This call was made in a statement released on Monday, January 6, 2025, addressing the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. It reads, “The European Union calls on the Democratic Republic of Congo to end its collaboration with the FDLR and other armed groups.”
The FDLR is a militia group operating in eastern DRC, predominantly composed of remnants of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The DRC has, on various occasions, collaborated with this group, particularly in its fight against M23.
Leaders of the DRC have often defended the FDLR. For instance, in July 2024, Julien Paluku Kahongya, the former Governor of North Kivu, claimed that the FDLR consisted of elderly members, some as old as 70, in an attempt to downplay their capacity to pose a security threat.
In its statement, the EU also condemned M23’s capture of Masisi and surrounding areas in North Kivu, asserting that such actions undermine the efforts toward peaceful resolution in the region. The EU called on M23 to withdraw from the territories it has seized and to adhere to the established ceasefire truce.
While the EU issued this call, M23 has repeatedly claimed to honor ceasefire agreements but accuses the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), allied with groups such as the FDLR, of provocation. These provocations have often led M23 to push back and reclaim territories held by FARDC and its allies.
“There is need for all parties halting hostilities and urgently implementing the resolutions agreed upon in the Luanda talks,” the EU said.
The call comes amidst intensifying clashes between M23 and the Congolese Armed Forces coalition. These battles have resulted in M23 taking control of more areas, including Masisi and Katale, a former stronghold of the FDLR militia.
This development comes at a time when the global sustainable bond market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing awareness of climate change risks and their potential financial impact.
Green bonds remain the dominant instrument in the sustainable bond market, with growing demand for such bonds as well as other sustainable financial products. In response to this demand and the mounting climate change risks, Rwanda has adopted an ambitious strategy to establish itself as an International Financial Centre.
[The newly released GSS+ Bond Guidelines ->https://cma.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/Capital_Market_Guidelines_on_Issuance_of_GSS__Bonds.pdf]provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the public issuance and listing of GSS+ bonds in Rwanda. These guidelines are designed to complement the country’s existing debt securities laws, ensuring a consistent and robust approach to sustainable finance.
Thapelo Tsheole, the CEO of CMA, highlighted that these guidelines focus primarily on public issuance and do not cover private issuance or multi-jurisdictional issuance of GSS+ bonds.
“However, the framework seeks to create securities that are internationally credible, replicable, and attractive to global investors,” he said.
Tsheole also emphasized that the GSS+ Bonds Guidelines are based on international principles set by renowned organizations such as the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), aligning Rwanda’s sustainable finance efforts with global best practices.
This regulatory initiative underscores Rwanda’s commitment to innovation and resilience in the face of global financial and environmental challenges, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable finance.
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) revealed that the surge in industrial output was driven by strong performance across key sectors.
Mining and quarrying led the way with an impressive 45.2% increase, reflecting heightened activity in resource extraction.
Manufacturing also experienced substantial growth, expanding by 18.4%. This was supported by a notable 26.3% rise in food processing and a 16.6% increase in the production of beverages and tobacco. However, the manufacturing of textiles, clothing, and leather goods saw a significant decline of 39.5%.
Electricity production and supply registered a 9.6% increase, underscoring steady progress in the energy sector. Additionally, water and waste management activities grew by 12.8%, reflecting improvements in utility services and environmental management.
The November growth far exceeded the annual average growth of 8.6%, demonstrating a particularly strong performance for Rwanda’s industrial sector.
The IIP serves as a vital tool for monitoring short-term industrial performance, measuring changes in production volumes relative to the 2017 base year.
While the index excludes construction activities due to data constraints, it offers a comprehensive overview of manufacturing, mining, electricity, and utilities.
“The Index of Industrial Production serves as a tool to measure the industrial production performance of industries and provides timely estimates of broad trends,” NISR stated, emphasizing the role of IIP in tracking economic health and progress.
The project is driven by VWMSR on behalf of Volkswagen Group Africa and was initiated by Volkswagen Group Innovation in Germany.
The Gen Farm project addresses the potential of renewable energy and a sustainable mechanization of agriculture, to shape mobility in Africa, thereby advancing Rwanda’s vision 2050 to transform the economy into a high-income nation.
