President Kagame shared details of their conversation on X, stating, “I had a fruitful conversation with President of the EU Council António Costa, where we discussed the situation in DRC and agreed on the need for effective de-escalation and a resolution to the conflict that prioritizes political dialogue and ensures lasting peace.”
The discussion also underscored the need for all stakeholders involved in resolving the crisis to be responsible and level-headed, given the complexity of the situation.
Kagame further noted that they exchanged views on the ongoing strong cooperation between the European Union and Rwanda across key sectors.
In recent days, President Kagame has engaged in talks with various leaders regarding regional security.
These include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot and Angolan counterpart, among others.
The announcement was made on February 5, 2025, in a statement shared on X by AFC/M23’s political spokesperson, Laurence Kanyuka.
The appointments follow M23’s recent seizure of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, on January 27, 2025.
The group’s takeover included key infrastructure such as the North Kivu branch of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national broadcaster (RTNC), Goma International Airport, and other strategic locations.
Before capturing Goma, M23 had already taken control of several towns, including Minova in Kalehe Territory, the city of Sake, and other areas in North Kivu Province.
Bahati’s appointment comes after the death of Major General Peter Cirimwami, the former Governor of North Kivu.
Cirimwami was shot by M23 forces in Kasengezi while coordinating the Wazalendo militia, the FDLR, and the Congolese army against M23. Reports indicate that he was killed while assessing his troops’ performance on the battlefield.
Following his death, President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Major General Evariste Somo Kakule as his replacement.
Kakule’s appointment was preceded by a presidential decree promoting him from Brigadier General to Major General on January 28, 2025.
The conflict in Eastern DR Congo remains a global concern, with many overlooking its root causes, which led the M23 rebel group to resume armed conflict in 2021.
In January 2025, the war escalated further when M23 seized Goma, warning that they would continue advancing toward Kinshasa if the DRC government refused peace talks.
Following Goma’s capture, the UN Security Council convened twice. Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya, stressed that the crisis is deeply rooted in colonial history and called for the resumption of the Nairobi and Luanda peace talks to secure lasting stability.
A long-standing issue in the conflict is the marginalization of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the DRC.
Their plight has gained more attention due to the continued presence of the FDLR, a group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda maintains that regional peace is impossible without eradicating the FDLR, which continues to spread genocidal ideology, particularly among the youth.
Currently, the FDLR is fighting alongside the FARDC, Burundian troops, mercenaries, and local Wazalendo militias, with a shared objective of defeating M23 and topple Rwanda’s leadership.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, the bank expressed its appreciation for Reynolds’ leadership and contributions, which have played a key role in its growth over the years.
Ubalijoro’s appointment was confirmed by a resolution of the Board of Directors of BK Group Plc, the sole shareholder of Bank of Kigali Plc.
A Rwandan national, Ubalijoro brings over 30 years of experience in the beverage industry, having held various commercial and management roles across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
He spent a significant portion of his career with Heineken International, serving on the boards of several joint ventures in Sierra Leone, Panama, The Bahamas, St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Suriname.
In August 2020, he joined Molson Coors Beverage Company, a leading North American brewer, as Central Region Vice President based in Dallas, Texas. He was also a Board Director at Revolver Brewery, a Molson Coors subsidiary in Texas.
After retiring from the beverage industry on April 1, 2024, Ubalijoro shifted his focus to non-executive board roles and various sports initiatives in Rwanda and France.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (1986), and an MBA from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada (1989).
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, presented the revised budget proposal to the Parliament on Wednesday, highlighting adjustments aimed at strengthening resource allocation, supporting emerging national priorities, and improving public service efficiency.
Murangwa noted that Rwanda’s economy remains resilient despite global uncertainties, including climate change, inflation, and geopolitical challenges. Strong economic growth in the first three quarters of 2024 reflects this stability.
“The Government will continue to maintain macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth by investing in key areas such as agriculture, climate change, infrastructure, education, healthcare and social protection,” Murangwa stated.
{{Key changes in the revised budget}}
Overall, resources will increase by Frw 126.3 billion, from Frw 5,690.1 billion to Frw 5,816.4 billion. While tax revenue forecasts have been adjusted downward by Frw 20 billion, other revenue sources—including increased privatization proceeds and external concessional loans will help offset this decrease.
On the expenditure side, the revision includes adjustments in both recurrent and capital expenditures. The development budget will rise by Frw 80.6 billion, from Frw 2,007.3 billion to Frw 2,087.9 billion.
