At a press briefing, First President of the Supreme Court Fode Bangoura officially announced Doumbouya’s election to a seven-year presidential term in accordance with the Constitution.
According to data previously released by Guinea’s General Directorate of Elections, about 6.8 million voters were registered for the election. Voter turnout was initially announced at 80.95 percent and later revised by the Supreme Court to 82.86 percent.
The presidential election marks a significant step in Guinea’s efforts to restore constitutional order. In September 2021, then-President Alpha Conde was overthrown in a military coup, after which a transitional government led by Doumbouya assumed power.
In September this year, Guinea adopted a new constitution through a nationwide referendum and announced that the presidential election would be held on Dec. 28. The new constitution lifted restrictions on junta members running for office and extended the presidential term from five to seven years, clearing the way for Doumbouya’s candidacy.
Throughout the election period, the overall situation across the country remained stable, with no major security incidents reported. Guinean political figures, electoral authorities, as well as domestic and international observers said the voting process was largely calm and orderly and that the organization of the election broadly complied with relevant legal procedures.
According to the official website of the Guinean presidency, Doumbouya, 41, was born on Dec. 5, 1984, in Kankan, northeastern Guinea.
The soldiers had been operating in several areas of South Kivu province, including Luvungi, Sange, Luberizi and Kiliba, where heavy clashes took place between December 2-9, 2025.
The fighting pitted fighters from the M23 rebel group against Congolese government forces, supported by troops from Burundi, alongside Wazalendo militia groups and the FDLR.
At the start of the clashes, Burundi had deployed an estimated 20,000 soldiers in South Kivu. During the fighting, the Burundian contingent suffered heavy losses, including soldiers who were killed, captured or wounded.
Those injured were evacuated to several medical facilities, among them Kamenge Military Hospital, Tanganyika Care Polyclinic and Kira Hospital.
The AFC/M23 rebel coalition has acknowledged capturing a number of Burundian soldiers during the fighting in the Rusizi Valley. It said it would continue to respect the rights of those in its custody and indicated that it would facilitate their return home.
While M23 has not released an exact figure, sources in South Kivu indicate that the number of captured Burundian soldiers is believed to be in the hundreds.
On January 4, 2026, the Burundian human rights organisation FOCODE reported that more than 1,000 Burundian soldiers had gone missing in the Rusizi Valley.
The organisation said it remains unclear whether the missing soldiers are alive, were captured, deserted or were killed during the fighting.
“Following the recent fighting in Congo, soldiers deployed in the Kamanyola Lubarika Luvungi area of the Rusizi Valley confirm that more than 1,000 soldiers are unaccounted for by the army,” the organisation said. “It is not known whether they were killed in combat, deserted, were captured, or are still wandering in the forests.”
Meanwhile, another reliable source in Burundi claims that the number of Burundian soldiers missing in the Rusizi Valley stands at 1,794, asserting that all of them deserted the army and that their current whereabouts remain unknown.
The report shows that the formal industrial sector also posted an annual average growth rate of 6.3 per cent, signalling sustained momentum despite month-to-month fluctuations in some activities.
Growth in November was driven largely by the electricity sector, which expanded by 14.1 per cent year-on-year, making it the biggest contributor to overall industrial growth. Electricity alone accounted for 2.8 percentage points of the annual increase, reflecting rising demand from households, businesses and industry.
The manufacturing sector, which carries the largest weight in the index at 68.1 per cent, grew by 4.9 per cent compared to November 2024. Within manufacturing, output gains were supported by a 2.6 per cent increase in chemicals, rubber and plastic products, as well as a 1.8 per cent growth in beverages and tobacco production.
However, the report highlights uneven performance across manufacturing sub-sectors. Textiles, clothing and leather goods contracted by 7.5 per cent, while wood and paper products, including printing, declined by 6.0 per cent, pointing to continued pressure in some traditional industries.
Mining and quarrying recorded a 4.1 per cent year-on-year increase, maintaining positive growth despite volatility in monthly output. Meanwhile, water and waste management activities expanded by 6.6 per cent, reflecting steady growth in urban services and environmental management.
