“They discussed the need for a political solution to the security crisis in eastern DRC involving all relevant parties. President Kagame reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution that addresses Rwanda’s longstanding security concerns in a sustainable manner,” read a statement from the President’s Office.
The conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) continues to escalate, with M23 recently seizing control of Goma and several other areas in North Kivu.
The DRC government has long accused Rwanda of backing M23 and providing it with military support in its fight against the Congolese army and its allied militias.
Kinshasa has also claimed that Rwanda has troops on its territory and has consistently lobbied the international community to impose sanctions on Rwanda, though these efforts have largely been unsuccessful.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied any involvement with M23, instead raising concerns over the Congolese government’s alliance with the FDLR, a group comprised of remnants of perpetuators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi along with Burundian troops, European mercenaries, and SADC forces in what it sees as a direct threat to its security.
As various stakeholders explore possible solutions to the conflict, M23 recently declared its intention to continue its military advance toward Kinshasa, aiming to overthrow the current government.
However, the group has stated that it would be open to halting hostilities if Kinshasa agrees to dialogue, a proposition that President Tshisekedi has consistently rejected. On February 14, 2025, M23 announced the capture of Kavumu, a town in South Kivu, further expanding its territorial control in eastern DRC.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) have urged the Congolese government to engage in talks with M23 as a pathway to lasting peace.
The issue at hand stems from Ssemakade’s reaction against a ruling in December last year where Musa Sekaana halted the Uganda Law Society extra ordinary meeting that was set to take place on 17th December 2024.
Ssemakadde accused Ssekaana of bias, corruption and having unholy alliances with government officials.
Court records indicate that between December 11 and December 22, 2024, Ssemakadde launched scathing and offensive posts on X under the hastag #SsekaanaMustGo where he claimed the judge was compromised and working against the independence of the legal profession.
In his landmark ruling, Justice Ssekaana vividly said that while criticism of judicial decisions is allowed, personal attacks against judges amount to contempt of court. He emphasized that the judiciary has a role to protect itself against scandalous attacks which discredit its independence.
This ruling comes at the height of disagreements between the Uganda Law Society led by Ssemakadde and the judiciary. Last week, Ssemakadde dragged his feet, banged the tables and refused to apologize for attacks on the judiciary.
This ruling also comes exactly 3 years since the same judge Ssekaana sentenced then Ssemakadde’s friend Hassan Male Mabirizi to 9 months in prison for contempt of court.
“The respondent has continued to make relentless attacks on the judge and the entire judiciary with the sole purpose of undermining Its authority. Such conduct erodes public confidence in the judicial system and must be punished,” reads part of the ruling delivered by Ssekaana.
In a separate ruling, Justice Ssekaana also overturned a decision by ULS and its election committee chairman, Moses Mwase, which had excluded Pheona Nabasa Gladys Wall from the list of nominated candidates for the Judicial Service Commission.
“The respondents were functus officio after nominating the applicant and had no legal basis to omit her from the final nomination list,” he ruled, ordering ULS to cover the costs of the application.
It has also been confirmed that Tshisekedi will not attend the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), scheduled for February 15-16, 2025.
Tshisekedi is currently in Munich, Germany, attending “a high-level political and security conference involving nearly 70 countries,” as explained by his spokesperson, Tina Salama.
According to Jeune Afrique, Tshisekedi’s plane is expected to depart from Germany at 8:00 PM and arrive in Kinshasa overnight between February 14 and 15, 2025.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka will represent Tshisekedi at the AU summit and has already arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the AU headquarters is located.
Tshisekedi’s early departure from Germany follows M23 rebels seizing key areas from the Congolese army, including the town of Kalehe, Kavumu, and its airport.
According to Congolese media, Prime Minister Suminwa has been tasked with urging AU member states to condemn Rwanda, which the Congolese government accuses of supporting M23, allegations that Rwanda has repeatedly denied and referred to as baseless.
The AU summit will also include key agenda items such as confirming Angola’s President João Lourenço as the new Chairperson of the AU and electing a new Chairperson of the AU Commission.
The WILSa 2025 is a conference that brings together young women and girls to celebrate all women who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.
