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Several residents lost their lives, and others sustained injuries after explosives hit a meeting organized by the rebel alliance.

The gathering, led by the rebel alliance leader Corneille Nangaa, had drawn a large crowd before chaos erupted following the blasts, forcing attendees to flee in panic. The exact number of casualties is yet to be disclosed.

In a statement, AFC/M23 condemned the attack, calling it a 'cowardly and barbaric act' and accusing President Felix Tshisekedi of orchestrating it.

'After their débâcle on the military operations front, the forces coalesced under the Kinshasa regime have attacked the people of Bukavu following our popular meeting,' the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, said in a statement offering condolences to the families of the victims.

The group further stated that the attack was part of a broader plan to eliminate civilians.

'The order to massacre the populations of Bukavu was given by Tshisekedi Tshilombo following a meeting with his last governor expelled from Bukavu,' the statement read.

AFC/M23 has called on regional and international bodies, including the European Union, the African Union, the East African Community, and the South African Development Community (SADC), to 'take full measure of the consequences of this heinous act.'

“We call on the international community, the European Union (EU), the African Union, the EAC, and SADC to fully acknowledge the consequences of this despicable act committed by the Kinshasa regime,” Kanyuka stated, further assuring that the group is “committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure security and eliminate any future threats.”

The rally took place weeks after AFC/M23 seized Bukavu and Goma, solidifying its control over parts of eastern Congo amid ongoing battles with government forces.

The AFC/M23 rebel group accuses the Congolese government of ethnic persecution against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in the east, causing hundreds of thousands of residents to flee to neighbouring countries.

During Thursday’s event, Nangaa vowed to push further south, promising to take Uvira within two days and appoint a new leadership structure in South Kivu, mirroring what the group did in North Kivu after capturing Goma.

'I promise you that in two days, we will be at Uvira to restore security. In Bukavu, we will appoint the new governor, two vice-governors, the mayor of the city, three mayors, and territorial administrators,' he declared.

The gathering, led by AFC leader Corneille Nangaa, had drawn a large crowd before chaos erupted following the blasts, forcing attendees to flee in panic.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

French national Joris Delbove, riding for Team TotalEnergies, emerged victorious in Stage Four of the 2025 Tour du Rwanda, which covered a distance of 95.1 kilometers from Rubavu to Karongi.

Delbove crossed the finish line just one second ahead of his teammate Fabien Doubey, also from TotalEnergies, securing both the stage win and the yellow jersey.

Following this stage, Delbove now leads the general classification with a total race time of 12 hours, 24 minutes, and 57 seconds.

His closest competitor, Fabien Doubey, trails by just two seconds, while Oliver Mattheis from Bike Aid sits in third place, five seconds behind the leader.

Brady Gilmore of Israel Premier Tech follows at eight seconds back, with Eritrean cyclist Henok Mulubrhan rounding out the top five, twelve seconds off the pace.

Other notable riders in the top ten include Adria Pericas from UAZ, Moritz Kretschy of Israel Premier Tech, Milan Donie from the Lotto Development Team, Rwanda’s Masengesho Vainqueur, and Juan Martinez from Devo Team Picnic.

Manizabayo Eric, another Rwandan rider, currently holds the eleventh position, forty-four seconds behind the leader, while Mugisha Moise sits in sixteenth place, trailing by just over two minutes.

The stage itself saw an impressive performance from Rwandan cyclists, with three local riders finishing in the top ten.

Delbove claimed the stage victory with a time of two hours, 27 minutes, and 20 seconds, followed closely by Brady Gilmore, who finished three seconds later. Henok Mulubrhan secured third place, while Lorrenzo Manzin of TotalEnergies finished fourth, just ahead of Fabien Doubey.

Enea Sambinello of UAZ took sixth place, while Rwanda’s Manizabayo Eric, Masengesho Vainqueur, and Mugisha Moise finished in seventh, eighth, and ninth positions, respectively. Adria Pericas from UAZ rounded out the top ten.

With strong performances from Rwandan cyclists, the host nation continues to make its mark in this year’s Tour du Rwanda, adding excitement to the competition as the race progresses.

The fifth stage will take riders from Rusizi to Huye District, covering a challenging distance of 144 kilometers.

French national Joris Delbove was the first to cross the finish as racers headed for Karongi.

Forzza Bet awarded Nsengiyumva Shemu ,riding for Java-InovoTec, as the best climber.

Munyaneza Didier riding for Team Rwanda was awarded as the best sprinter.

Delbove secured both the stage four win and the yellow jersey.

