Rwanda Formed Police Unit Three (RWAFPU3-7) commanded by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Donatha Nyinawumuntu left early in the morning to replace RWAFPU3-6 in the capital Juba, which arrived home later in the afternoon after a successful one-year tour-of-duty.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Emmy Karangwa guided the replaced contingent safely back home.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Yahaya Kamunuga saluted off the deployed contingent of 160 Police officers, majority women, at Kigali International Airport, and received the outgoing contingent, on behalf of the RNP leadership.
While receiving the officers, who completed their peacekeeping duties, ACP Kamunuga commended them for their professionalism and dedication.
“Welcome back to your country. The leadership of the Rwanda National Police appreciates your commitment, discipline, and professionalism, which enabled you to perform your duties effectively,” said CP Kamunuga.
SP Karangwa, the RWAFPU3-6 Deputy Commander of the outgoing contingent, highlighted the diverse activities they carried out during their mission.
These included not only restoring peace and ensuring security but also working with the United Nations staff, the local Police and communities.
“In addition to our primary responsibility of maintaining peace in South Sudan, we also engaged in community development initiatives related to health and hygiene through Umuganda, and teaching the local communities on how to construct organic gardens for proper feeding,” SP Karangwa said.
He added: “We also provided additional support such as donating essential items to local security personnel, including boots and raincoats; scholastic and hygiene items to vulnerable schoolchildren.”
Rwanda began deploying police officers to the South Sudan peacekeeping mission in 2015.
Currently, the country has two contingents in South Sudan, comprising about 400 officers.
The two vehicle, Toyota Noah type, were intercepted on Wednesday, January 15, in Rurembo Village, Byahi Cell of Rubavu Sector.
The vehicles were also transporting assorted wines and liquors, and banned skin bleaching cosmetics locally known as mukorogo.
The Police spokesperson for the Western region, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, said that one person, the driver, was arrested in connection with smuggling and fraud. The second driver fled the scene, he added.
“The operation was conducted by the Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime (ASOC) unit following a rip-off from area residents,” SP Karekezi said.
He added: “During the operation, Police intercepted the two Noah vehicles with 25 bales of caguwa, 604 pieces of skin whitening creams, 72 bottles of Leffe Blonde beer, 216 of Red Bull, 20 packs of Red Wine, 24 bottles of Camino whisky, 24 bottles of Smirnoff, and three tins of Nido, powdered milk.”
According to the arrested suspect, the goods were sneaked into Rwanda from the DRC on foot through illegal borders, to a house in Rubavu where they were found being loaded into the two vehicles.
He added that the goods were being transported to Kigali.
SP Karekezi commended the residents for their cooperation in fighting smuggling and related cross-border crimes.
According to the East African Community Customs Management Act, smuggling is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine equal to 50% of the value of the smuggled goods.
A vehicle used in smuggling is also auctioned, and their driver faces a fine of up to $5,000.
Article 87 of Law No. 026/2019 of September 18, 2019, on taxation states that anyone, who intentionally evades taxes by hiding taxable goods or property related to trade, commits tax evasion. If convicted, the offender faces an imprisonment between two and 5 years.
Firefighters have made progress containing the Eaton and Palisades Fires as calmer winds offered some relief.
However, search teams are still looking for 31 people reported missing. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, 24 are unaccounted for in the Eaton Fire area, and 7 in the Palisades Fire zone.
Authorities have recovered human remains at 13 locations linked to the missing, though identifications are still pending. Search and rescue operations continue, alongside efforts to locate more victims.
Evacuations remain widespread, with over 82,000 residents under mandatory evacuation orders and another 90,000 on high alert. Curfews from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. are in place to ensure safety in the affected areas.
Officials have warned that many neighborhoods will remain inaccessible for at least another week as the battle against the devastating fires goes on.
Speaking to citizens and soldiers in Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State, Al-Burhan emphasized the strength of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). He also rejected new U.S. sanctions saying his country would not be subjugated to external pressures.
“The armed forces will defeat the rebel militia,” he declared, underscoring Sudan’s resistance to external interference, particularly the recent measures imposed by Washington.
The U.S. sanctioned Al-Burhan on Thursday, citing the SAF’s alleged involvement in deadly attacks on civilians.
This action followed similar sanctions on RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who has been accused of atrocities, including genocide in Darfur.
Wad Madani, previously under RSF control for over a year, was recaptured by the SAF on January 11.
