The decision comes as Rwanda’s national team, Amavubi, is already in Morocco, having arrived in Marrakech on Tuesday evening to begin preparations for two friendlies against Comoros and Tanzania on June 6 and June 9, 2026.
Several media outlets report that Moroccan authorities have introduced precautionary health measures that have disrupted a series of fixtures involving African national teams.
The FRMF said the move is aimed at safeguarding players, coaching staff, officials, and supporters as fears over the spread of Ebola continue to grow across the continent.
Reports from Africasoccer and Africatopsports indicate that among the affected fixtures are Tanzania vs Uganda scheduled for June 5, Rwanda vs Comoros on June 6, Uganda vs Madagascar on June 8, and Tanzania vs Rwanda on June 9.
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) had not yet issued an official response by press time.
Some matches are still under review, with organizers expected to take final decisions in the coming days.
These include Burundi vs Equatorial Guinea on June 4 and Comoros vs Guinea on June 9.
Despite the uncertainty, Amavubi’s full squad of 24 players is already in camp in Marrakech. The group includes Noam Fritz Emeran, the Netherlands-based player who has earned his first call-up to the national team.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has called off a number of international friendly matches scheduled to be played in the country in June.
Officials say the city requires about 210,000 cubic metres of water daily, while current production stands at around 145,000 cubic metres. The resulting shortfall has sustained intermittent water distribution in several parts of the capital.
Residents in areas including Kanombe, Busanza and Karembure say water shortages have recently become more noticeable, even before the onset of the dry season.
In some neighbourhoods, water sold at public standpipes has become increasingly expensive, with vendors reportedly purchasing a jerrycan at the regulated price of 20 Rwandan francs and reselling it for between 300 francs and above, depending on demand.
WASAC Group CEO Dr Asaph Kabaasha told IGIHE that the price increases by some vendors are linked to ongoing rationing caused by insufficient supply across the city.
He said several short-term and long-term infrastructure projects are underway to eliminate the shortages and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
“There are very short-term projects in Kigali that we aim to complete by September. For example, we are upgrading the Nzove water treatment plant, and we plan to add 20,000 cubic metres by September. The preparations are at an advanced stage, and we have already signed agreements with the contractor,” he said.
Dr Kabaasha also pointed to a major long-term expansion plan expected to add 400,000 cubic metres of water per day, aimed at meeting demand up to 2035. The project will draw water from the Nyabarongo II dam, which will also generate electricity alongside water supply.
In addition, he said the Karenge water treatment plant is being expanded from its current capacity of 12,000 cubic metres to 48,000 cubic metres, with 36,000 cubic metres expected to be supplied to Kigali.
“These developments mean that in the near future, water rationing will be a thing of the past in Kigali City,” he said.
Dr Kabaasha urged residents to use water responsibly, avoid wastage, protect water infrastructure, and report theft or vandalism, while assuring the public that efforts are ongoing to ensure universal access to clean water.
The Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC Group) has said it is implementing a range of ongoing projects aimed at resolving water rationing in the City of Kigali, as demand continues to outstrip supply by an estimated 65,000 cubic metres per day.WASAC Group CEO Dr Asaph Kabaasha told IGIHE that the price increases by some vendors are linked to ongoing rationing caused by insufficient supply across the city.
According to a notice issued by RRA, the products in question include 1,993,750 litres of fuel currently stored in bonded facilities operated by Yussa in Kabuye, Rubis Energy in Gatsata, and Oilcom in Jabana.
Diesel accounts for the largest share of the stock, with approximately 1.35 million litres. The remaining volume includes 641,055 litres of petrol and 5,065 litres of kerosene.
RRA said the fuel has exceeded the maximum storage period permitted under customs regulations and must therefore be processed and released onto the market.
The published list shows that the ownership of 791,832 litres of the fuel has not been identified. Among the companies holding the largest volumes are Mount Meru Petroleum with 368,998 litres, Kivu Energy Ltd with 120,361 litres, and Socit Sarl with 65,404 litres.
Other firms on the list include Ukod Oil Rwanda Ltd, Hashi Energy, China Road, Gulf Energy, Hunan Road and Job Petroleum, each holding varying quantities of fuel and diesel.
Bonded warehouses are used to store imported goods before taxes and duties are paid or before customs clearance is completed.
A source familiar with petroleum storage operations explained that fuel sometimes remains in storage after smaller companies cease operations.
Because warehouse operators do not own the products, they cannot place them on the market without authorization. In such situations, government intervention is required to facilitate their release.
RRA’s notice also lists several individual owners with fuel products in storage. The smallest quantity recorded belongs to an owner holding just three litres.
A source familiar with petroleum storage operations explained that fuel sometimes remains in storage after smaller companies cease operations.
