Troy Fitrell, made the disclosure during an online conference this week that technical teams are actively working to move the peace process forward.
Ambassador Fitrell explained that next week, technical teams will help the parties involved transition to the next phase, ultimately leading to the peace agreement, with Qatar also set to provide assistance.
“This coming week, we do have technical teams here to try to get to the next stage,” Fitrell said. “We’ve done these principles. Now we have been arguing about putting these principles into action. We are still shooting for a June or July peace agreement.”
“There is no sense fooling around on this. If we are going to do it, we do it now,” he added, emphasizing Washington’s push to accelerate negotiations.
Following Rwanda and the DRC’s agreement on the guiding principles, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that both nations would reach a peace agreement, and that neighboring countries would also benefit from the peace process.
Ambassador Fitrell reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to ensuring this goal is achieved without delay.
The court determined that Fatakumavuta’s statements amounted to acts of defamation, leading to a conviction for inciting defamation. This offense is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of Frw 300,000.
In addition, the court found that Fatakumavuta had violated the law by spreading false information. His actions were deemed a breach of the legal provisions that criminalize the dissemination of false rumors, which is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,000,000.
The court also ruled that Fatakumavuta exceeded the legally prescribed limits for drug use, resulting in a conviction for drug abuse. Despite his denial, this offense carries a penalty of one year in prison.
Fatakumavuta’s request for a re-examination of his drug levels was rejected, as he failed to provide valid reasons or evidence to challenge the expert report submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Regarding a charge of discrimination, the court found insufficient evidence to support it. The statement Fatakumavuta made about Bahati’s wife being poor was deemed not discriminatory. The court concluded that the remark did not show ill intent or malice.
Furthermore, the charge of public insult was dismissed, with the court ruling that Fatakumavuta’s comment, “The Ben likes to cry like a child,” did not meet the criteria for public insult. The judge clarified that this comment did not constitute an insult.
The court explained that, in theory, Fatakumavuta could have received a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,300,000 due to the cumulative nature of his crimes.
However, because Fatakumavuta acknowledged some of the offenses, the court applied mitigating factors, resulting in a reduced sentence.
In light of these factors, Fatakumavuta was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,300,000. He was informed that he has 30 days to appeal the decision.
Fatakumavuta was arrested on October 18, 2024, and is currently serving his sentence at Nyarugenge Prison. The eight months he has already spent in detention will be deducted from his sentence.
The news was confirmed to IGIHE by Junior Giti, the artist’s manager.
The singer’s mother had been hospitalised at Nyarugenge Hospital for several days. According to Giti, she had expressed signs of recovery just hours before her passing.
“She had been unwell for some time. In fact, we spoke with her last night and she mentioned feeling better and hoped to be discharged in the morning. We were completely shocked by the news of her sudden death,” Giti shared.
In recent weeks, Chriss Eazy has featured his mother in a series of heartfelt conversations on his YouTube channel, where they openly discussed family, music, and his upbringing.
The episodes offered fans a rare glimpse into the artist’s personal life and the strong bond he shared with his mother.
One particularly touching moment was her revelation that her favourite song by her son was “Inana.” She expressed immense pride in watching him rise to stardom and fulfil his dream of becoming one of Rwanda’s celebrated artists.
Reflecting on his birth during one of their final recorded conversations, she spoke about how he had to be admitted to neonatal care shortly after delivery.
She went on to describe how every time she looked at him, she saw a fighter. Someone who had battled to survive from day one.
The emotional exchange now serves as a lasting memory of their deep connection and her enduring belief in her son’s resilience and talent.
The 26-year-old playmaker will touch down at Juba International Airport on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM, where the club has called on fans to turn out in numbers for a grand welcome.
In a statement released on Thursday night, Jamus SC urged supporters to embrace their new signing with open arms.
“We invite everyone to come welcome the star Muhire Kevin, a gifted midfielder arriving from Rwanda. Let’s show him our support and make him feel at home.”