Al-Burhan’s remarks came during his visit to the city, a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has endured a brutal war between the SAF and the RSF, resulting in nearly 30,000 deaths and the displacement of about 15 million people, according to international organizations.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps during a luncheon hosted at the Kigali Convention Center, the Head of State reiterated the necessity for global powers to align their actions with the values they advocate.
“If you have taken responsibility, global responsibility, to say there are certain values you are going to insist on and push for as hard as you can, that’s fine. But it also gives you the responsibility to really walk the talk,” President Kagame remarked.
He questioned the integrity of some of the Western nations’ commitment to principles like democracy, human rights, and peace when their actions, especially in Africa, seem to contradict the ideals.
“The values you talk about must not be incompatible with the truth, with the facts, or with evidence. If you want peace, there’s a way to get peace by addressing the root causes and doing things the right way. But we see double standards and hypocrisy that add up to really nothing,” he stated.
The president drew specific attention to the persistent security and humanitarian crisis in Eastern Congo, where he criticized the international community, particularly the UN and Western nations, for their failure to resolve longstanding issues.
He pointed out the prolonged presence of UN peacekeepers in the country, now nearing three decades, without significant progress in stabilizing the troubled region.
“After nearly 30 years, what are the returns for that investment?” Kagame posed, insisting that the continued turmoil reflects a failure to address the root causes of the conflict, including the presence of genocidal ideologies and armed groups, such as FDLR, which enjoys support from the Congolese government.
Kagame dismissed allegations of Rwanda’s involvement in the instability in Congo. He termed the claims as a distortion of facts used as an excuse by some to evade responsibility.
He challenged those criticizing Rwanda to look beyond superficial narratives and understand historical contexts, such as colonial border drawing, which has led to the persecution of Congolese Tutsis in the neighbouring country and contributed to the rise of the M23 rebel group, fighting against marginalization.
The President also accused the Western leaders of selective application of values, pointing out the inconsistency in how Western nations treat different African leaders and nations.
“The person causing problems between Rwanda and the DRC has never been elected, and you know it,” he remarked, referring to the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo under President Felix Tshisekedi.
“So what values are you talking about that you beat others for and others you don’t know what to do?” he added.
Moreover, Kagame recounted Rwanda’s experiences with international trade policies, like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), where he felt Rwanda was unfairly punished for decisions aimed at protecting its own industries, contrasting with how other countries with different resources or geopolitical leverage were treated.
Citing the blame game and threats against Rwanda, the President called for a partnership based on mutual respect and genuine commitment to shared values, emphasizing that Rwanda will not be forced back into the suffering it endured 30 years ago during the Genocide against the Tutsi, regardless of external pressures.
“We have paid the highest price ever in our lives. I don’t think we can be made to suffer in any other way. We will never go back to paying that same price we paid 30 years ago. It doesn’t matter who anyone is,” he stated.
“We can work together to examine the causes if we are to talk to each other and address the problem the right way,” he added.
Established in 1921 and headquartered in New York City and Washington, D.C., CFR is a nonpartisan institution renowned for its influential role in shaping global policy.
Its membership comprises high-ranking politicians, secretaries of state, CIA directors, bankers, academics, corporate leaders, and prominent media figures.
The Global Board of Advisors (GBA), now in its twelfth year, serves as a platform to strengthen CFR’s understanding of international perspectives. It fosters dialogue between U.S. leaders in global affairs and their counterparts from other nations, further enriching CFR’s work.
CFR hosts meetings that bring together government officials, business executives, and members of the intelligence and foreign policy communities to address critical international issues. It is also the publisher of Foreign Affairs, a bi-monthly journal widely regarded as a leading voice in foreign policy analysis since 1922.
“I am honored to have been asked to join the Council on Foreign Relations Global Board of Advisors and am grateful for the chance to bring a positive African narrative to the discussions,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group.
“The chance to explain Africa’s contributions to the world now and for decades to come as the continent takes its place on the global stage will mean greater productive collaborations for countries around the world to sustainably partner with the people of Africa,” he added.
Dr. Mwangi joins an elite group of 33 GBA members, including business leaders, scholars, and former government officials from both developed and emerging economies.
The board provides valuable regional insights and creates opportunities for members to engage in CFR’s discussions on global relations and the U.S.’s evolving role.
CFR’s Africa Program plays a vital role in shaping understanding of the continent’s dynamics through initiatives such as the Africa in Transition blog and roundtable series like “Africa Strategic Opportunities” and “U.S. Strategic African Partners.”
The program also engages global audiences through lectures, briefings, and publications focused on African political and security issues.
