The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic stated that peacekeepers were attacked by an “unidentified armed group” during a long-range patrol in Tabane village, Haut-Mbomou Prefecture, on Friday morning.
In a press statement, the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the victim’s family, as well as to Kenya and the United Nations.
The council reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, urging the Central African Republic authorities to “spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly.”
For us Africans, this tragedy resonates deeply, as it reflects the painful history of colonial violence, ethnic persecution, and the struggle for justice that many African nations have also endured.
In March and April 1918, Armenian Dashnak (political party that still exists in Armenia and its diaspora) militants, supported by Bolshevik forces, carried out brutal massacres against Azerbaijanis in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Nakhchivan, Zangezur, Ganja and other regions of Azerbaijan.
Dozens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children were slaughtered, villages were burned, and cultural heritage was destroyed. The violence was not just a military operation; it was an attempt to erase Azerbaijani identity from these lands.
In Guba alone, mass graves have been uncovered, revealing the horrifying scale of the atrocities. These crimes were part of a broader campaign to displace Azerbaijani communities and seize their lands, a pattern that, sadly, continued in later decades, including the modern period during the former Karabakh conflict.
For us, this history may feel familiar. The scars of colonialism, ethnic violence, and forced displacement are shared wounds across many nations.
Just as Africa remembers the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the atrocities of King Leopold in Congo, or the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, Azerbaijan remembers its own martyrs.
31 March, the day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis, declared by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated 26 March 1998, is not just about the past, it is a call for global recognition of historical injustices.
Azerbaijan, just like many African countries, seeks truth and reconciliation, ensuring that such crimes are never repeated.
Today, Azerbaijan honors the victims through memorials, educational programs, and international advocacy. The country has rebuilt and restored its territories after the 2020 Karabakh war, but the wounds of history remain.
By remembering March 31, Azerbaijan sends a powerful message that genocide denial is unacceptable, and justice must prevail.
As Africans who have faced oppression, we understand the importance of remembrance. The day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis reminds us that no people’s suffering should be forgotten. Whether in Africa, the Caucasus, or beyond, the fight against ethnic hatred and historical erasure is a global struggle.
On this day, we stand with Azerbaijan in honoring the victims and demanding that the world acknowledge this tragedy, just as we demand recognition for our own histories.
{ {{The author is a political Analyst based in Addis Ababa.}} }
Elly Mate, the spokesperson for the Uganda Police Force in the Kigezi region, reported that the accident occurred at the Kyanamira trading center along the Mbarara-Kabale highway.
Muhire was driving a Sinotruk truck from Mbarara to Kabale when he lost control of the vehicle at Kyanamira, causing it to veer off the road on Saturday.
According to Mate, the accident was caused by brake failure, which led to the truck overturning. Muhire died instantly at the scene.
His body was taken to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination before being repatriated to Rwanda.
The earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country on Friday, with Mandalay, Bago, Magway, the northeastern Shan state, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw among the hardest-hit regions.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake was also felt in neighboring countries.
In Bangkok, the latest official figures report that 11 people have died, 32 are injured, and 83 are missing due to a collapsed building in the capital.
As the search for survivors continues in both countries, friends and relatives anxiously await news of their loved ones, holding onto a faint glimmer of hope after a woman was pulled from the rubble in Mandalay after 30 hours.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he was “very angry” and “pissed off” when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership, adding that the comments were “not going in the right location.”
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said.
“That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” he said. “There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Trump noted that the tariffs on Russia would come within the next month if Moscow does not sign up to a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but he has “a very good relationship” with Putin and would speak to the Russian leader again this week.
During a phone conversation on March 18, Trump and Putin agreed that the peace in Ukraine “will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire.”
In a message shared on the social media platform X, Kagame expressed his hope that the occasion would bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all those celebrating.
“Eid Mubarak to all Muslims in Rwanda and around the world celebrating Eid al-Fitr. May this joyous occasion bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and prosperity. Let us continue to uphold the values of compassion, unity, and generosity that define this celebration,” Kagame wrote on Sunday night.
#EidMubarak to all Muslims in Rwanda and around the world celebrating Eid al-Fitr. May this joyous occasion bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and prosperity. Let us continue to uphold the values of compassion, unity, and generosity that define this celebration.
On March 30, Muslims in Rwanda joined millions worldwide in marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan after 29 days of fasting. The national Eid prayer gathering took place at Kigali Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, where a large number of Muslims came together to observe the religious occasion.
As part of the celebrations, the Rwanda Muslim Community carried out a charitable initiative to support those in need.
