He referred to the drone launch from Lebanon, aimed at his private residence in the northern town of Caesarea earlier in the day.
The drone eventually hit another house in the town, with no casualties, and the prime minister’s office noted that Netanyahu and his wife were not in their private home at the time of the attack.
“This will not deter me and Israel from continuing the war of revival against our enemies to ensure our security for generations,” Netanyahu added in the statement.
“I tell the Iranians and their partners in the axis of evil that anyone who harms the citizens of Israel will pay a heavy price for it. We will continue to eliminate your terrorists, bring back our abductees from Gaza, and return the northern residents to their homes,” the prime minister stated.
Netanyahu concluded, “We will achieve all the war goals we have set and change the security reality in our region for generations.”
Karongozi sheds light on the unique aspects of the case, including the controversial witnesses for the defense and their surprising claims, as well as the challenges faced in ensuring that the truth about the events of 1994 is fully revealed.
This interview offers a critical perspective on justice, the complexities of such trials, and the lasting impact on survivors.
{{IGIHE}}: {{Who is Eugène Rwamucyo?}}
{{Karongozi}}: Eugène Rwamucyo is a Rwandan who hails from Musanze district. He studied Occupational Health Sciences and was one of the Directors at the University of Rwanda Health Center in Huye district.
He is accused of planning and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Butare. As someone who wielded significant influence, he is currently on trial and as usual is still presumed innocent. As representatives of the affected, we are striving to ensure the truth comes to light.
{{IGIHE}}: {{There have been many trials, what is unique about this one?}}
{{Karongozi}}: The first unique aspect about this case is that the defendant claims, in his view, that there should not have been so many political parties and even goes as far as bringing in witnesses whose testimony aligns with his narrative.
Among these witnesses are people like Ndindiriyimana, the former Commander of the Gendarmerie, Habyarimana Emmanuel, former Minister of Defense, Jean Marie Vianney Ndagijimana, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jean Kambanda, the Prime Minister during the interim government, among others.
These individuals still hold on to ideologies that contributed to the Genocide against the Tutsi, and as we go through the trial, it becomes evident that holding onto such beliefs is inappropriate, especially when they led to the Genocide.
Additionally, there are international witnesses like Charles Onana, who was supposed to appear but later expressed uncertainty about attending. There are also people like Stephan Smith, a journalist for ‘Le Monde,’ and Hervé Deguine, among others, whose testimony contrasts with what is known about the Genocide against the Tutsi.
These witnesses seem to be defending Rwamucyo’s stance. While he acknowledges some atrocities, he denies having committed Genocide.
{{IGIHE: Why do the witnesses focus heavily on events in Butare?}}
{{Karongozi}}: You know that the Genocide in Butare started after Theodole Sindikubwabo’s speech on April 19, 1994, but even before this massacres were being planned and some going on unnoticed.
Rwamucyo is accused of participating in meetings organized by members of the Coalition for the Defense of the Republic (CDR), where plans for the killings were made.
The Genocide in Butare was executed in a shocking manner, with roadblocks set up everywhere, bulldozers and caterpillars brought from Kigali, prisoners forced to bury the dead, and mass graves filled with victims from various locations such as Matyazo, Ngoma Parish, the university buildings, Hotel Faucon, and the Butare Prefecture.
Even hospitals weren’t spared; patients were taken out and killed, their bodies dumped in pits. The genocide was conducted swiftly and in an organized manner.
There were security meetings at the Prefecture level, attended by figures like Higaniro, who was sentenced in Belgium, and various local officials, military officers, and police. These meetings determined who would be killed.
Rwamucyo is accused of being responsible for the disposal of bodies, but they buried some people before they had fully decomposed. The brutality was evident in how they quickly moved around, leaving no place untouched.
{{IGIHE: How are the plaintiffs seeking reparations handling the case?}}
{{Karongozi}}: In any trial, plaintiffs’ rights are respected, and this is no exception. We’ve seen individuals speaking with knowledge of the country and providing insights into how things were.
We’ve heard from people like Herene Dumant, a historian, and Damien Vandermeersch, who started the Butare trials in Belgium. Jean François Dupaquier, a renowned journalist, also testified. These people have a reputation for telling the truth about the Genocide against the Tutsi.
We also saw people from Médecins Sans Frontières, like Rony Zakaria, who was helping people in hospitals but had to flee after witnessing the massacre of the patients.
Other individuals continue to tell the truth, and as lawyers, we fight for that truth because we have become accustomed to these trials, even though each one has its unique aspects.
We are still expecting more survivors to testify, as they are the foundation of our history in these trials. Their experiences and what they heard or witnessed are deeply respected in court. While Rwamucyo’s representatives may question them, it is not as harsh as in Arusha, where witnesses were sometimes mistreated.