This pilot e-hub will be managed by ARC Power for two years to ensure its feasibility and success, serving as a model for future expansion across the continent.
The hub will supply clean and reliable energy for essential services like electric tractors (e-tractors) and e-scooters, contributing to mechanized farming and sustainable mobility.
ARC Power provides affordable, reliable, and clean solar electricity to communities across Sub Saharan Africa. The company designs, pre-finances, and constructs both grid-tied and off-grid energy systems, delivering first-time energy access at scale.
ARC Power has received recognition for its innovative work, including the Queen’s Award for sustainable development in 2022 and the Energy Globe Award in 2023.
The hub will also provide a flexible business and training space for entrepreneurs, empowering local startups to thrive within the clean energy ecosystem.
Rwanda’s agricultural sector is at a crucial juncture, with only 5% of the country’s 1.4 million hectares of arable land currently mechanized. The Gen Farm project directly aligns with the National Agriculture Policy, which emphasizes the need for mechanization to increase productivity and reduce labor-intensive practices.
By providing renewable energy to power farming technologies, the hub will support the country’s ambitions for market-oriented, climate-resilient agriculture.
“This partnership marks a new chapter for the potential of sustainable energy and agricultural innovation in Africa,” said Karl Boyce, CEO of ARC Power.
“With our solar energy and the ongoing management of the hub, we are confident this project will not only increase agricultural productivity in this area, but also prove the viability of a sustainable model to inspire further investment in the region,” she added.
The hub is designed to foster local economic self-sufficiency by addressing specific needs within the community. In particular, the initiative will reduce the workload of women, allowing them more time for other productive activities.
Additionally, the e-hub will serve as a center for the operation and maintenance of mechanized farming equipment, linking farmers to essential tools and support.
“Our vision is to use this empowerment hub as a pilot that will demonstrate the positive impacts of renewable energy and mechanization in Africa’s rural communities,” said Serge Kamuhinda, Managing Director of VWMSR.
“This hub is not only about providing energy; it’s about creating a sustainable, scalable business model for agriculture mechanization in Africa,” he said.
A blueprint for future development by serving as a platform for innovation, the hub is expected to lead to significant positive impacts on agriculture and local entrepreneurship, helping Rwanda achieve its long-term agricultural and economic goals.
VWMSR’s Gen farm project is a key part of this initiative, and the insights gained from this pilot will help shape the company’s future in emerging markets. The wider ambition is to shape mobility in Africa for generations to come.
VWMSR serves as innovation hub for the Volkswagen Group Africa and the empowerment hub project represents Volkswagen’s first step into rural mobility in Africa.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when responding to a relevant question at a press conference.
Guo said that China and Africa share time-honored friendship. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully held in 2024 and China-Africa relations entered the new phase of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, this week officially started his visit to four African countries, which also marks the 35th year for the Chinese foreign ministers to make Africa their first overseas destination at the start of the year.
The fine tradition for Chinese foreign ministers to start their year-round overseas visits with a trip to Africa speaks to the growing profound friendship between China and Africa and the continuity of China’s friendly cooperation with Africa, Guo said. “China always believes that Africa is never ‘the lost continent,’ but the land of hope and source of dynamism.”
Guo pointed out that Africa betters global governance with the power of transformation. He said under the guidance of Pan-Africanism, African countries have accelerated the integration process of seeking strength through unity and pursuing development and revitalization, playing an increasingly important role in international affairs.
Africa powers global economic growth, Guo said, adding the African Development Bank predicted that Africa’s average growth would rise to 3.7 percent in 2024, exceeding the projected global average. Among the 20 fastest growing economies in the world, 10 are African countries.
The spokesperson said that Africa is one of the birthplaces of the civilization of mankind, and also a land full of vigor and hope, with 70 percent of its population under the age of 30, the youngest in the world.
Amid the transformation in the world unseen in a century, the booming development of the Global South, such as China and Africa, has a profound impact on world historical progress, Guo said. “A stronger and more developed Africa will surely make greater contribution to world peace and development.”
