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This follows the 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance recently announced by President Donald Trump. However, Malawi’s government says it is working to ensure that students can continue their education.

USAID has provided financial support to thousands of students in several Malawi universities, including the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and the Malawi University of Science and Technology or MUST.

James Mphande, the communications manager at MUST, said the U.S. foreign aid freeze is a big blow to several USAID-funded projects the school was implementing.

'And what it means now is that everything has been suspended,' he said. 'So, if we were developing a curriculum, we can’t proceed. If we had some outreach activities, we can’t proceed. If we were in the process of making some procurements, we can’t proceed.'

He said some sponsored students may face the impact next semester. 'Fortunately, we are in the middle of a semester. So, probably fees or support for this semester was already sorted out. But for the upcoming semesters or years, it means the students will have to look elsewhere for support or they risk withdrawing,' Mphande said.

However, Patience Yamikani Chakwana, a beneficiary of USAID at MUST, told VOA that she is already feeling the impact. Chakwana, a first-year student in business information technology, said the foreign aid suspension was imposed before students received money for their daily upkeep.

'It was really unexpected. It was, like, we have just started school after a week, then we are getting the news,' she said. 'At the time, we didn’t have the money, and the pocket money had not been given. … I heard the news while I was in class. I didn’t know what to do. That was the only hope I had.'

Chakwana said USAID was paying for her tuition and accommodation, as well as giving her money for groceries and the internet connection for her mobile phone. She said she now survives on money she borrows from friends.

Jessie Kabwila, Malawi’s minister of higher education, said the aid suspension is discouraging, but the Malawi government is working to find other sources to help students.

'We have engaged local partnerships that are in the private sector to see how they can help us. We have also engaged international partners. For example, we have got a standing agreement with the Republic of Morocco. We have also engaged the Czech Republic, and we will be engaging others, too,' Kabwila said.

Alexander Kude, deputy director for the Commonwealth Students Association, said that the US foreign aid suspension should be a wake-up call for developing countries to start investing more in education and reduce overdependence on foreign aid.

'Look, the budget that the United States of America uses to fund us through USAID, it’s just a per cent of their money and budget. If you look how much that is and where they get it from, why not stand alone and do it ourselves?' Kude said.

The Trump administration says it imposed the 90-day freeze to review USAID spending and make sure it aligns with U.S. policy and interests. The freeze will extend through April 20.

Students at Malawi University of Science and Technology discuss artificial intelligence products.

IGIHE

In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said Milimani anti-corruption court chief magistrate Thomas Nzioki issued the verdict after he found Waititu guilty of fraud and conflict of interest in a Ksh588 million graft case.

The second sentencing comes a day after the politician was found guilty of irregularly awarding tenders in Kiambu County in February 2018 during his tenure as the County boss.

In a related judgement, Waititu’s wife Susan Wangari Ndungu was handed a 1 year jail term or fine of Ksh. 500,000.

The other convicts in this case namely Luka Mwangi Wahinya (former Kiambu Chief Officer, Roads, Transport, Public Works and Utilities) will also serve 2 years in prison or pay a fine of 1 million shillings alongside a mandatory fine of Ksh.20 million or serve 5 years in prison in default.

Also, the Directors of Testimony Enterprises Limited namely Charles Chege Mbuthia and Beth Wangeci were jailed for 4 years if they failed to pay a fine of Ksh.2 million shillings plus a mandatory fine of Ksh.294 million.

This is after the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully proved to the court that the ex-county boss and his co-accused were guilty of conflict of interest, abuse of office, engaging in fraudulent practices in procurement, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and dealing with suspected property.

Justice Nzyoki also directed that Waititu and his co-accused not be appointed or hold any public office for a period of 10 years.

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife have both been convicted.

IGIHE

Speaking at a European Parliament session on Thursday, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany and Representative to the European Union, Igor César, condemned what he described as “lazy narratives” and called for a fact-based approach to addressing the crisis in eastern DRC.

César emphasized Rwanda’s vested interest in a stable DRC, pointing to significant trade relations between the two nations.

In 2021, Rwanda exported goods worth $683 million to the DRC, and by 2022, the DRC had become Rwanda’s top export partner, accounting for over 33% of total exports.

