The decree, issued by Sudan’s Acting Minister of Trade and Supplies, Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali, halts imports from Kenya through all entry points, including ports, airports, and border crossings, effective immediately until further notice.
The controversy stems from a political charter signed by the RSF and its allies on February 22 in Nairobi, where they expressed plans to establish a “parallel government” in Sudan.
Sudan’s government condemned Kenya’s role in hosting the event, accusing it of supporting the RSF, which has been in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023.
The Sudanese authorities referred to Kenya’s actions as interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and a violation of international norms.
In response, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry defended its actions, emphasizing that its role in hosting the RSF was in line with its commitment to providing a neutral platform for peace negotiations between conflicting parties.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to significant loss of life, with over 29,000 reported deaths by the end of 2024, according to crisis monitoring groups.
Rwanda is set to establish a new institution dedicated to training in cybersecurity and technology-related fields, according to the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire.
The upcoming Cyber Academy is expected to provide education on digital security and the application of technology across various sectors.
The minister revealed the plans while addressing Rwanda’s Parliament, specifically the Governance, Gender, and Social Affairs Committee, in response to questions related to the 2023-2024 performance report of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
Minister Ingabire confirmed that the academy will be operational before the end of 2025.
{{Boosting digital skills in Rwanda
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The minister emphasized that the academy will play a crucial role in enhancing Rwandans’ knowledge and skills in technology use.
“We are setting up the Cyber Academy, which will offer courses in cybersecurity. The goal is to equip young people with the knowledge to develop digital solutions while ensuring their security and contributing to national strategies,” she stated.
“The academy will be launched this year, and we will collaborate with various partners to ensure the successful delivery of its programmes in Rwanda,” she added.
Minister Ingabire also provided an update on the country’s digital progress, revealing that 22% of Rwandans currently use digital services, despite internet coverage reaching 96% of inhabited areas and 75% of the entire national territory.
She reaffirmed the government’s target of achieving 100% internet coverage across the country by 2029.
Additionally, the number of Rwandan households with fixed internet connections has increased from 7,501 to 79,107, reflecting a significant improvement in digital connectivity.
However, the minister acknowledged that challenges remain, including the high cost of internet services, expensive digital devices, and limited digital literacy among the population.
Despite these obstacles, Minister Ingabire highlighted ongoing initiatives to increase digital adoption, stating that 68.5% of Rwandans aged 10 and above now possess basic digital skills. The government continues to invest in awareness campaigns to ensure that all citizens can independently access and utilize online services.
The decision was reached during a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The summit deliberated on the security situation in eastern DRC, where SADC forces had been deployed to support the Congolese army and their allied forces to neutralize the M23 rebel group.
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and security, urging continued diplomatic engagement to address the crisis. The DRC government and M23 rebels are set to [hold peace talks in Angola on March 18->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/drc-gov-t-and-m23-rebels-to-hold-peace-talks-on-march-18-in-angola] in an attempt to resolve the conflict.
The withdrawal of SADC troops follows concerns over escalating tensions and humanitarian challenges in the region.
The summit also called on the international community, including the United Nations and the African Union, to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the violence in eastern DRC.
SADC, a regional economic bloc comprising 16 member states, includes the DRC, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
The bloc had deployed its military intervention force, SAMIDRC, in December 2023, consisting of South African, Tanzanian, and Malawian troops, with an offensive mandate to defeat M23 and other rebel groups.
Despite an initial deployment period, SADC extended the mission’s mandate by one year in November 2024, citing continued hostilities between the Congolese army and the M23 group, which says it’s fighting against the systematic persecution of the Tutsi minority community. However, the mission faced significant challenges, including battlefield losses.
SADC forces suffered 18 fatalities, including 14 South African soldiers, two from Malawi, and two from Tanzania, in clashes leading to the capture of Goma in January. Dozens of others were wounded, further intensifying scrutiny over the mission’s viability.
Since the fall of Goma, SADC troops have remained confined to their bases, facing mounting pressure for repatriation, particularly from South African lawmakers, who questioned the justification for the country’s involvement in the conflict. Critics argue that South African soldiers have been put in unnecessary danger, sacrificing lives for a foreign conflict driven by private interests.
The changes, announced early this week, through a presidential decree broadcast on state television, removed Awut Deng Acuil as Minister of General Education, Ruben Madol Arol as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and Joseph Mum Majak as Minister of Trade and Industry.
Both Awut and Madol had served in their respective positions since 2020. Awut, a long-serving government official, previously headed ministries responsible for gender, child welfare, and labor. Majak, who was appointed Trade Minister in July 2024.
{{New ministerial appointments}}
Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol has been appointed as the new Justice Minister having previously served as a deputy cabinet minister before the outbreak of the civil war in 2013.
