The rainfall, which started around 7 AM and continued until 5 PM, had already saturated the soil in the area, which had been experiencing heavy rains since the beginning of March.
The motorcyclists, who were returning from Gasenyi Trading Center, were caught by the landslide. The victims were Imanirafasha Diedonné, 23, from Nyabiguri Village, Gasharu Cell, and Ishimwe Chance, from Gasharu Cell, Gashanga Village.
The passenger, Harerimana Joseph, 42, from Karambo Village, Murengezo Cell, is currently receiving treatment at Kibuye Referral Hospital.
Fabien Ngendo, the Acting Executive Secretary of Mutuntu Sector, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged residents to be more cautious.
He said, “We urge the community to remain vigilant, as the continuous heavy rainfall in Karongi has caused the soil to become unstable.”
Meteo Rwanda, the Rwanda Meteorological Agency, has forecasted above-average rainfall in March 2026, which could lead to more natural disasters.
This tragic event follows another similar incident three days earlier in Gashari Sector, Karongi District, where a landslide destroyed a house, resulting in two fatalities.
The Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) recently reported that from January 1, 2025, to March 18, 2026, weather-related disasters, including heavy rains, landslides, and lightning strikes, have claimed the lives of 207 people nationwide, injured 432, and damaged 2,341 homes, with 35 completely destroyed.
The Houthis control much of northern Yemen. They have stayed largely on the sidelines since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28. The restraint contrasts with the Houthis’ actions during the Gaza war, when they repeatedly targeted shipping and disrupted global trade.
Why are the Houthis holding back? Will they join the fight? What would their involvement mean for energy markets? Here’s what you need to know.
Strategic restraint
After the Feb. 28 strikes, the Houthis pledged “full support” for Iran. Leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said March 5 that the group has its hands “on the trigger,” but has yet to act.
On Thursday, al-Houthi repeated that his group stands ready to take military action if the Middle East conflict escalates, while reaffirming close ties with Iran.
Analysts say the group is exercising “strategic restraint,” arguing that entering such a major war carries serious risks for the Houthis.
Joining the conflict would likely trigger U.S. and Israeli strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen, a region already under severe economic strain after years of war and blockade. Sustained bombardment could cost the Houthis both territory and public legitimacy.
A broader offensive could also give Yemen’s internationally recognized government an opening to launch a counteroffensive. The two sides have been at war for more than a decade. The Yemeni government has warned the Houthis against dragging the country into the wider conflict.
Possible action
On March 20, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Russian state media the group was weighing all options, including blocking the Bab el-Mandeb to ships from “aggressor countries.”
He said any closure would target only vessels from states attacking Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, or Iraq.
The Wall Street Journal reported on March 21 that Saudi officials are working to keep the Houthis out of the fight. The U.S. and Israel are also trying to avoid provoking them, a U.S. official said.
Maysaa Shujaa al-Deen, a researcher at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, said the signal to act may not have come because Iran does not yet need it.
Given Iran’s proximity to the conflict, a Houthi intervention may be seen as a card held in reserve — to be played only if fighting escalates into a full-scale ground war or a total blockade of Iranian interests.
Potential impact
Iran is already restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor, pushing up oil and gas prices.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key chokepoint for shipping between the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean. If the Houthis were to block it, global energy supplies could face a double disruption.
Reuters reported that the U.S. is considering deploying troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz and potentially strike Iran’s Kharg Island, about 15 miles off the Iranian coast, which handles roughly 90 percent of the country’s oil exports.
An Iranian military source issued a stark warning, saying that reckless U.S. action in Hormuz could trigger a second crisis. “They should be careful not to add another strait to their problems,” the source said.
On March 21, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. He later ordered a five-day delay on strikes following “productive” talks with Iran, and on Thursday, extended the deadline another 10 days to April 6.
Armed men loyal to the Houthi group participate in an armed tribal rally supporting the resumption of attacks against Israeli ships, in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 11, 2025.Vessels of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps are seen during a ceremony marking the National Persian Gulf Day at the Persian Gulf near Bushehr, Iran, April 29, 2024. Yemen’s Houthi group fighters ride a vehicle with a heavy machine gun during a weaponized rally against Israel, at Arhab district north of Sanaa, Yemen, Nov. 3, 2025.