Muhire leaves Rayon Sports after an impressive season in which he played a pivotal role in guiding the team to a runners-up finish in both the Rwandan Premier League and the Peace Cup.
The former Amavubi CHAN team captain brings a wealth of international experience, having previously featured for clubs in Egypt and the Gulf, including El Makasa, El Dakhlia, Talaea El Gaish, Saham Club, and Al-Yarmouk SC.
His arrival is seen as a major boost for Jamus SC, who are looking to strengthen their midfield as they push for domestic glory in the upcoming season.
Jamus SC was recently crowned champions of the inaugural 2024/2025 South Sudan Premier League, finishing the season undefeated. They also won the South Sudan Super Cup and the Zain South Sudan Cup.
The Airport said the Air India flight AI 379, with 156 passengers on board, had taken off from Phuket bound for India’s Delhi when the pilot reported a bomb threat message on board and requested to make an emergency landing, prompting the airport to activate its contingency plan.
An airport official told Xinhua that the plane has since safely landed. Monchai Tanode, general manager of Phuket Airport, told reporters that the pilot reported to air traffic control that a crew member found a note with a suspected bomb threat in the plane’s lavatory.
The airport said all passengers have been disembarked, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams have started thorough searches for any explosives or suspicious items on the aircraft.
The incident comes a day after more than 240 people were killed in an [Air India Boeing 787 crash ->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/air-india-plane-with-242-on-board-crashes-near-india-s-ahmedabad-airport#:~:text=A%20London%2Dbound%20Air%20India,calling%20a%20major%20aviation%20disaster.] shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, on June 12, 2025, during a press briefing following his presentation of the draft budget and medium-term economic strategy to a joint session of Parliament.
Minister Murangwa noted that one of the major priorities in the upcoming fiscal year is to advance the full-scale construction of the new international airport.
“We previously carried out feasibility studies and completed preliminary works over a significant period. However, we now have a firm commitment to complete the airport by 2028. This fiscal year marks the beginning of full implementation,” he stated.
Regarding the funding, he explained, “So far, we’ve planned for $600 million. As you know, we have strategic partners, including Qatar. While this amount is part of the budget plan, the actual implementation phase will give us a clearer financial outlook.”
Murangwa confirmed that construction of the airport is scheduled to be completed by 2028 and will have the capacity to serve up to seven million passengers annually.
While addressing Parliament, the minister said current progress on the project stands at approximately 25% to 30%. Work on the runways, access roads, and water systems has been completed, and the project has now entered the building phase—expected to employ more than 6,000 workers.
In 2019, Qatar Airways partnered with the Government of Rwanda, securing a 60% stake in the airport project, which was then estimated to cost more than $1.3 billion.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, outlined key adjustments to customs duties and tax rates when he tabled the national budget for the 2025/2026 financial year in Parliament on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Among the main incentives, electric vehicles, hybrid cars, and electric motorbikes will continue to be exempt from customs duties to promote green mobility and reduce air pollution.
Additionally, luxury vehicles valued above $60,000 will benefit from tax incentives, while those valued at $60,000 or less will pay the standard 25% customs duty and applicable taxes.
The government is also reducing customs duties on several essential goods to ease the cost of living and support the local economy. For example, imported rice will face a 45% customs duty, down from the previous 75%. Wheat will be fully exempt from customs duties, sugar will be taxed at 25% instead of 100%, and cooking oil will attract a 25% rate, down from 35%.
Tax relief also extends to industrial and transport equipment. Road construction machinery and large textile and shoe manufacturing machines will be fully exempt from customs duties, while trucks with load capacities between five and twenty tonnes will have their customs duty reduced to 10% from 25%.
Public transport vehicles with more than 25 seats will be taxed at 10%, and those with 50 seats or more will be exempt.
To encourage digital financial transactions, electronic payment devices such as payment cards and point-of-sale machines will now be exempt from customs duties, a change from the previous 25% tax rate.
Minister Murangwa further explained that goods imported for sale in shops designated for security personnel will be fully exempt from customs duties, previously charged at 25%.