“Why would we jeopardize this?” he questioned, arguing that Rwanda’s economic growth depends on peace, not conflict.

The ambassador criticized the ongoing scrutiny of Rwanda, stressing that the real perpetrators of mineral smuggling and instability in the region are well-documented but remain largely unaddressed.

“The real smuggling networks are known. The real perpetrators are well-documented. And yet, the scrutiny always falls on Rwanda. Why?” he asked.

He attributed this to a blame-shifting strategy designed to avoid genuine accountability and reform in the DRC’s mining sector.

César also defended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last year between Rwanda and the European Union on critical raw materials, stating that the EU itself initiated the agreement.

“We engaged in this agreement in good faith because it aligned with our vision and pre-existing strategies,” he said, emphasizing that the demand for these minerals is a shared global interest.

The ambassador highlighted documented human rights violations within the DRC, citing reports from the U.S. Department of State and the UN Joint Human Rights Office.

He noted that Congolese security forces have long been identified as the leading perpetrators of human rights abuses in the region.

“This is not new. This is not accidental. It is a pattern,” he stated, criticizing the international community’s silence on such issues.

He also referenced past incidents, such as the 2021 assassination of Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio, which was attributed to the Kinshasa-backed FDLR, and the hiring of over 2,000 European mercenaries by the DRC government in violation of international conventions.

“How long will your silence continue?” he asked, challenging the European Parliament on its selective response to regional issues.

César warned that the DRC government’s reliance on military solutions, including alliances with ethnic militias, the FDLR, and foreign mercenaries, undermines regional peace efforts.

“This reckless strategy—pursuing every possible option except genuine negotiations—continues to fuel instability,” he said while calling for a shift toward political dialogue.

The ambassador stressed that the only viable path forward is the implementation of the East African Community (EAC)-Southern African Development Community (SADC) joint summit’s recommendations, which include a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian action, and a return to negotiations.

“We now have a renewed opportunity to reset the political process and move towards a genuine resolution,” he said.

Reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to peace, César dismissed accusations of expansionist ambitions.

“Rwanda has no expansionist agenda. We are not looking to redraw the borders we inherited from colonialism. All we want is credible, long-term peace for the development of our region,” he stated.

He concluded by calling on all stakeholders, including the European Union, to reject divisive narratives and support efforts aimed at achieving lasting stability in the Great Lakes region.

“Peace requires courage, accountability, and the rejection of the forces that fuel division and violence,” the ambassador remarked.

The ambassador’s remarks come amid concerns over the deteriorating security situation in eastern Congo, which recently culminated in the capture of Goma by M23 rebels. While the international community has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, Rwanda has denied the claims, instead stating that the M23 members are Congolese Rwandophones fighting against decades of persecution and marginalization by the government.

Speaking at a European Parliament session on Thursday, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany and Representative to the European Union, Igor César, condemned what he described as “lazy narratives” and called for a fact-based approach to addressing the crisis in eastern DRC.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The soldiers, who were found armed, were taken into custody by Ugandan authorities on February 12, 2025 before being handed over to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Nebbi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Robert Abak confirmed the development, stating that the Ugandan government followed the proper channels to ensure the soldiers were safely returned. “We handled the matter diplomatically and ensured they were repatriated without conflict,” Abak said.

However, sources close to the soldiers claim they were not in Uganda illegally. 'We were not trespassing! This is our land,' one of them reportedly said while being escorted back to the DRC.

Lake Albert, which sits between Uganda and the DRC, has been a source of tension between the two countries for years and the Congolese soldiers may have believed they were operating within their territory.

Fishermen and security forces from both sides have clashed multiple times, with accusations of illegal activities and territorial violations.

The DRC soldiers were allegedly operating illegally on Lake Albert in Buliisa District.

IGIHE

The number of fraudulent online financial businesses scamming citizens continues to rise. Last year, a company named Super Free to Trade Ltd (STT) left many in financial ruin after luring them with promises of quick wealth.

BNR’s Director of Market Conduct Supervision, Nsabimana Gerard, revealed that the companies exploit digital financial trading, particularly cryptocurrency, to defraud individuals.

He identified four companies recently flagged by BNR and urged the public to stop investing in them, warning that they are scams.

