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In a statement released on Wednesday, December 10, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka described the capture of the city as a liberation and urged civilians who had fled the fighting to return, assuring them that the rebel forces are present to protect them.

“For more than three months, we have denounced the spread of hate speech, targeted attacks, and massacres in areas previously liberated by the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime and their ally, Burundi. Today, the threat has been removed, and Uvira is now liberated,” Kanyuka said.

The capture of Uvira marks the rebels’ deepest advance in South Kivu since February and follows a series of territorial gains earlier this year, including the takeover of Goma in January and Bukavu in mid-February. Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu, had been a key government stronghold on the southern axis.

At a press conference in Goma yesterday, the group accused the Congolese government of committing more than 30 ceasefire violations since July 2025, alleging that the worsening security situation stems from what it described as a “deliberate political strategy” by Kinshasa.

AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa condemned daily confrontations driven by discriminatory notions of “natives” and “non-natives,” accusing government forces of targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking communities.

The rebel coalition also accused Burundi of direct military involvement in the conflict and said government forces were backed by a mix of regional militias and foreign mercenaries. Nangaa claimed that recent battles, including around Kamanyola, saw Burundian troops taking a leading role, including airstrikes launched from within Burundi.

The group denounced the ongoing blockade of Minembwe, which has left thousands of residents without essential supplies, and cited multiple attacks on civilians, including a December 6 incident that killed four women attempting to bypass the blockade. Thousands of civilians have fled into Rwanda amid the fighting.

Despite the accusations and ongoing conflict, AFC/M23 reiterated its commitment to civilian protection, peace, and dialogue.

“Despite the severity of the situation, the M23/AFCM remains committed to peace, to protecting civilians, to respecting international obligations, and to engaging in sincere dialogue,” Nangaa said.

The fall of Uvira is a major setback for Kinshasa in its struggle to regain control of South Kivu, where government forces have been attempting to reclaim large territories lost to the rebel forces through offensives and dialogue in Doha, Qatar.

Under the theme “AI & Emerging Issues: Implications for Teacher-Education Delivery in Africa”, ICAIED 2025 delivers a powerful platform for participants to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, assessment and research in higher education, with a special focus on teacher training and capacity building.

The conference convened a wide array of stakeholders: university faculty, ministry officials, EdTech developers, policy makers, NGOs, and young researchers, all converging to exchange knowledge, present research, and co-design solutions for the future of African education.

For the University of Kigali, this conference aligns seamlessly with the institution’s strategic drive toward innovation, research excellence, and global relevance. The event exemplifies UoK’s commitment to preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving world where AI and digital competencies are essential.

In her opening address, Prof. Ogechi Adeola, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Enterprise and Chair of ICAIED 2025, delivered a compelling welcome that framed the spirit and purpose of the conference.

She emphasized both the promise of AI for African education and the responsibility to adopt it thoughtfully and ethically.

Reflecting on the transformative moment Africa is experiencing, she noted: “Across Africa, Artificial Intelligence is no longer an abstract concept. It is shaping classrooms in Kigali, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Joburg and beyond. Students are increasingly using AI-powered writing tools, translation apps, learning platforms and automated assessments.” “Yet as we embrace these opportunities, we must also recognise the realities that define our education ecosystem… complex questions about data privacy, algorithmic bias, digital sovereignty and ethics demand urgent attention.”

The Vice Chancellor of UoK Prof. George Kimathi reaffirmed the university’s deep alignment with Rwanda’s forward-looking national agenda and its commitment to educational transformation: “At the University of Kigali, we are intentionally embracing Artificial Intelligence and innovation as catalysts for transforming higher education.

Our mission is to equip students with the skills, mindsets, and technological competence required to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. As Rwanda moves boldly toward becoming a knowledge-based, digitally empowered economy, UoK stands ready to produce graduates who will not only participate in that journey but help shape it. We see AI not merely as a tool, but as an opportunity to rethink learning, expand research excellence, and drive impactful innovation across the continent.”

The Chairman of UoK’s Governing Body, Philibert Afrika echoed this vision, underscoring that hosting ICAIED 2025 is a powerful reaffirmation of the University’s mission to lead Africa’s transformation through research-driven innovation, global collaboration, and academic excellence.