IGIHE

The meeting, addressed by Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the political-military coalition, had kicked off well, with a mammoth crowd in attendance. However, all hell broke loose after the explosion of bombs, forcing the residents, who had been in a cheerful mood, singing songs, to scamper for safety.

The exact number of casualties is yet to be disclosed.

#RDC: Corneille Nangaa dénonce une attaque meurtrière de Félix Tshisekedi sur le lieu du meeting populaire de ce jeudi 27 février 2025 à la place du 24 de Bukavu. Trois bombes ont été larguées sur des foules innombrables tuant plusieurs congolais. L’AFC/M23 condamne avec la… pic.twitter.com/oXxdUEudtL

— Steve Wembi (@wembi_steve) February 27, 2025

Bertrand Bisimwa, the president of the M23 rebel group, accused President Felix Tshisekedi’s government of targeting civilians while also seeking to eliminate Nangaa.

“Mr. Tshisekedi’s regime has just carried out the threat that has been circulating since yesterday on social networks, targeting the civilian population who would participate in the AFC/M23 meeting. The day was planned, according to the authors of the threat, for the physical elimination of the Coordinator Corneille Nangaa,” Bisimwa said in a statement shared on social media condemning the attack.

“This Thursday, February 27, 2025, a few minutes after the meeting, the forces of evil dropped bombs on the civilian population gathered at the meeting site, causing several deaths and injuries—all innocent civilians. We condemn this barbarity of the regime in place, which has reached an unacceptable level.”

The M23 leader said the attacks had been widespread in recent days, affecting several villages despite a ceasefire.

“For several days, the Kinshasa regime has been dropping bombs, using drones, on densely populated villages in South Kivu during the ceasefire period, far from the front lines.”

The meeting came weeks after the rebel group seized Bukavu and Goma, tightening its grip in the eastern Congo where a fight with the government forces has been going on for a while.

The M23 rebel group accuses the Congolese government of ethnic persecution against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, which has caused hundreds of thousands of residents to flee to neighbouring countries.

At today’s meeting, Nangaa promised to liberate Uvira in two days and appoint a new governor for South Kivu Province, just like they did in North Kivu following the capture of Goma.

'I promise you that in two days, we will be at Uvira to restore security. In Bukavu, we will appoint the new governor, two vice-governors, the mayor of the city, three mayors, and territorial administrators,' he stated.

The meeting, addressed by Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the political-military coalition, had kicked off well, with a mammoth crowd in attendance.

Corneille Nangaa (center), the leader of the AFC/M23, addressed the meeting.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Founded in 1957, the largest and leading brewery in Rwanda continues to focus on quality and operational excellence through rigorous innovations and expansion projects leading to global recognitions.

The journey to acquiring the prestigious award began a few years ago, requiring dedication from all teams from the shopfloor, packaging lines, production and brewery leadership.

According to the Brewery Manager, David Banyenza, Total Productive Management (TPM) is a system aimed at optimizing manufacturing performance through quality management, workplace safety, employee capability building and process improvements.

The TPM Bronze Certificate elevates the brewery to internationally recognized standards.

'Achieving the Bronze certificate is not merely about achieving superior Key Performance Indicatora [KPIs] that we are audited on but about embedding a culture of continuous improvement where teams must be trained, processes standardized, and TPM tools integrated into daily operations, setting the stage for the next milestone which is Silver certification for the brewery' he said.

BRALIRWA’s Soft Drinks Plant in Kicukiro district was awarded the TPM Silver Certification in 2023 and was the first soft drink subsidiary of HEINEKEN to achieve the award globally.

The Soft Drinks Plant also won The Coca-Cola safety franchise award in Africa in 2022 and has spent over 10 years without any accident incident whereas the brewery in Rubavu has spent three years accident free.

The Supply Chain Director at BRALIRWA Plc, Mr. Samuel Murumu explained that the essence of TPM is to drive operational success in all aspects of manufacturing.

'The TPM Awards are a testament to our unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence. It reflects the dedication of our entire team in driving continuous improvement and ensuring that every step of our supply chain upholds the highest standards' Samuel Murumu said.

BRALIRWA staff during a recent celebration of Bronze certification.

One of Bralirwa staff using a laboratory based in Nyamyumba.

The TPM Bronze Certificate elevates the brewery to internationally recognized standards.

The journey to acquiring the prestigious award began a few years ago, requiring dedication from all teams from the shopfloor, packaging lines, production and brewery leadership.

Founded in 1957, BRALIRWA continues to focus on quality and operational excellence.