“We have identified four such entities. One of them, Die Equipment, falsely claims to be an American-based company providing agricultural machinery, but in reality, it is a scam. It has no affiliation with the American firm it claims to represent,” he stated.

“Pi Network operates an online cryptocurrency trading scheme that is not legally recognized. Dynace presents itself as a medical supply company, while FlexFunds is another fraudulent entity. All these companies are designed to defraud citizens.”

Nsabimana stressed that these businesses operate outside Rwanda’s legal framework, meaning investors risk losing their money without legal protection.

“Many people have already lost money. For example, Billionaire Traders reportedly caused citizens to lose Rwf 10 billion.”

BNR highlighted multiple risks associated with cryptoassets, including lack of legal protection, high susceptibility to fraud, extreme price volatility, and lack of transparency.

Until regulations are established, the bank warns that neither investors nor buyers of such digital assets will have any legal recourse.

BNR’s Director of Market Conduct Supervision, Nsabimana Gerard, revealed that the companies exploit digital financial trading, particularly cryptocurrency, to defraud individuals.

IGIHE

DeepSeek’s rise has not only reshaped perceptions of China’s AI capabilities but also sent a wake-up call to tech giants. Traditionally, China has played catch-up in AI applications, but DeepSeek’s success proves that China can now compete at the foundational technology level.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how a policy slowly influences the development of a specific technological breakthrough. The chain of causality is complex, but one thing is certain: policies play a pivotal role in creating an environment that nurtures innovation. While greatness cannot be directly planned, a well-designed institutional framework and the freedom to experiment can pave the way for it.

In late 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that the country’s economy was transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development. Over the past few years, we have consistently seen both central and local governments making technological innovation a top priority.

For example, the restructuring of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology is an effort to make the country’s sci-tech administration more efficient in supporting basic research and leveraging innovation to drive economic growth.

Additionally, China has established a Central Science and Technology Commission to strengthen the Party Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership over science and technology-related work. This shift signifies that scientific and technological breakthroughs are now a national priority rather than just a ministry-level concern.

At the same time, China is placing greater emphasis on integrating fundamental innovation with the market. The rise of DeepSeek, for instance, is no coincidence.

Hangzhou, the city where DeepSeek was born, has become a birthplace for other exceptional companies, like Unitree (robotics) and Game Science (Yes, the one behind Black Myth: Wukong), all of which owe their success to policies that foster innovation and market-driven growth.

DeepSeek’s emergence is not an isolated case, but rather part of a broader trend in the city and beyond. More and more cities across China are following this path, creating an increasingly dynamic and innovation-friendly environment.

DeepSeek’s success doesn’t mean China has surpassed the U.S. in AI, but it sends a clear signal: China can achieve breakthroughs in core technologies. More importantly, it is pushing AI toward a more open and equitable future.

U.S. restrictions on semiconductors, TikTok, and trade have not stalled China’s tech rise. If anything, DeepSeek proves that external pressure fuels innovation. Ironically, NVIDIA’s market value decline is partially a consequence of America’s own chip export policies.

From a global perspective, DeepSeek’s open-source approach is a game-changer. It democratizes AI access, accelerating innovation by breaking the monopoly of a few tech giants.

In the coming years, AI competition won’t just be about technological advancements—it will be a battle of ideologies. DeepSeek has made its stance clear:

Openness is the future of AI. Those who embrace it will lead the next era. And that may be DeepSeek’s greatest lesson to the world.

About the Author:

Yang Zhao is in charge of CGTN’s science, technology, and environmental coverage. He also founded CGTN’s Tech It Out studio, which produces award-winning scientific documentaries, including Human Carbon Footprint, Architectural Intelligence, and Land of Diversity.

Yang Zhao

Magoola is the Founder and Managing Director of Dei BioPharma, the pharmaceutical and biotech firm, currently developing a vaccines and drugs manufacturing plant in Mattuga, in the outskirts of near Kampala.

This invention utilizes a novel composition of guided RNA attached to the Cas9 protein. This complex targets and disrupts mutated genes responsible for cancer, preventing their repair and ultimately killing the cancerous cells.

While the foundational CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which allows for precise gene editing, earned Professors Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Magoola’s invention takes this technology a crucial step further.