Atong Kuol Manyang, daughter of Senior Presidential Adviser Gen. Kuol Manyang, was promoted from Deputy Governor of Jonglei State to Minister of Trade and Industry.
Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, an academic and author who has served as the Education Ministry’s Undersecretary since 2019, was named the new Minister of General Education.
The reshuffle is seen as part of President Kiir’s pattern of frequent ministerial changes. Analysts say these moves reflect his ongoing consolidation of power, often replacing officials months after their appointment.
The dismissals come amid escalating tensions between Kiir and his First Vice President, Riek Machar. Last week, President Kiir appointed Dr. Riek Gai Kok, a member of Kiir’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, as Governor of Jonglei State.
This role was initially allocated to the opposition South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) under the 2018 peace agreement. However, a revised 2023 deal transferred control of Jonglei State back to Kiir’s party in exchange for offering SSOA a deputy governor role or a national ministerial post.
Additionally, Kiir revoked the parliamentary appointments of three legislators from Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, who represented Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The ousted lawmakers, Bak Deng Nyang, Akec Fabio Goi, and Chan Deng Maror, were replaced by John Atak Garang Machar, Deng Nyawel Dhieu, and Wol Kuac Wol.
The President also removed several SPLM-IO members from the Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Parliament, including Awaya Awaya Makuei, Victor Wol Guoth, Bol Akum Akum, Deng Wol Dheiu, and Theresa Awok Adup. They were replaced by Hajar Mataya, Majok Piol Mayen, Longar Aror, Maria Akum, and James Jem Then.
Furthermore, Kiir replaced Atak Garang Akec, another SPLM-IO member, with Bol Akum Akum as Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies.
South Sudan’s fragile power-sharing government was formed in 2020 following a revitalized peace agreement aimed at ending years of civil war.
However, political infighting and mistrust between Kiir’s SPLM and Machar’s SPLM-IO persist. The latest reshuffle and parliamentary dismissals underscore the ongoing political jockeying as the country moves toward long-delayed elections scheduled for late 2024.
In a rare interview with Belgian researcher and former senator Alain Destexhe, Makenga accused President Félix Tshisekedi of failing to protect all Congolese citizens, labelling him “a bandit” who has shown no love for the country.
Since late 2021, M23 has reignited its armed struggle, claiming to defend Tutsis, Banyamulenge, Hema, and other Kinyarwanda-speaking communities who face persecution, killings, and other abuses due to their ethnicity.
Makenga insists that M23 took up arms only because they were “threatened with extermination.”
“We are fighting for our survival,” Makenga said. “We could not allow ourselves to be wiped out without reacting. It is unfortunate that the outside world refuses to see this.”
Citing attacks against Tutsi-majority villages, he pointed to a recent incident in Nturo, Masisi territory, where a village was burned down simply because of its ethnic composition.
“We must move beyond this ideology of ethnic hatred and instead promote reconciliation,” he added.
Makenga denied that capturing key cities such as Goma and Bukavu was a strategic objective but argued that it became necessary to stop ongoing attacks.
“From Goma, the FARDC [Congolese army] and other forces were shelling our positions and the civilians under our protection. We could not tolerate this any longer,” he explained.
He also accused the Congolese and Burundian forces of regrouping in Bukavu and receiving supplies through Kavumu Airport, which, he said, posed a threat that M23 had to neutralize.
Despite their military successes, Makenga dismissed suggestions that M23 intended to advance on Kinshasa, saying, “No, unless we are threatened.”
{{SADC troops and foreign mercenaries}}
As part of efforts to counter M23’s offensive, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania to eastern DRC. However, many of these forces are now holed up in bases around Goma following heavy losses.
“They can move freely but without weapons. We allow them to resupply,” Makenga stated, adding that M23 has no interest in holding them captive. “We want them to go home. They are free to leave whenever they wish.”
The M23 leader also condemned the involvement of foreign mercenaries alongside Congolese forces, particularly the alleged presence of Romanian fighters.
“It is unjust for people to come from Europe to kill those defending their rights. The world should be shocked, but apparently, it is not.”
Despite the ongoing conflict, Makenga expressed willingness to negotiate, particularly in response to an initiative led by Angola, which currently holds the African Union presidency.
“Of course, we want negotiations,” he said. “We have acknowledged Angola’s position, but we have not yet heard anything from Kinshasa.” Shortly after the interview, Kinshasa signaled its acceptance of the talks, with negotiations set to begin on March 18.
It remains to be seen whether the March 18 talks will bring about the much-needed peace deal in the eastern region.
Putin’s remarks, made during a visit to the Kursk Region on Wednesday, highlight growing concerns about the involvement of foreign fighters in both Ukraine and other conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking at a meeting with the Russian General Staff and military commanders, Putin declared that any Ukrainian soldier or foreign mercenary captured on Russian territory could be “treated as a terrorist under Russian law.”