IGIHE

On Thursday, February 26, 2025, the trial of Béatrice Munyenyezi commenced at the High Court for International and Cross-Border Crimes in Nyanza, after she appealed the life sentence ruling delivered by the Huye Intermediate Court.

Munyenyezi rejected the court’s decision, claiming she should have been acquitted, arguing that the accusations against her stem from her family ties to relatives who were convicted of Genocide crimes.

Following the prosecution’s presentation on February 25, 2025, which detailed the basis for Munyenyezi’s conviction for murder, they continued the next day to justify the life imprisonment sentence by highlighting her role in facilitating the rape of women during the genocide.

The prosecution referenced a 2012 witness testimony in which the witness recounted approaching Munyenyezi to request documentation proving they were Hutu to escape persecution, as they belonged to the Tutsi ethnic group targeted during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The witness described encountering Munyenyezi wearing a military shirt and holding a club before being taken to the Ihuriro Hotel. Upon reaching a roadblock near the hotel, the witness allegedly saw Munyenyezi’s mother-in-law, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, and her husband, Ntahobari Arsène Shalom.

At the roadblock, the witness claimed to have seen young women being brought in, some of whom recognized Munyenyezi and cried out, saying, “You studied with us at university, are you going to have us killed too?”

According to the prosecution, instead of killing these women, Munyenyezi allegedly ordered them to be taken to the cave beneath the Ihuriro Hotel, where the witness later heard screams of distress.

When questioned by the judge whether the screams implied the women were being sexually assaulted, the prosecution admitted that the initial trial had not fully examined this charge, and they would seek additional evidence to support the claim.

Munyenyezi is the daughter-in-law of Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, who served as the Minister of Family Welfare in Rwanda’s interim government during the Genocide. Her husband, Ntahobari Arsène Shalom, was also convicted of genocide crimes.

Munyenyezi was extradited to Rwanda from the United States in April 2021. On April 12, 2024, the Huye Intermediate Court sentenced her to life imprisonment.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2025, during which the prosecution will continue presenting its arguments supporting the sentence.

High Court for International and Cross-Border Crimes in Nyanza.

A life imprisonment sentence was handed to Béatrice Munyenyezi by the Huye Intermediate Court.

IGIHE

Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali Moalim stated on Wednesday February 26, 2025 that Uganda will contribute 4,500 soldiers, Ethiopia 2,500, Djibouti 1,520, Kenya 1,410, and Egypt 1,091.

Somalia and Ethiopia recently finalized Ethiopia’s participation in AUSSOM, resolving a diplomatic impasse that initially led Somalia to resist Ethiopian troop involvement. The disagreement started from Addis Ababa’s controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland.

According to Moalim, joint military operations are already underway, with Somali government forces advancing towards the key militant strongholds of Bu’ale and Jilib in southern Somalia. These cities, located in Middle and Lower Jubba regions, are among the last remaining Al-Shabaab-controlled areas.

The announcement underscores the renewed momentum in Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab, a militant group that continues to pose a major security threat despite years of counterinsurgency efforts.

Somali security forces, in collaboration with AU troops, have been ramping up efforts to degrade the militant group’s operational capacity. The government has pledged to enhance the capabilities of its national army, aiming to take full security responsibility once AU forces withdraw eventually.

The participation of Egypt in AUSSOM is particularly noteworthy, as Cairo has historically maintained limited direct military engagement in Somalia.

Egypt’s involvement aligns with its broader regional strategy, which includes countering Ethiopia’s growing influence and securing allies in the Horn of Africa

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia hands over the last of its forward operating bases to the Somali National Armed Forces in November last year.

Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali Moalim has said that five African nations, will deploy fresh troops under the African Union’s new Somalia Mission (AUSSOM).

IGIHE

The two political nemeses-turned-allies are reportedly working on a legal framework to define the structure and operational mechanisms of their proposed political union. This arrangement would see Odinga secure a plum government position while also bringing more of his allies into the Cabinet.

The drafting of the agreement comes just days after Odinga returned home following his unsuccessful bid to become chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

In their first meeting since returning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the two leaders met at State House Mombasa on Monday, February 24, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a broad-based government. Several of Odinga’s lawyers, who have drafted past agreements with previous regimes, were present in Mombasa, further fueling speculation.

Odinga and Ruto faced off in the disputed 2022 presidential election, which the former prime minister accused Ruto of rigging. However, in an unprecedented move, they joined forces after deadly youth-led protests erupted in the country in June last year over punitive taxes. This was widely seen as Ruto’s attempt to have Odinga help him quell the unrest.