Dr. Mwangi, a career banker, is celebrated for his visionary leadership in inclusive finance and socio-economic transformation.
As Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings Plc, he has guided the institution from a small, struggling entity to one of the largest and most successful financial institutions globally.
Equity Group has been recognized as the second-strongest financial brand globally in 2024 by Brand Finance and as the strongest financial brand in Africa by Brand Africa in the same year.
Dr. Mwangi’s achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2012 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, making him the first Sub-Saharan African to receive the award.
He was also inducted into the Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame and the World Entrepreneurship Academy.
He has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Emerging Market Business Leaders and among the 20 most influential people in Africa by the Financial Times.
Other honors include Forbes Africa’s 2012 Person of the Year and inclusion in the Bloomberg 50 list of global influencers in 2019.
Dr. Mwangi is deeply involved in international advisory roles, serving on several high-profile boards and councils, including the World Bank Group High-Level Advisory Council on jobs, the Economic Advisory Board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Global Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.
In Kenya, he has played a pivotal role in national development, serving as the founding Chair of Vision 2030, the founding Chancellor of Meru University of Science and Technology, and currently as the founding Chancellor of Open University of Kenya.
With his appointment to CFR’s Global Board of Advisors, Dr. Mwangi is expected to continue to amplify Africa’s voice on the world stage, highlighting the continent’s potential for sustainable partnerships and global progress.
These pits, left unrestored after mineral and quarry extraction activities, pose significant risks to public safety and the environment.
Mineral extraction in Rwanda began in the 1930s under colonial rule. However, many mining sites were neglected after operations ceased, leaving behind hazardous pits that continue to threaten lives and livestock.
According to Francis Kamanzi, the CEO of RMB, a recent nationwide inspection revealed that these abandoned sites include both quarries and mining pits.
The study also showed that some of these sites were abandoned decades ago, while others were recently neglected by private companies and individuals, including those who mined illegally or failed to comply with restoration obligations.
Kamanzi explained that the neglected sites can be broadly categorized into four groups: those abandoned during colonial times, those exploited illegally in recent years, quarries handed over to private companies with valid permits but left unrestored, and pits neglected by licensed miners.
He noted that many of these sites are located near residential areas, exacerbating the risks of injury to people and livestock.
While some progress has been made, such as the restoration of 53 sites through community efforts, a significant amount of work remains.
Each site will require a thorough environmental assessment before any rehabilitation begins to ensure that restoration methods are tailored to the specific conditions of the site.
Kamanzi emphasized that this process cannot be rushed, as it involves detailed planning and coordination with various stakeholders.
RMB has identified that 367 sites can be cleared using machinery, 253 will be addressed through community efforts, and 304 will be cleaned using a combination of both methods, while 70 sites do not require any restoration.
Kamanzi stated that individuals or companies who abandoned their sites must take responsibility and fulfill their legal obligation to restore the land to its original state.
Parliamentarian Germaine Mukabalisa expressed concern that the financial guarantees provided by miners for site restoration are often insufficient.
She proposed the establishment of a dedicated state fund to cover restoration costs in cases where the guarantees fall short.
Mukabalisa argued that miners must be held to stricter standards to ensure they honor their commitments, rather than leaving the burden on the government or local communities.
Kamanzi explained that current regulations require miners to conduct environmental impact studies before beginning operations, which include plans for site restoration.
Additionally, miners are required to contribute 10% of the estimated restoration cost to the FONERWA fund.
However, many miners exploit loopholes by abandoning sites under the pretext of returning to extract remaining minerals, leaving environmental damage unaddressed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had issued a health alert on Tuesday, indicating that nine suspected cases of Marburg virus disease had been reported over the past five days in the Kagera region, with at least eight people having died.
The global health agency, citing reliable information from local sources, noted that the cases were reported in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba, where symptoms such as high fever, vomiting with blood, and severe weakness were observed in the affected patients.
However, Tanzania’s Health Minister, Jenista Mhagama, announced on Wednesday that after laboratory tests, all samples from the suspected cases had returned negative for the Marburg virus.
She reassured the international community that the country had strengthened its disease surveillance systems and monitoring efforts, emphasizing that authorities would continue to keep WHO and other global organizations updated on any developments.
“We would like to assure the international organisations, including WHO, that we shall always keep them up to date with ongoing developments,” Mhagama stated in a statement.
Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in the Bukoba district in the Kagera region. It killed six people and lasted for nearly two months.
The Kagera region is known to harbour zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, which are natural hosts of the Marburg virus.
