Earlier in the day, state news agency SUNA reported that a drone attack by the RSF on a market in the Awlad Al-Reef neighborhood in El Fasher killed more than 15 people and injured many others.
“The death toll from the massacre in the Awlad Al-Reef neighborhood in El Fasher has risen to 38,” the Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher, a local non-governmental group, said in a statement.
The RSF has not commented on the incident.
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which began in mid-April 2023, has killed more than 28,700 people and displaced over 14 million in the country, according to international organizations.
During the event held at Sainte Famille Hotel in Kigali, participants were guided on effective loan utilization to ensure progress in their ventures.
Raissa Muyango, COPEDU PLC’s Managing Director, encouraged women to embrace entrepreneurship and leverage the institution’s financial support to advance their projects.
She stated, “Create your businesses and approach us for loans that support your ideas, helping you achieve your dreams.”
Simon Ndayisenga, a representative from the National Bank of Rwanda’s Department of Inclusive Financial Services, emphasized the significance of empowering women as key contributors to family and community development.
He underscored the importance of gender equality in financial access, improved livelihoods, and poverty alleviation, saying, “When you educate a woman, you educate the nation. Financial equality is crucial—laws that previously excluded women and favoured men must be eradicated.”
Ndayisenga also urged beneficiaries to use loans strictly for their intended purposes to avoid financial mismanagement.
Solange Uwingabire, COPEDU PLC’s Head of Business Development, highlighted the institution’s 27-year legacy of providing financial services, including savings, withdrawals, and loans. She called on more women to engage with the institution to meet their financial needs.
The session included training on project selection, compliance with legal frameworks, and responsible loan usage to prevent losses. The topics were delivered by COPEDU leadership and branch staff.
Diego Leyva, 16, was detained after he called 911 on Saturday morning and told the police that he had killed his family at their residence in Belen, New Mexico, according to the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the quadruple homicide of his family, said the police.
When police officers arrived, Leyva walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was extremely intoxicated, local media reported.
Police then entered the residence and found four victims who appeared to have been shot dead.
It was later identified that the victims, aged from 14 to 42, were all family members of the teen suspect.
TRC Director General Masanja Kadogosa announced that a European manufacturer has been identified to supply the engines.
“The funds for the engines are already allocated in our budget. The procurement process is underway, and we anticipate acquiring the engines by next year,” Kadogosa said.
The hybrid engines are designed to switch between electricity and diesel seamlessly, ensuring operational continuity even during grid disruptions.
“Our SGR system is designed to accommodate both electric and diesel engines, ensuring operations remain unaffected,” he added.
TRC has also intensified efforts to safeguard SGR infrastructure. Collaboration with law enforcement has led to arrests for vandalism, though specific figures were not disclosed.
Kadogosa outlined plans to install CCTV cameras along the SGR corridor, especially in high-risk areas.
“Cameras have already been installed in some areas, and the remaining installations will commence soon,” he stated.
Hybrid locomotives utilize two energy sources—electricity and diesel. Under normal conditions, trains operate on electric power supplied via overhead wires. During power disruptions, they switch to diesel mode seamlessly, ensuring schedules remain on track. Some engines may include rechargeable batteries for added emergency power.
The SGR project is already transforming Tanzania’s transportation landscape. Since launching electric train services between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro in June 2024, and extending to Dodoma in August, TRC has generated Tsh30 billion ($12.9 million) in ticket sales by November 30.
The railway’s future phases aim to connect Dar es Salaam to Mwanza and Kigoma, spanning nearly 1,300 kilometers.
The Rwandan team secured the trophy after a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) team on Sunday, marking their first volleyball championship in the tournament’s history.
Entering the match unbeaten, having won all four of their previous games, Rwanda demonstrated resilience and skill. The game was closely contested, with both teams tied 2-2 in sets before Rwanda clinched the decisive tiebreak set to emerge victorious.
Their flawless performance throughout the tournament made them one of the standout teams at this year’s games.
The games, which began on December 6, 2024, were officially opened by Kenya’s President William Ruto.
They featured lawmakers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda, and South Sudan competing across various sports, including football, golf, volleyball, basketball, darts, netball, athletics, tug-of-war, and walking.
While Rwanda celebrated its volleyball triumph, Uganda dominated the overall medal standings, amassing an impressive haul of 9 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
The Ugandan delegation led the competition, surpassing host Kenya, which finished second with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Tanzania secured third place with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Rwanda placed fifth with one bronze medal overall, despite their volleyball success.