Reflecting on the significance of the conference, he stated: “This International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education is not just a gathering of experts; it is a clear demonstration of our commitment to building an ecosystem where innovation thrives, where ideas are exchanged, and where the future of education is shaped with purpose.”

“In convening scholars, policymakers, technologists, and educators from across Africa and the world, the University of Kigali is positioning Kigali as a continental hub for educational innovation, one that contributes meaningfully to Rwanda’s national development agenda.”

At the national level, Rwanda has positioned itself as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation. The country’s pioneering National Artificial Intelligence Policy, adopted to promote responsible, inclusive AI development, seeks to leverage AI for sustainable growth, education reform, and economic competitiveness.

In her address, Esther Kunda, the Director General for Innovation and Emerging Technologies, representing the Minister of ICT & Innovation, applauded the University of Kigali for convening such a timely and impactful gathering.

Kunda emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological trend, but a transformative force shaping how societies learn, work, innovate, and solve problems.

She stated: “Across the world, Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how people learn, work, communicate, and solve problems. For Africa, AI represents not only a technological shift, but an opportunity to accelerate progress in education, strengthen institutions, and empower a new generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”

She further highlighted Rwanda’s commitment to building a digitally empowered nation, grounded in Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation, and the country’s emerging AI coordination frameworks.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of education, Kunda remarked: “AI cannot transform our continent without well-prepared teachers, strong governance systems, and robust institutional capacity… That is why this conference is so important.”

She encouraged delegates to interrogate critical issues of AI ethics, accessibility, equity, and teacher empowerment, noting that solutions must be driven by collective action and cross-border collaboration. She concluded by officially opening ICAIED 2025, reaffirming government support for innovation and strong partnerships with institutions such as UoK.

Dr. Edward Kadozi, Director General of the Higher Education Council (HEC), delivered a powerful keynote that set the tone for the conference.

In his remarks, he highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, while calling for responsible, equitable, and inclusive adoption within African education systems.

“AI is not a magic wand, but it is a powerful set of tools that, used wisely, can strengthen what teachers do best… from amplifying personalized learning to enhancing formative assessment and accelerating professional development.

“But a promise without groundwork risks harm: deepened inequality, lowered standards, and erosion of professional agency. If we are honest about our readiness gaps, we can also be strategic,” he noted.

This sentiment mirrors the objectives of ICAIED 2025. The conference aims to contribute to building an “AI-ready” education ecosystem, supporting teacher capacity, promoting equitable access, and ensuring that AI integration advances national goals under Rwanda’s broader development roadmap, such as its Vision 2050.

The Chairman of UoK’s Board echoed this, noting that hosting ICAIED 2025 reaffirms the university’s mission to lead in research, global collaboration, and academic excellence, positioning Kigali as a hub of educational innovation for Africa.

ICAIED 2025 has drawn an impressive mix of participants: veteran professors, policy analysts, EdTech entrepreneurs, government regulators, and young researchers from more than half a dozen countries across Africa. Their presence underscores the university’s international reach and the global importance of the conference themes.

Sessions include keynote lectures, thematic panels, workshops, and breakout group discussions on topics ranging from adaptive learning systems, AI-driven assessment, ethics and data governance, to AI’s role in narrowing the digital divide and promoting equity in education.

ICAIED 2025 delivers value across the entire education ecosystem: for educators and institutions, it offers a vital opportunity to stay ahead of global trends, adopt AI-powered teaching tools, and build capacity for future-oriented education delivery; for policy-makers and regulators, the conference’s insights and recommendations contribute directly to strengthening national frameworks governing AI integration in higher education, ensuring alignment with national policies and sector strategic plans; and for students and youth, it signals expanding opportunities through personalized, adaptive, and digitally inclusive learning pathways, preparing graduates with the AI-enhanced skills needed to compete and succeed in a globalized world.

As Rwanda positions itself as Africa’s centre for AI research and innovation, initiatives such as ICAIED 2025 demonstrate how academic institutions can lead the way. The University of Kigali calls on governments, private sector players, development partners, and educators across Africa to embrace AI responsibly and ethically as a key enabler of transformation in education and beyond. ICAIED 2025 is more than a conference; it is a bold step toward a future where AI and education converge to unlock Africa’s potential.

The conference received strong continental support, led by Afreximbank as the Gold Sponsor, reaffirming its Pan-African mandate to transform Africa’s trade landscape.