At the announcement of Boukuru’s appointment as Brand Ambassador for WILSa 2025, Iris Irumva, the CEO of Lead Access, a leadership firm that empowers leaders at all levels, revealed that they started working with Boukuru in December 2024 to prepare a special partnership aimed at amplifying the voices of women everywhere.
“Since December 2023, we’ve been hard at work with our very own Boukuru, crafting an extraordinary collaboration that amplifies the voices of women everywhere,” she said.
“This partnership is more than a project. It’s a call to action, a celebration of talent, and the spark for a year-long journey of empowerment and mentorship.,” she added.
Irumva further explained that in 2025, they will go beyond merely celebrating women’s and girls’ achievements to spreading a message that would energize and empower women across all sectors, reinforcing women’s leadership at every level.
“This year, we wanted to create something that doesn’t just celebrate women’s leadership but amplifies it in a way that reaches beyond words. That’s why we’ve collaborated with Boukuru, whose song “We Are Here- Turi Hano” is more than music. It’s a statement,” she emphasized.
She highlighted that the song symbolizes the need for the voices of women and girls to be heard at the workplace, in decision-making organiations, and in all important spaces. “It’s a call to all of us to support and invest in the leadership of women and girls,” she added.
Shortly after, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with Boukuru as the official Brand Ambassador for WILSa 2025.
Boukuru expressed her excitement about the collaboration with WILSa, saying that the song “Turi Hano” was meant to highlight the importance of women in everyday life.
“When I worked on ‘Turi Hano,’ Irumva approached me, asking if we could create a powerful song that speaks to the value of women in leadership or wherever they may be. Wherever a woman is, she deserves respect. Whether at home, at work or anywhere else. So, I thought about creating a song that would convey this message,” she said.
She went on to share that the song signifies that even if women are not seen in certain places, they are present in other ways. She also pointed out that this song is not just for WILSa’s awards or conferences but is an anthem for every woman.
Boukuru mentioned that she chose to record the song in Kinyarwanda as it was specifically created for the Rwandan audience.
The WILSa 2025 awards ceremony will be preceded by the various Pre-Summit Workshops happening on 6th & 7th March, focusing on women in Agriculture, Technology, Entrepreneurship and the Arts.
On March 20, 2025, a large-scale conference will bring together women and girls from various sectors, followed by a day of intergenerational discussions and debates. The awards ceremony to honor the most outstanding women will take place on March 21, 2025.
The awards will recognize individuals in 15 categories, with three finalist nominees competing to win their category title, driven by public votes and jury’s input. Nominations for these awards opened on February 10, 2025, and will close on February 17. To nominate someone, visit the link http://wilsafrica.com/, select the category and fill out the details.
Irumva, who played a key role in Boukuru’s appointment as Brand Ambassador for WILSa 2025, revealed that this year, they plan to collaborate with more women and girls than ever before.
In 2024, the summit brought together 200 experienced women from various sectors, but this year, they aim to reach 1,000 women in Kigali and beyond.
She also disclosed that following the summit, a year-long mentorship program will be launched to empower women and girls to excel in every aspect of life. This program is scheduled to conclude in March 2026, paving the way for the next edition of WILSa.
The award categories will include; Entrepreneurship, Sports, Education, Arts & Culture, Advocate for Gender Equality, Science Innovation, Technology, Finance, Social Impact, Health & Wellness, Queen of Green (Environmentalist), Agriculture, Hospitality, Media & Communication and Lifetime Achievements.
Before M23 entered Kavumu, a significant number of soldiers from the DRC’s coalition forces were seen fleeing the town, heading towards Bukavu, which is approximately 25 kilometres from Kavumu.
A resident in the town was heard saying, “They have fled. M23 has now reached Kavumu. M23 is chasing them. The soldiers are running fast.”
Kavumu is a strategic location in South Kivu, as it hosts an airport that was used by the DRC’s coalition forces to launch attacks on M23 positions.
This airport was also previously utilised by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in South Kivu before its withdrawal in early 2024.
M23’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, confirmed the capture of Kavumu and its airport, stating that the move was aimed at neutralising threats from the area.
