Nangaa officially announced the formation of the AFC on December 15, 2023, with notable political figures in attendance, including Bertrand Bisimwa, the President of M23. The DRC government has expressed concerns that such an opposition movement was inaugurated in a friendly country, which had played a crucial role in facilitating peace talks for the Congolese in Nairobi.
In response, the DRC government requested an explanation from the Kenyan Ambassador and urged the Kenyan government to apprehend Nangaa, Bisimwa, and other politicians present at the ceremony. President Ruto, however, defended his government’s stance on December 17, 2023, stating that Kenya upholds freedom based on political choices and would not imprison individuals for expressing their opinions.
In a press conference on December 26, Nicolas Kazadi, Congolese Minister of Interior, voiced concerns about the group’s origin in Kenya, emphasizing the international obligations binding member states. Kazadi expressed worry that a friendly country, instrumental in conflict resolution in the east of the DRC, would allow the birth of an armed group threatening the peace and security of their nation.
Kazadi declared that the explanation provided by Kenya was insufficient, and the DRC government demanded more information. He emphasized the importance of understanding why such an event occurred on Kenyan soil.
Following Nangaa’s announcement, his brother, Christophe Baseane Nangaa, the Governor of Haut-Uele province, contacted Kinshasa to provide an explanation. However, Minister Kazadi clarified that he was not personally contacted for this matter. Nangaa did not specify when the military group affiliated with the AFC would commence operations or where it would operate.
The two satellites, the 57th and 58th satellites of the BeiDou system, were launched at 11:26 a.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-3B carrier rocket and the Yuanzheng-1 (Expedition-1) upper stage attached to the carrier rocket.
They are the first medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites launched since BDS-3 was formally commissioned to provide satellite navigation services worldwide. After entering their orbit and completing in-orbit tests, they will be connected to the BeiDou system.
Compared to previous MEO satellites of the BeiDou system, the newly launched satellites have upgraded functions and performance in various areas, including global short message communication capacity, onboard atomic clock technology, and intelligent payloads.
They will upgrade the reliability and service capabilities of the BeiDou system. They will also lay the foundation for the development of next-generation BDS satellites.
The launch was the 504th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.
The satellites and launch vehicle were respectively developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, both of which are affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The two satellites will play multiple roles by effectively expanding the communication capacity of BeiDou’s global short messages, upgrading the performance monitoring of the integrity of its navigation signals globally, and more, said Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the BDS.
On July 31, 2020, China commissioned BDS officially, opening BDS-3 to global users, making China the third country around the world to have an independent global navigation satellite system.
Visible tensions have been running high since the beginning of the polling on Dec. 20. It was till the last presidential election in late 2018 that the DRC realized its “first peaceful transfer of power” since independence from Belgium, according to the United Nations.
{{Massive protest}}
Five presidential candidates announced on Dec. 23 to launch a massive protest in Kinshasa on Dec. 27 to denounce what they described as major irregularities in the electoral process.
“We will plan a march for Dec. 27. We will protest against the irregularities observed during the voting operations of Dec. 20,” according to a statement of the five presidential candidates issued Saturday, including Martin Fayulu and Denis Mukwege, two main challengers in the race.
The demonstration would start from Triumphal Boulevard, where the parliament is located right next to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), in downtown Kinshasa. Acts of violence among the protesters remain prime concerns for residents of Kinshasa.
Irregularities were reported in the general elections held on Dec. 20, as voters in the DRC were scheduled to elect a new president, members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, as well as municipal councilors.
Polling was officially extended to the following day as a large number of polling stations were not able to open due to the late arrival of voting materials and equipment. The extension was deemed against the electoral law and the Constitution by some presidential candidates.
The “irregularities sufficiently attest that on Dec. 20, 2023, it was a sham election, organized in violation of the fundamental right of the Congolese people,” according to the statement.
On Monday, the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) called on stakeholders in the electoral process to “show the greatest restraint in their actions,” to “reject hate speech and division, as well as violence in all its forms and to make their demands and protests peacefully.”
On Dec. 23, 13 embassies in Kinshasa released a joint statement calling for restraint.
“We call on all stakeholders, in particular political actors, candidates and their supporters, to continue to exercise restraint, allow time for the process to continue and to assert their challenges peacefully, in accordance with the laws and the Constitution,” read the statement.