The dinner followed the inauguration of the memorial dedicated to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, known as “Les Archives.”
The event forms part of President Macron’s broader efforts since taking office to rebuild and strengthen bilateral relations between Rwanda and France. In 2021, he visited Rwanda, where he joined Rwandans in commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi and acknowledged France’s role in the events that led to the genocide, issuing an apology for the country’s past failures.
The dinner was attended by several high-profile figures, including Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Also present was Yonathan Arfi, President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France.
The dinner followed the inauguration of the memorial dedicated to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, known as “Les Archives.”President Kagame as he was received by his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.The dinner was attended by several high-profile figures.Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF, attended the dinner.Yonathan Arfi, President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, as he arrived at the Élysée Palace to attend the ceremony.
The decision comes as governments across the region tighten health screening and entry requirements for travellers arriving from affected areas, in efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
KLM Country Manager Rukia Otema said the carrier had suspended flights to Entebbe for two weeks due to Ebola-related restrictions affecting airline crew movements. She explained that the rules could lead to extended isolation periods for pilots and other staff.
“We are suspending flights for two weeks to Entebbe because it’s mentioned among the countries with Ebola cases. If our pilots happen to fly to Uganda, they will be isolated for 21 days,” she said.
In a statement issued on May 29, KLM confirmed it had cancelled flights scheduled for May 30 and June 1, 2026. Flight tracking data showed two Amsterdam–Entebbe services, which operate via Kigali, were among those affected.
The airline said passengers impacted by the cancellations would be contacted directly regarding rebooking or refunds and advised travellers to check their flight status before departure.
KLM noted that Entebbe is not currently classified as an active Ebola risk zone, but said entry restrictions introduced by some countries for travellers who have recently been in Uganda were also applying to airline crews.
The carrier added that it was monitoring developments and assessing how the evolving measures could affect future operations.
The suspension follows similar action by Uganda Airlines, which on May 23 halted flights between Entebbe and Kinshasa over Ebola-related containment measures.
Brussels Airlines has also warned that restrictions could affect crew deployment, while Emirates has advised passengers to check health requirements before travel.
KLM Country Manager Rukia Otema said the carrier had suspended flights to Entebbe for two weeks due to Ebola-related restrictions affecting airline crew movements.
To sustain its activities, the FDLR, whose operations commander, Gustave Kubwayo, commonly known as Colonel Sirkoof, was on Tuesday sanctioned by the United States of America (USA), has relied on a network of revenue-generating activities in eastern DRC, including illegal mining, agriculture, cannabis cultivation and trafficking, and the charcoal trade. The proceeds have enabled the group to purchase weapons, maintain its operations, and recruit new fighters.
The FDLR armed group was formed by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and extremist militias that fled Rwanda after committing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Over the years, FDLR has strengthened its presence by recruiting from Rwandan communities that have remained in the DRC and by establishing strongholds in territories such as Rutshuru and Walikale. Despite facing repeated military setbacks, the group has managed to adapt and survive.
The group’s anti-Tutsi ideology has not only targeted Rwandans but also Congolese Tutsis. In areas where it has operated, FDLR has been accused of killings, looting, and the displacement of local communities, forcing many residents to flee to neighbouring countries.
Rise of local resistance
As FDLR expanded its influence, local communities increasingly organised armed groups to defend themselves.
In 2005, residents of South Kivu, including Pastor Jean Musumbu, established the Mai Mai Raia Mutomboki militia to resist FDLR attacks.
A year later, former Congolese army officers led by Gen. Laurent Nkunda formed the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), citing the need to protect Congolese Tutsis from persecution by FDLR, particularly in North Kivu.
The emergence of CNDP highlighted growing frustration among communities that felt abandoned by both the Congolese state and the international community.
In 2008, members of the Nyanga community in Walikale created Nduma Défense du Congo (NDC) under Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka to counter FDLR violence and protect local populations.
Although NDC initially weakened FDLR’s influence in parts of North Kivu, internal divisions later led to the creation of NDC-R under Guidon Shimiray Mwisa, reducing pressure on armed group.
To sustain its activities, the FDLR has relied on a network of revenue-generating activities in eastern DRC, including illegal mining, agriculture, cannabis cultivation and trafficking, and the charcoal trade.
Joint military operations
In December 2008, Rwanda and the DRC launched a joint military offensive against FDLR known as Operation Umoja Wetu, followed by Operation Kimia II.
The operations dealt significant blows to the group, killing senior commanders and hundreds of fighters while encouraging others to return voluntarily to Rwanda.
During the 35-day Umoja Wetu operation in early 2009, 153 FDLR combatants were killed, including Lt. Col. Anaclet Hitimana, commonly known as Gasasira Kabuyoya. Thirteen fighters were wounded, 37 captured, and 103 repatriated to Rwanda.