He stressed that those who commit crimes against civilians or engage in combat against Russian forces would be prosecuted accordingly.
“All people who commit crimes against the civilian population on the territory of the Kursk Region, confront our Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, and special services, are terrorists in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation,” Putin stated.
“This is how the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee qualify their actions.”
While affirming that Russia would treat prisoners of war (POWs) humanely, Putin reiterated that foreign mercenaries are not entitled to the legal protections guaranteed under the 1949 Geneva Convention on POWs.
According to Article 47 of Additional Protocol I of the convention, mercenaries are explicitly excluded from being classified as regular combatants, meaning they do not benefit from legal safeguards such as protection from prosecution for participating in hostilities unless they have committed war crimes.
The Russian authorities have taken a hard stance on foreign fighters. In January, a Russian court sentenced retired US Army Ranger Patrick Creed to 13 years in prison for serving with Ukrainian forces from 2022 to 2023. In March, British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison for crimes against civilians in the Kursk Region.
Putin’s comments come as concerns grow over the role of foreign mercenaries in other global conflicts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In January 2025, more than 280 mercenaries from the RALF group—a Romanian-based private military company—were evacuated from eastern Congo after suffering a significant defeat to the M23 rebel group.
The mercenaries had been fighting alongside the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) since 2022. Their mission ended in failure when M23 fighters captured the strategic city of Goma on January 27, forcing the mercenaries to surrender to MONUSCO peacekeepers. On January 29, the fighters were granted safe passage through Rwanda to return home.
The presence of foreign military contractors in the DRC has drawn international attention, with critics arguing that their involvement escalates the conflict and complicates diplomatic efforts. Russia has previously expressed concerns about the increasing reliance on private military groups in conflict zones and views their presence as a destabilizing factor.
The community’s statement, issued on March 12, 2025, argues that such punitive measures undermine African-led initiatives and instead embolden the DRC government’s pursuit of military solutions, sidelining diplomatic efforts that would address the root causes of the conflict.
The community highlights the damaging impact of the decision, noting that it shifts focus away from addressing critical regional issues and instead fuels the advocacy for Western sanctions and boycotts against Rwanda, as articulated by President Tshisekedi.
“This is evident in President Tshisekedi’s persistent advocacy for Western sanctions and boycott against Rwanda instead of engaging in African-led initiatives,” the statement reads.
The Rwandan community further urges the German government to adopt a fact-based diplomatic approach and support ongoing African-led initiatives to find lasting solutions for the DRC conflict.
In the statement, they underscore the historical roots of the crisis in Eastern DRC, which can be traced back to the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference, where Germany played a pivotal role in dividing African territories without regard to indigenous communities.
The artificial borders that were drawn during this period have left many Rwandophones on the Congolese side, leading to generational marginalization and persecution.
“The origins of the crisis in Eastern DRC can be traced back to the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, in which Germany played a decisive role in partitioning Africa without regard for indigenous communities,” the community emphasizes.
The statement also critiques the international community’s failure to resolve the crisis, particularly after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Instead of disarming genocidal militias, the international community turned a blind eye, allowing these militias to reorganize in refugee camps that later became breeding grounds for violence.
This led to the formation of the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a genocidal terrorist group responsible for continuing violence against Rwanda and Rwandophones in the DRC.
“These camps later became strongholds of genocidaires militias and defeated army that later, with the support of the then Zaire government, gave birth to the FDLR,” the statement notes.
Moreover, the Rwandan community highlights the continued persecution and genocidal rhetoric aimed at Rwandophones in Eastern DRC. This has manifested in violent pogroms against Rwandophones in 2023 and 2024, where graphic videos showed individuals being executed and burned alive in Goma and Bukavu.
“Acts of cannibalism have also been recorded,” the community asserts, condemning the Congolese government’s complicity in such atrocities.
The statement further condemns the Congolese government’s direct encouragement of genocidal violence, including the armed creation of ethnic militias like the Wazalendo, which are responsible for terrorizing populations in the Kivu region.
The Rwandan community also draws attention to the DRC’s failure to address its internal governance issues, instead using Rwanda as a scapegoat for its ongoing ethnic violence.
“Instead of addressing internal governance failures, the DRC government has consistently shifted blame onto Rwanda, accusing it of aggression while continuing to fuel ethnic violence and harbor genocidal militias,” reads the statement.
In light of these concerns, the Rwandan community calls on the German government to reconsider its decision and engage more constructively in the region.
They urge the German government to hold the DRC accountable for its actions, particularly its failure to disarm genocidal militias like the FDLR, and for its failure to protect Rwandophones, who have been subjected to violence and persecution for decades.
The Rwandan community also underscores the security concerns that Rwanda faces from the DRC. The continued presence of the FDLR, which still operates freely in Eastern Congo, remains a serious threat to Rwanda’s security.