{{Calls for annulment }}
As the CENI, the electoral body, has started publishing partial results of the presidential race, Moise Katumbi, one of the main opposition candidates in the presidential race, has suggested that the elections should be “annulled” because of “massive fraud.”
“Faced with this unacceptable situation, we call for the immediate annulment of these chaotic elections, marred by massive fraud,” read a statement by Katumbi on Dec. 23, a major challenger to the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, who is seeking reelection.
Denis Kadima, the CENI president, confessed to the press that he was unable to clarify the exact number of polling stations in operation, due to complications on the ground. “So, I am unable to give you these figures because there are machines, you saw, which were broken”, said Kadima in an interview with local media published Tuesday.
About 75,000 polling stations were supposed to open for voters, yet polling continued on Dec. 23 in some parts of the country, three days after the fixated date, according to local media.
According to partial results announced by CENI late Monday, Tshisekedi was leading the race with 78.8 percent of the vote counted, while Katumbi ranked in second place with 17.3 percent of the vote.
Given the results announced by CENI so far account for more than 3.2 million ballots out of around 44 million voters registered, it is too early to call the election results.
Full provisional election results are expected by Dec. 31, as CENI will publish daily updates starting on Dec. 24.
On December 18, 2023, Tshisekedi indicated that he was contemplating seeking the approval of the Congolese Parliament to declare war on Rwanda. He emphasized the ability of the Congolese Army (FARDC) to shell Kigali from Goma town, located in the North Kivu province, without the need for a ground troop deployment. Tshisekedi accuses the Rwandan army of aggression through the armed group M23 operating in North Kivu, an allegation vehemently denied by Rwanda, which refutes any interference in Congolese affairs.
During an interview on the program ‘The Long Form’ with Sanny Ntayombya, Brig Gen Rwivanga was questioned about the consequences of such a declaration of war. He responded that the Rwandan army is ready to defend the country in the event of an attack, stating, “I will answer the political question with a military answer. We are ready and have always been prepared. There is nothing new in our readiness. People should rest easy.”
Rwanda has reinforced its military presence near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in response to escalating tensions between the FARDC and M23, aiming to protect its citizens from potential fallout from the fighting. The deputy spokesperson of the Rwandan government, Alain Mukuralinda, confirmed this development in November 2023, highlighting the threat posed by the FDLR group, known for its previous attempts to destabilize Rwanda and its collaboration with Congolese forces.
Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC have escalated since the beginning of 2022, prompting the United Nations to urge both countries to engage in dialogue to avoid armed conflict.
It wouldn’t be entirely true to say we consistently had a Christmas tree; my father purchased one in 2014, and because of the love we had for it we kept it until the next Christmas.
This day meant sitting down as a family to share a meal and revel in each other’s company, eating and drinking until satisfaction knew no bounds. I never fully grasped what Christmas truly symbolized back then.
Now, as an adult, I’ve come to realize that Christmas, celebrated on December 25, holds dual significance as a sacred religious occasion and a global cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people worldwide have observed this day with traditions encompassing both religious and secular aspects.
Christians commemorate Christmas Day as the birth anniversary of Jesus of Nazareth, the spiritual leader whose teachings underpin their faith. Customs like exchanging gifts, adorning Christmas trees, attending church services, and enjoying meals with loved ones are widespread.
Yet, amidst the festive customs, the profound essence of Christmas should not fade into the background. It’s a time for universal peace and goodwill, emphasizing values of giving, sharing, and caring. These sentiments extend beyond religious boundaries, reaching people of all faiths and those without religious affiliations, irrespective of their location in the world.
Christmas serves as a season for generosity, reminding us to consider those less fortunate. In a world marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, devastating conflicts, and the looming threat of climate change, a spirit of peace and goodwill is a much-needed balm.
For many, the holiday offers a cherished opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Wherever you are and whatever traditions you uphold, may your Christmas be joyous and your holidays filled with happiness!
In this loud world where humans, machines and everything make intolerable noises, it is almost impossible to spend an hour in total silence. Even if one chooses to, it always feels like a lethal penalty, because after all, our lips are there to express what our brain thinks.
