Bahati’s statement follows M23’s takeover of the entire Congolese section of Lake Kivu on February 16, after capturing the city of Bukavu.
M23 first gained control of parts of the lake after seizing the Minova area in South Kivu on January 21, 2025. Their control expanded further when they took over Goma six days later.
Lake Kivu transport between Bukavu and Goma had been disrupted for over three weeks due to intense fighting between M23 and a coalition of the Congolese army (FARDC) and allied forces in South Kivu.
Governor Bahati informed residents of both cities that lake transport services would resume at 6 a.m. on February 18.
This decision aligns with the resolutions of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders, who, on February 8, urged the reopening of key routes to ensure civilians could continue their daily activities.
In a February 16, 2025, interview with France24, Guterres stated that the conflict should not be considered a regional war, as both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have agreed on ceasefire measures, including the dismantling of FDLR.
“The first and most important step is to dismantle FDLR… then find a solution with M23. I believe in a key principle: foreign armed groups must leave Congo, and Congolese citizens must find a way to coexist peacefully without relying on ethnic divisions,” he said.
For over 30 years, Interahamwe militia and former Rwanda government soldiers who fled to the Congolese forests after committing atrocities during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, have reorganized with the intent to launch attacks on Rwanda.
These groups, including ALIR (which later became FDLR), have played a significant role in spreading genocidal ideology in eastern DRC. Since then, Tutsis in the region have faced killings, destruction of property, and mass displacement.
UN reports have repeatedly confirmed that FDLR has been integrated into FARDC, provided with weapons, and trained by the Congolese army in coordination with President Tshisekedi’s government to attack Rwanda. EAC and SADC leaders have agreed on measures to eliminate FDLR. However, recent events raise questions about DRC’s commitment to this goal.
President Tshisekedi’s wife, Denise Nyakeru, was recently seen visiting wounded soldiers in a hospital, including FDLR fighters, casting doubt on the Congolese government’s intentions.
Currently, the M23 rebel group, which fights for the rights of Tutsis and Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in DRC, has been dominating headlines. The group continues to defeat a coalition of FARDC, FDLR, Wazalendo, Burundian troops, European mercenaries, and SADC forces.
Meanwhile, at a special UN Security Council meeting on January 26, 2025, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the UN, Ernest Rwamucyo, accused MONUSCO of collaborating with FDLR instead of eliminating it.
“MONUSCO supports FDLR, a UN-sanctioned terrorist group, alongside European mercenaries, violating the 1989 UN agreements. This is unacceptable. MONUSCO is engaging in a conflict it should be neutral in. It must focus on protecting civilians, particularly the displaced, rather than fighting alongside FARDC’s coalition,” Rwamucyo stated.
Although Guterres did not directly address MONUSCO’s role, he emphasized that following the resolutions by EAC and SADC leaders, diplomatic efforts should be prioritized to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
“There is still much diplomatic work to be done to ensure peace in eastern Congo. However, the primary objective must be to uphold the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the Congolese government remains adamant that it will not negotiate with M23 and continues to focus on international propaganda and military confrontation.
The event will take place in Kigali, comprising academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society to address critical challenges and opportunities.
Themed “United Leadership: Harnessing African Education for Sustainable Growth,” the summit will explore equitable partnerships, sustainability, digital transformation, and research-driven employability.
Over 350 delegates will engage with more than 100 thought leaders, exchanging insights on fostering regional collaboration and leveraging education for economic progress.
Prominent speakers will include Dr Philip Cotton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, and Dr DeWayne Frazier, President and Vice-Chancellor of the American University of Nigeria.
Discussions will focus on building inclusive partnerships to strengthen collaboration across the continent, integrating sustainability into higher education, and exploring digital innovation to expand access and improve efficiency.
The summit will also address how African institutions can align research with workforce needs to enhance employability.
Additionally, THE experts will conduct data masterclasses analyzing the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 and THE Impact Rankings 2025, which assess universities based on global sustainable development goals.
Phil Baty, THE’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, emphasized the summit’s significance. “Africa is vital to the future success of the world, and we are delighted to be hosting such a timely and relevant event. This gathering in Kigali will highlight Africa’s growth as an education hub and its leadership in sustainability.”
With Rwanda emerging as a center for academic and technological innovation, the summit is set to reinforce Africa’s role in global education and development.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the arrival on Monday in a post on X with the caption, “US Deportations Begin,” according to Hallmark News.
“The first group will be convicted prisoners, those who committed crimes and are in US prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws,” U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr. told reporters in Nigeria.
“They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US. They have committed immigration crimes, people who have been ordered to leave,” he added.
But Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned the U.S. to act with ‘dignity.’ “With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return,” she exclaimed.
“Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these diasporans,” she added.
“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will really be traumatic, especially for those who had not committed any violent crime,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu piously proclaimed.
Meanwhile, as Nigerian officials lament having to take back their own citizens who illegally entered the U.S.A., the African country recently celebrated its own campaign of deportations with the announcement that 828 illegal migrants into Nigeria were deported last year.
U.S. immigration officials have detained 201 Nigerians for deportation back to their home country as the first plane with 85 of those detainees landed in Lagos on Monday. This has left the left a widely divided public opinion.
“FG ready to welcome deported Nigerians from US’. NiDCOM says as 3,690 Nigerians in US face deportation. When you see them around, respect them and give them their caps; they are heroes. it’s not easy,” Ilesanmi Oluwakayode Samuel, a facbook user said.
The Congolese citizens who had been living in Rwanda had sought assistance to return to Goma and Bukavu.
Local authorities organized buses to transport them from Bugarama to Kamembe and Rubavu, with the Congolese nationals covering their own transport fees. Meanwhile, 25 individuals expressed their desire to stay and will be hosted at the Nyarushishi Transit Center.
Those returning to Bukavu crossed the Rusizi Border I Post, which serves as the main exit point for people leaving Rwanda and the primary entry point for those entering the Democratic Republic of Congo, at around 3 p.m.
The returnees said the security situation had improved since the M23 captured Bukavu over the weekend. Some of them told IGIHE that they had been at the Kamanyola border after fleeing Wazalendo fighters, who were shooting at them as M23 forces advanced into the city.
“I work at Kamanyola, but my home is in Goma. FARDC soldiers were retreating from Bukavu, firing their weapons and creating tension. The Wazalendo fighters were ruthless and inhumane, forcing us to flee,” said Simplice Yuma Kisubi.
“I heard there is no longer a problem in Bukavu, which is why I have returned home through this border post,” he added.
Other residents who spoke to IGIHE were traders who had initially feared returning due to insecurity but were now relieved to do so. They accused Congolese forces and allied militias of terrorizing them and looting their goods. According to them, the M23 has brought much-needed relief to the region.
“We are glad that the border is open, and we can go back home to reunite with our loved ones,” another Congolese national stated.
The returnees thanked the Rwandan government for its hospitality and for granting them safe passage home.
“I thank the government of Rwanda and the Ministry of Interior for receiving us. They treated us well, fed us, and gave us water. Those who were sick received medical attention, and they provided us with transportation,” Kisubi remarked.
M23 rebels entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, over the weekend.
In a recent statement, the rebels—who claim to be fighting against the continued persecution and marginalization of Congolese Rwandophones—stated that they were protecting the city after government forces abandoned it, plunging it into anarchy.
The rebels had been advancing south toward Bukavu since seizing Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, at the end of last month.
The capture of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, represents an unprecedented expansion of M23-controlled territory since the insurgency reignited in 2022 and delivers another blow to Kinshasa’s authority in the east.
This latest advance comes just days after President Félix Tshisekedi accused former President Joseph Kabila of siding with the rebels in an alleged attempt to destabilize the country.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech after listening to representatives of private entrepreneurs.
Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang also attended the symposium, which was presided over by Wang Huning.
The party leadership addressed this issue on February 16, 2025, during a Political Bureau meeting, where they also discussed the security crisis in eastern DRC and its impact on Rwanda.
PDI emphasized that these countries have repeatedly shown intentions to destabilize Rwanda’s leadership, stressing the importance of denouncing such threats.
“The PDI condemns the collaboration between the DRC, Burundi, and some SADC countries, which enables the FDLR to work alongside their military forces in a scheme that threatens Rwanda’s security and sovereignty,” the statement read.
The party also criticized European nations for warning of possible sanctions against Rwanda while remaining silent on countries allegedly supporting the FDLR, which is responsible for atrocities amounting to genocide against Congolese Tutsis in North and South Kivu.
PDI commended President Paul Kagame for his firm leadership in strengthening Rwanda’s security institutions, particularly the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which has been built into a highly professional and well-equipped army.
The party further praised the RDF for successfully fortifying Rwanda’s defense system, which has mitigated the impact of cross-border attacks from the DRC.
“PDI applauds the RDF for its expertise and capability in neutralizing threats aimed at destabilizing Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement added.
Led by Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, the PDI reaffirmed its full support for Rwanda’s defense measures and urged all Rwandans to stand firm against those who wish harm upon their country while upholding values of dignity and self-reliance.