A team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and international collaborators found that metformin targets a small protein in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a part of the brain that helps regulate energy and blood sugar levels.
The protein, called Rap1, is crucial for metformin’s action. When metformin suppresses Rap1 activity, it causes special nerve cells in the VMH to become more active, helping to lower blood sugar.
To test this, the research team used lab mice engineered to lack Rap1 in their VMH. These mice did not respond to metformin, showing that Rap1’s presence is necessary for the drug to function properly. The findings suggest that metformin works not only by acting on the liver and gut but also through direct action in the brain.
Further experiments were conducted where metformin was delivered directly into the brains of diabetic mice. Even though the doses were much smaller than the oral doses typically used, the mice still showed significant reductions in blood sugar. This experiment confirms that the drug’s effects are not limited to peripheral organs but also directly involve the brain’s regulation of blood sugar.
The research also showed that metformin activates SF1 neurons in the VMH, which are essential for blood sugar control. Without Rap1, these neurons did not respond to the drug, further reinforcing the idea that this brain pathway is critical to metformin’s function.
This discovery is a game-changer in diabetes research. It not only alters our understanding of how metformin works but also opens the door to developing new treatments that target brain pathways for better blood sugar control. The study also raises questions about the drug’s potential impact on brain aging and overall brain health, offering exciting possibilities for future research.
With this new insight, scientists are now exploring how metformin’s action in the brain could lead to more effective treatments for diabetes and other related health conditions.
Metformin’s long-hidden brain pathway may redefine how diabetes is treated.
He was speaking at the UN Security Council briefing on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on March 26, 2026, where he reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to a political resolution for the region, calling for a focus on the root causes of the conflict.
Amb. Ngoga made it clear that the conflict in eastern DRC is not of Rwanda’s making, noting that the country remains deeply concerned about the presence of the FDLR, a genocidal group founded by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
According to Amb. Ngoga, the FDLR’s ideology remains unchanged and continues to spread throughout the region, posing a constant threat to Rwanda.
“The FDLR is not an ordinary armed group. It is a genocidal force, founded by remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and its genocidal ideology has never changed,” said Ngoga. “For Rwanda, it remains an ever-present threat, particularly given the devastation our country suffered as a result of that ideology.”
Amb. Ngoga stressed that eliminating the FDLR and its ideology is critical to any credible and lasting solution to the conflict in eastern DRC.
“Addressing the threat of FDLR is indispensable to any credible and lasting solution to the conflict in Eastern DRC,” he asserted. “This group must be neutralized, and their ideology and its vectors, such as hate speech, must be eradicated.”
Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to UN, Amb. Martin Ngoga stressed the need to neutralize FDLR to ensure as sustainable solution to eastern DRC protracted conflict.
Root causes of the conflict in DRC
Amb.Ngoga highlighted the internal dynamics of the conflict in DRC, stating that the root causes of instability in the region must be addressed by the Congolese themselves.
He emphasized the importance of the Doha Framework for Peace, which provides a platform for dialogue to address these internal issues and drive long-term peace in the region.
“The Doha Framework for Peace provides an important platform for dialogue aimed at addressing these internal drivers of instability. Progress in this process is therefore essential,” Amb. Ngoga explained.
He also pointed out that, alongside the Doha process, the implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement will be crucial in creating the conditions for a sustainable political settlement.
The Ambassador further emphasized that the peace process must address long-standing issues, including the return of refugees who have spent decades in camps.
“This track also provides the framework to finally resolve enduring challenges, such as the dignified return of refugees who have remained in camps for nearly three decades – Three hundred thousand in the region and many others in western countries,” he said.
International collaboration and accountability
Amb. Ngoga acknowledged the vital role of international partners, including the United States, Qatar, and the African Union, in supporting the peace process. He emphasized that the success of these efforts depends on continued impartial engagement, rooted in facts and verifiable evidence.
“Decisions and actions taken in support of peace must reinforce the credibility of these processes and ensure that all parties remain equally bound by the commitments they have made,” Amb.Ngoga stated.
“Enforcement and support mechanisms should apply equally and justly to all parties. In other words, enforcement and support mechanisms for these peace processes must be not only even-handed but also be seen to be even handed,” he added.