A four-minute Afreximbank corporate video powerfully illustrated the Bank’s mission, strategic pillars, including Intra-African Trade, Industrialisation and Export Development, Leadership in Global Trade Banking, and Financial Sustainability, and its flagship initiatives advancing trade, investment, and social impact across the continent.

Additional sponsorship from Cavalli Business & Investment Limited and DT Autocafe, as Silver Sponsors, further strengthened the event’s success and visibility, demonstrating the private sector’s commitment to advancing Africa’s innovation and development agenda.

The statement was issued by the coalition’s political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, who addressed journalists in Goma alongside senior M23 figures Bertrand Bisimwa and Freddy Kaniki, just hours after rebel forces made their deepest advance in South Kivu since February.

{{‘No functioning authority in the DRC’
}}

Nangaa condemned what he described as daily confrontations driven by discriminatory notions of “natives” and “non-natives”, accusing government forces of treating sections of the Congolese population, particularly Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, as “second-class citizens” denied basic rights.

He claimed Kinshasa had shown “total irresponsibility”, arguing that the state had collapsed to the point that no real authority existed in the country.

“For several months now, the M23/AFCM has repeatedly asked for the signing and full implementation of a ceasefire under international supervision,” Nangaa said. “Far from being a sign of weakness, this call reflects our concern for civilians and the humanitarian suffering they face.”

{{31 ceasefire breaches
}}

According to the movement’s account, the Congolese army (FARDC), supported by regional militia groups and Burundian troops, violated the ceasefire at least 31 times between July and November 2025. The alleged breaches occurred despite commitments outlined in the Joint Communiqué of April 24, the Doha Principles Declaration of July 19, and subsequent monitoring mechanisms.

Among the incidents cited, the M23 said Burundian troops were deployed on July 17 2025, to Ndunguye and Baraka alongside FARDC and allied militias, sparking offensives across Masisi, Kirumba, Kaina, Gifuru, and neighbouring areas. Between 21 and 23 July, coordinated attacks were carried out in Uvira’s Hauts Plateaux, Fizi, Baraka, Masisi, and Rutshuru, with FARDC allegedly operating alongside the FDLR and other militia groups.

{{Humanitarian crisis in Minembwe
}}

The group further condemned an “unacceptable humanitarian blockade” imposed on the Banyamulenge community in Minembwe.

Nangaa stated that FARDC, FDLR elements, and allied militias had effectively isolated the population since February, cutting off essential supplies including food, fuel, medicine, salt and soap.

Minembwe, he said, had suffered more than ten bombings this year alone, including a strike on 19 February that killed General Michel Makanika and another attack on a humanitarian aircraft in June.

He also denounced a December 6 attack in which four women were reportedly killed while attempting to bypass the blockade to buy vegetables. Others were abducted, and many remain missing.

{{‘A coordinated and methodical war’
}}

The movement accuses Kinshasa of escalating a “methodical” offensive across Masisi, Rutshuru, Tongo, Kanyabayonga, Sake and other hotspots, resulting in more than a hundred civilian deaths and mass displacement.

The rebel coalition blamed Burundi for “directly engaging in an unjustifiable war” by deploying troops inside DR Congo and launching strikes from Burundian territory.

{{Coalition of foreign fighters
}}

The group reiterated that FARDC operates alongside a wide coalition comprising the FDLR, Mai-Mai groups, Burundian armed elements and foreign mercenaries from Romania, Colombia and parts of Europe.

The group maintained that its forces remained in a “strictly defensive posture”, though it reserved the right to neutralise threats under “legitimate self-defence”.

The AFC/M23 called on the UN Security Council, the African Union, the United States, Qatar, Togo and Great Lakes governments to recognise Kinshasa’s refusal to establish a humanitarian safe zone, which the rebels say they have repeatedly proposed.

Despite the accusations, Nangaa insisted that the movement remained committed to peace, civilian protection and dialogue.

“Despite the severity of the situation, the M23/AFCM remains committed to peace, to protecting civilians, to respecting international obligations, and to engaging in sincere dialogue. History will judge each actor. We have chosen responsibility, protection and dignity for our people,” the group said.

The press conference came as AFC/M23 rebels made a major territorial advance, entering the strategic city of Uvira on Tuesday after days of fighting along the Ruzizi plain.

Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu, had been the main government stronghold on the southern axis since February. Its fall marks the rebels’ biggest gain since capturing Bukavu earlier this year and follows the takeover of Goma in January and Bukavu in mid-February.

Government forces, including Burundian units, FDLR remnants, Wazalendo militias and foreign fighters, had struggled to maintain cohesion, with internal conflicts weakening the defensive lines. Recent battles around Kamanyola saw Burundian forces take a leading role, including airstrikes launched from within Burundi.

Thousands of civilians have fled the renewed fighting, with many crossing into Rwanda and reporting abuses by coalition forces.

Meanwhile, Rwanda, which recently signed a peace deal with the DRC dubbed the Washington Accord, has [condemned the renewed violence->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-condemns-ceasefire-violation-of-washington-accords-by-congolese-and], accusing the DRC and Burundi of violating ceasefire provisions and escalating the conflict.

“Rwanda condemns the Congolese Army [FARDC] and the Burundian Army [FDNB], together with its coalition of the DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militias, Wazalendo and foreign mercenaries, and have been systematically bombing civilian villages close to the Rwandan border,” the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reads.

“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace, resulting in the continued suffering of the population in Eastern DRC, as well as a security threat to Rwanda’s western border.”

At a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on the day, Takaichi expressed her deep regret as the chapter representative for accepting donations in violation of the political funds control law, adding that her chapter had already returned the exceeded amount, the report said.

On Dec. 4, Kobe Gakuin University Professor Hiroshi Kamiwaki filed a complaint against Takaichi with prosecutors, saying the local chapter of the LDP in Nara Prefecture, represented by Takaichi, received a donation of 10 million yen (about 64,400 U.S. dollars) from a Tokyo company on Aug. 26 last year, surpassing the 7.5 million yen limit allowed by law for that particular type of donor.

The cases add to the ruling LDP’s slush fund scandal, first revealed in 2023, in which some party factions of the LDP allegedly instructed member lawmakers to sell political fundraising party tickets beyond their assigned quotas without recording the amount as revenue in its political fund reports, and then funneled the surplus back to lawmakers as kickbacks, creating off-the-books funds.

Among the senior officials Takaichi appointed after taking office in October, seven have been linked to the LDP’s slush fund scandal. Critics said her ambiguous stance on the scandal suggests limited willingness to push for fundamental reform.

This condemnation was issued in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 10, 2025.

The statement emphasizes that the responsibility for the ongoing attacks and fighting in South Kivu DRC cannot be placed on Rwanda.

It accuses the FARDC and FDNB, in coalition with the DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militias, Wazalendo, and foreign mercenaries, of bombing civilian villages, and which the AFC/M23 has said it has been forced to counter.

“Rwanda condemns the Congolese Army [FARDC] and the Burundian Army [FDNB], together with its coalition of the DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militias, Wazalendo and foreign mercenaries, and have been systematically bombing civilian villages close to the Rwandan border,” the statement reads.

“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace, resulting in the continued suffering of the population in Eastern DRC, as well as a security threat to Rwanda’s western border,” adds the statement.

The statement further highlights the consequences of these actions, specifically the past week’s bombing of Kamanyola from Burundi, which has led to the displacement of over 1,000 Congolese citizens.

These refugees have crossed into Rwanda and are being accommodated at the Nyarushishi Transit Camp in Bugarama, Southern Rwanda.

The Burundian Army, which has reportedly amassed close to 20,000 troops in South Kivu, is accused of laying siege to Banyamulenge villages in Minembwe. This siege is described as a deliberate attempt to starve the residents and further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The statement also pointed out DRC’s relenting commitment having openly stated its intention to disregard the ceasefire and continue its military offensive to recapture territories lost to AFC/M23, even while peace talks were ongoing.

In addition, the failure of the DRC to neutralize the FDLR as stipulated in the June 2025 Peace Agreement continues to delay the resolution of the conflict in Eastern DRC, the ultimate goal of the Washington Accords.

“It is now clear that the DRC was never ready to commit to peace, even as President Tshisekedi participated in the 4th December ceremony, as if forced to sign the Accords,” the statement reads.

