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The ceremony was held on January 7, 2026, at the RWABG VII Base Camp in Bria, Sector East, Haute‑Kotto prefecture under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

The medals were presented to personnel from Rwanda Battle Group VII (RWABG VII) and the Rwanda Level II+ Hospital (RWAMED X).

The ceremony was presided over by the MINUSCA Deputy Force Commander, Major General Maychel Asmi, who commended the Rwandan contingents for their professionalism, discipline, and operational effectiveness.

He particularly highlighted their vital role in supporting the electoral process, in line with MINUSCA’s mandate.

Major General Asmi praised RWABG VII for its sustained efforts in securing the Bria, Ouadda, and Sam-Ouandja areas, and commended RWAMED X for providing critical medical services to both United Nations personnel and the local population.

In his remarks, Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ntagara, Contingent Commander of Rwanda Battle Group VII, described the medal parade as one of the highest honours in a military career. He noted that the recognition serves as strong motivation for continued commitment to the mission’s objectives and mandate.

Similarly, Colonel Dr. Simon R. Nyagasaza, Commander of RWAMED X, highlighted the achievements of the Rwandan level 2+ hospital over the past year since their deployment in January 2025. He said that RWAMED X has provided medical services to MINUSCA personnel and local civilians that contributed to the achievement of their mandate.

The United Nations service medals recognize peacekeepers who have completed their tour of duty with distinction, reflecting discipline, courage, and unwavering dedication to the mission.

Rwandan peacekeepers deployed in Bria, Central African Republic (CAR), have been honoured with United Nations service medals in recognition of their dedicated service and commitment to peace and stability in the conflict‑affected country.

Rania Umutoni

The call came at a sensitive moment in the U.S.-Colombia relations, which have been strained over a series of disputes, including disagreements on drug policy and recent U.S. military action in the region. Trump recently called Colombia a “sick man” and suggested military action in the country “sounds good to me.”

According to a Colombian official familiar with the exchange, the leaders discussed issues related to drug trafficking and other disagreements, and both sides considered the dialogue a '180‑degree change' in rhetoric compared with previous statements.

President Trump confirmed the call and described it as 'friendly,' even as tensions had escalated recently with sharp public criticism and accusations traded between the two leaders. Trump’s administration previously accused Petro of failing to control drug production and trafficking, and at times used harsh language in public about Colombia’s leadership.

Petro, who is Colombia’s first left‑leaning president in decades, has also been an outspoken critic of some U.S. policies, particularly military actions in neighbouring Venezuela. He condemned what he described as a violation of regional sovereignty and sharply criticized U.S. military involvement.

Despite the earlier tensions, both Trump and Petro expressed satisfaction with the tone of Wednesday’s call. The leaders agreed that diplomatic engagement was a priority and indicated plans to continue discussions and cooperation, including potentially meeting in Washington in the near future to address shared challenges.

The diplomatic shift comes as both countries face pressure to maintain cooperation on issues such as drug trafficking, regional security, and economic ties. Colombia has historically been a key ally of the United States, particularly in efforts to combat drug cartels and organized crime, and the renewed conversation suggests both governments are seeking to manage tensions and strengthen collaboration.

Analysts note that while the phone call represents a positive sign of diplomatic dialogue, significant issues remain unresolved. Both sides are expected to continue negotiations to find common ground on security concerns and policy differences that have previously driven a wedge between the two nations.

President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday in what both sides described as a positive and constructive conversation, signalling a potential thaw in relations after months of rising diplomatic tensions between the United States and Colombia.

Rania Umutoni

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S State Department said Washington is 'deeply concerned' by reports that the Federal Government of Somalia authorities demolished a WFP warehouse at Mogadishu port and seized 76 metric tons of food aid. The assistance was funded by U.S. donors and earmarked for some of Somalia’s most at-risk populations.

'The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,' the statement said, stressing the seriousness with which the U.S. views the alleged actions.

The State Department said any resumption of aid will depend on Somalia’s leadership taking accountability for what Washington described as 'unacceptable actions' and implementing appropriate remedial steps.

According to a WFP spokesperson cited by media reports, the demolished warehouse was located at Mogadishu port and had been used to store specialised nutritious foods. The supplies were intended for the treatment of malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as girls and children, groups particularly vulnerable amid Somalia’s prolonged humanitarian crisis.