In return, Ruto absorbed some of Odinga’s political lieutenants into the Cabinet in what he termed the formation of a broad-based government. The President also led efforts to lobby for Odinga’s AUC bid. However, this move was not without criticism, with some accusing Odinga of riding on the blood of young Kenyans who died in the protests for political gain.

With their renewed political dalliance, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the leaders are keen to elevate their political collaboration to a new level.

Should Odinga yield to Ruto’s overtures, he is reportedly set to be rewarded with the appointment of several of his allies to senior government positions, including Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries. Some of Odinga’s supporters are pushing for a 50-50 power-sharing arrangement by 2027.

Odinga could also benefit from a proposed constitutional amendment that would see the creation of the position of Leader of the Official Opposition, the reintroduction of the Prime Minister role, and other governance adjustments aimed at enhancing inclusivity and national cohesion.

Amid growing speculation, Odinga has promised to make a major political announcement next week, further heightening rumours of a potentially game-changing realignment in Kenyan politics.

'The African Union Commission (AUC) election is now behind us. I’m back home, ready for the next move, which I will share with Kenyans in the coming week,' he said during a press briefing.

Meanwhile, Ruto’s former deputy, Gachagua, who was ousted last year over insubordination, is expected to unveil a new party and form a coalition with other like-minded opposition leaders in a bid to challenge Ruto in 2027.

He has repeatedly accused President Ruto of betrayal and has vowed to lobby against him, seeking to deny the Head of State votes from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region, which played a huge role in Ruto’s election.

A grand coalition government appears to be in the works in Kenya as President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga seek to counter the growing influence of impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election, the local media reports.

In their first meeting since returning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the two leaders met at State House Mombasa on Monday, February 24, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a broad-based government.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

While addressing the UK Parliament on February 26, 2025, Lord Collins was questioned about the brutal murder of 70 Christian worshippers by ADF militants.

Reports indicate that the victims, mainly women and children, were taken hostage before being killed with machetes and hammers. Their bodies were later discovered inside a church in Lubero Territory, North Kivu province.

In response to inquiries from UK lawmakers about Britain’s stance on the killings and whether the issue had been raised with international organizations, Lord Collins mentioned Amb. Nduhungirehe.

'The reality is that we are trying to ensure that all crimes committed in these incidents are properly investigated so that those responsible are held accountable. When I met the Foreign Minister of Rwanda in Geneva this morning, he denied all these accusations about things happening,' he said.

Amb. Nduhungirehe swiftly denounced these remarks, calling them unacceptable.

'This level of ignorance, confusion, and misinformation by Lord Collins, UK Minister of State for Africa, is insulting and UNACCEPTABLE!' he posted on X.

'He was asked in the House of Commons a specific question about 70 Christians who were killed with machetes and hammers by ADF, a Ugandan terrorist organization affiliated with ISIS, in Kasanga, Lubero Territory, North Kivu. And yet, he dares to respond by saying, 'When I met the Foreign Minister of Rwanda this morning, he denied all those crimes happening’?'

Nduhungirehe further emphasized that the 'UK government will have to formally answer about it’.

Relations between Rwanda and the UK have deteriorated in recent months, particularly after Britain accused Rwanda of allegedly supporting the M23 rebels, who have been engaged in conflict with the DRC’s armed forces.

Despite Rwanda’s rejection of the allegations and its calls for the DRC to address its internal challenges without shifting blame, the UK has taken sides and imposed sanctions on Rwanda, further straining diplomatic ties.

Lord Collins’ comments linking Amb. Nduhungirehe to the ADF killings have been deemed unacceptable.

IGIHE

The ministry denounced the move as “unexpected and unjustified,” noting it violated Article 8 of a bilateral accord requiring prior consultation on diplomats’ visa exemptions.

“The Algerian authorities were not informed beforehand, as stipulated by mutual agreement,” the ministry said in a statement.

It accused France of caving to domestic political pressures, including far-right influence, and warned against dragging Algeria into “France’s internal conflicts,” saying such actions risked “unintended consequences for all aspects of bilateral relations.”

The measures, announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday, limit entry and movement in France for Algerian officials carrying diplomatic or service passports.

Barrot described the restrictions as “reversible” pending improved cooperation on migration, according to French media.

The dispute comes amid longstanding tensions over migration. Paris has repeatedly accused Algiers of refusing to repatriate Algerian nationals expelled from France, including Franco-Algerian influencers facing trial for allegedly inciting violence.

IGIHE