The vehicle was handed over to the Rwanda National Police at its headquarters in Kigali on February 13, 2026. The ceremony was attended by the leadership of Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPC Ltd), senior RNP officials, and other distinguished guests.
The donated unit is a MAN Model TGS 31.400 firefighting truck equipped with modern firefighting systems, capable of responding to incidents in standard environments as well as high-rise buildings. It is valued at €759,100 (over Rwf 1.3 billion).
Eric Mpayimana, head of RPC Ltd, said the donation reflects the company’s commitment to supporting communities beyond its core mandate of electricity generation.
“We chose to donate fire trucks to the countries where our power plant supplies electricity, including Burundi and Tanzania, and now Rwanda. This is part of our commitment to providing assistance in case of fire outbreaks so that they can effectively combat fires,” Mpayimana explained.
He added that this donation complements other projects that RPC Ltd is involved in, including building markets, youth centers, and hospitals, which contribute to connecting the people of these three countries.
ACP Boniface Rutikanga, the spokesperson for RNP, emphasized that the truck is a significant contribution to ensuring the safety of people and property, as the existing firefighting vehicles were insufficient.
“This donation increases our capabilities, as we aim to have such vehicles in more locations. The reason for this is the growth of infrastructure, urban expansion, and the increasing need for emergency services. We anticipate more trucks like this as we continue to improve our resources,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He also noted that the donation shows RPC’s awareness of the potential dangers associated with electricity when used improperly.
“RPC provides electricity to homes, but when used incorrectly, it can result in fires. Receiving this firefighting truck means they are also considering the safety of those who will use this electricity in case of accidents,” ACP Rutikanga added.
Rangira Bruno, the Mayor of Kirehe District, where the power plant is located, highlighted that the donation of the fire truck is another important step in RPC Ltd’s ongoing partnership with the government to support the welfare of the community.
The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to stabilize the country’s volatile east.
Van de Perre arrived on Thursday in the capital of North Kivu province aboard a helicopter, landing at Goma’s airport since the seizure of the city by the rebel group in January 2025 amid deteriorating security conditions. Her visit comes as part of efforts to operationalize a ceasefire monitoring mechanism envisaged within the broader regional peace architecture.
Following talks with Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military coalition allied with the M23, the UN official said discussions focused on “the concrete implementation of the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism in line with the agreement signed by the AFC/M23 and the government of the DRC” under the Doha process.
“It is essential that commitments made in this agreement quickly translate into clear, credible and verifiable operational arrangements on the ground,” she said, adding that MONUSCO is mandated by the UN Security Council to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and to participate in verification efforts.
She noted that MONUSCO’s support would be provided gradually, depending on confirmed security arrangements and guarantees for UN personnel and assets, stressing that the mission’s actions would remain strictly within its Security Council mandate.
Speaking to the press on behalf of the AFC/M23, the group’s senior official Benjamin Mbonimpa welcomed MONUSCO’s role, saying it was expected to support the process “with logistical assistance” within the ceasefire verification framework. Mbonimpa noted that UN personnel would enjoy full security in areas under AFC/M23 control, while declining responsibility for areas outside its control.
Mbonimpa also said the group had “not been informed or invited” regarding the ceasefire proposed by Angola as part of regional mediation efforts, while accusing Kinshasa of repeated ceasefire violations on the ground.
In a separate statement released Friday, the Congolese presidency said to have accepted the principle of a ceasefire proposed by Angola, “in a spirit of responsibility and de-escalation” to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict, reaffirming Kinshasa’s commitment to regional stability and a return to lasting peace.
Angola, which has served as a key mediator in the DRC crisis since 2022, proposed late Wednesday that a ceasefire between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group take effect on Feb. 18. The proposed date remains contingent on a public declaration of acceptance by the parties, according to Angolan authorities.
However, Kinshasa has yet to clarify whether it agrees to the proposed date for the ceasefire to take effect.
The M23 seized the eastern city of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, the following month.
In recent weeks, clashes have been reported near the town of Minembwe in South Kivu, according to local sources.
In a statement issued on February 13, 2026, the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said the ceasefire requires both the government and the AFC/M23 coalition to remain in their current positions, halt reinforcements in conflict zones, refrain from repositioning forces for attacks, and stop receiving external support.
The presidency warned that attempts to expand positions or any actions violating the ceasefire monitoring framework, established under an agreement signed in Doha, Qatar on October 15, 2025, would undermine progress already made.
The Angola government proposed that the ceasefire take effect on February 18, two days after Lourenço hosted Tshisekedi alongside mediators appointed by the African Union, including Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Despite Tshisekedi’s acceptance, the Congolese government has previously been accused of violating ceasefires agreed with the AFC/M23 coalition and breaching signed peace accords, often intensifying military operations to retake lost territory.