'The warehouse is crucial for WFP’s emergency operations at a moment when almost a quarter of the population, about 4.4 million people, are facing crisis levels of hunger or worse in Somalia,' the spokesperson said.

The WFP added that it is actively engaging with authorities and partners to address the situation and mitigate the impact on ongoing relief efforts.

Somalia has faced recurring droughts, conflict, and economic instability for decades, leaving millions dependent on international humanitarian assistance. The latest incident raises concerns that disruptions to aid operations could further worsen conditions for civilians already struggling with food insecurity.

U.S. officials have not specified how long the pause in assistance will last, but emphasised that future cooperation hinges on transparency, accountability, and assurances that humanitarian aid reaches its intended recipients.

Somalis queue for World Food Programme aid in Mogadishu in 2011. On January 7, 2026, the U.S. halted assistance to Somalia over alleged seizure of WFP food.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The figures, based on records from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), show that 4,219 women underwent the procedure in 2024 alone, reflecting a steady increase in uptake over the past five years.

Family planning trends in Rwanda

Family planning use in Rwanda continues to rise, with the number of continuing users increasing from 1.57 million in 2019 to 2.06 million by the end of December 2024. Over the same period, hundreds of thousands of new users joined family planning programs each year, highlighting sustained demand for reproductive health services.

Among modern contraceptive methods, implants remain the most popular, with 879,113 continuing users by the end of 2024, up from 571,510 in 2019. In 2024 alone, 212,974 women newly adopted implants, making it the leading method both in uptake and total use.

Injectable contraceptives, mainly Depo-Provera and Noristerat, rank second, with 671,008 continuing users at the end of 2024, including 180,182 new users during the year. Oral contraceptive pills recorded 348,291 continuing users, with 141,205 new users added during the year.

The use of hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) also increased, reaching 51,630 continuing users, including 11,990 new users in 2024. Despite the dominance of modern methods, 25,705 people still rely on traditional family planning approaches, such as cycle beads, lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), and auto-observation, which do not require medical procedures or pharmaceutical products.

Women embrace permanent contraception

The number of women opting for tubal ligation has risen sharply over time in Rwanda. Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure in which a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked, tied, or cut to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus, thereby eliminating the possibility of fertilisation.

Records show 14,456 continuing users in 2019, increasing to 18,350 in 2020, 20,904 in 2021, 26,285 in 2022, 31,439 in 2023, and finally 35,105 by the end of 2024. This consistent growth suggests increasing acceptance of long-term reproductive decisions, particularly among women who have completed their desired family size.

Low male Participation in permanent contraception

Meanwhile, male involvement in permanent family planning remains limited. By the end of 2024, only 4,432 men had undergone vasectomy, with only 121 procedures recorded during the year. Vasectomy remains the only permanent family planning method available to men and involves blocking the ducts that carry sperm from the testes, preventing fertilisation.

Family planning remains a cornerstone of Rwanda’s strategy to manage population growth, reduce poverty, and improve health outcomes. NISR data show that Rwanda’s population growth rate stood at 2.3% between 2012 and 2022, and projections indicate the population could rise from just over 14.1 million today to more than 22 million by 2050, while the country’s land area remains unchanged.

The average fertility rate for Rwandan women is estimated at 3.6 children per woman, which is significantly higher than the global average fertility rate of 2.3 children per woman. This underscores the importance of sustained investment in reproductive health services.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Among the fresh graduates, 15 specialized in e-commerce, while the remaining 15 pursued electrical automation technology under a program that allowed them to complete two years’ foundational training at RP-Musanze College before spending their final year in China.

For Aimable Tuyishime, a 23-year-old graduate in e-commerce, the year in China was a life-changing experience. “I spent almost a year in China, and now I am back to implement what I studied there,” he said in an interview with Xinhua.

Tuyishime described China’s e-commerce sector as “highly developed,” adding that the teaching approach is strongly practical rather than theoretical.

“We studied all aspects of e-commerce and improved our skills through hands-on experience,” Tuyishime said, adding that the study enabled him to gain extensive, real-world exposure to e-commerce in one of the world’s most advanced digital markets.

During their studies, students interacted with major Chinese e-commerce companies such as Alibaba and regularly used platforms like Pinduoduo, Taobao, and JD.com for online shopping.