Even after experiencing abuse, torture and humiliation, sometimes our emotions are too strong to be easily pronounced. Even if they were, sometimes the truth that none is going to understand or give a real meaning to what you’re feeling hits hard, and that is when you wish you could just choose silence even when it is not easy.
Every living human seeks for understanding. None wishes to be misunderstood at least when their lips are not sealed. This is probably why everyone struggles to speak, be it for the purpose of winning an argument, showing their knowledge or simply getting themselves from any kind of trouble. However, though speaking for yourself can really help, the power of silence should never be neglected.
When I asked my friend if she thinks silence really helps, she smiled a bit and gave me a satisfying answer.
“Keeping silence is really a powerful tool when it comes to creative thinking. There is this time when I felt like I couldn’t think anymore. I am a content writer, so thinking was a part of my job. When that happened, I tried all possible things but none worked. That’s when I decided to practice silence. It was only after 2 hours that I started getting ideas, and from then, silence has become my loyal assistance in thinking and creating new things,” she said.
Silence exists as a free tranquilizer in times of uneasiness. During all troubles and stress that we experience in life, silence emerges as the best way to endure all of it. It gives us a sense of peace and mental clarity. It additionally improves our listening, learning and decision-making ability.
According to Dr. Cloninger, silence gives us time and space to understand who we are.
“Silence leaves us alone with our inner dialogue, which allows us to reflect, resolve conflicts, and understand our feelings by granting us access to higher levels of our own creativity and inspiration. Being alone with our inner voices is crucial to knowing ourselves,” he said.
Though silence is not everyone’s pill to swallow, especially, in this roaring world, it carries hidden treasures once embraced. It is undoubtedly worthwhile when practiced.
The recently amended General Criminal Law as of April 12, 2023, grants judges the authority to impose sentences smaller than those specified in the previous law of August 30, 2018. For instance, for crimes carrying a life sentence, judges can now reduce the sentence to 15 years, as opposed to the previous minimum of 25 years. Another change allows fines to be reduced to ¼ of the originally stipulated amount, and public interest service can be postponed.
Mr. Maurice Munyentwali, in a talk show dubbed ‘Umuzi w’Amategeko’ (the Root of Law) aired on IGIHE, clarified that the intention behind easing punishments is not to encourage criminal behavior. Rather, it aims to afford judges more flexibility in matching the severity of punishment with the committed crime, as the previous law constrained their discretion.
Noteworthy modifications include an increase in penalties for war crimes and a provision that imposes a life sentence for desertion, unless it is demonstrated that the perpetrator suffered trauma after childbirth while breastfeeding, with approval from a state-recognized doctor or psychologist.
In the case of trading illegal items in Rwanda, including substandard or harmful food, drinks, and medicines, individuals may face imprisonment ranging from three to five years and a fine ranging from one to three million Rwandan francs, or a combination of these penalties.
Furthermore, unlawfully keeping another person’s property may result in imprisonment for six months to two years and a fine ranging from Rwf50,000 to Rwf300,000 .
The RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga called for the usual collaboration and information sharing to prevent anything that can affect the happiness of Rwandans.
“The festive season comes with merry celebrations, mass movement of people and increased traffic flow.
All these should follow the law, guidelines and in respect for the rights of other people,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He reminded drivers to follow traffic regulations and to avoid anything that can lead to road accidents and loss of lives.
“Drivers tend to over speed during this period to scramble for passengers, and sometimes resulting into fatal accidents.
Although the Police with continue its usual road safety, drivers are required to make safer driving or riding choices that guarantees their safety and that of other road users. Gerayo Amahoro should be their guiding principles,” the spokesperson emphasized.
He further cautioned against drunk-driving, using a phone or driving under stress, among others, which result into accidents.
Despite the usual readiness of the force and related operations, he said, the customary partnership with the public should continue to report anything that can affect their security and safer merrymaking.
“Festivities are characterized by happiness in families, Christmas shopping, movements of people joining their loved ones and other merrymaking.
They are enjoyed differently, depending on one’s belief; some go for prayers, others in musical shows and entertainment spots, while others celebrate from their homes. Each of these scenarios should be done in the best way that the person next is not affected.”
He also warned against serving alcoholic beverages to minors, which is punishable by law.