“As we have repeatedly emphasized, we have eliminated the threat at its source. Kavumu Airport posed a danger to the civilian population in the liberated areas and to our positions. Now, Kavumu and its surroundings, including the airport, are under the control of the AFC/M23,” said Kanyuka.
This capture comes after M23 fighters seized the Kabamba and Katana trading centres in Kabare territory during the night of 13 to 14 February 2025.
The DRC government’s coalition forces now fear that M23 may soon advance on Bukavu, the de facto capital of South Kivu.
Some soldiers have begun fleeing to other provinces, such as Tanganyika. Meanwhile, the DRC military continues its efforts to regroup and redeploy its forces for a counteroffensive.
This year’s summit is being held under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” with discussions focused on reparatory justice and racial healing.
The high-level gathering will deliberate on key political and socio-economic issues, aiming to advance the welfare and quality of life for African citizens.
As the AU Champion on Domestic Health Financing, President Kagame will on Friday afternoon chair a High-Level Meeting on Domestic Health Financing.
The session, convened in collaboration with the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, and AUDA-NEPAD, will explore innovative strategies to address financing gaps in Africa’s health systems. The discussions will particularly focus on the role of the private sector and philanthropic organizations in strengthening domestic health investments.
A crucial agenda item at this year’s summit is the election of the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The election will determine the leader responsible for driving the AU’s strategic vision and implementation of continental policies over the next four years.
Three candidates are seeking to succeed outgoing AUC chair Moussa Faki Mahamat. The candidates include former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
Additionally, the summit will see the handover of the AU Presidency from President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania to President João Lourenço of Angola, marking a transition in the continental body’s leadership.
Beyond leadership changes, the Assembly will discuss and make key decisions on pressing challenges facing Africa, including conflict resolution, economic development, and regional integration. With Africa’s geopolitical landscape evolving, leaders are expected to propose solutions that will enhance unity, stability, and prosperity across the continent.
Trainees include those from Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The course was conducted in partnership with Carabinieri, the Italian Police.
The five-week course covered safety procedures and equipment, hazard awareness and safety, safe riding techniques, emergency braking techniques, motorcycle riding and patrol techniques as well as patrol tactics and motorcycle accident handling.
Ujeneze appreciated the excellent cooperation between Rwanda National Police and Carabinieri through which various courses have been conducted both in Rwanda and Italy.
“Rwanda National Police prioritizes capacity building to accomplish its mission and build a professional and capable force. To achieve this, it requires us to conduct career, professional and specialized courses like this,” Ujeneze said.
She added that Rwanda’s economic growth and its openness to foreign investors, VIPs and dignitaries expanded the RNP tasks from the maintenance of road safety to escort duties, which are vital in modern policing.
“Motorcycles play a key role in ensuring road safety and intervening against security threats due to speed, the ability to maneuver during traffic jam situations; which provide an upper hand to the police in emergency situations,” she said.
She observed that with the increase in road safety demands, and acquisition of new motorcycles, resulted in skills gaps and created need to increase the number of officers, who are able to competently operate motorcycles.
“The knowledge and skills you acquired will only serve the purpose if they are effectively used. I, therefore, urge you to practice what you have learned and maintain discipline on and off duty,” she emphasized.
Training facilitators also included five RNP understudy trainers. The commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti, said that RNP will now start conducting similar courses on its own.
Several sources have confirmed that the deceased passed away in an incident that caught the attention of Ugandans who took to their different social media platforms to send their condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
The Uganda Police Force while confirming his death took to their X to issue a statement. Ugandans thanked the deceased for his contribution to the society while he alive.
“The Uganda Police Force is mourning the death of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Okoth Ogola, who served from 1981 to 1985. He passed away today, February 14, 2025, at Nakasero Hospital,” police said.
The current IGP Abas Byakagaba has extended condolences to the family and ensured that the late IGP is honored in a manner fitting his legacy.
The police will provide updates on funeral arrangements. Okoth Ogola’s leadership and contributions to the Uganda Police Force will be remembered and cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
“I told President Tshisekedi multiple times, ‘The only way to end this conflict is through dialogue,’” Lourenço said in an interview with Jeune Afrique following the capture of Goma by the M23 rebels. “But each time, my advice was met with resistance.”