During Ramadan, the community raised over 33 million Rwandan Francs, which was used to purchase food for underprivileged Muslims. Through this effort, 21,000 tons of food, including beans and rice, were distributed to vulnerable families, ensuring they could also partake in the festivities.
The celebrations will continue on Monday, March 31, which the government has declared a holiday to allow the Muslim community in Rwanda to mark the occasion.
Eid al-Fitr, one of the most significant celebrations in the Islamic calendar, marks the end of a month of fasting, reflection, and devotion.
Participants competed in two categories: Best Poster Presentation and Best Oral Presentation, with a special category reserved for those working at King Faisal Hospital. The first-place winners in each category received a prize of 600,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF).
Dr. Nkundimana Gerard, a kidney disease specialist, was recognized for his exceptional poster presentation. His study, which addresses ongoing healthcare challenges, focused on the dialysis filters used to purify the blood of kidney patients, which can sometimes become contaminated with microbes leading to infections.
“Research helps doctors improve their practice by keeping up with the ever-evolving medical field,” Dr. Nkundimana explained. “By identifying problems early on, we can prevent complications for our patients.”
Dr. Sendegeya August, Chief Medical Officer at King Faisal Hospital, emphasized the importance of research in enhancing healthcare.
“Research enables us to contribute our knowledge and expertise to improve patient care. It is grounded in real issues faced by patients and the country,” he said.
“When we conduct research and clearly identify problems, we can work together to find solutions. This collaborative effort is more effective than working in isolation and allows us to share valuable insights.”
The research presented during the competition covered a range of medical topics, including kidney disease, childhood illnesses, heart conditions, and more, all aimed at finding solutions to pressing healthcare challenges.
According to Li, there was a widespread consensus in China that the U.S. trade war would persist under any administration—whether led by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or Donald Trump.
Speaking at a recent public lecture titled The Prospect of a New Stage of China’s High-Quality Development, Li addressed the ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, asserting that a full-scale trade war is now unfolding.
The event, attended by both local and international journalists, provided insights into China’s strategic response and its focus on advancing high-quality economic development.
{{Escalating Trade Conflict
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Since January 2025, the trade conflict between the United States and China has intensified. During his second term, the Trump administration incrementally increased tariffs on Chinese imports, starting with a 10% duty on February 4, followed by a rise to 20% on March 4.
These measures were part of a broader strategy to pressure China on issues such as intellectual property rights and what the U.S. perceives as unfair trade practices.
In response, Beijing has refrained from matching U.S. tariff increases one-for-one but has instead adopted a targeted and multifaceted retaliation strategy.
Chinese authorities have imposed tariffs of 10–15% on select U.S. agricultural products, affecting key exports like soybeans, chicken, and wheat. Additionally, China has implemented non-tariff measures, including suspending import licenses for certain U.S. firms and launching anti-circumvention investigations aimed at limiting U.S. access to its industrial supply chain.
“China has been preparing for this for the past six to seven years. Everybody in China knew that the U.S. trade war would continue under any administration—Biden’s, Harris’s, or Trump’s. We knew this war was coming, and now it has arrived in full scale. We are looking at more tariffs, more policies, and more restrictions on Chinese goods,” Li stated.
Li emphasized that China’s government remains patient and is willing to work toward mutual benefits for both the Chinese and American people.
“We are waiting for the Trump administration to present constructive proposals. Naturally, China must respond to tariff policies, but overall, I would argue that among the world’s major economies, China is perhaps the most patient.”
According to Li, China has long anticipated and prepared for this phase of the trade war. He pointed out that trade with the U.S. now accounts for just 3.4% of China’s GDP, a figure he suggests is not substantial enough to derail the country’s broader economic trajectory.
With this in mind, he downplayed the impact of escalating tariffs and restrictions, framing them as challenges that China is well-equipped to navigate.
{{U.S. and Chinese Priorities
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Li noted that President Trump is primarily focused on three key issues: tackling immigration, boosting job creation in key swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and addressing the U.S. federal fiscal challenges.
Conversely, China’s strategic priorities center on maintaining social and political stability, peacefully resolving the Taiwan issue, and sustaining economic growth.
“These three concerns are not diametrically opposed to Trump’s top priorities. In economics, when two parties have different objectives, there is room for collaboration, negotiation, and communication. I remain hopeful that the Chinese government and the Trump administration will eventually find common ground and resolve seemingly unresolvable issues,” Li stated.
Li predicted that the world would be economically and financially divided into three major blocs.
