Coalition leader Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo made the announcement after meeting Hadja Lahbib, the European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management, who visited Goma on February 20, 2026.
“We have 41 minors formerly associated with FARDC and Wazalendo captured in Goma. Today we decided to release them,” Nangaa said. He added that about 100 women linked to FARDC and Wazalendo captured in Rumangabo would also be freed.
He further stated that 230 FARDC soldiers receiving treatment at Katindo Military Barracks will be released “to demonstrate our commitment to peace.”
In April 2025, 1,359 Congolese soldiers and police who had taken refuge at bases of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO near Goma were transferred to Kinshasa following negotiations between AFC/M23 and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Nangaa said the coalition prioritizes political dialogue as the path to peace but warned it would continue to defend itself if the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo pursues further fighting.
Corneille Nangaa announced that AFC/M23 will free several individuals linked to the DRC government.Nangaa revealed the decision after holding discussions with Hadja Lahbib.
In an interview, Ishyo Foods’ founder, Sharon Akanyana, credited this remarkable growth to data and digitalisation.
Akanyana founded her company in 2017 as a way to produce affordable yoghurt, especially for young children like her own. Although the original plan was to focus on yoghurt, challenges with equipment delayed the production for months.
“When we faced issues with equipment, we pivoted and said, ‘Let’s make jam,’” she recalls, describing a move that kept her idea alive. The first batches were supplied to a neighbourhood supermarket in Kibagabaga, a neighbourhood in Kigali, as the supermarket had agreed to give the product a chance.
One shelf led to several more; they acquired their S Mark from Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and got their equipment from customs, and they began making yoghurts. Those small wins built the momentum that prompted a shift in focus towards scaling production and improving standards.
The team upgraded to a modest facility, documented its procedures on paper, and treated quality as proof of progress. Once shelf space was secured, the focus shifted from whether the product could sell to how the start-up could evolve into a scale-up.
That question revealed a major information gap. “We realised there was a lot of data we needed. We asked ourselves: how will we know we’re making losses? How will we know we’re making profits? How will we know how many customers we have? How will we know which customers we haven’t served in the past week?” Akanyana explains.
“Milk might be ready while the cups were missing, or a store could drop from four deliveries a month to two without anyone noticing. The solution was a shift from manual processes to digital systems, designed around the everyday decisions that kept the business running.”
Ishyo Foods later became one of the Rwandan micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) selected to be part of a cohort of businesses supported through the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation (RED) Programme. The RED Programme is implemented by a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and Cenfri.
The programme provided Ishyo Foods with the support to move from manual processes to digital transformation. “We used to use Excel sheets for our sales, but it was a semi-digital system. There is not much you can do with it”, she says. With the right support, finance moved first, adopting QuickBooks. QuickBooks stabilises invoicing, and sales visibility followed.
That shift helped form a simple customer-relationship rhythm across about 300 supermarkets. Operations and inventory then began a migration to Odoo, an online software application that will be used company-wide for the management of business processes.
“We are starting to learn how to use Odoo,” she explains, “because an integrated view of stock, procurement, and production planning helps reconcile minimum order quantities with supplier lead times before shortages appear.”
After digitalising their processes, the company started recording service improvement. The company treated each signal as data, which led to recipe refinements, re-sequenced routes, and tighter contact schedules that protected relationships while volumes rose. “Data is our oxygen,” she says. “When you have no data, then there is no growth. How will you know you’re making losses? How will you know you’re making profits? How will you know how many customers you have? So data is essential. Data is everything.”
Results followed the discipline. “In 2023 and 2024, we grew our sales by more than 100%,” she reports. Production climbed from using 200 litres of milk per week to 1,000 litres.”
The team grew with the workload. “Full-time about 28, and part-time about 27,” she notes in response to a question about the size of the team. The customer base widened in step. “We have 300 customers now.” The narrative lines up with the numbers. Better delivery cadence, fewer stockouts, and earlier procurement tend to raise throughput and reduce waste when demand is present.
Context matters, and she is explicit about Rwanda’s ecosystem. “Rwanda is the best place for businesses, startups,” Akanyana says, pointing to advisory networks, grants, affordable loans, and selected tax relief on imports.
Akanyana is equally direct about the internal responsibility that sustains growth. “When you have no data, then there is no growth,” she says. “Tools require consistent input. Teams need training and time. Suppliers can miss deadlines. Cash cycles can tighten even when dashboards are accurate. These are constraints to manage with routine, review, and prompt action.”