Former FDLR Secretary General Brig Gen Gakwerere was tranferred to Rwnda after his arrest last year.
Humanitarian crisis and the need for immediate action
The Ambassador also addressed the rising humanitarian consequences of ongoing hostilities, particularly the increasing use of drones and aerial attacks in civilian areas.
These attacks have caused significant civilian casualties, including a recent tragedy in Goma, where a humanitarian worker and several civilians lost their lives.
“Recent months have also seen an escalation in the use of drone strikes and other aerial attacks in populated areas. As the report notes, such attacks have already resulted in civilian casualties,” Amb. Ngoga explained.
From January to March, Congolese army, FDLR, and other allied groups carried out several drone attacks, including one on March 9, 2026, in Minembwe, which damaged infrastructure, and another on March 19, 2026, that hit civilian homes, destroying buildings and causing numerous casualties.
Amb. Ngoga called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of conditions to protect vulnerable communities and support ongoing political processes.
“These developments underscore the urgent need for a ceasefire and for conditions that can effectively protect vulnerable communities and support ongoing political processes,” he stated.
Amb. Ngoga reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to the Washington Peace Agreement and the Doha Framework for Peace. He emphasized the importance of turning agreements into tangible progress on the ground and ensuring that the agreed monitoring mechanisms are effectively implemented.
“If we remain focused on implementation and on addressing the root causes of this conflict, we have a genuine opportunity to move toward a durable and lasting peace in the region,” Ngoga concluded. “Rwanda pledges to play its part honestly and fully.”
Following missile strikes and joint operations by Iran and allied resistance groups that damaged U.S. military infrastructure in West Asia, some surviving U.S. personnel have taken refuge in hotels in regional countries, including Bahrain and the UAE, said the report.
The hotels and civilian places used by the U.S. military personnel are not limited to those in Bahrain and the UAE, the informed sources were quoted as saying. And substitute bases and places sheltering foreign forces have also been detected in other regional states.
The U.S. Marines have been transferred to Djibouti’s international airport and deployed to the region, said the report.
Security inspect outside the Erbil Arjaan by Rotana hotel, in Erbil, northern Iraq, March 6, 2026. (AFP Photo)
The force, likely to include infantry and armored vehicles, would be added to the roughly 5,000 Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division already ordered to the region, said the report, citing Department of Defense officials.
It is unclear exactly where the forces will be deployed in the Middle East, but they are expected to be within striking distance of Iran and its Kharg Island, a crucial oil export hub, the report added.
“All announcements regarding troop deployments will come from the Department of War. As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal,” Anna Kelly, deputy White House press secretary, was quoted as saying.
Trump said earlier on Thursday that he would pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 more days, until April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, claiming that talks between the two sides were “going very well.”
Iran has publicly rejected a 15-point peace plan proposed by the White House but is privately considering meeting with unspecified U.S. negotiators in Pakistan in the coming days, said a report from The New York Times.
The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, driving up oil prices and shaking the global economy.
Reports indicate that Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East
The Maldives has notified the president of the UNGA and the president of the Security Council of its decision to withdraw its nomination of Gamba, according to a note to correspondents issued by the spokesperson of the Office of the President of the UNGA.
With the withdrawal, there are four candidates for the next UN secretary-general: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, originally nominated by Chile, Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nominated by Argentina; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, nominated by Burundi; and Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former vice president of Costa Rica, nominated by Costa Rica.
According to documents posted on the website of the United Nations on Thursday, Chile has withdrawn its nomination of Bachelet, but she will remain as a candidate nominated by Brazil and Mexico.
Antonio Guterres, the current and ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, took office in January 2017. The next UN secretary-general will take over the role from Jan. 1, 2027.
At the spring, Niyonambaza Rachel Aisha, a representative of the women, remembers how different life used to be.
“In our daily lives, many things have changed. Before, we did not have clean water,” she says.
For more than two decades, cooperation between the Government of Rwanda and the Government of Japan, implemented through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has quietly transformed rural water services. Behind each functioning water point are people like Rachel.
A community environmental health officer conducts an E. coli test at the household level for Kampambara Spring, Kazo Sector, Ngoma District, on February 23, 2026.
Before the rehabilitation of Kagezi spring under the “Project for Rural Water Supply Services and Infrastructure Management Development (RWASOM2)” in October 2024, fetching water was a daily struggle.