These details were shared by the BRD leadership during a gathering for Rwandans living abroad on January 3, 2025.
The event hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, was attended by over 130 Rwandans from more than 40 countries.
In his address, the Minister emphasized that achieving the goals of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) will require ongoing effort and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the Rwandan diaspora.
The student loan scheme, which started in 1980 under the Ministry of Education, has undergone several changes over time.
Initially managed by the Ministry of Education, the responsibility shifted in 2008 to the Students Financing Agency of Rwanda (SFAR).
In 2013, following a merger of institutions under the Ministry of Education, SFAR was integrated into the Rwanda Education Board (REB) as a department responsible for student loans.
In 2016, BRD took over the management of student loans and collection of repayments from beneficiaries.
During the event, Wilson Rurangwa, Head of the Education Department at BRD, urged those who had benefited from the loans to begin thinking about repayment.
“As the Minister mentioned, the NST2 development agenda aims to build a knowledge based economy, and this can only be achieved through education.
“Many of us here have had the privilege of studying with these loans, but we must repay them so that future generations can have the same opportunity,” Rurangwa said.
BRD also advises loan applicants to open accounts with BRD Minuza, which will allow them to easily track their payments or have their employers deduct payments directly from their salaries if applicable.
The bank has been making adjustments to student loan repayment procedures as needed.
For example, in July 2024, 300 million Rwandan Francs were refunded to those who had overpaid on their loans.
The Uganda Law Society confirmed the new development on Monday, January 6, 2025, following a previously unsuccessful attempt by Karua to secure the crucial document in December last year.
The decision by the council came after an appeal lodged through the Uganda Law Society.
“FINALLY: The Law Council has granted a temporary Practicing Certificate to Hon. Martha Karua, following her reapplication through the Uganda Law Society,” the society said in a post on X.
The Uganda Law Council had initially declined Karua’s application to represent Besigye and his close associate Obeid Lutale at the General Court Martial, citing incomplete documentation and questioning the necessity of Karua’s involvement in the trial.
Both the Uganda Law Society and the Law Society of Kenya strongly protested the Uganda Law Council’s decision to deny Karua the document.
In a statement issued on December 10, 2024, Kenya’s premier bar association described the decision as a setback for regional cooperation in legal practice.
“It is inconceivable that the Law Council of Uganda would hold such little regard for Kenyan practitioners, especially a reputable and long-standing member of the Senior Counsel Bar,” LSK stated.
In its response, LSK expressed its intention to take immediate action to resolve the situation. The society called for urgent engagement with the Kenyan Attorney General to address the issue and ensure a fair, reciprocal agreement on cross-border legal practice.
LSK also threatened to suspend the admission of Ugandan lawyers to Kenya until Uganda demonstrates a commitment to fostering mutual legal cooperation.
“Kenya has been a leader in promoting regional cooperation in legal practice, but the lack of reciprocity from Uganda is unacceptable,” the LSK statement read.
“We must either find a mutually beneficial, reciprocal arrangement or withdraw from one-sided agreements that undermine the dignity of Kenyan legal practice.”
Karua, a former Justice Minister in Kenya and one of the senior lawyers in the country, had been appointed to lead a team of 50 lawyers in the case where Besigye and Lutale, face charges related to alleged activities undermining Uganda’s security and the illegal possession of firearms.
The two were apprehended in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, while attending the launch of a book by Karua. They spent Christmas and New Year festivities in custody and are expected to be arraigned in court tomorrow, January 7, 2025, for the mention of their case.
The Mpox outbreak, which began on July 24, 2024, has affected 52 districts, with over 784 confirmed cases and significant disruptions to public health infrastructure.
WHO and Uganda’s Ministry of Health have made significant strides in containment and response efforts, including deploying 5,000 health workers, setting up 25 isolation units, and mobilizing surveillance and risk communication strategies nationwide.
Despite the advances, the funding shortfall threatens to derail critical interventions such as infection prevention, case management, and community awareness initiatives.
With $11 million still needed from the total $12.9 million response budget, WHO has called on global partners to step up their contributions.