The method is simple to state and demanding to practice. Define the facts that matter for tomorrow’s deliveries, capture them without fail today, and make decisions while they can still change outcomes.
Eight years after a kitchen trial became a company, the results are visible on shelves across Kigali. The engine behind those shelves is a founder who chose to turn listening into a system and records into dashboards that guide the next move.
The company has expanded its team from a single employee to 28 full-time staff. Sharon Akanyana founded Ishyo Foods in 2017. The company has grown from producing jam to making yoghurt.Acquisition of new equipment helped the company to expand operations.
Mohamed Musa Al Kando, a board member of Al-Merrikh, thanked the Rwandan government and people for their support in a statement released on Friday.
“Thanks to the government and nation of Rwanda for welcoming our two big teams and, before that, welcoming the Sudanese people during this hard time of war.”
Al-Merrikh and fellow Sudanese club Al-Hilal SC were cleared to participate in the 2025/26 Rwanda Premier League in November last year, following the suspension of the Sudan Premier League in April 2023, which prompted the clubs to seek temporary relocation.
The clubs have received support from the Rwanda Football Federation and the league organizers, helping them integrate smoothly into the competition.
“I was very happy when I arrived in Kigali just two days before the big derby and we won,” Al Kando said, reflecting on their recent success.
Al-Merrikh plans to build stronger ties with local clubs through collaboration and experience sharing, and the board is also considering establishing a Merrikh Academy in Rwanda in the near future.
Currently, Al-Merrikh sits third in the Rwanda Premier League with 37 points, just one point behind Al-Hilal and APR FC, following a 2-1 victory over rivals Al-Hilal SC at Stade Amahoro on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Al-Merrikh SC has been playing in the Rwanda Premier League since November 2025. In their most recent match, Al-Merrikh SC beat Al-Hilal SC 2-1 in the derby.Sudanese nationals in Rwanda often turn out to support their teams.
His family confirmed he passed away on Thursday, describing his final months as a courageous fight marked by advocacy and dedication to raising awareness of the disease.
Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and spent the months that followed using his platform to support patients and research.
Family statements highlighted his determination to make a difference, noting that he focused on fundraising and bringing public attention to ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease. In recognition of his efforts, Dane was named “Advocate of the Year” by the ALS Network in late 2025.
Born with a versatile talent for television and film, Dane first gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan, affectionately nicknamed “McSteamy”, on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Introduced in Season 2, he became a fan favorite, appearing in 139 episodes, and left a lasting mark on pop culture.
He later drew acclaim for his darker, complex role as Cal Jacobs on the hit teen series Euphoria, continuing through the show’s second season and filming scenes for its upcoming third season. Dane also starred as Captain Tom Chandler on the post-apocalyptic action series The Last Ship from 2014 to 2018.
His other work included recurring television roles in Charmed and Gideon’s Crossing, early appearances in The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Saved by the Bell, as well as film roles in X-Men: The Last Stand, Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day, Burlesque, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Tributes have poured in from co-stars and colleagues, who remembered Dane as a warm, humorous, and intelligent presence on set. Many praised his dedication to ALS advocacy, noting his final months were defined by generosity and purpose.
Dane is survived by his wife and two daughters, Billie and Georgia, whom his family described as the center of his world. His memoir, scheduled for release later this year, will offer a closer look at his life, career, and enduring efforts to make a difference for those affected by ALS.
Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and spent the months that followed using his platform to support patients and research.
He emphasised that both countries are members of the East African Community (EAC) and, as such, should not harbour forces hostile to one another.
Major General Muhanguzi made the remarks on February 19, 2026, while leading a delegation of Ugandan soldiers on a visit to Rwanda. The delegation toured the National Commission for Demobilization and Reintegration (RDRC) center in Mutobo, located in Musanze District.
The visit aimed to familiarise Ugandan officers with Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programs, which support the transition of former combatants, including members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and their families, back into civilian life.
Many of these former fighters had been operating from eastern DRC, where members of the militia group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi sought refuge after their defeat by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA).
Speaking during the visit, Maj Gen Muhanguzi stressed that regional cooperation requires member states to prevent armed groups from operating within their borders.
“Rwanda should never have enemies originating from Uganda, and likewise, no enemy should be allowed to come from Rwanda to Uganda. However, we want Congo to ensure that it does not harbour enemies that attack both Uganda and Rwanda,” he said.
Maj Gen Muhanguzi praised former FDLR fighters who have chosen to return to Rwanda, saying many still have the capacity to contribute to national development alongside other citizens.