However, to protect domestic industries and support the Made in Rwanda initiative, some duties will increase. Notably, second-hand clothes will now be taxed at a fixed rate of $2.5 per kilogram, replacing the earlier 35% customs duty. Used shoes will be taxed at $5 per kilogram instead of 35%.
The total national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year is projected at Frw 7,032.5 billion, with Frw 4,105.2 billion expected to be generated from taxes and duties.
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council recalled Resolution 2736 of 2024, which demands that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) halt the siege of El Fasher.
The council members strongly condemned the attack on June 2 near al Koma in North Darfur on a joint World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Children’s Fund humanitarian convoy, which killed five humanitarian workers, injured several people, damaged life-saving humanitarian supplies and burned multiple trucks.
They reiterated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.
The council members also condemned repeated shelling by the RSF on May 29 that damaged a WFP facility in El Fasher.
They reminded the parties to the conflict to ensure the safety and security of UN and humanitarian personnel and their premises and assets. They reiterated that deliberate attacks against humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets may constitute war crimes.
The vessels, carrying over 100 passengers, set off on Wednesday afternoon from Bikoro port despite warnings of unstable weather and clear signs of overloading, according to a statement from the Provincial Coordination of the Panel of Civil Society Experts of Equateur.
“Witnesses reported that the overcrowding was so severe that passengers were being turned away from the canoes,” said Akula Dieu, a member of the civil society group.
Authorities say the boats had been hired by a family to transport people attending a funeral. The group departed from an unauthorised location, which may have contributed to the tragedy. Bikoro Lake Commissioner Gabriel Ifulu Bongolomba said the vessels were struck by heavy waves brought on by rain, causing them to overturn.
Officials said rescue operations face serious challenges due to a lack of basic equipment such as life jackets, rescue boats, and even fuel.
“We’re forced to requisition private boats for this type of operation, but sometimes we don’t even have enough fuel to carry out our work properly,” Bongolomba told the media.
Boat accidents are a frequent and deadly occurrence on Congolese waterways, largely due to overloading, weak regulatory enforcement, and the widespread absence of basic safety precautions.
The strikes, among the most extensive on Iranian soil since the 1980s war with Iraq, killed at least two of Tehran’s most senior military figures and plunged the Middle East into a perilous new chapter of conflict.
Multiple strategic sites across Iran were hit, including the country’s primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, where plumes of black smoke were seen rising. The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed the site had been struck and said it was monitoring radiation levels.
Iran’s state-run media confirmed the deaths of two key figures: Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces. Several top scientists linked to Iran’s nuclear programme were also reported killed, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment,” accusing Israel of a “wicked crime” and claiming that residential areas were also struck.
In an initial retaliatory move, Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, though Israeli military officials said most were intercepted.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, described the strikes as a “preemptive measure” involving around 200 aircraft targeting approximately 100 Iranian sites.
“We struck the heart of their nuclear and missile development infrastructure,” he said, adding that operations were ongoing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move, calling it a battle for Israel’s survival.
“This is a clear and present danger to our nation,” he said in a televised address. “We will continue until this threat is permanently removed.”
He further stated that the strike was aimed at Iran’s regime, not its people, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of the end for what he called a “brutal dictatorship.”
The timing of the attack coincides with increasing international pressure on Iran. Just a day earlier, the IAEA Board of Governors issued a formal censure against Tehran for its refusal to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. Iran responded by announcing the establishment of a third enrichment site and the deployment of advanced centrifuges.
The Trump administration, which had advised against a strike during ongoing nuclear negotiations, denied any involvement.
“We were not part of these operations,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“Our focus now is on safeguarding American personnel in the region.”
The U.S. had quietly withdrawn some diplomats from Baghdad earlier in the week and urged military families to consider leaving the region.
As airspace across Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan was shut down, oil markets reacted sharply. Brent crude prices surged nearly 8%, and Israel’s main airport closed temporarily.
Analysts warn that a full-blown regional war is now a real possibility, especially if Iran’s promised retaliation causes civilian casualties inside Israel.