Instead of allowing the cell to repair the disrupted gene, his method prevents this repair, leading to the targeted destruction of cancer cells.

Unlike existing FDA-approved gene editing products, Magoola’s invention is specifically designed to treat cancer by disrupting the mutated genes. Critically, it targets only cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed.

This specificity offers the potential to treat all types of cancer, regardless of stage, and eliminates the debilitating side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy, antibody therapy, and radiation.

Following the patent publication, Magoola has been requested to submit an approval plan to the US FDA in March 2025, paving the way for clinical trials to begin before the end of 2025.

'All details of the manufacturing of this product have been completed and are ready to go for testing,' Magoola stated in an interview recently.

This ground-breaking treatment holds immense promise, and represents a USD 300 billion market. Its simplicity will make it accessible globally, including in developing countries, at a minimal cost.

This is particularly significant considering the projected global cancer burden of 35 million cases annually by 2030. Magoola emphasizes that this invention is a humanitarian contribution aimed at eradicating cancer worldwide.

This achievement follows another recent milestone for Magoola and Dei BioPharma. On January 7, 2025, the USPTO accepted their application for a patent on the world’s first universal vaccine against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

This invention is a humanitarian contribution aimed at eradicating cancer worldwide, according to Dr. Magoola.

Magoola is the Founder and Managing Director of Dei BioPharma, the pharmaceutical and biotech firm in Uganda.

Sam K Nkurunziza

Despite repeated denials from the DRC government, the truth has gradually emerged. What was once concealed is now undeniable—the world has witnessed it unfold.

Recently, 288 mercenaries engaged by the DRC government were defeated in battle and granted safe passage through Rwanda to return to their home country, Romania.

The presence of foreign fighters in the conflict had long been suspected. Reports first surfaced in early 2023, alleging that the Congolese government was relying on mercenaries to combat M23. While Rwanda repeatedly pointed to this, Kinshasa dismissed the claims as propaganda.

At the time, residents of Goma reported seeing armed foreigners lodged at Hotel Mbiza. Many suspected they were members of Wagner, the infamous Russian mercenary group.

Curious about the allegations, IGIHE posed the question to Russia’s former ambassador to Rwanda, Karen Chalyan. He denied Wagner’s presence in the DRC but admitted hearing that the mercenaries came from Eastern Europe.

“I wish I had Rwf1000 for every time I’ve had to answer this question. Then, instead of doing international relations, I would be a very rich man spending his days in the world’s fanciest casinos.

“Let me say once again: there are no Wagner personnel in the DRC. And, to preempt another question, no agents of the Russian government are involved in any advisory capacity in eastern DRC—much less fighting,” the ambassador stated.

Three years later, it is no longer a rumour. IGIHE recently visited Goma and the very building where these mercenaries had stayed. The visit came after their surrender and evacuation through Rwanda.

At 6 AM on January 29, 2025, we arrived at the La Corniche border post between Rwanda and the DRC, expecting the mercenaries to be handed over by 10 AM. We waited for hours, only to learn that after surrendering to MONUSCO, negotiations were still ongoing.

M23 wanted them to leave the DRC in full military gear since they had been combatants, but the mercenaries refused.

The mercenaries were granted safe passage through Rwanda to return home from Goma on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

At 3 PM, they crossed into Rwandan territory. Each one was thoroughly searched before being transported to Kigali, where they were later flown back to Romania.

Some of them wore United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) caps, raising questions about how a UN agency could allow such individuals to use its insignia.

This further reinforced allegations that during their time in the DRC, they were shielded by MONUSCO forces and even collaborated with them.

All of the mercenaries worked for Asociatia RALF, which UN experts identify as a Romanian enterprise composed of former Romanian soldiers from the French Foreign Legion.

All of them worked for Asociatia RALF, a Romanian private military company that recruits Romanian veterans of the French Foreign Legion.

They were reportedly paid around $5,000 per month—while regular Congolese soldiers earn as little as $100 or sometimes go unpaid. Their contracts stipulated an “indefinite period” of service, with a one-month break after every three months of deployment.

One recruit disclosed, “I am a fitness trainer by profession. I was in charge of the physical training of Congolese soldiers, preparing them for the battlefield.”