In the past week, the European Commission opened two antitrust investigations into U.S. tech giant Google and Meta, and fined Elon Musk’s platform X 120 million euros (about 139.49 million U.S. dollars) in its first non-compliance decision under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Simultaneously, the White House published a new National Security Strategy warning that Europe faces the “prospect of civilizational erasure.” This has triggered an unusually sharp backlash from European leaders.

Analysts say the rift between the United States and Europe is widening, a trend that is reinforcing Europe’s drive for greater “strategic autonomy” and making the split increasingly difficult to reverse.

{{Digital sovereignty dispute }}

On Dec. 5, the European Commission issued its first non-compliance decision under the DSA, fining X 120 million euros for the deceptive design of its blue checkmark, a lack of transparency in its advertising repository, and failing to provide researchers with access to public data.

X owner Elon Musk then blasted the European Union (EU) for the fine, warning that his response would target the officials responsible for the penalty.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the fine as an attack on American companies and an act of censorship against Americans online. Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau argued that the EU’s regulatory stance could damage shared Western security and values.

However, EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen has insisted the law “has nothing to do with censorship.”

On Tuesday, the Commission opened a separate antitrust investigation into whether Google has breached EU anticompetitive rules.

U.S. National Public Radio said that Europe has been striving to establish itself as the global authority for digital regulation. The Trump administration has pushed back against perceived curbs on U.S. companies’ profits, highlighting a growing division over the concept of digital sovereignty, which has transformed long-standing allies into competitors.

{{U.S. security strategy rattles Europe}}

While the tech battles have exposed an economic rift, the new U.S. National Security Strategy has raised the issues of identity and values.

Several U.S. and European outlets have pointed out that in the 30-page document, barely two and a half pages are devoted to Europe, a level of neglect they say no previous U.S. strategy document has shown toward its European allies.

Analysts believe the new Strategy underlines how Europe is being pushed down the list of U.S. priorities. “For Trump, however, Europe seems increasingly irrelevant or, on a bad day, even an adversary,” said Leonard A. Schuette, an international security program fellow at the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Some experts also argue that the strategy extends the rift into the realm of the shared values that once underpinned the transatlantic security alliance. The Financial Times reported that the document “highlights the ideological gulf that has opened up between Washington and its traditional allies.”

The Strategy also calls on the U.S. to “cultivate resistance within European nations” to what it describes as Europe’s current trajectory, and commends far-right “patriotic” parties across the continent.

Liana Fix, a senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, pointed out that the document frames Europe’s problems in “civilizational” terms, which is radically different from any past administration’s view of Europe. Fix concluded that it “marks the end of the transatlantic alliance based on liberal values.”

{{Strategic autonomy becoming more urgent}}

Europe’s drive for strategic autonomy is looking more urgent than ever, faced with tariff threats, tech enforcement battles, and the new U.S. strategy document.

From U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s blunt criticism of Europe at the Munich Security Conference early this year, to the U.S. tendency to bypass European allies in negotiations on Ukraine, the pattern of “America First” decisions has pushed Europe toward strengthening its own strategic autonomy.

In recent months, the EU has invoked its digital regulations to launch a series of enforcement actions against major U.S. tech firms. Analysts describe these moves as a direct response to the U.S. use of tariff threats to interfere with the bloc’s digital regulatory agenda.

At the same time, several European countries have begun raising defense budgets and expanding joint military cooperation in an effort to reduce long-standing dependence on the U.S. in security and defense.

A recent paper published by the European Union Institute for Security Studies warns that Europe is not facing a “storm that will pass.” It is a multi-round contest in which power, alliances, and resilience are built over time, the paper said.

To prepare for what comes next, the paper urges Europe to “collect more cards and learn to play them smartly,” including boosting defense capabilities, investing in strategic industries, and rebuilding Europe’s economic security, so it can safeguard its own security and democratic future. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars)

According to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two-day forum provides a key platform to advance the agenda on women’s rights, peace, and security.

In his opening remarks, Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti welcomed the African Union’s (AU) decision to hold the forum in Tunisia for the first time outside AU headquarters, noting that it reflects Tunisia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with African partners at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

He emphasized that the current global context calls for greater solidarity and coordinated action to tackle shared challenges, particularly in peace and security.

Nafti also stressed that lasting peace requires preventive, comprehensive approaches that address structural causes such as inequality and poverty, which fuel marginalization and exclusion.

The opening session brought together representatives of AU member states, regional and international organizations, and civil society groups.