He likened the division to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with the first bloc consisting of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico forming a relatively self-sufficient trade zone. The second bloc, according to him, would be Europe, which is now highly interconnected.
The third and largest economic bloc would consist of China, ASEAN countries, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) nations, and Africa.
“As a result, we will see a significant increase in Chinese investment and technology flowing to African and Belt and Road countries. This will foster mutual economic benefits between China and these economies. In my view, the world is shifting toward a relatively divided structure with three distinct economic blocs,” he concluded.
Odinga, who arrived in Juba on Friday for discussions with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Machar, revealed that while he met with Kiir, he was not permitted to visit the detained vice president. His six-hour visit yielded little public information apart from official images taken at the presidential palace.
Upon his return from Entebbe, Uganda, on Saturday, Odinga disclosed that Kiir had briefed him on the killing of General Majur Dak and other soldiers in the northern town of Nasir on March 7.
The South Sudanese government reported that the general and his team were attacked while attempting to board a United Nations helicopter for evacuation.
As a result of the attack, Kiir’s government placed Machar under house arrest, citing ongoing investigations into the incident.
“I had a lengthy discussion with President Kiir, who told me about the challenges they are facing—that a General and 10 other people were killed in the town of Nasir in the Upper Nile, and this is what they are investigating,” Odinga explained.
Following their meeting, Odinga requested permission to speak with Machar but was denied. Instead, he was advised to consult with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, leading to his visit to Entebbe, where he briefed Museveni on the developments.
“I reported to him [Museveni] what I had found in South Sudan, and after a lengthy discussion, he said he would get in touch with President Kiir,” Odinga stated.
Odinga, a seasoned Kenyan politician, told the press in Nairobi that he would only return to Juba if granted direct access to Machar.
“They said that when I want to go back to Juba, they will allow me, but I have said that I will only return when I meet with Mr. Riek. I don’t want to disclose right now when I am going back,” he asserted.
Back in Kenya, Odinga intends to brief President William Ruto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh on the South Sudan situation.
He also called for international intervention to prevent further escalation.
“The situation requires international attention. I am happy that the UN is getting involved in what is happening in South Sudan. I believe this is a situation that warrants intervention by the international community,” he remarked.
Although South Sudanese authorities have not directly linked Machar to the killings, they claim that some of his supporters, including militia groups allegedly affiliated with him, may have played a role in the attack.
Machar’s appointment as First Vice President was the result of a fragile peace deal brokered in 2018 to end years of civil war. He was reinstated in 2020 as part of a power-sharing arrangement with President Kiir after previous attempts at cooperation had collapsed into renewed conflict.
The deal aimed to unify rival factions and establish a transitional government, but tensions between Kiir and Machar have remained high, with periodic clashes threatening to unravel the agreement.
The Kenyan government recently appointed Odinga as its special envoy to South Sudan amid rising tensions following Machar’s arrest on March 26.
President Ruto, who has been actively involved in mediation efforts within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region, made the appointment after consulting with regional leaders, including Kiir, Museveni, and Abiy Ahmed. Ruto stated that Odinga was tasked with engaging all parties to de-escalate the conflict and provide feedback on the situation.
Machar’s detention, which also included his wife, Angela Teny, the country’s Interior and Coordination Minister, has drawn international condemnation. The United States was among the first to demand his immediate release, adding to growing pressure on Kiir’s administration.
In his media briefing on Saturday, Odinga expressed optimism that the ongoing investigations will be resolved swiftly to restore stability in the fragile nation, which has long been plagued by conflict and political rivalries.
President Xi Jinping highlighted the country’s rapid development and social stability over the past seven decades, attributing these achievements to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the efforts of the Chinese people, and support from foreign businesses.
Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to openness, stating that foreign investment has been integral to the nation’s economic expansion, job creation, and technological advancement.
He assured that China’s welcoming stance toward foreign capital remains unchanged, offering vast market potential, policy stability, and a secure business environment.
Outlining China’s focus on high-quality development, Xi emphasised green, digital, and smart transformation as key priorities, positioning the country as an ideal destination for investment. He also reiterated China’s commitment to fair competition, legal protections, and equal treatment for foreign enterprises.
Calling for multinational companies to support economic globalisation, Xi urged them to uphold the multilateral trading system and contribute to global supply chain stability.
The meeting, attended by over 40 global CEOs—including leaders from FedEx, Mercedes-Benz, Sanofi, and HSBC—underscored China’s role as a stabilising force in the global economy.
Meanwhile, business leaders praised China’s progress and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding investments in the country.