WHO had assessed the national risk level as high due to the outbreak’s high case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 89%, its geographic spread across two districts, and the involvement of healthcare workers among the suspected cases.
The condemnation follows a statement released on January 16, 2025, by the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs, which stated, “issues caused by M23 and FDLR should be urgently addressed.”
Minister Nduhungirehe stressed that equating threats arising from M23 and FDLR is “inappropriate” and that the U.S. should not compare a genocidal group to M23, which fights for civilians targeted by genocidal forces.
“This narrative of equating the ‘threats of M23 and FDLR’ is inappropriate. It’s even offensive for the outgoing U.S. administration to compare a genocidal force with a movement that defends a community threatened and persecuted by the same genocidal force,” he wrote on X.
In October 2023, the FDLR and groups from the Wazalendo coalition, in collaboration with the DRC army, fought against M23, burning down homes of Congolese Tutsis in Nturo village, located in the Masisi territory, which were completely destroyed.
Minister Nduhungirehe explained that when FDLR and these groups carried out this attack, both the DRC and Burundian forces were present, and pointed out that the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs did not comment on the incident.
“I recall that when 300 homes of Congolese Tutsis were burned down in October 2023 in Nturo village, Masisi territory, by the FDLR, the Wazalendo, and the Nyatura militias, in the presence of FARDC and Burundian forces, a statement or a tweet from the Bureau of African Affairs was nowhere to be seen,” he added.
He stressed that the U.S. and the international community should stop making statements that deliberately ignore the root causes of the security issues in Eastern DRC.
“It is time for the U.S. and the international community to stop recycling these formulas and focus on the root causes of the crisis in Eastern DRC,” he said.
M23 has been active since 2012 when it launched an armed struggle demanding that the DRC government honour the agreements made with the former CNDP (National Congress for the Defense of the People). These agreements were meant to restore the rights of Congolese, particularly Tutsis, and end the violence they were subjected to.
From 2012 to 2013, M23 captured large areas in North Kivu province, including the city of Goma. However, these gains were reversed following a decision by the regional heads of state, who promised that the DRC government would address the issues faced by the Congolese in the east.
The promise made to M23 was never fulfilled, as the DRC government failed to honour it. After eight years of waiting, former M23 fighters were attacked by DRC forces in November 2021, sparking renewed fighting.
M23 clarifies that it does not kill civilians or commit any form of abuse. Instead, it ensures their safety, which contrasts sharply with the DRC government’s forces, who are supposed to protect civilians but end up killing them. M23 continues to call on the government to respect the terms of the agreements.
Dr. Nsanzimana shared this update on Thursday, January 16, 2025, during a presentation to the Senate about the progress of implementing the National Health Policy and efforts to improve primary healthcare services.
Plans to relocate CHUK were first unveiled in 2013, aiming to move the hospital out of Kigali’s city center.
The decision was influenced by increasing congestion in the area due to rapid commercial developments.
According to the minister, the renovation and expansion of the new facilities to house CHUK in Masaka is in its advanced stages with expectations for the relocation process to begin within the set timeframe.
“There are only a few months left. We expect to finalize everything by June or August, for the hospital’s relocation to begin,” Dr. Nsanzimana stated.
He also confirmed that the current CHUK site would continue to offer some healthcare services.
“The current CHUK site will still be used for necessary health services, particularly those that can complement nearby hospitals like Muhima and Nyarugenge. These services are being carefully planned, as demand for them continues to grow. Teams are working to ensure that once the construction and relocation are complete, everything will follow smoothly,” he explained.
“This is not a rushed process because relocating a hospital and its services requires thorough preparation. Residents need to be informed, equipment must be installed, and resources organized to ensure that services are not interrupted,” he added.
The new CHUK facility will be located in the former Masaka Hospital premises, which have undergone significant upgrades.
As of November 2024, 80% of the renovation work is complete. The project, implemented by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health, is being financed by the Chinese Government.
The project is estimated to cost Frw 85 billion and will accommodate 827 patients, nearly doubling its current capacity of 400.
The design includes three multi-story buildings, some rising five stories high, to provide expanded patient care.
Additionally, the hospital will feature facilities for research, teaching, and specialized services, contributing to the growth of healthcare in the region.
The Masaka area, designated for healthcare services, is expected to become a hub for medical tourism, further enhancing Rwanda’s healthcare landscape.
“The new site is already home to other healthcare facilities, with more under consideration. For example, the Research Institute against Digestive Cancer [IRCAD] has been operational there for some time, and new laboratories are also set to be built in the area,” he noted.