Uganda’s strength in tug-of-war, particularly in the women’s category, was a highlight of the tournament. The Ugandan women edged out Kenya 2-1 in a rain-soaked contest on Saturday, showcasing their superior strategy and resilience. Uganda also defeated Tanzania in a nail-biting 2-1 pull earlier in the day.
In the men’s tug-of-war, Uganda narrowly claimed the overall title with 13 points, followed by Tanzania with 12 points, while Kenya secured third place with 11 points.
Other standout performances included Kenya’s Simon Kang’ara, who clinched gold in the 1600m walk, outpacing Uganda’s Patrick Ocan with a time of 9:42.6.
The high level of competition drew praise from Mchezo Limited, the official sponsor of the games. Ivy Igunduura, Eastern Africa CSR and Partnerships Manager, lauded the resilience and mental toughness displayed, particularly in the women’s tug-of-war event.
The EALA Games, a significant platform for fostering regional unity, will conclude today Monday, December 16, 2024.
The reason cited was an alleged unexpected demand by Rwanda to engage in direct talks with M23 rebels, a claim firmly denied, stating that this issue had been consistently discussed since August 2024.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who participated in ministerial-level discussions aimed at resolving the years-long conflict in eastern DRC and easing tensions with Rwanda, dismissed the claims by Tshisekedi’s office as blatant lies, saying the truth speaks for itself.
The DRC alleged that Rwanda raised the issue of direct talks with M23 on December 14, 2024, just a day before the two presidents were scheduled to meet.
However, Rwanda released a statement on December 15, clarifying that the summit ended without concrete resolutions because DRC refused to engage with M23, thereby nullifying the possibility of signing a peace agreement.
Minister Nduhungirehe further responded via social media that the M23 issue had not been unexpectedly introduced by Rwanda but was initiated by the mediator, Angola, which had included it in a draft peace agreement presented to both Rwanda and DRC presidents on August 11 and 12, 2024.
Following this, Angola, as the mediator, invited M23 representatives to Luanda between August 31 and September 3, 2024, where M23’s Secretary-General, Benjamin Mbonimpa, elaborated on the political grievances that prompted the group to take up arms.
During the fourth ministerial meeting on September 14, 2024, held in Luanda, Rwanda reiterated its call for direct political talks between the DRC government and M23 to find a sustainable solution to the conflict. This request was documented in the meeting’s resolutions.
The issue of talks between DRC and M23 resurfaced in a virtual meeting on November 26, 2024, involving foreign ministers from Rwanda, Angola, and DRC. At the meeting’s conclusion, the mediator requested Rwanda to submit its stance on the matter in writing.
The following day, November 27, 2024, Rwanda sent the requested document, proposing that “the government should engage in direct political talks with M23 to address the root causes of the conflict and find a lasting solution.”
On November 28, 2024, the mediator informed the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Rwanda and DRC that Angolan President João Lourenço had confirmed the M23 issue as the primary obstacle to finalizing the draft peace agreement.
In a letter dated November 29, 2024, Rwanda maintained its position, stating that it would not sign any peace agreement unless it included a provision requiring the DRC government to hold direct talks with M23 within a specified timeframe.
The mediator informed Rwanda on November 30, 2024, that DRC had agreed to engage in talks with M23 under the framework established during the Nairobi discussions.
However, despite this commitment, DRC subsequently engaged in international media campaigns portraying itself as ready for dialogue with Rwanda to restore peace in its eastern regions and resolve the nearly three-year-long tensions.
The DRC also pledged to collaborate with Rwanda in dismantling and repatriating fighters of the FDLR, a terrorist group, but unexpectedly became the reason for delaying the peace agreement that was to be signed by both countries’ leaders.
Since resuming hostilities against the Congolese army in late 2021, M23 has consistently expressed its desire for talks to address grievances, including the persecution of Tutsi Congolese.
The DRC had initially agreed to negotiate with M23 and other armed groups operating in its territory under a roadmap established by East African Community leaders during a summit in Nairobi in 2022.
M23 representatives initially participated in these talks but were expelled on the second day by Serge Tshibangu, a special envoy of President Tshisekedi, who accused them of reigniting the conflict.
The rebel group has since argued that excluding them from the Luanda talks is unjust, maintaining that it will not recognize any decisions made without their involvement.
He made this announcement during his visit to Rwanda, where he attended the closing ceremony of the World Motorsport Federation (FIA) General Assembly last week.
In an interview with the national broadcaster, Harvey praised Rwanda as a unique country that should serve as an example to others, considering its remarkable progress over the past 30 years.