Creation of proxy forces
Facing increasing military pressure, FDLR adopted a new strategy aimed at ensuring its survival.
According to retired Col. Augustin Nshimiyimana, widely known as Bora Manassé and a former FDLR operations commander, the group began organising and training Congolese armed groups composed mainly of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese Hutu communities.
The militias, collectively known as Nyatura, were established as local allies that would share FDLR’s ideology and help shield the organisation from military offensives.
“I was sent to establish Nyatura on the orders of Gen. Omega, the commander of FOCA,” Bora said in testimony about the group’s strategy. He explained that FDLR sought to recruit young people from Masisi and Rutshuru after suffering losses during confrontations with Raia Mutomboki fighters.
Training of the newly formed Nyatura groups reportedly began around 2010 and was conducted largely by FDLR’s elite CRAP unit under Guillaume Rurakabije.
Over time, multiple Nyatura factions emerged, including Nyatura-Domi, Nyatura John Love, Nyatura Kasongo, Nyatura Jean-Marie, Nyatura Kigingi, Nyatura Gatuza, Nyatura Abazungu, Nyatura Kalume, and Nyatura Karume.
According to former FDLR members, these groups operated in close coordination with FDLR and shared the same anti-Tutsi ideology.
Alliance with APCLS
FDLR also developed close ties with the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS), a Hunde militia formed in 2010 under Janvier Karairi.
The two groups found common ground in their opposition to Congolese Tutsi communities and later cooperated in military operations.
APCLS traces its origins to PARECO-Hunde and previously fought alongside Congolese government forces against the M23 rebellion during earlier phases of the conflict in North Kivu.
Former fighters and regional analysts say FDLR, Nyatura factions, and APCLS often operate together, making it difficult to distinguish between members of the various groups on the battlefield.
FDLR fighters have also reportedly adopted tactics designed to avoid detection, including frequently changing names, rotating between units, and blending into local communities.
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) continues to pursue its long-standing objective of destabilising Rwanda.
Ongoing debate over FDLR’s future
The dismantling of FDLR has remained a key issue in regional diplomacy.
Since 2025, discussions involving Rwanda, the DRC, and the United States have increasingly focused on neutralising the group as part of broader efforts to restore stability in eastern DRC.
However, critics argue that progress remains limited.
According to Congolese researcher Dr. Alex Mvuka, FDLR has become deeply intertwined with armed groups operating under the Wazalendo umbrella, including some Nyatura factions and APCLS.
Mvuka argues that disarming FDLR without simultaneously addressing Wazalendo groups would be difficult because of their operational links and shared networks.
As of June 2026, estimates placed FDLR’s strength at between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters. The group’s military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Octavien Mutimura, has claimed that its actual numbers are higher.
Mvuka further argues that FDLR continues to draw recruits from segments of the Rwandan population that remain in the DRC, as well as from Congolese communities influenced by anti-Tutsi narratives, while cooperation with allied armed groups continues to bolster its capabilities.
The FDLR armed group was formed by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and extremist militias that fled Rwanda after committing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The decline came after many previously listed suspected cases were tested and ruled out, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said Tuesday.
A DRC health ministry report released on May 27 said the country had recorded 1,077 suspected Ebola cases as of May 26.
Lindmeier told reporters that during the outbreak, anyone identified through surveillance or seeking treatment at a healthcare facility with Ebola-like symptoms is initially considered a suspected case until testing confirms otherwise. After laboratory tests, many of those cases were ruled out, with some found to be malaria, meningitis or other unrelated illnesses, he said.
According to the latest DRC health ministry update, as of Monday, the country had reported more than 340 confirmed Ebola cases, including 60 deaths. A total of six patients have recovered, up by one from the previous day, while 173 suspected cases are in isolation.
The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Medical officers sanitise areas in Ebola-prone areas in the DRC.
In a statement issued on June 2, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Col Sirkoof had been designated for sanctions as the head of the FDLR’s Commando de Recherche et d’Action en Profondeur (CRAP), an intelligence and special operations unit.
According to the Treasury Department, Col Sirkoof also led an FDLR operational command structure in North Kivu’s Nyiragongo Territory that was established in 2022 after M23 offensives forced FDLR fighters to disperse geographically.
The FDLR armed group was formed by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and extremist militias that fled Rwanda after committing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The United States said the FDLR group has carried out ethnically motivated violence against civilians, recruited child soldiers, committed conflict-related sexual violence, and cross-border attacks that continue to threaten Rwanda’s security.
Washington said the group finances its activities through looting civilians, imposing unlawful taxes, kidnapping people for ransom, illegal logging in Virunga National Park, and other illicit activities.