“A country is not built by one individual; it is built by all its people,” he added. “I also commend President Kagame for his leadership of Rwanda, and you, too, should come to understand the truth and return to your home.”
According to the RDRC, since 2001, a total of 12,602 former combatants have been reintegrated into civilian life. However, testimonies from returnees indicate that a number of former fighters, particularly from the FDLR, remain in hiding in the forests of eastern DRC.
Soldiers from Uganda’s Commander of the 2nd UPDF Infantry Division visited the Mutobo Centre.The delegation toured the National Commission for Demobilization and Reintegration (RDRC) center in Mutobo, located in Musanze District.
The appeal was made in an official communiqué released on February 19, 2025, in which the movement expressed concern over what it termed sustained silence from global and regional actors.
According to the statement, civilian populations in Minembwe, Mikenge, Karingi, and across the Hauts Plateaux of South Kivu have been subjected to “daily, systematic, and unpunished massacres.”
The group attributed the alleged attacks to coalition forces aligned with the Kinshasa government, including FARDC units, local armed groups, and foreign mercenaries.
The communiqué further claimed that women, children, and elderly civilians are among the primary victims, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe and alleging repeated violations of international humanitarian law.
The movement also warned that continued inaction could heighten instability across the wider Great Lakes region, urging international institutions and regional leaders to take what it called decisive measures.
AFC/M23 has been controlling Goma city since January 2025.
MediConnect is a digital health platform that connects patients with licensed doctors across multiple specialities through messaging, phone calls, or video consultations. It offers electronic prescriptions, home delivery of medications, and follow-up care. Consultations are priced to remain affordable, with a general practitioner costing 3,000 Rwandan francs and a specialist 5,000 Rwandan francs.
In an interview with IGIHE, Dr. Iradukunda explained that MediConnect was born from watching patients travel long distances for consultations and imagining a way for doctors to provide care beyond hospital walls.
The MediConnect platform connects patients with licensed doctors across multiple specialities through messaging, phone calls, or video consultations.
The shortage of doctors was another driving factor. Currently, Rwanda has approximately one doctor for every 4,000 members of its population, but the government is working aggressively to meet the WHO-recommended threshold by 2028 through the “4×4 Reform”.
“At the current rate, it would take us about 180 years to reach the World Health Organization’s recommended number of healthcare providers,” he remarked, acknowledging the urgent need to disrupt that timeline through the government’s ambitious initiative to quadruple the number of healthcare professionals within four years.
The MediConnect solution, he said, was not about replacing existing services but complementing them. MediConnect allows doctors to consult patients virtually when they are not at hospitals or clinics, extending care beyond traditional settings and reaching patients in both urban and rural areas.
Dr. Seraphin Iradukunda launched MediConnect in 2024.
The platform was conceived during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, when access to healthcare became even more challenging. Development began in 2023, when Dr. Iradukunda brought together a team of colleagues, developers, and digital health experts. MediConnect officially launched in 2024 and has since onboarded more than 60 licensed doctors across different specialities, facilitating hundreds of consultations.
The platform is registered with the Rwanda Development Board, licensed by the Ministry of Health, and cleared by the Rwanda Cyber Security Authority for data protection and privacy compliance. It was also featured on the Africa Digital Health Network Watchlist 2025 as one of the continent’s promising digital health startups.
MediConnect’s impact goes beyond consultations. Dr. Iradukunda is specializing in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU). Launched in September 2024 by King Faisal Hospital Rwanda in partnership with the Ministry of Health, AHSU aims to expand the country’s healthcare workforce.
King Faisal Hospital Rwanda is the founder and a key stakeholder of Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU).
The university currently has 202 students and is expecting its third cohort this September. Its first cohort, which began training in 2024 and is expected to graduate in 2028, will produce roughly 60 specialists and 40 midwives. AHSU integrates digital health, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence into its residency programs, equipping students with the skills to innovate.
Residents from AHSU, including Dr. Iradukunda, have contributed to MediConnect by refining the web application, creating patient-centred designs, and developing health education tools.
“That early training in digital health opened our minds to technology’s role,” he told IGIHE. “We show that beyond being a doctor, you can provide solutions using university-acquired skills to solve real-world problems.”
Residents from AHSU, including Dr. Iradukunda, have contributed to MediConnect by refining the web application.
Beyond the code and the interface, the true heart of MediConnect is found in the lives it quietly saves when every second counts. This was the reality for a 25-year-old patient in 2025 who logged on to discuss persistent headaches.