Here, the trial respects both sides, and we believe that the truth will continue to emerge.bWe have two more weeks left, and our schedule aims to conclude by the end of October.
{{IGIHE: A witness claimed that they went to kill with Rwamucyo, but Rwamucyo denies knowing them. What does this mean?}}
{{Karongozi}}: It appears to be a strategy, as he claims not to know almost everyone, although it’s understandable that after 30 years, one might forget certain people. However, it seems improbable that one would forget everyone.
These are individuals he worked with, such as drivers and secretaries, people he encountered regularly, so denying knowledge of them is difficult to comprehend.
Another example that puzzled us was when he claimed not to know the nearby multipurpose building. There are moments where you can tell he is exaggerating, but it is his right to remain silent.
{{IGIHE: What has surprised you the most in this trial?}}
{{Karongozi}}: It’s the way witnesses for the defense seem to mock us. Jean Kambanda, for instance, claimed that it was the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) that killed people in Butare, referencing Robert Kajuga.
Others echoed similar statements, including Rwamucyo, who denies that the killings were planned.
Some also argue that the killings were fueled by anger following the shooting down of Habyarimana’s plane. But how could this anger travel over 100 kilometers to Butare, where Tutsis were then killed?
Was this anger hidden for over 10 days, only to erupt later? It clearly contradicts the claim that the Genocide wasn’t planned.
We have shown evidence dating back to 1990, even from Dr. Abel Dushimimana, who was arrested as a spy despite being a Hutu. When asked why he was arrested, he said he didn’t know, but that it might have been because of his appearance, suggesting that Rwamucyo looked more like a Tutsi than he did.
Do you remember in 1990 when older people like Kamugunga and Gakuba were killed, and students like Munyeshuri and Modeste Mungwarareba, who led the Seminary, along with Father Musoni, were imprisoned?
They fired shots in the night of October 4-5, 1990, claiming that the RPF had reached Kigali. The next day, over 8,000 people were arrested. All of this had been planned.
{{IGIHE: After handling many cases like this, how do you, as a Rwandan lawyer, approach them?}}
{{Karongozi}}: I’ve developed a practice of visiting the locations where the accused are alleged to have committed their crimes before the trial starts. Even though I spent many years in Butare, I go there to speak with the people we are defending, as many cannot come to court here.
I visit various sites to understand the current situation, especially where new buildings have been constructed, so I can be informed. I also gather information myself—not by conducting investigations but by listening to survivors to ensure I have enough knowledge for the case.
It’s an ongoing battle, and with my colleague Gisagara, we have the advantage of understanding Kinyarwanda, so when people use terms like ‘kora’ (work) or ‘kubohora’ (liberate), we understand the meaning fully.
{{karirima@igihe.com
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According to a statement from the Angolan President’s office, the leaders discussed the security situation in eastern DRC and potential solutions under the Luanda process.
“In particular, the Head of State addressed with the two counterparts the latest developments within the scope of the ongoing efforts within the framework of the Luanda Process, as well as the next steps aimed at achieving a lasting solution to the crisis affecting the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement reads.
This discussion follows a meeting held in Luanda on October 12, 2024, where ministerial delegations from the involved countries worked on efforts to restore peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader region.
Rwanda and Angola delegates supported the plan to dismantle the FDLR group, while the DRC delegates put forward the proposal for Rwanda to lift defensive measures.
Angola was tasked with preparing a detailed report on the dismantling of the FDLR by October 26, 2024. This report will be reviewed by intelligence experts during a meeting on October 30, 2024.
The same meeting also saw the appointment of Patricie Uwase, the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, as the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI).
Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju served as Minister of Sports from November 2019 until August 2024, when a new government was formed. She was succeeded by Nyirishema Richard.
Munyangaju holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.
Her career spans senior management roles at SONARWA Life Insurance and COOPEDU.
She has 18 years of experience in business and investment, particularly in financial markets and stock exchange management.
Patricie Uwase, now CEO of RCI, served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure from February 2022 until June 2024, when she was succeeded by Olivier Kabera.
Prior to that, she held the position of Permanent Secretary in the same ministry. Uwase holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California.
Additionally, the Cabinet appointed Ulrich Kayinamura as CEO of the Agaciro Development Fund, succeeding Mutesi Rusagara, who was named Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Kayinamura previously served as Head of Investments at BK Capital and has over 15 years of experience in investment management.
His leadership roles span organizations such as Southbridge Group, BPR Bank, and the Business Development Fund (BDF). Kayinamura holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
Dr. Mugenzi replaces Jean Claude Musabyimana, who served as Minister of Local Government since November 2022 and was reappointed in August 2024.
Before this appointment, Dr. Mugenzi was the Director General of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA). With over 15 years of teaching experience at the University of Rwanda, he is an expert in agricultural business management.
Dr. Mugenzi has also served as an advisor, researcher, and project management specialist.