The U.S. government further stated that the FDLR has received support from local militias and units of the Congolese army despite a government ban on cooperation with the group.
The FDLR was first sanctioned by the United States on January 3, 2013, for serious violations of international law involving children in armed conflict, including killings, sexual violence, abductions, and forced displacement.
The Treasury Department said Col Sirkoof was sanctioned for being a leader of the FDLR, an entity already subject to U.S. sanctions.
In the same announcement, the United States also imposed sanctions on John Imani Nzenze, the intelligence chief of the M23 rebel group. U.S. authorities said Nzenze is a senior M23 commander and a close associate of the group’s military leader, Gen Sultani Makenga.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions are part of broader efforts by the United States to support peace and stability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Persistent violence by armed groups is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis and presents a threat to U.S. interests in the region,” Bessent said. “Today’s sanctions support a peaceful resolution and end to the bloodshed.”
As a result of the sanctions, any property or interests in property belonging to the designated individuals that are within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are blocked. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving them.
The United States said the FDLR group has carried out ethnically motivated violence against civilians, recruited child soldiers, committed conflict-related sexual violence, and cross-border attacks that continue to threaten Rwanda’s security.
He made the remarks on June 2, 2026, during the inauguration of Les Archives, a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, where he was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame and other dignitaries.
In his address, Kagame reflected on his personal experience of displacement and Rwanda’s history of repeated tragedy, noting what he described as a “cycle of thirty years” between earlier violence in the 1960s and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He said, “The events of the Genocide against the Tutsi are within living memory. And so the work of memory necessarily begins with the word of survivors.”
Kagame stressed that survivors themselves carry the burden of history, describing them as “living memorials, not only by virtue of the visible scars of the body, but also the indelible wounds of the spirit.”
Speaking about the significance of the newly unveiled memorial, he said it plays a critical role in preserving truth for future generations: “The memorial before us is powerful because it sets the truth in stone and protects it from the heartlessness of time, by instructing the living.”
Kagame added that the memorial is not about validation, but respect, saying it stands as “a mark of respect for the dignity of Rwandans and our history.”
Turning to relations with France, Kagame commended President Emmanuel Macron for his approach to historical responsibility, stating: “President Macron, I want to commend you on both counts: courage and humanity.”
He referenced France’s acknowledgment of its past during Macron’s 2021 visit to Rwanda, noting the recognition that France “could have stopped the genocide but did not,” and describing such acknowledgment as more meaningful than an apology.
Kagame also praised earlier steps taken by France, including historic remarks by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and efforts by journalists and researchers who helped document the truth of the genocide.
He said Rwanda’s engagement with its past and international dialogue has contributed to what he called an “irreversible journey towards truth.”
Kagame further emphasized Rwanda’s internal responsibility and resilience, saying the country has chosen to confront its history directly and invest in educating younger generations to prevent repetition of past atrocities.
He concluded by stressing that overcoming history requires political will, adding that the unveiling of the memorial in Paris represents a deeper commitment to peace, understanding, and remembrance.
French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute to the victims during the official inauguration of the memorial, emphasizing the importance of remembrance.
The French Head of State described the memorial as “the culmination” of the long process of recognition undertaken in recent years regarding the Genocide against the Tutsi.
According to Macron, the construction of the memorial in Paris now places the Genocide against the Tutsi “at the heart of the French capital and its history.”
He noted that the project is the result of years of dedicated work based on survivors’ testimonies, historical research, academic publications, and the sustained commitment of memory and remembrance associations.
The French President also recalled the speech he delivered at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi in May 2021, when he acknowledged France’s responsibilities in the events that led to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“I do not wish to take back a single word of what I said,” Macron stated, reaffirming his commitment to continuing the pursuit of truth between the two countries.
The memorial was inaugurated in Paris on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. President Kagame has hailed Macron for ‘humanity’ and the role played by his country to preserve memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame honored victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the unveiled memorial in Paris.
According to the Ministry of Health, 12 patients are currently undergoing treatment, while two have recovered and been discharged from hospital. One person has died from the disease.
Health officials said 668 people identified as contacts of confirmed cases are being closely monitored for possible infection.
The outbreak was traced to a Congolese national who travelled to Uganda from Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The patient subsequently transmitted the virus to several other people, including healthcare workers involved in their care.
Meanwhile, the DRC Ministry of Health reported that the country’s Ebola caseload had reached 231 as of May 31, 2026, including 48 fatalities.
The outbreak in the DRC remains concentrated in Ituri Province, particularly in the areas of Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia, although a limited number of cases have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The Ebola outbreak in Uganda was traced to a Congolese national who travelled to Uganda from Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