The energy sector policy released by the Ministry of Infrastructure in February 2025 states that Rwanda’s power plants have achieved a total capacity of 406.4 megawatts.
Statistics show that 27% of this electricity is generated from hydroelectric power, while methane gas contributes 21.1%, and diesel accounts for 7%.
Beyond hydropower, Rwanda began producing electricity from methane gas in 2015, initially generating 26.4 megawatts. By the end of 2024, this capacity had risen to 82.4 megawatts.
Currently, coal-fired power plants contribute 85 megawatts, while solar power plants generate 12 megawatts.
The Rusumo Hydropower Plant, a joint project between Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania, began supplying electricity to the regional grid last year. This plant has a total capacity of 80 megawatts, evenly distributed among the three countries.
According to the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), hydropower accounts for 43.9% of the country’s electricity production, while solar energy contributes 4.2%.
Electricity access in Rwanda has reached 81.4% of households, with 56.5% connected to the national grid and 24.9% relying on alternative sources, primarily solar energy.
Gakenke District currently has the highest electricity access rate at 99.3%, followed by Muhanga at 98.8%. Nyabihu District has the lowest access rate, with 69.9% of households connected to electricity.
By 2024, a total of 2,227.6 kilometers of roads had been electrified, with a goal of reaching 3,237 kilometers by 2029.
Electricity losses due to technical issues or other factors stand at 18.9%.
The Ministry of Infrastructure states that in the next five years, newly completed hydroelectric plants will add 81 megawatts to the grid, including the Nyabarongo II plant, which will generate 45 megawatts.
The national energy policy aims to expand electricity production from various sources by 2034, including hydroelectricity, methane gas, coal, and wind power, while reducing the impact of climate change.
By 2034, planned hydropower projects include Rusizi III, expected to generate 68 megawatts, Rusizi IV with 95 megawatts, and Nsongezi, which will contribute 12 megawatts.
The bill, which was approved in principle on November 5, 2024, officially entered the review process on February 17, 2025.
One of its key provisions states that individuals aged 15 and above have the right to make independent decisions regarding their access to reproductive health information and services.
According to the explanations provided, the term “age of maturity” in this law refers to individuals aged 15 and above.
Statistics from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion indicate that 22,454 teenage girls were victims of sexual abuse and became pregnant in 2024, highlighting the severity of the issue.
In 2020, 19,701 teenage pregnancies were recorded, increasing to 23,111 in 2021 and 24,472 in 2022. However, in 2023, the number slightly decreased to 22,055.
Health authorities affirm that previous prevention methods, such as abstinence and condom use, have not yielded sufficient results, hence the need to facilitate adolescents’ access to family planning services.
The Sixth Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) reveals that some women aged 15-19 have undergone abortions, are currently pregnant, or are already mothers taking care of children.
A significant number of these young mothers come from rural areas and have only completed primary or secondary education.
The study also shows that 4.5% of girls engaged in sexual activity before turning 15, compared to 10.1% of boys. Some of these young individuals had children before reaching the age of 15.
Provisions on surrogacy
The draft law also includes a provision allowing surrogacy for individuals aged between 21 and 50 who meet specific requirements.
If enacted, this service would only be available to married couples struggling with infertility.
The first surrogacy services provided in Rwanda cost approximately 3.5 million Rwandan francs . However, the cost is expected to decrease once it is integrated into health insurance services.
According to the law, the legal mother of a child born through assisted reproductive technology is the one recognized in the formal agreement related to the procedure.
Surrogacy was first introduced in 1986 with the birth of the first baby conceived through this method. Since then, it has gained popularity, particularly in developed countries.
For example, in the United States, approximately 750 babies are born annually through surrogacy.
According to the official National News Agency, firefighting teams have extinguished the flames engulfing the vehicle and retrieved the body of the killed person from the targeted car.
The Al Hadath TV channel said on the X Platform that the target of the airstrike was Mohamad Chahine, a military official from Hamas.
A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and the Israeli military has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, halting over a year of clashes triggered by the Gaza war.
The agreement requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days while the Lebanese army assumes control along the border and in the south, ensuring no presence of weapons or armed groups south of the Litani River.
On Jan. 27, Lebanon’s caretaker government announced an extension of the ceasefire agreement until Feb. 18, following the expiration of the initial 60-day period without a complete Israeli withdrawal.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued to conduct strikes in Lebanon, citing security threats.
![Smoke billowing above the Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil during Israeli bombardment. [Jalaa Marey/AFP]](https://en-images.igihe.com/IMG/jpg/11-90.jpg)