Dr. Mugenzi holds a PhD in Agribusiness Management from Egerton University, Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Business Management, Economics, and Consumer Studies from Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Dr. Mark Bagabe Cyubahiro, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, takes over from Dr. Ildephonse Musafiri.
Prior to this role, Dr. Bagabe was the Director General of the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition, and Consumer Protection Authority.
He has also led other key government agencies, including the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).
Dr. Bagabe brings extensive experience in leadership, international agricultural development, and quality management.
His contributions to agricultural research, technology, and the establishment of quality standards across Africa have been significant.
He holds a PhD in Plant Health and a Master’s degree in Crop Protection Technology from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
The presidential decree, published in the Official Gazette on October 18, 2024, announced the pardons, which affected inmates at various facilities, including the Nyarugenge Rehabilitation Center.
Bamporiki, whose sentence was increased on January 23, 2023, had been serving a five-year prison term and faced a fine of 30 million Rwandan Francs after being convicted of accepting a bribe and abusing his office.
CG (Rtd) Gasana Emmanuel had been sentenced to three years and six months in prison and fined 36 million Rwandan Francs for abuse of office.
The clemency comes with conditions that must be strictly adhered to. Those granted a pardon are required to report to their local Prosecutor’s Office and notify the relevant local authorities, including their village, cell, sector, and district, within 15 days of the decree’s publication.
Additionally, they must visit the Prosecutor’s Office once a month and request permission from the Minister of Justice to travel abroad.
These conditions remain in effect until the individual has completed the remainder of their sentence.
Failure to comply with these requirements or receiving a new conviction could result in the revocation of the clemency.
Beyond the pardons, some inmates also received reduced sentences. For instance, PC Tuyishime Moise benefited from a partial remission of his imprisonment, reducing his sentence from 25 years to 10 years.
Improperly disposed needles, harmful chemicals, and contaminated equipment can lead to the spread of dangerous diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, making medical waste management a critical global issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 16 billion injections are administered worldwide each year.
The real danger lies in the improper disposal of used needles, which can expose healthcare workers and the public to infectious diseases.
WHO reports that in developing countries, 64% of healthcare waste is not properly segregated, significantly increasing health risks for waste handlers and the broader population.
The consequences of poor medical waste management are staggering. WHO statistics reveal that each year, unsafe injections cause 21 million new cases of Hepatitis B, 2 million cases of Hepatitis C, and 260,000 new HIV infections.
In 2010 alone, improperly discarded needles were responsible for 33,800 new HIV cases, 1.7 million Hepatitis B infections, and 315,000 cases of Hepatitis C.
Additionally, 2 million healthcare workers globally suffer injuries from sharp objects, largely due to inadequate waste management practices.
In Rwanda, healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a concern. A 2020 study in major hospitals found that 32% of women’s infections were attributed to poor medical waste handling, highlighting the need for urgent intervention within the healthcare system.
In response to this pressing issue, the Rwanda Nurses and Midwives Union (RNMU) has launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the importance of environmental protection.
Environment specialist Kanangire Ruti Rubis shared strategies with nursing and midwifery students on the critical role they play in managing medical waste responsibly.
“Healthcare professionals must prioritize the proper sorting of waste, separating hazardous materials from regular waste to prevent environmental degradation,” Kanangire emphasized.
“In Rwanda, progress has been made with environmental protection laws, but there is still a gap in public awareness. We need to intensify education efforts, especially among healthcare workers.”
Gentille Ishimwe, a third-year nursing student at Ruli Higher Institute of Health, shared how the training organized by RNMU had changed her perspective on medical waste management.
“Negligently handled needles can spread infections. Imagine someone contracting an incurable disease because of carelessness. It’s essential that we are more cautious,” she stated.
RNMU President André Gitembagara outlined the union’s commitment to tackling climate change and environmental degradation through sustainable healthcare practices.
“The effects of climate change directly affect us, especially in healthcare. Contagious diseases, like the Marburg virus, start with us healthcare workers. It’s imperative that we contribute to protecting the environment,” he said.
RNMU’s five-year plan includes a series of impactful initiatives such as nationwide awareness campaigns, the planting of over 5,000 food-producing trees at healthcare centers by November, and the establishment of nurse-led environmental protection groups.
These initiatives aim to foster a culture of environmental stewardship within Rwanda’s healthcare system, ensuring a safer and greener future for all.
This follows a petition filed by Gachagua’s legal team on Friday morning, challenging the entire process that led to his impeachment by the Senate late Thursday night.
In a ruling delivered on Friday afternoon, Justice Chacha Mwita stated that Gachagua’s petition raises monumental constitutional issues concerning the rule of law and human rights.
The judge issued a conservatory order staying the implementation of the impeachment charges, including the appointment of Gachagua’s replacement, until October 24, 2024, when the matter will be mentioned in court.