What began as a convenient digital check-up quickly turned urgent as the physician identified critical warning signs, blurred vision and impaired balance. The resulting CT scan uncovered a brain tumour, leading to an immediate referral and successful surgery that likely wouldn’t have happened without that timely virtual connection.
“This shows MediConnect’s role in early detection of serious conditions that could have been missed,” Dr. Iradukunda said.
Looking ahead, MediConnect and AHSU innovators are developing AI-powered triage tools to determine whether cases can be managed virtually or need urgent referral. They are also creating electronic health information cards to track patient histories and exploring digital medical fitness certificates to reduce unnecessary clinic visits. Plans are underway for a mobile app and telemedicine kiosks to reach rural areas with limited digital access.
Dr. Iradukunda sees the platform not just as technology but as a new model of healthcare delivery. “We must be solution providers for our country and continent,” he said. “The future belongs to those who use knowledge and digital technology like AI to solve real-world problems.”
To access MediConnect’s services, book a consultation, or learn more about their digital health solutions, visit their web portal at www.mediconnect.rw.
Amb. Nduhungirehe made the remarks on Thursday during a press briefing in Kigali alongside European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, recently assumed the rotating chairmanship of the African Union during the bloc’s 38th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa.
Ndayishimiye took office at a time when Burundian troops were engaged in military operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside the Congolese army coalition, FARDC. The African Union, which he now chairs, is also involved in facilitating dialogue between Rwanda and the DRC over the conflict in that region.
Beyond the fighting in eastern Congo, tensions between Rwanda and Burundi remain strained, largely due to Rwanda’s concerns over Burundi’s alleged cooperation with the FDLR terrorist group.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Minister Nduhungirehe acknowledged that Rwanda and Burundi are neighboring states and both members of the East African Community, but said that relations remain strained.
“As you know, Burundi closed borders with Rwanda. And also, which is more worrying, Burundi is involved in a conflict in eastern DRC in a negative way, because it has imposed a blockade against the Banyamulenge in Minembwe, preventing them from accessing markets, which aggravates the humanitarian situation,” he stated.
In that context, Amb. Nduhungirehe said Burundi’s involvement in mediation would be inappropriate.
“Although it has accessed the AU chairmanship, it is difficult for Burundi to get involved in mediation. We have a mediation of Togo, mandated by the African Union, with five facilitators. We believe that those facilitators and the mediators should continue their work of supporting the parties in implementing the Washington Agreement without the involvement of Burundi, which is a party to this conflict,” he added.
Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated in recent years. On January 11, 2024, Burundi closed all border crossings with Rwanda, accusing Kigali of supporting the RED Tabara rebel group, an allegation Rwanda has repeatedly denied. Tensions further escalated amid claims that Burundi has cooperated with the FDLR in the eastern DRC conflict.
In July 2024, officials from Rwanda and Burundi met in Zanzibar during a retreat of foreign affairs ministers from East African Community member states, where both sides pledged efforts to restore relations. Despite subsequent meetings and diplomatic engagements, no concrete breakthrough has yet been achieved.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe said Burundi should not take part in AU-led mediation on eastern DRC crisis.
In a statement released Thursday, the monarch emphasized that the case is “being investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” adding that those authorities have the Royal Family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.” He further underscored that “the law must take its course.”
Thames Valley Police confirmed that a man in his sixties from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Several media organizations have identified the individual as Mountbatten-Windsor.
The arrest follows earlier changes to his status. Last October, he was stripped of his royal and military titles and vacated Royal Lodge, later relocating to private accommodation. Since then, he has been referred to by his birth name rather than a royal title.
The development has also revived scrutiny of his past links to the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Britain’s King Charles III attends the opening show of London Fashion Week 2026, in London, Britain, on Feb. 19, 2026.
Yoon said in a statement that he deeply apologized to the public for the frustrations and hardships caused by his own shortcomings, although his decision to declare the emergency martial law was solely for the nation and the people.
He stressed that his desperate decision to save the nation was slandered as an insurrection, noting that the court’s ruling was unacceptable as it convicted him of insurrection because of the military entering the National Assembly building.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Thursday that the crux of Yoon’s martial law case was the fact that troops were deployed to the National Assembly, saying the impeached leader attempted to prevent the parliament from functioning properly for a significant period.
The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April of 2025, officially removing him from office.
Yoon was indicted under detention in January of 2025 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.
S. Korea’s ex-president Yoon has regretted not living up to expectations.