Lourenço warned that the conflict in eastern DRC risks spreading across the region without dialogue to address M23 grievances on, among others, persecution and marginalisation of Congolese Rwandophones.
“We cannot allow this war to escalate further. Every effort must be made to stop it,” he emphasized.
Reflecting on Angola’s own history, Lourenço drew parallels between the DRC crisis and Angola’s past conflicts.
“Even when we faced aggression, we sat down with our enemies. We negotiated with South Africa’s apartheid-era military and reached the 1988 New York Agreement,” he said.
“We also engaged in talks with UNITA to bring peace to Angola. Why should the DRC be any different?”
According to Lourenço, the December ministerial meeting between Rwanda and the DRC had made significant progress, with Rwanda agreeing to lift defensive measures and the DRC committing to dismantling the FDLR. However, he stressed that further steps were still needed.
“We must build on that progress and work toward a peace agreement signed by both leaders,” he urged.
As he prepares to assume the chairmanship of the African Union, Lourenço reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the crisis, stating that appointing a mediator for the Rwanda-DRC conflict would be a priority.
“Tshisekedi must understand that there is no other way,” Lourenço concluded. “If we truly want peace, we must be willing to talk.”
Judge Amir Ali of the U.S. District Court in Washington issued the ruling on Thursday in response to a lawsuit brought by two health organizations that receive U.S. funding for global programs.
The order applies to existing contracts before Trump’s January 20 executive order, which halted nearly all foreign aid spending as part of a broader effort to reassess U.S. funding priorities.
In his decision, Judge Ali criticized the administration’s blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated aid, stating that officials failed to justify why an across-the-board freeze was necessary for reviewing individual programs.
The ruling temporarily unblocks funding that had been stalled, restoring critical assistance to humanitarian and development projects worldwide.
The freeze had triggered widespread disruptions, forcing USAID and State Department contractors to halt humanitarian aid, lay off staff, and suspend services in vulnerable regions.
The administration had argued the suspension was needed to conduct a thorough review of aid programs and eliminate wasteful spending. However, the court found no evidence that such a broad suspension was a rational or necessary step in that review.
Separately, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled on Thursday that a previous order preventing the Trump administration from pulling thousands of USAID staffers from their posts worldwide would remain in place for at least another week.
Nichols’ ruling follows reports that the funding freeze and USAID staff reductions left employees stranded, particularly in high-risk areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where political unrest recently escalated.
Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, closely questioned administration lawyers about their plans to ensure the safety of displaced USAID employees. When pressed, a Justice Department attorney was unable to provide a clear strategy, prompting Nichols to request further documentation.
The administration’s actions have faced significant opposition from federal employee unions, Democratic lawmakers, and humanitarian organizations, all of whom argue that Trump lacks the unilateral authority to freeze foreign aid or dismantle USAID operations without congressional approval.
The Department of Government Efficiency, a new agency led by Elon Musk and tasked with reducing federal spending, has been central to the recent cost-cutting efforts, though critics claim its real aim is to undermine USAID’s mission.
Judge Ali’s ruling represents a legal setback for the administration, which had insisted that Trump’s executive authority over foreign affairs allowed him to halt aid disbursements.
Ali found that the freeze was likely causing irreparable harm to aid organizations, citing reports of mass layoffs, shuttered refugee protection programs, and disrupted global supply chains.
Despite the ruling, the court did not fully block Trump’s executive order. While aid funding will resume, the administration is still permitted to conduct its internal review of foreign aid programs. The White House must now submit a status report by Tuesday outlining compliance with the court’s order.
The legal battle over USAID and foreign assistance is expected to continue as aid groups and federal employee unions push for further protections against what they view as an overreach by the administration.
![The Inzora Service and Protocol team, founded by Tumukunde Nadine, known as Djadja [in the middle], welcomed the attendees at the event where Boukuru was introduced as the Brand Ambassador for the WILS Awards 2025.](https://en-images.igihe.com/jpg/boukuru_15.jpg)