“Given the significance of the issues raised in the petition and application, I certify this matter as raising substantial questions of law and public interest, and therefore fit to be heard by a bench of an uneven number of judges, to be appointed by the Hon. Chief Justice. The file shall be placed before the Hon. Chief Justice immediately for consideration,” reads part of Justice Mwita’s ruling.
In his petition, Gachagua dismissed the charges and evidence presented before the Senate for his removal as baseless, asking the court to quash the impeachment.
“Unfounded and false allegations have been made against me in the impeachment motion before both houses. It is in the interest of justice that such false information be corrected in line with the provisions of Article 35 of the Constitution,” said Gachagua.
Gachagua argued that the Senate was required by law to act as an impartial arbitrator when determining whether the charges recently approved by the National Assembly had been substantiated.
The court’s decision comes just hours after President William Ruto nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki to replace the impeached deputy. The National Assembly has since approved the nominee for appointment and subsequent swearing-in.
With this ruling, it is expected that President Ruto will halt the official appointment and swearing-in of Kindiki pending the court’s determination.
Gachagua, who is widely reported to have fallen out with President Ruto in recent months, was impeached after Senators upheld five of the 11 charges brought against him.
Fifty-four senators voted to impeach Gachagua on the first count of gross violation of the Constitution, while 13 voted against his removal. The charges under this ground included accusations of dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines. The National Assembly cited several instances where Gachagua compared the government to a company, suggesting that certain regions held more “shares” than others.
In addition to engaging in divisive politics, Gachagua faced other accusations, including economic crimes, money laundering, insubordination, undermining the government and devolution, as well as bullying and intimidating state officers. However, the charges of economic crimes, money laundering, and bullying failed to gain sufficient support.
The Senate proceeded with the impeachment trial despite Gachagua’s lawyers arguing that the Deputy President could not appear in the House as he had been hospitalized.
The recovered items include those that were stolen in Tuesday, October 15, from the home of a Japanese national, Mio Yamada, in Mutara Village, Kimihurura Cell in Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District.
Three people have also been arrested in connection with the theft at the Yamada’s resident.
They include two thieves and a dealer in used electronics, who bought the stolen items.
At least three laptops, two iPads, three digital cameras and a GoPro camera, two lenses and two smartphones, among many others; stolen from the home of the Japanese resident, were recovered on Wednesday, October 16, at the shop of the dealer in used electronics in Nyarugenge, where he was also arrested.
The three suspects are also connected to other series of house break-ins reported in Kigali, according to investigations.
While receiving her recovered electronics on Thursday, October 17, Yamada thanked Rwanda National Police for the swift response.
“We lost almost everything in one night and there was no hope we would recover them.
Now we have everything that was stolen, and I want to thank Rwanda Police for this reassuring gesture. We are safe and secure, and we will stay in Rwanda longer and probably forever,” Yamada said.
The RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga warned of continued operations targeting mainly those who buy stolen items, especially dealers in used electronics, who buy stolen electronic equipment.
“Dealers in used electronics are advised to follow the regulations governing used electronics and electronic equipment instead of providing market for stolen items and influencing the criminal acts, which will not be entertained,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He added that law enforcement agencies and other relevant institutions are currently implementing the regulation and to bring to justice all those that influence theft of electronics, especially dealers.
The regulation provides that before buying second-hand electronics, the business operator must first verify that the seller is the rightful owner of the equipment and record detailed particulars.
“IDF soldiers from the Southern Command eliminated Yahya Sinwar… in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
The IDF said that its soldiers killed three militants in the operation, and later, it turned out that one of them was Sinwar, who “was responsible for the murder and abduction of many Israelis.”
According to the statement, Sinwar was killed after hiding over the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground, in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
“The dozens of operations carried out by the IDF and the ISA over the last year, and in recent weeks in the area where he was eliminated, restricted Sinwar’s operational movement as he was pursued by the forces and led to his elimination,” the statement added.
Shortly before the IDF statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed Sinwar’s death in a message to foreign ministers of other countries, saying that “this is a great military and moral achievement for Israel.”
According to the foreign minister, “the elimination of Sinwar creates a possibility for the immediate release of the Israeli abductees and to bring about a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza, without Hamas nor Iranian control.”
Considered the chief architect of the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, Sinwar was appointed as Hamas leader in August following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Sinwar was born in October 1962 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. He had been jailed in Israeli prison multiple times before his final release in 2011.
After his release, Sinwar was elected to Hamas’s political bureau during the movement’s internal elections in 2012, where he took charge of security matters. In 2013, he assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, coordinating efforts between the political bureau and the brigades’ leadership.
He was elected in 2017 as the head of the movement’s political bureau in Gaza, and in 2021, he was re-elected for a second four-year term during the movement’s internal elections.