Harvey and his team have been mulling ways to bring their business activities to Rwanda, with a focus on creating job opportunities for the country’s young population.
“We have a lot of work to do in Rwanda. It’s a special place, and I think we can build businesses here. My team and I are here to explore investment opportunities because it will help create jobs and provide employment,” he said.
“The fact that you have overcome these challenges is a testament to your leadership. It’s proof of good governance. I urge others to come and learn from Rwanda—understand the meaning of kindness, forgiveness, and love,” he added.
Harvey also emphasized that Africa, especially with its youthful population, holds tremendous potential for investment. “You need to focus on the youth, as they are the future. I may not have much time left, but I understand the importance of helping the younger generation. They are the ones with innovative ideas and the drive to create change,” he stated.
Harvey, who began his career in comedy in the 1980s, later became the host of the popular ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ and launched his own show, ‘The Steve Harvey Show’ on WB Television.
He has also hosted major U.S. TV programs like Little Big Shots, Little Big Shots Forever Young, and Steve Harvey’s Funderdome. Currently, Harvey hosts ‘Steve on Watch’ and ‘Judge Steve Harvey.’
Air Tanzania is one of the airlines listed on the EU Air safety list, which outlines companies that are not allowed to operate flights in Europe.
The EU Air Safety List is a roster of airlines that do not meet the necessary international safety standards and therefore face either operational restrictions or a complete ban from flying within the European Union.
To be included on this list, airlines are assessed based on inspections carried out by aviation authorities in their home countries, as well as their overall track record on air travel safety.
This means that Air Tanzania is not permitted to fly within the EU, even though the national carrier does not operate any flights in the European Union Zone.
Under this system, passengers will tap their cards on a machine, which will deduct the fare as they board. When they reach their destination, they will tap again to pay for the distance they’ve traveled.
This system has been rolled out initially on the Nyabugogo-Kabuga and Downtown-Kabuga routes.
A statement released by RURA on Sunday indicates that the new payment method will be extended to buses on 24 different routes across the city.
The new routes include; Remera-Ndera, Downtown-Kanombe-Kibaya, Downtown-Kabeza-Rubirizi, Kimironko-Downtown, Nyanza-Downtown (via Gatenga), Kimironko-Nyabugogo, Nyanza-Nyabugogo (via Gatenga), Nyabugogo-Kanombe-Kibaya, Downtown-Kacyiru, Downtown-Saint Joseph, Nyabugogo-Saint Joseph and Downtown-Bwerankori.
Others are Nyabugogo-Bwerankori, Remera-Busanza (Rubirizi), Remera-Busanza (via Nyarugunga), Remera-Bwerankori, Kimironko-Bwerankori, Kimironko-Musave, Kimironko-Masizi-Birembo, Kimironko-Kinyinya, Kimironko-Batsinda, Nyanza-Gahanga, Nyanza-Kimironko and Remera-Nyanza.
The development led to the indefinite postponement of the much-awaited meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, on Sunday, December 15, 2024.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed frustration over the failure to reach a consensus, particularly regarding the involvement of the M23 rebel group in peace discussions.
According to a statement released late Sunday afternoon, the talks faltered due to the DRC’s refusal to engage directly with M23, despite previous commitments to do so.
The summit’s postponement comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations, with Rwanda also raising concerns over continued threats from DRC officials, including President Tshisekedi’s comments about pursuing regime change in Rwanda.
Rwanda also pointed to the growing presence of a coalition of forces in eastern DRC, including European mercenaries, Burundian troops, the Wazalendo militia, and the FDLR—a group composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Rwanda called for “serious actions” to address the FDLR, emphasizing the need for concrete steps beyond political “games.”
“There must be serious actions to deal with the FDLR beyond the games being played around this problem,” the statement read.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the postponement allows for further dialogue, as Angola’s President João Lourenço, who is facilitating the peace efforts, has proposed an additional round of discussions between M23 and the DRC, with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta mediating. This move aims to clarify positions and lay the groundwork for a potential resumption of the broader peace process.
Rwanda’s government reiterated that the DRC must take responsibility for its actions, stating that it could no longer use Rwanda as a pretext for inaction.
“There are actions that the DRC can and must take for themselves without continually using Rwanda as a pretext for doing nothing,” the statement declared.
Despite the setback, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to participating in peace talks that offer a serious and concrete path to resolving the region’s persistent issues.
“Rwanda remains ready to participate in a summit that would adopt a serious and concrete path to resolve these remaining questions once and for all,” it said.