The November figures are published using a new 2024 base year, following a rebasing exercise by NISR aimed at better reflecting Rwanda’s evolving economic structure. The rebasing captures the rapid expansion of manufacturing, utilities and other industrial activities over recent years, and aligns the index with international statistical best practice.
NISR noted that the IIP focuses on formal sector activity and excludes construction due to data limitations, but remains a key short-term indicator for tracking industrial trends and complementing quarterly GDP estimates.
This capacity forms part of Rwanda’s broad overview of petroleum products storage figures, reflecting the nation’s current capability to store fuel and associated products.
In total, Rwanda maintains storage facilities able to accommodate up to 118 million litres of petroleum products, encompassing both government-owned and privately owned reserves.
Government-owned petrol storage facilities in Gatsata hold a capacity of 7.2 million litres, while privately owned petrol tanks in Kabuye, in the City of Kigali, can accommodate up to 3.1 million litres.
In Rwabuye, Huye District, government-owned petrol storage facilities offer a capacity of 1.9 million litres, whereas those in Bigogwe, Nyabihu District, provide government tanks capable of storing 3 million litres of petrol.
Privately owned petrol storage tanks in Jabana, within the City of Kigali, have a capacity of 10 million litres, complemented by additional government-owned tanks in Rusororo that can hold up to 20 million litres.
Overall, Rwanda’s petrol storage facilities boast a combined capacity of 45.2 million litres.
For diesel, storage facilities in Gatsata accommodate 6.7 million litres, while privately owned tanks in Kabuye hold a capacity of 2.7 million litres.
Government-owned diesel tanks in Rwabuye can store 1.9 million litres, and those in Bigogwe have a capacity of 2 million litres. Privately owned diesel tanks in Jabana can accommodate up to 10 million litres.
Furthermore, the government operates diesel storage tanks in Rusororo with a capacity of 36 million litres. In total, Rwanda’s diesel storage capacity reaches 59.3 million litres.
The country also maintains government-owned kerosene storage tanks in Gatsata with a capacity of 1.5 million litres.
With respect to aviation fuel, Rwanda features government-owned storage tanks in Rusororo capable of holding 10 million litres, along with additional tanks in Kanombe offering a capacity of 2 million litres, resulting in a total aviation fuel storage capacity of 12 million litres.
By location, Gatsata hosts petroleum product storage facilities with a combined capacity of 15.4 million litres; Kabuye has 5.8 million litres; Rwabuye, 3.8 million litres; and Bigogwe, 5 million litres. Jabana provides a storage capacity of 20 million litres, Rusororo 66 million litres, and Kanombe 2 million litres. Collectively, these facilities can store up to 118 million litres of petroleum products.
In March 2025, Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi stated that Rwanda’s petroleum reserve storage capacity exceeded 110 million litres, with plans to expand it to 320 million litres within the next two years.
She noted that in 2017, Rwanda consumed approximately 600,000 litres of petroleum products daily, when existing storage facilities had a capacity of 111 million litres, sufficient for six months.
However, owing to rising vehicle numbers and industrial growth, Rwanda now consumes at least two million litres of petroleum products per day.
Consequently, current reserves suffice for no more than two months.
She cautioned that this could present challenges in the event of disruptions to regional fuel supply routes, prompting government plans to increase the nation’s petroleum storage capacity.
Rwanda primarily imports petroleum products from Arab countries, routed through East Africa. The majority arrives via Tanzania, with a smaller share sourced through Kenya.
The incident occurred late on Saturday evening, just before 8 p.m. local time, when a large wooden canoe carrying 52 passengers overturned on the Yobe River near Garbi town. The boat had departed from Adiyani village in neighbouring Jigawa State and was en route to Garbi when it capsized.
Mohammed Goje, head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, said that 13 passengers have been rescued alive and are receiving medical attention, while 25 bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue operations involving emergency responders, local volunteers and security agencies remain ongoing to find the 14 people still unaccounted for.
Police in Jigawa State confirmed the accident and indicated that the canoe may have capsized due to leakage. A spokesperson noted that safety regulations, including bans on night travel and overloading, were reportedly ignored.
“It was a market day, and the victims were returning home after trading. If the driver survives, he will be prosecuted for negligence,” said Lawan Adam, the state police spokesperson.
Investigators say the boat was carrying more passengers than it should have, and authorities have warned that the operator could face prosecution for negligence if he survives.