Current support has primarily come from nations like the United States, Germany, Canada, and others, alongside the WHO Foundation.
“More funds are needed to bridge the 85% funding gap given the high utilization rate of available funds and needs on the ground,” WHO Representative Dr. Charles Njuguna emphasized.
“WHO calls all partners to urgently support the Government of Uganda through increasing their financial contributions towards the Mpox response,” he added.
The WHO stressed that immediate action is essential to prevent the outbreak from further escalating and ensure a sustained, robust response.
Additional funding will expand health worker training, establish permanent isolation spaces, and enhance mental health services.
The Mpox outbreak in Uganda originated in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where an outbreak has been ongoing since January 2023. To date, the DRC has reported over 22,000 suspected Mpox cases and more than 1,200 suspected deaths.
The group, aged between 18 and 35, was accused and convicted of contributing to the growing insecurity in the capital, Kinshasa, and other urban areas. Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba, confirmed that the executions took place at Angenga prison in the country’s northwest region.
“Forty-five individuals were executed at the end of December 2024, and 57 more were killed in the past 48 hours. The third batch will also be executed soon,” he said
The executions are part of the government’s Opération Ndobo, a special operation targeting Kuluna gangs that has resulted in the arrest of 70 more individuals, who are currently being held at Angenga prison, awaiting execution.
The DRC’s controversial decision to reinstate the death penalty, which was suspended for 18 years, has sparked debate both domestically and internationally. While some support the move as a necessary step to tackle escalating crime, human rights organizations have raised concerns over potential abuses, given the country’s flawed justice system.
The death penalty was originally abolished in the DRC in 1981 but was reinstated in 2006, mainly for military personnel convicted of treason. Although executions were halted in 2003, the government formally resumed capital punishment in March 2024, initially targeting soldiers who were accused of desertion or fleeing from battle.
According to the latest Statistical Year Book 2024 published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), maternal mortality, which stood at 1,071 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000, has now fallen to 203 per 100,000.
The sharp decline reflects the effectiveness of the government’s targeted healthcare policies and the country’s robust approach to maternal health.
Several key factors have driven this reduction. One major contributor is the increase in antenatal care coverage, with nearly 98% of mothers in Rwanda receiving at least one antenatal visit by 2023. The improvement in early detection and intervention has played a crucial role in reducing maternal deaths.
Skilled birth attendance has also been central to this progress, with 94% of births now attended by skilled health professionals, ensuring safer deliveries.
Additionally, improved access to emergency obstetric care has helped reduce maternal mortality. The rise in Caesarean sections and enhanced surgical capacity have ensured better outcomes for mothers facing complications during childbirth.
The gains in maternal health are part of a broader trend of improving child health. Both infant and under-five mortality rates have seen substantial reductions. Infant mortality has dropped from 107 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 33 in 2023, while under-five mortality has decreased from 196 to 45 per 1,000.
Key interventions have contributed to these reductions. High vaccination rates have played a pivotal role, with over 96% of children immunized by 2023, helping to combat preventable diseases.
Furthermore, community health worker programs continue to be vital in screening for malnutrition and providing timely interventions for children under five.
The report also highlights progress in addressing stunting and malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting decreased from 51% in 2005 to 33% in 2023. Severe malnutrition cases have also seen a dramatic decline, with 97% of children now classified as having normal nutritional status in recent screenings.
Key contributors to this success include growth monitoring programs, with over 1.5 million screenings conducted in 2023, as well as improved nutritional outcomes due to enhanced hospitalization and outpatient treatments for malnutrition.
Rwanda’s healthcare success is also attributed to comprehensive health policies. Health insurance coverage reached an impressive 97.3% in 2023, ensuring that families from all backgrounds can access care.
The Community Health Worker (CHW) program has been instrumental in providing decentralized healthcare, enabling millions of children to receive vital screenings and interventions. Moreover, investments in infrastructure have expanded access to both essential and emergency care, particularly in district hospitals and health centers.
Additionally, focused efforts on maternal and child nutrition, including supplementation programs and education, have significantly contributed to improving overall health outcomes.