This change affects both foreign and domestically financed capital expenditures allocated under different sectors. Meanwhile, the recurrent budget will increase by Frw 45.7 billion, from Frw 3,682.9 billion to Frw 3,728.5 billion, primarily due to an increase in pension contributions.
The revised budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year is part of the updated medium-term macroeconomic framework.
The Government has pledged continued close monitoring of all components of economic performance that may affect the implementation of the revised budget and necessary actions to ensure its full execution while maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Powerful gangs, armed with weapons largely trafficked from the United States, have united in the Caribbean country’s capital Port-au-Prince under a common alliance and now control most of the city and are expanding to nearby areas.
The international security mission, while approved by the UN Security Council, is not a United Nations operation and currently relies on voluntary contributions. The mission has so far made little progress toward helping Haiti restore order.
There are around nearly 900 police and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala and Belize. As at the end of 2024. US$110.3 million had been pledged by several countries, including the USA, Canada, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Algeria.
$85 million had been received by the Trust Fund, including substantial amounts from the United States.
“The US had committed $15 million to the trust fund, $1.7 million of that had already been spent, so $13.3 million is now frozen,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. “We received an official notification from the U.S. asking for an immediate stop work order on their contribution.”
Just hours after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day pause so foreign aid contributions could be reviewed to see if they align with his “America First” foreign policy.
Trump has said that he thinks he will wind down the US Agency for International Development, in what would be a dramatic overhaul of how the world’s largest single donor allocates foreign assistance.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura has dismissed claims that the US funding freeze for the Haiti Multi-National Security Support mission (MSS) will jeopardize the operations as false and lack any factual basis.
The MSS mission is supported by the UN Trust Fund for Haiti, established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 in October 2023.
“While a portion of the undisbursed US contribution amounting to $15 million has been temporarily held due to the US presidential directive, the Fund remains well-resourced to support the mission until the end of September 2025,” Mwaura said in a statement.
According to him, Kenya and its partners remain fully committed to ensuring the mission transitions to a full UN-led operation to guarantee its long-term financial sustainability and security mandate.
Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, fell into M23’s hands on January 26, 2025, forcing government forces, its allied militias and some foreign mercenaries to flee.
Upon occupying Goma, M23 fighters found abandoned FARDC military equipment scattered across the streets, including armored vehicles and firearms. Some civilians had fled the city, while others remained indoors, waiting for the situation to unfold.
Witnessing the aftermath of battle was unbearable as the streets were littered with FARDC military vehicles still containing the bodies of fallen soldiers, many of whom had been killed at their posts while those who survived managed to escape.
According to UN estimates, around 3,000 people were killed in the battle for Goma, with 2,500 of them being FARDC soldiers, Wazalendo fighters, and their allies. FARDC soldiers who fled to Rwanda told IGIHE that they had no choice but to cross the border after realizing they were completely surrounded by M23.
“The troops defending Goma were stationed at the airport, but the battle tactics were unclear. How were we supposed to defend the airport when the enemy had already surrounded the entire city and started firing? asked one of the soldiers
“There was no way we could secure a position that was already encircled. As soon as the shooting intensified, we suffered heavy casualties. When I realized we were being gunned down, I knew things had gone terribly wrong,” he added.
As the gunfire subsided in Goma, displaced civilians began returning home, and daily life slowly resumed. In other areas now under M23 control, those previously sheltered in internal displacement camps also started going back to their villages.
For instance, the Kanyarucinya camp has been closed as all its inhabitants returned to their homes in Nyiragongo territory. Reports indicate that M23 facilitated the repatriation of civilians from the Mugunga camp back to Masisi.
Analysts suggest that the UN, which has deployed MONUSCO troops in eastern DRC since 1999, has contributed to regional instability. They argue that the UN is now distorting facts on the ground to justify its continued presence in the country.
Meanwhile, many UN staff members have fled eastern DRC, crossing into Rwanda through the Rubavu border en route to Kinshasa and other locations.
The executive order also stops funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and requires the U.S. State Department to reevaluate the UN Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Trump made his announcement on the same day he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has consistently criticized both the human rights body and UNRWA for alleged bias against Israel.
During Trump’s first term, the United States withdrew from the UNHRC in June 2018. In February 2021, then Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the Joe Biden administration would reengage with the council as an observer.
Since 1950, UNRWA has been assisting Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
As the world enters a very turbulent period and the number of conflicts worldwide hits a new high since the Cold War, there is an increasing call in the international community, among the Global South in particular, for reforming and improving the global governance system, he said.