“The water was dirty and contained worms. Many in our community fell ill from unsafe water,” Rachel recalls.
Today, the spring is capped, channeled, and protected. Clear water now flows through a tap onto a clean concrete platform. The improvement is visible, but its deeper impact is measured in health and dignity.
“When you have clean water, you have good health. Now children go to school and study well because they are healthy,” Rachel says.
Seeing the transformation, Rachel and her community have committed themselves to protecting the spring. Every Saturday, they clean the area and ensure it remains safe.
Transect walk during the workshop on CWSP monitoring for Rwamatabaro Spring in Rubona Sector, Rwamagana District, on February 5, 2026.
Building systems, strengthening communities
At the national level, rural water management is coordinated by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC). For Vincent de Paul Mugwaneza, Director of Water Supply at WASAC Development, the partnership with JICA has been both technical and transformative.
“Our projects with JICA are designed to address existing challenges. Before implementation, we ensure they align with national water strategies and are likely to deliver real, measurable impact,” he explains.
JICA’s long-standing cooperation has gone beyond infrastructure development; it has helped build a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem for water supply management by strengthening management structure, training private operators, and providing district teams with tools for planning, monitoring, and maintenance.
Business development training for sustainable water management for staff of AYATEKE Star Company Ltd (PO-Gatsibo), 10–12 March 2026.
RWASOM’s JICA expert Satoshi Ishida notes that sustainability depends less on construction and more on post-project management.
“Private operators manage rural pipelines and contribute a royalty fee equivalent to 10% of their revenue to WASAC, which funds major repairs and facility renewal plans,” he says.
The project improved how private operators plan repairs, shifting them from reactive to preventive management. Ishida adds that mapping facilities with GIS helps operators prioritise investments and promotes a culture of preventive maintenance.
Measurable improvements have followed. “We track functioning versus non-functioning systems and citizen complaints. These indicators provide a clear picture of progress,” Mugwaneza explains.
Refresher training for staff of Waterways Creation Ltd and Patto Water Ltd on conducting water quality testing for physico-chemical parameters, February 13, 2026.
On the ground, district officers ensure that systems continue to run. In Eastern Province, Nderabakura Jean Claude, District WATSAN Officer, monitors water points across wide rural areas.
“We must know how many water points we have, which are functioning, and why some are not,” he explains.
Training supported by JICA has expanded the district’s technical capacity. Officers now develop expansion plans using GIS and QGIS, design pipelines on paper, and calculate realistic budgets. Ishida notes that embedding skills in WASAC, districts, and communities ensures that knowledge is institutionalised rather than reliant on external experts.
Water quality monitoring is also essential. “We test chemical and biological parameters, check chlorine levels, ensure pH balance, and supervise cleaning of storage tanks,” Jean Claude says.
The impact is clear: waterborne diseases have decreased, even in health facilities.
Protecting gains
Despite progress, challenges remain. In some rural areas, vandalism and illegal connections threaten infrastructure, particularly during dry seasons. JICA has introduced digital monitoring and mapping tools to help operators respond quickly.
“Mapping water systems and sharing operational reports online allows rapid identification of failures,” Ishida explains.
“Some cut pipes for mud bricks or industries,” Jean Claude notes, adding that security patrols and community sensitisation have reduced incidents.
Yet even amid constraints, the principle of community ownership remains central.
Staff of Waterways Creation Ltd measuring residual free chlorine in Ngoma District, February 10, 2026.
To strengthen that ownership, JICA volunteers are rooted in the community and dedicated to protecting water sources. Over the past two decades, 61 JICA volunteers in water and sanitation have been placed in rural districts, supporting daily operations, data management, maintenance training, and hygiene promotion. Before these interventions, many boreholes with handpumps were not functioning.
“The government’s development policy emphasises citizen participation,” Jean Claude says. “When citizens request infrastructure and see it delivered, they appreciate it. They recognise its value and become more willing to protect and maintain it.”
Rachel embodies that spirit. At Kagezi Spring, they do not wait for breakdowns. They clean drainage channels, check for cracks, and keep watch.
“Now we have been given water, and we also have the responsibility to protect it,” she says firmly. “No one is allowed to damage it.”