Each time Congolese forces reportedly broke ceasefire terms, AFC/M23, citing its principle of “eliminating threats at their source”, responded with force and captured additional areas, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, among other strategic locations.
On February 12, Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, expressed skepticism about the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) willingness to honor a new ceasefire proposed by Angola, noting that Kinshasa has so far shown no political will.
“We can stack peace agreements or ceasefire declarations endlessly, but as long as Kinshasa shows no political will to stop its air and artillery attacks, as long as President Tshisekedi remains fixated on impossible military solution, and as long as the international community continues to turn a blind eye to Kinshasa’s actions, which violate all these agreements, it will be in vain,” he shared on X.
The AFC/M23 coalition has not yet commented on Angola’s ceasefire proposal, though it has repeatedly stated that political dialogue is the only viable path to ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
His policies on trade, foreign aid, and immigration have cast a long shadow over the summit’s discussions, leading analysts to describe him as the “elephant in the room” amid efforts by African leaders to find balance in their global engagements.
Although President Trump did not travel to the summit, leaders from all member states are acutely aware of how his administration’s actions have shifted the landscape of U.S. Africa relations.
Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has moved away from traditional broad‑based foreign aid programs toward a more transactional, bilateral approach.
This means that instead of large multilateral development projects involving many countries, Washington increasingly focuses on individual deals with selected nations that offer strategic or economic advantages.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, experts note that this approach has created uncertainty among African leaders.
“There has been a perceptible shift away from broad multilateral engagement toward a more security‑ and deal‑focused approach,” said Carlos Lopes, a politics professor at the University of Cape Town.
As a result, many African states are pursuing closer ties with other global powers including China, Europe, and Middle Eastern partners to avoid over‑dependence on Washington.
One of the more controversial aspects of recent U.S. policy has been cuts to foreign assistance. Historically, the United States has been a major donor to health and development programs across Africa, including initiatives focused on combating HIV/AIDS and improving maternal and child health.
Trump’s budgetary decisions have significantly reduced funding, prompting concern from civil society and public health experts across the continent.
Economically, Trump’s administration also imposed tariffs on imports from several African countries in previous years, affecting key export markets and increasing pressure on nations that rely on trade with the United States. These trade policies, paired with slower aid flows, have pushed African leaders to seek alternative trading partners and development models.
At past AU Summits, representatives have been working to strike a calculated equilibrium between engaging with the United States and deepening ties with other international partners.
Analysts believe that African diplomats will emphasize “strategic ambiguity” engaging the U.S. where beneficial while also strengthening relationships with China, the European Union, and intra‑African bodies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Launched on the sidelines of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa on Thursday, February 12, the platforms, BiasharaLink and Deal House, seek to close what officials described as Africa’s long-standing “execution gap,” where trade opportunities are identified but rarely converted into completed transactions.
The initiative, spearheaded by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in partnership with Real Sources Africa and Equity Group Holdings, positions diplomatic missions as structured commercial pipelines rather than traditional liaison offices.
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Speaking at the launch, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, said the platforms introduce a new model of economic diplomacy anchored in systems, accountability and measurable outcomes.
“BiasharaLink and Deal House represent a new model of economic diplomacy; one that is results-oriented,” Mudavadi said. “It provides a common platform for capturing and organising opportunity. It connects opportunity to execution. Together, the platforms turn diplomacy into delivery.”
Mudavadi noted that while Africa has made significant progress in negotiating trade frameworks, including the AfCFTA, traders and investors still face stalled transactions, fragmented information and weak follow-through.
“This is not a question of political will or commitment,” he said. “It is a failure of systems.”
The new platforms aim to institutionalise how embassies capture, track and convert trade and investment leads, ensuring continuity beyond individual diplomatic postings and creating a structured pipeline from inquiry to execution.
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According to Real Sources Africa founder and CEO, Felix Chege, Kenyan embassies collect an average of 3,500 trade inquiries per month, yet fewer than one percent historically translate into closed deals.
“Our embassies are centres of trust,” Chege said. “But they lacked the infrastructure to transmit inquiries to the right businesses and execute them efficiently.”
BiasharaLink functions as the intake and structuring layer, enabling diplomatic missions, exporters and investors to digitally capture, validate and monitor trade leads. It distinguishes between exploratory inquiries and transaction-ready buyers, supported by due diligence processes and “deal stewards” trained to guide transactions.
Deal House serves as the execution engine, where validated opportunities are matched with counterparties, supported with documentation, and connected to payment and financing solutions. The system integrates escrow mechanisms and trade finance tools to reduce risk for both buyers and sellers.