“At the Security Council, solidarity and cooperation are replaced by division and confrontation. Very often, the Council has been unable to do anything in the face of major security crises. This situation cannot continue,” Fu told a press briefing on the program of work of the Security Council for the month.
Under its initiative, China will chair a Security Council high-level open debate, scheduled for Feb. 18, on the theme of “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance.”
“As we mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations this year, the debate aims to encourage countries to revisit the original aspirations of the UN, reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and the important role of the United Nations, including the Security Council, and to explore ways to reform and improve the global governance,” the envoy said.
Regarding global and regional issues, Fu said that the 15-member body will continue to focus on the Middle East and strive to find lasting political solutions.
“It is necessary for the Security Council to pay close attention to the ceasefire in Gaza and take timely actions to ensure that the relevant agreement is fully and effectively implemented and that humanitarian access remains open and unhindered,” he told reporters. “China will urge the Council to closely follow the challenges confronting UNRWA (UN relief agency for Palestinians).”
In the meantime, the political and security situation in some parts of Africa is extremely volatile. There are huge challenges in terms of peacekeeping and peace-building, as well as humanitarian assistance, Fu said.
“The Security Council and the wider international community must maintain and increase their attention and support for Africa,” he said. “As the president, China will work with other Council members to promote dialogue and consultation and seek political solutions to African issues.”
The Security Council is composed of five permanent members — China, the United States, Britain, France, and Russia — and 10 non-permanent members. The presidency of the council rotates among its 15 member states based on the English-language alphabetical order of the countries’ names on a monthly basis.
China last held the rotating Security Council presidency in November 2023.
During the interview, the Rwandan President strongly rejected claims that Rwanda was fueling the conflict in the mineral-rich region by supporting the M23 rebel group, which recently captured the city of Goma. He reiterated that the M23 rebels are not Rwandans but Congolese nationals fighting for their rights.
The President dismissed claims that Rwanda exploits minerals from the DRC, an allegation frequently made by Congolese authorities and echoed in some international reports. He denied the claims and stated that South Africa and European countries are the primary beneficiaries of DRC’s vast mineral resources.
Regarding the presence of Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops in the DRC, President Kagame dismissed suggestions that their mission was primarily focused on peacekeeping. He accused South Africa of deploying troops to secure the region’s mineral wealth rather than fostering peace.
In response to the edited excerpts aired by CNN, the President’s Press Secretary, Stephanie Nyombayire, pointed out that several crucial elements of the interview had been omitted to fit a “predictable editorial line.”
She detailed that during the interview, President Kagame spoke about the threat posed by FDLR, a group associated with rebel forces in the region and composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. He stated that the group is supported by governments in the area, despite posing a security threat to Rwanda.
He maintained that Rwanda would do everything to protect itself against such security threats.
“Their goal is not just to fight M23, but to fight Rwanda and overthrow its government, as they have publicly declared. Does anyone think Rwanda will simply sit back and allow that to happen? We will defend ourselves in any form necessary. There is no doubt about it,” he stated.
On the principle of national sovereignty, the President emphasized, “I believe in the respect of sovereignty for all countries, including Rwanda. There is no sovereignty more important than another. This is the basic principle.”
Reflecting on the broader international community’s role, he noted, “The very same international community blaming Rwanda is the one that has allowed the FDLR to operate in Congo for 30 years. After decades and nearly $40 billion spent, what stability has been achieved? Blaming Rwanda is simply a way to cover up the mess the international community has caused in our region.”
The President also criticized how others were framing the insecurity issue, saying, “The problem is simple to understand, but people complicate it to avoid taking action. Even the most uninformed person could grasp the situation after 30 years.”
According to President Kagame, the conflict in the eastern DRC has been exacerbated by external forces working with President Felix Tshisekedi.
“I don’t believe anyone, including President Tshisekedi, wants war. However, he has been encouraged by others to fight wars on his behalf. If those external forces weren’t involved, perhaps he would see reason and prioritize peace,” he added.
“I am focused on protecting my country and managing national affairs to ensure peace. Meanwhile, Tshisekedi is obsessed with humiliation and his own ego. You cannot run a country or resolve regional issues based solely on ego.”
Finally, he emphasized the importance of Rwanda’s self-reliance: “For Rwanda, our priority is clear: we must protect ourselves. We know from history, particularly from 1994, that no one will come to our aid. That’s why we have invested heavily in our security and defence, and the results speak for themselves.”