The spokesperson reminded those operating bars to follow the guidelines not to serve alcohol to a visible drunk person.
“Rwanda National Police reassures security and all those celebrating should feel safe. Police in partnership with other security organs is always there to make sure that all people are enjoying and celebrating safely.”
Resolution 2720 demands parties to the conflict “allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip, and in this regard calls for urgent steps to immediately allow safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access and to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
The resolution demands that the parties to the conflict “allow and facilitate the use of all available routes to and throughout the entire Gaza Strip,” and requests the UN secretary-general to “appoint a senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator” with responsibility for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying in Gaza, as appropriate, the humanitarian nature of all humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza provided through states which are not party to the conflict.
The text demands the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address medical needs of all hostages, and demands the provision of fuel to Gaza at levels that will meet requisite humanitarian needs.
The resolution reiterates its “unwavering commitment” to the vision of the “two-state solution” where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stresses the importance of “unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.”
The proposed resolution, presented by the United Arab Emirates, garnered support from 13 council members, while the United States and Russia opted to abstain from the vote within the 15-member council.
The vote followed a U.S. veto of a Russian amendment that would have restored the call for a “suspension of hostilities.”
Speaking after the vote, Dai Bing, charge d’affaires of China’s permanent mission to the United Nations, told the Security Council that given the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the resolution offers “at least a glimmer of hope” for more and faster delivery of aid to Gaza.
He added that “whether this glimmer of hope can be truly felt by the people of Gaza in the midst of this disaster also depends on whether the resolution can be effectively implemented.”
“We expect action to expand humanitarian assistance in Gaza, including by the full use of Karem Shalom and the opening of other crossing points,” the ambassador said, while urging Israel to stop its collective punishment of the population of Gaza and insisting that realization of a ceasefire remains the overriding goal.
Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the Observer State of Palestine to the United Nations, said after the vote that the Security Council first met to address the crisis when hundreds of Palestinians had been killed by Israel.
“The council is now meeting after over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, almost half of them children and 60,000 wounded, and two million Palestinians have been forcefully displaced,” he said.
Mansour underscored that the “inhumane and criminal Israeli siege” and the use of vital humanitarian “as a method of war” must end immediately.
“What we are dealing with is an attempt at the destruction of our people and their displacement forever from their land,” he said, adding “this is Israel’s goal, its true objective, no future for Palestinians in Palestine.”
Noting that “death is everywhere” in Gaza, Mansour said that the resolution is intended to alleviate the untold suffering and pain being borne by civilians. He welcomed the provision to establish a UN mechanism to accelerate the provision of humanitarian relief consignments and call for its rapid implementation.
“This resolution is a step in the right direction. It must be implemented and must be accompanied by massive pressure for an immediate ceasefire,” he said.
The latest vote on the resolution came after a four-day delay, driven by hopes of averting a U.S. veto.
Ultimately, after a week of tense negotiations, a revised text emerged that the United States had indicated it would not oppose as of Thursday night.
The original language, which called for an immediate ceasefire, was substituted with a call for “urgent steps” to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and “create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
On Dec. 8, the United States exercised its veto power to block a Security Council resolution that had called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The same resolution secured passage on the UN General Assembly floor with overwhelming support, garnering 153 votes in favor and only 10 against. In a separate instance, a resolution advocating for “humanitarian pauses” was approved by the Security Council in November, with the United States choosing to abstain from voting.
“I spoke with Mark Rutte to thank the Dutch government for its decision to start preparing the initial 18 F-16 jets for their delivery to Ukraine,” Zelensky said on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Zelensky said that he also discussed with Rutte the developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Black Sea, and Ukraine’s current military needs, including artillery, drones, and air defense.
Zelensky and Rutte agreed to continue joint work on security guarantees for Kiev and discussed the next meeting on Ukraine’s Peace Formula.
After the conversation, Rutte wrote on Twitter that certain criteria must be met before F-16 delivery to Ukraine can take place, including requirements for personnel and infrastructure.
The Netherlands, along with Denmark, Norway and Belgium have pledged to transfer F-16 jets to Ukraine to help the country upgrade its combat aircraft fleet amid the conflict with Russia.
The F-16 training center for Ukrainian pilots opened in Romania last month.