Chege described the model as “capture, validate and close,” adding that the goal is to build a continental infrastructure leveraging embassy credibility to drive trade, investment and financing.
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James Mwangi, Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings, framed the initiative as a bridge between policy ambition and commercial reality.
“For years, Africa has had policy frameworks without flow of goods and services,” Mwangi said. “What we are witnessing is a partnership between government and private sector to create an infrastructure that enables people to walk, ride and drive on a trade superhighway.”
He described the platform as “visa-free,” compressing time and distance by connecting buyers and sellers digitally, while reducing reliance on costly physical travel and fragmented networks.
Equity will provide the financing layer, including trade finance, guarantees and payment solutions, to ensure that structured deals become bankable transactions.
“It’s not enough to have a pipeline,” Mwangi said. “You must lubricate the platform by having finance accessible.”
He added that the platform creates equal access for SMEs, women and youth entrepreneurs, reducing gatekeeping and embedding trust through government-backed verification via diplomatic missions.
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The launch comes as the AfCFTA Secretariat prepares for the adoption of remaining legal instruments under the trade pact.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene said the agreement now provides the regulatory certainty needed to unlock intra-African trade, but warned that execution remains the central challenge.
“In a world moving toward fragmentation and protectionism, Africa is moving in the opposite direction,” Mene said. “We have no alternative but to succeed; we have to build a very strong domestic market.”
He highlighted the AfCFTA’s protocols on digital trade and on women and youth in trade as forward-looking instruments that align with Kenya’s digital approach.
With a market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, Mene said the opportunity is unprecedented, but only if SMEs and young entrepreneurs can access structured trade systems.
The initiative has also received backing from development partners supporting AfCFTA implementation. Mathias Kamp, Regional Director of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, said the launch marks a critical step toward unlocking the bloc’s trade potential.
“The AfCFTA needs to move to the next level. Five years on, the potential remains untapped. I’m convinced that what we are launching today will be a significant step forward in unlocking trade,” he said.
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Kenya’s government says the initiative forms part of a broader shift in its foreign policy, which now prioritises commercial diplomacy and diaspora investment.
Mudavadi noted that Kenya recently secured parliamentary endorsement of its updated foreign policy framework, reinforcing predictability and credibility in its external engagements.
“Our diplomatic missions are among Africa’s most valuable assets. They are trusted institutions that already facilitate trade and investment, but today’s economy requires structured pipelines, reliable data, verified partners, and access to finance,” he said.
Officials stressed that while the system begins with Kenya’s 70 diplomatic missions, its ambition is continental, with an invitation extended to other African countries to adopt or integrate into the model.
“The success of this initiative,” Mudavadi said, “will be measured in completed deals, jobs created and enterprises grown. Africa’s next chapter must be written in performance, not promises.”
Asked who is running Venezuela in a Thursday interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC News, Rodríguez said, “I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it’s stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela.”
She added that her daily workload reflects the seriousness of her role: “From the amount of work that I have… it’s very, very hard work and we’re doing it completely day by day.”
The comment comes more than a month after U.S. forces captured Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to federal custody in New York on narcoterrorism, drug trafficking and corruption charges, where he has pleaded not guilty.
Despite his detention, Rodríguez made a clear legal and political defense of her predecessor, saying: “I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president… Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent.”
Rodríguez, who once sharply criticised the U.S. military operation, has signalled a shift toward cooperation with Washington.
She confirmed receiving an invitation to visit the United States, saying, “We’re contemplating coming there once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything.”
The interview also took place amid an ongoing visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focused on discussions over Venezuela’s crippled oil industry and potential economic and diplomatic engagement with the interim government.
President William Ruto made the announcement during a visit to the northeastern town of Mandera, saying the decision follows years of security assessments and preparations aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens.
The border was closed after a wave of deadly cross-border attacks carried out by al-Shabaab, which said it was retaliating against Kenya’s military presence in Somalia as part of international peacekeeping efforts.
Among the most devastating incidents was the 2013 assault on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, where 67 people were killed. Two years later, gunmen attacked Garissa University College, leaving at least 148 people dead.
Other major attacks included the killing of 28 bus passengers in Mandera County in 2014 and a 2019 hotel siege in Nairobi that left at least 21 people dead.
Kenya subsequently closed the 680-kilometre border with Somalia as a precautionary measure amid threats of further violence. In 2015, the government began constructing a perimeter security barrier along the frontier. However, the project stalled after nearly three years, with only about 10 kilometres of fencing completed at a cost of $35 million.
A previous attempt to reopen the border in 2023 was shelved following renewed militant activity. President Ruto said the renewed plan will see two crossing points reopened under heavy security deployment to prevent infiltration and curb the smuggling of illicit goods, including weapons.