Residents said the victims included people from both their village and the destination town, many returning home after a market day. When the boat failed to arrive on time, relatives raised the alarm and discovered that it had overturned partway across the river. Divers and emergency crews recovered some of the bodies.
Boat accidents are unfortunately common in Nigeria’s rural regions, where waterways are often used for transport due to limited road infrastructure, and safety measures are frequently lacking. In a separate tragedy last September, an overloaded boat sank in Niger State, killing at least 60 people after it struck a tree stump.
In a post on X, which has since been deleted, Minister Bizimana alleged that Qatar was using its influence and financial resources to dissuade the United States from taking action against Rwanda, which he accused of violating a Washington-brokered agreement.
“It is important to stress Qatar’s negative role using its influence and cash to dissuade US from taking action,” Bizimana wrote on Sunday.
The post sparked immediate backlash, prompting Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye to intervene.
In a statement on X, President Ndayishimiye emphasised Burundi’s appreciation for Qatar’s longstanding bilateral relations and mediation role in the DRC.
“It is important to clarify any misunderstanding & wrong statement regarding Qatar’s contribution in development and peacebuilding,” he wrote.
Responding to the clarification, Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, acknowledged President Ndayishimiye’s retraction and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
“Guided by its principled approach, the State of Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to peacebuilding, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and will continue to engage constructively with all partners in support of stability and lasting peace,” Al-Khulaifi said in a post on X.
In recent days, Burundi and the DRC have heightened their accusations that Rwanda is supporting the AFC/M23 rebel alliance in eastern DRC and have called on the international community to impose sanctions on Kigali. Rwanda has rejected the allegations, insisting that sanctions cannot resolve the problems affecting the Congolese people, for whom the conflict is primarily a local issue.
Analysts note that Minister Bizimana’s deleted remarks targeting Qatar reflect internal political pressures and the stance of the government he represents, even as President Ndayishimiye sought to calm the situation and repair the diplomatic fallout.
The incident took place on January 4, 2026, at around 5:30 p.m. local time, in Jarama Sector near the Akagera wetland, close to the Burundi border.
The victims include farmers returning from their daily activities who had sought shelter from the rain in a building used by port guards along the Akagera River.
The lightning struck the shelter, killing nine people instantly. Six others were injured and experienced trauma.
Eastern Province Governor Prudence Rubingisa told the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency that this marked the first recorded incident of its kind in the area.
“This is the first time such an incident has happened here. We have requested experts to investigate potential causes, as the strike appeared unusually intense,” he said.
Rubingisa confirmed that local authorities swiftly initiated emergency response efforts.
“Of the 15 people affected, nine died at the scene, six were injured and others suffered psychological trauma. Local leaders have already launched support operations,” he added.
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to the mortuary at Kibungo Hospital, with burial arrangements being coordinated between Ngoma District authorities and the victims’ families. The injured are receiving treatment.
Rwanda is among the countries affected by natural disasters. In 2023, disasters claimed at over 130 lives and destroyed more than 1,800 houses.
A 2024 disaster risk assessment report indicated that Rwanda has at least 326 locations that are vulnerable to natural hazards. Of these, 134 areas were identified as being at high risk.
Findings from the 2024 national climate change risk and vulnerability analysis further show that landslides and lightning strikes are among the deadliest natural disasters in the country.
Between 2016 and 2023, landslides killed 449 people, while lightning strikes claimed 379 lives over the same period.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Atlantic. Maduro was taken by U.S. forces away from his country on Saturday and is now in custody in New York to stand trial on alleged drug charges.
Trump made clear that he would not stand what he described as Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention, according to the magazine.
Trump also stressed that the United States needs Greenland “absolutely,” reaffirming that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to U.S. intervention, according to The Atlantic.
“We do need Greenland, absolutely,” Trump said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in another media interview Sunday morning that Trump will keep all options open on how to “run” Venezuela, assess if the country’s interim leadership can “make right decisions,” and will not rule out the U.S. military presence in the country in the future.
“We expect to see more compliance and cooperation than we were previously receiving,” Rubio said of Rodríguez on CBS.
