.
Among the Rwandan riders, Byukusenge Patrick (Java-InovoTec) was the highest finisher, securing 13th place with the same time as the leader.
Other notable Rwandan performers included Ngendahayo Jeremie (May Stars) in 17th place, Masengesho Vainqueur (Team Rwanda) in 21st, Mugisha Moise (Team Rwanda) in 28th, and Manizabayo Eric (Java-InovoTec) in 32nd.
Meanwhile, Munyaneza Didier (Team Rwanda) finished 63rd, trailing by 1 minute and 15 seconds.
Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies leads the general classification with a time of 4 hours, 1 minute, and 43 seconds, followed closely by Milan Menten from Lotto Development Team.
Joris Delbove, also of TotalEnergies, trails by just one second, while Oliver Mattheis of Bike Aid is three seconds behind the leader. Pavel Šumpik from Devo Team Picnic sits in fifth place, four seconds back.
Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan holds the 12th position, 10 seconds off the lead, while Aldo Taillieu of Lotto Devo Team shares the same time in 15th place. Rwanda’s Masengesho Vainqueur ranks 26th, 21 seconds behind, with Byukusenge Patrick also in contention.
President Paul Kagame and International Cycling Union President David Lappartient officially flagged off the 17th edition of the Tour du Rwanda which started with the prologue at BK Arena on Sunday morning.
The eight-day race continues on Tuesday with Stage 2, covering 112.8 kilometers from Kigali’s MIC building to Musanze.