The statement highlights the joint military collaboration between FARDC (the Congolese army) and FDLR fighters, which poses a direct threat to Rwanda.
“Rwanda has repeatedly warned the international community about security threats emanating from the DRC, including the direct collaboration between FARDC and the FDLR,” the community notes.
“We urge the German government to reconsider its position and adopt a balanced, constructive role in ensuring peace and stability in the region,” the community concludes, affirming endorsement for Rwanda’s decision to ensure the security of its borders and maintaining the security measures established to contain the threat from eastern DRC.
This project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across East Africa.
ENSURE seeks to improve long-term agricultural sustainability by expanding access to robust extension services and strengthening Partner States’ capacity to deliver effective training and responsive services.
It will focus on three primary areas: creating a harmonized regional policy for extension and inputs, deploying a regional pluralistic extension approach (involving public, private, and NGO sectors), and building capacity to address trans-boundary pests like the fall armyworm and desert locusts.
Over 5 million people, including 50% women, are expected to benefit from improved agricultural extension systems, and the project is expected to create at least 1 million jobs, with half of those benefiting women.
Speaking during the launch of the project on Tuesday, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, said that the project begins at a pivotal moment as the EAC aims to transform its agricultural sector through various initiatives, including the Agricultural Inputs System Development Programme and the EAC Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP).
The DSG underscored the importance of the project in promoting a regional approach to strengthening agricultural extension, enhancing the role of extension in transforming agriculture, facilitating farmers access to advice and information, and supporting the adoption of climate-smart technologies and building the resilience of farming communities.
“I ask everyone to concentrate on how our efforts will contribute to the project’s broader goals, while also emphasizing value for money. Our citizens are the true stakeholders in this process, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the outcomes of this project lead to meaningful improvements in the agricultural sector of the Partner States.”
Ariik further emphasised the critical role of agriculture in the region’s economic landscape, adding that the agricultural sector remains the backbone of EAC economies in addition to employing over 60% of the population.
On his part, the AfDB Chief Agricultural Technologies Officer – Agricultural Research, Production and Sustainability, Dr. Innocent Musyabimana, highlighted the importance of investment in agriculture for fostering regional development.
“The African Development Bank is committed to financing projects that enhance agricultural resilience and productivity. We are proud to support the ENSURE Project, as it aligns with our mission to improve food security and reduce poverty across the continent,” said Dr. Nusyabimana.
Dr. Musyabimana said the project seeks to address the main challenges faced by farmers in the region including: limited access to extension services and training, limited access to new climate-smart technologies and inputs, and limited knowledge and skills to use these inputs effectively.
“With the use of digital extension technologies (internet, podcasts, videos, social media platforms), the project will seek to bridge the gap in access to extension information between men, women, and youth by promoting more equitable access among these different beneficiaries,” he said.
The three-year project is expected to meaningfully support the improvement of women and men’s access to agricultural technology and knowledge to support the implementation of its Gender Policy and place the institution as a leader in this sector.
The project will concentrate on advancing agricultural innovations that can attract youth to participate in agricultural activities as well as reduce the workload for women and boost their productivity and raise their income.
He made the disclosure during a media briefing on Tuesday, Muswere noting that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has set up 214 surveillance traps to combat armyworms, which have been ravaging many parts of the southern African country.
All districts now have chemicals on standby to respond to the pest. Sixty trucks, one for each district, have been purchased to ensure a timely response and better preparedness, he said.
Muswere added that 639,809 knapsack sprayers have also been distributed to some beneficiaries of the Presidential Agricultural Input Support Scheme, under which farmers in rural areas are assisted to engage in climate-proof agriculture.
Farmers, who are expecting good harvests following favorable rains during the current agriculture season, have expressed concern that they may lose out to armyworms, which primarily feed on leaves and may also attack maize stalks.
Muswere assured farmers that Zimbabwe’s Grain Marketing Board, the country’s leading grain trading and marketing entity, currently has sufficient grain to meet the needs of rural communities until the next harvest.
The index slightly rose to 102.8 in January 2025 from 102.7 in December 2024, indicating trade volumes remain above trend. A barometer reading above 100 suggests higher-than-trend trade activity, while readings below 100 indicate potential decline.
While the WTO noted accelerating merchandise trade growth, it also warned of risks from rising trade policy uncertainty and potential new tariffs that could impact trade in the medium term. A slowdown in demand is expected later this year.
The barometer’s components showed consistent trends in export orders, electronic components, and raw materials. Meanwhile, automotive products, container shipping, and air freight all performed better than expected.
WTO’s projections for 2024 and 2025 trade volume growth, released in October 2024, were largely in line with the developments observed in the first three quarters of 2024, with anticipated growth rates of 2.7 percent for 2024 and 3 percent for 2025.