Another told us at the border that he had been in Goma for only two weeks after arriving from Tunisia. He even showed us his passport.

In Goma, they were housed in Quartier Les Volcans in a luxurious four-story apartment—one of the finest in the area. Inside, we found documents detailing their military strategy against M23, revealing plans to engage on multiple fronts.

Asociatia RALF is believed to operate across Africa, with contracts mentioning several “operational locations,” including Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Guinea.

The presence of mercenaries in the DRC is not new. Between 1960 and 1965, the country became a battleground for foreign fighters.

One of the most infamous was Thomas Michael Hoare, who, along with his “4 Commando” unit, fought alongside Moïse Tshombe in Katanga’s secession war, serving Belgian interests.

In 1964, he returned to Congo as a military leader for Tshombe, commanding 300 South African fighters under the unit known as “Wild Geese.”

Meanwhile, in Kisangani, Pierre Mulele’s Simba rebels had taken 1,600 hostages, including European missionaries.

With the help of Belgian paratroopers, Cuban pilots, and CIA-backed mercenaries, Hoare defeated the Simba rebels in what became known as “Operation Dragon Rouge.”

Hoare often claimed that wars could be won even with a choir of church singers.

On July 7, 1967, Belgian mercenary Jean Schramme and his 120-man unit, alongside 2,500 Katangan fighters, took control of Bukavu, declaring the region an independent state—the “État des Volontaires Étrangers” (EVE).

Schramme aimed to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko’s government and avenge the deaths of Patrice Lumumba and Pierre Mulele. However, his rebellion lasted only four months before being crushed.

Another notorious mercenary, Frenchman Bob Denard, first appeared in the DRC in 1961 to support Tshombe’s coup attempt against Mobutu.

Bob Denard in 1995.

He returned in 1964, this time fighting for Mobutu’s government alongside European and Katangan mercenaries.

Even revolutionary icon Che Guevara once set foot in Congo, reportedly seeking to expand his movement from Argentina.

The involvement of foreign fighters has continued into the modern era.

In June 2011, then-President Joseph Kabila hired DynCorp, a U.S.-based private military contractor known for deploying mercenaries to Iraq and Afghanistan. Kabila paid $17 million to train the Congolese army (FARDC).

Yet, history has shown that mercenaries have never brought lasting peace to the DRC. Instead, they have left behind devastation, plunder, and further instability.

IGIHE

Facilitated by Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation (PSF), the visit seeks to explore potential areas of collaboration between the two nations.

During their stay, the Saudi delegation will hold meetings with senior government officials and representatives from Rwanda’s private sector.

“The visit also aims to increase trade between Saudi Arabia and Rwanda, highlighting the existence of numerous investment opportunities that will be unveiled,” PSF said in a statement on Wednesday.

The delegation’s visit signals growing interest from Saudi investors in Rwanda’s rapidly expanding economy and business-friendly environment.

Rwanda continues to position itself as a prime investment destination, with strategic policies designed to attract foreign direct investment and drive sustainable economic growth.

Rwanda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have maintained strong cooperation in health, education, energy, and infrastructure development. Additional opportunities for collaboration exist in technology, finance, tourism, trade, and investment.

Facilitated by Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation (PSF), the visit seeks to explore potential areas of collaboration between the two nations.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the country would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas fails to meet the deadline, without specifying the number of hostages to be released.

The Israeli military also confirmed that it was deploying additional troops to the southern region near Gaza, including the mobilization of reservists.

Under the ceasefire deal with Hamas that took effect on Jan. 19, Hamas is to set free three more hostages on Saturday. Earlier this week, the group said that it was suspending the handover, citing what it claimed were Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

Hamas’ decision prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to suggest that Israel cancel the agreement entirely, saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would “let hell break out.”

Concerns over the ceasefire’s collapse grow as there is increasing outrage in the Arab world over Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, Jordanian King Abdullah II discussed “dangerous developments” in Gaza and the West Bank in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The phone call came one day after the Jordanian king met with Trump in Washington, where he reiterated his country’s “steadfast position” against Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.

Israel has mobilized military reservists in preparation for a potential resumption of military offensive in Gaza in case Hamas fails to release additional hostages by a Saturday deadline.

Xinhua