“Our objectives when it comes to how Venezuela impacts the national interest of the United States have not changed, and we want those addressed. We want drug trafficking to stop. We want no more gang members to come our way,” Rubio said.
At least 80 Venezuelan people were killed during U.S. airstrikes, a New York Times report said Sunday, citing Venezuelan officials.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice ordered late Saturday that Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Maduro.
The U.S. raid on Venezuela has drawn worldwide condemnation and concern.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said India’s continued buying of discounted Russian oil was unacceptable to the United States. While he described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a good guy” who understood his concerns, Trump made it clear that Washington is prepared to take stronger economic action if needed.
“They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump told the press when asked about India’s Russian oil imports, underscoring that trade measures remain a key tool in U.S. foreign policy.
The latest warning comes after the U.S. already doubled tariffs on most Indian imports to 50% last year, largely as punishment for India’s heavy purchases of Russian crude. Despite this steep tariff rate, among the highest applied by Washington against any trading partner, India’s exports to the U.S. actually grew in late 2025, demonstrating resilience amid rising economic tensions.
In response to U.S. pressure, Indian authorities have taken a step toward greater transparency by asking refiners to report weekly data on their crude oil purchases from both Russia and the United States, according to people familiar with the plans. This reflects New Delhi’s effort to balance its energy needs with the pursuit of a potential trade agreement with Washington.
Indian officials expect that imports of Russian crude are already declining and could fall below 1 million barrels per day as the country seeks to find common ground with U.S. negotiators.
Modi and Trump have spoken by phone several times since the tariffs were first imposed, but the discussions have not yet produced a definitive resolution. High-level trade officials from both countries have also met recently to discuss economic ties, yet major differences remain particularly on energy and agricultural policy.
India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s latest remarks. Still, New Delhi has historically resisted external pressure on its energy strategy, emphasizing its right to pursue policies based on national interests and energy security.
At its core, this dispute highlights a broader geopolitical tension: the United States is pushing allies and major democracies like India to cut ties with Russian energy as part of pressure related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while India maintains that affordable energy supplies remain critical to its development and stability.
The use of tariffs as leverage shows how trade policy has become interwoven with global diplomatic goals making the U.S.-India relationship both economically vital and strategically complex.
The self-sampling initiative is led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and enables women to obtain cervical cancer screening kits from public health facilities or selected private clinics.
Using the kits, women can collect a vaginal sample at home and return it to health facilities for laboratory analysis. The service is provided free of charge under the RBC Cancer Programme, according to Dr. Theoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Programme at RBC.
The samples are tested for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. Once laboratory results are available, healthcare providers share them with the women. Those who test positive are referred for further assessment, including procedures such as a pap smear or a medical examination, Maniragaba explained.
Several private clinics are participating in the programme, including Legacy, DMC Carrefour, Good Life, Bien Naitre, Bwiza Medical, MBC Hospital, Polyclinic Medico-Social, and Saint Jean Polyclinique, located in Nyarugenge District.
The programme targets all women aged 30 and above, regardless of whether they feel healthy, as cervical cancer often develops without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Women experiencing unusual bleeding, persistent vaginal discharge, or those who notice a painless lump in the breast are also encouraged to undergo screening.
Launched six months ago, the initiative initially struggled with low awareness and limited participation. However, Maniragaba said engagement has improved in recent weeks following increased involvement by local leaders in community mobilisation efforts.
He noted that self-sampling addresses common barriers to screening, such as discomfort, embarrassment, and difficulties accessing health facilities, while offering accuracy comparable to samples collected by clinicians.
“Early detection is critical in preventing cervical cancer. This programme provides convenient access to screening and empowers women to take control of their health,” Maniragaba told New Times.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Rwanda. Data from the National Cancer Registry (2022) indicate that the country records between 600 and 800 new cases each year, with nearly 600 deaths annually.
Rwanda has set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027, three years ahead of the World Health Organization’s global “90-70-90” targets. These benchmarks aim for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women to be screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cervical disease to receive appropriate treatment.
As part of this strategy, the government continues to roll out community mobilisation and HPV vaccination campaigns to strengthen prevention, early detection, and treatment services. RBC is spearheading mass screening efforts and has deployed Women Cancer Early Detection (WCED) mentors at health facilities to support and guide healthcare workers involved in the programme.