Speaking at the WTO Ministerial Conference, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, emphasized the challenges facing global trade and their impact on smaller economies.
“This Ministerial takes place at a critical moment for the multilateral trading system,” he said, citing geopolitical tensions, climate challenges, and supply chain disruptions affecting global markets.
He noted that these challenges have particularly significant implications for developing countries and Least Developed Countries.
Rwanda used the platform to advocate for reforms that prioritize development and ensure equitable participation in global trade.
“WTO reform must remain development-centred, ensuring that the interests and capacities of developing countries and Least Developed Countries are fully reflected,” Sebahizi said.
He added that reforms should strengthen the WTO’s key functions while maintaining inclusiveness and consensus-based decision-making.
A major concern raised by Rwanda was the weakening of the dispute settlement system, which the country described as essential for fairness and predictability.
“A fully functioning and accessible dispute settlement system remains a cornerstone of the multilateral trading system,” he said.
Rwanda also emphasized the importance of Special and Differential Treatment and Aid for Trade in helping developing countries overcome structural challenges, improve infrastructure, and participate more effectively in global trade.
The minister highlighted agriculture as a key priority, calling for progress in negotiations to address long-standing imbalances in global agricultural trade.
“Progress remains critical to addressing long-standing imbalances in global agricultural trade and ensuring food security,” he said.
Rwanda also expressed support for discussions on emerging areas such as digital trade and investment facilitation. “We support continued engagement on electronic commerce, while ensuring that discussions take into account the development needs and digital capacities of developing countries,” Sebahizi said.
He added that initiatives aimed at improving the investment climate could contribute to sustainable development, particularly for developing countries.
As the conference continues, Rwanda urged WTO members to deliver concrete outcomes that restore confidence in the system.
“Let us use this Ministerial Conference to reaffirm our shared commitment to a fair, inclusive, and development-oriented multilateral trading system,” Sebahizi said.
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, warned that the global trading system is at a turning point.
“The world order and multilateral system we used to know has irrevocably changed. We will not get it back… we must look to the future,” she said, urging WTO members to take decisive steps to adapt the system to new economic realities and ensure it continues to deliver for all.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi has called for development-driven WTO reforms, stressing the need for a fair and inclusive global trading system.
Opening the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala delivered a stark message about the future of global trade.
“The world order and multilateral system we used to know has irrevocably changed. We will not get it back… we must look to the future,” she told ministers and delegates.
She said the current disruptions from geopolitical tensions to climate pressures are not temporary shocks, but part of a broader transformation shaping the global economy.
The WTO chief also outlined a cautious outlook for global trade, noting that growth is expected to slow significantly in the coming year.
“For 2026, our economists are forecasting slower growth… reflecting geopolitics, energy prices, and policy uncertainty,” she said.
According to WTO projections, goods trade growth is set to decline from 4.6% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, with risks of dropping further to 1.4% if high oil prices persist. Services trade is expected to grow by 4.8%, though this could fall to 4.1% if disruptions in transport and travel continue.
Despite these pressures, she stressed that the system remains resilient.
“Our latest analysis shows that around 72% of global goods trade still remains on WTO terms… providing global trade with a stable core,” she noted.
Okonjo-Iweala also highlighted growing structural challenges within the WTO, particularly a lack of transparency among members.
“Lack of transparency leads to a lack of trust, and that breeds suspicions of unfairness and anti-competitive behaviour,” she warned.
She noted that only 64 members had submitted subsidy notifications, undermining confidence in the system and contributing to delays in reform.
At the same time, she pointed to the growing role of technology in global trade, noting that digitally delivered services reached $5.26 trillion, accounting for about 15% of global trade, while AI-related products contributed significantly to recent growth.
She urged ministers to use the conference to push forward reforms and restore trust in the system.
“We cannot forever complain and then miss the opportunity to fix the problems,” she said, calling for stronger political will among member states.
During the meeting, Rwanda called for a more balanced and development-driven global trading system, warning that without meaningful reforms, smaller economies risk being left behind.
“WTO reform must remain development-centred, ensuring that the interests and capacities of developing countries and Least Developed Countries are fully reflected,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, urging members to translate ongoing reforms into tangible gains, particularly in agriculture, digital trade and access to a fair dispute resolution system.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala delivering remarks at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé.