“It is unacceptable that fellow Kenyans in Mandera remain cut off from their kin and neighbours in Somalia due to the prolonged closure of the Mandera Border Post,” Ruto said in a post on X.
He expressed optimism that reopening the crossings would stimulate formal cross-border trade and unlock economic opportunities for communities on both sides of the frontier.
Mandera, which has a predominantly ethnic Somali population, has been one of the areas most affected by insecurity linked to al-Shabaab. Addressing residents, Ruto urged them to support government efforts to combat extremism.
“These al-Shabaab are useless. I want to assure that Kenya will work together with you, just help us combat these criminals and terrorists,” he said.
The reopening marks a significant policy shift and signals Nairobi’s confidence in strengthened security measures along the frontier, even as authorities remain cautious about the persistent threat posed by militant networks operating in the region.
The disclosure was made by the Finance and Economic Planning Minister Yusuf Murangwa during his presentation of the revised national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year to Parliament on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
Minister Murangwa stated that the construction of the Masaka hospital, where CHUK will move, is now 98% complete.
He confirmed that the relocation of the hospital will begin in March 2026, with the move being carried out in phases, and the entire process is expected to be completed by September this year.
Murangwa explained that the remaining tasks to ensure CHUK’s relocation include finishing the construction work, installing equipment, and preparing the staff, as the new hospital will have double the capacity of the existing one.
“The new hospital is significantly larger than the current CHUK; the current facility has 400 beds, but the new one will have over 800 beds. This requires more modern equipment and staff, which will exceed what we currently have at CHUK. However, as advised, the relocation cannot happen all at once; some services will move first, while others will continue to operate at CHUK to ensure that services remain uninterrupted during the transition,” he said.
“This is a well-thought-out plan, and we expect to begin the phased relocation starting in March, with full completion by September. Some services, such as emergency care, will remain at CHUK for a longer period, but eventually, all services will move. We aim for CHUK to be fully relocated by the end of this year,” Murangwa added.
Major construction work has now been completed, and the remaining tasks include final touch-ups, cleaning, and preparing the landscaping around the hospital.
The hospital is being built by the Chinese company, Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd, at a cost of 85 billion Rwandan Francs, (approximately 580 million Chinese Yuan).
The new hospital will have 18 operating rooms, excluding those for maternity cases.
The hospital will also be equipped with advanced medical technology, including four X-ray machines, two anti-rays, MRI machines, radiology services, and other essential equipment.
Rwanda’s goal is to build a healthcare system that serves as a leading medical hub in Africa and promotes medical tourism.
This move will help reduce the number of Rwandans seeking medical treatment abroad, as many of these services will now be available within the country.
The two-day meeting, attended by foreign ministers from AU members under the framework of the 39th AU Summit, among others elected 10 members of the Peace and Security Council of the AU. Accordingly, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Uganda, Morocco, Lesotho, South Africa, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone are elected to serve the council for a two-year term.
The foreign ministers’ session also discussed discussed the AU’s strategic engagement with the G20, building on the momentum of the summit held in South Africa, and underscored the need for strengthening its cooperation with member states of the group to tap into possible sources of funding and finance the continent’s development programs.
In a concluding remark, Tete Antonio, Angolan Minister of External Relations and outgoing chair of the executive council, underscored the AU’s continued commitment to strengthening continental governance, advancing peace and security, and accelerating the implementation of Africa’s shared development agenda.
The session appreciated the tangible progress on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and specialized agencies, stressing the need for applying innovative financing and inclusion of the private sector, civil society, and philanthropic foundations to accelerate the continent’s development.
The session also underscored the critical importance of AU’s 2026 theme on water and sanitation, framing water as a vital collective resource that must be preserved amid climate change, and as a tool for peace and cooperation.
“The session highlighted the huge gap between required and available investment in water and sanitation in Africa,” Antonio said, noting that 400 million people in the African continent still lack water for their daily livelihood, and over 800 million African people lack basic hygiene services.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund will help more than 90,000 people. Additional funds from other donors are helping to kick-start response efforts.
With the storm raging across eastern and central Madagascar, local authorities have reported 31 people dead, four missing and 35 injured. Preliminary reports indicated that more than 250,000 people have been affected, with nearly 7,000 people displaced.
The office said more than 65,000 homes were flooded, damaged, or destroyed, and about 600 classrooms were rendered partially or completely unusable.
OCHA said the government has called for international support and is leading search-and-rescue, evacuation, shelter and food assistance efforts, including the distribution of some 800 metric tonnes of rice, with support from the world body and partners.
OCHA said the cyclone could affect central and southern Mozambique in the coming days.