Inspired by this experience, Tuyishime is already working toward launching his own e-commerce platform in Rwanda. Together with friends and team members, he is developing a website and application designed to offer Rwandans a similar online shopping experience.

A view of Kigali city in Rwanda.

“This is the right time to put all the skills and experience I gained into practice,” he said, adding that he hopes the platform will have a positive impact on Rwanda’s economy.

Protais Muhire, a graduate in electrical automation technology, also described the year in China as a turning point, saying the exposure to advanced equipment and technologies significantly strengthened his skills.

“In China, I studied programmable logic controller (PLC) programming, robotics, hydraulic and pneumatic systems,” he said.

Muhire highlighted the abundance of training equipment at JUVT, which allowed students from Rwanda to engage deeply in practical work. “We had access to many machines, PLCs, robots, pneumatic and hydraulic components, which helped us apply what we learned in real situations.”

Muhire’s cohort also achieved international recognition. While in China, he, together with other Rwandan and Chinese students, won the Excellence Award at the 2025 World Vocational College Skills Competition Championship Finals.

“This achievement showed us that what we study can be applied in practice and can help our community,” he said, adding that the training received in China is highly relevant to Rwanda’s context, especially as local industries increasingly adopt modern technologies to improve productivity.

Looking ahead, Muhire plans to use his skills to contribute to Rwanda’s industrial development. “Industries are moving from old systems to new automated systems. I want to help upgrade industrial processes using automation technologies like PLCs and robotics,” he said.

Speaking to Xinhua, Qian Xiangming, dean of Musanze International College at JUVT, said that under this program, Rwanda has sent 60 students to JUVT for advanced studies for two consecutive years and the feedback from local employers has been very positive.

“Through this program, we aim to cultivate outstanding local talent, support employment, and enhance the quality and efficiency of vocational education in Rwanda,” he said, adding that the initiative ultimately supports national industrial upgrading and development.

Emile Abayisenga, principal of RP-Musanze College, described the graduation as a moment of pride. “This achievement reflects the strength of international collaboration, industry-driven training, and practical, future-oriented education,” he said.

The skills acquired by the graduates align closely with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy, Abayisenga added.

Qian Xiangming (2nd L), dean of Musanze International College at Jinhua University of Vocational Technology (JUVT), provides employment guidance to Rwandan graduates at a Chinese-funded enterprise in Eastern Province, Rwanda, January 5, 2026.

Xinhua

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, speaking on a state-run television station, said the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife are unknown, asking for proof they are alive.

The U.S. military action against the South American nation has drawn widespread international condemnation, with multiple countries calling for a coordinated global response.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A Xinhua correspondent based in Caracas reported early Saturday morning that low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds in the Venezuelan capital.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital, with residents seen fleeing in the streets.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

According to media reports, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had banned U.S. commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activity” shortly before the explosions were reported.

Hours after the incident, CBS White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs said that U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered the strikes, citing U.S. officials. FOX News also reported that U.S. officials had confirmed the military action.

Following the attacks, Venezuela condemned the incident as “military aggression” by the United States. The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the United Nations Charter.

Later in the day, Trump in a Truth Social post that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said in the post.

For months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, much of it off Venezuela’s coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking — a claim Venezuela has denounced as an attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas.

WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations on the attack in Venezuela. “Caracas is currently being bombed … Venezuela has been attacked,” he wrote on social media platform X.

On the same day, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned what he described as the “criminal U.S. attack” against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president said that the Latin American region was being brutally assaulted, and “this is state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.”

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States committed “an act of armed aggression” against Venezuela, which causes deep concern and condemnation.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, said the U.S. military operation against Venezuela has no legitimate basis as the South American country has posed no threat to the United States.

Kosachev stressed that the international order should be based on international law rather than on so-called rules imposed by individual countries. He said international law has clearly been violated, adding that “an order established in this manner must not prevail.”

Kosachev also said he believed that most countries would firmly distance themselves from the attack on Venezuela and condemn it.

Also on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the U.S. military attack against Venezuela as a “flagrant violation” of the Latin American state’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It said the U.S. military attack against Venezuela was an “act of aggression and in clear violation” of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, which bans the use of force against sovereign states.

It called on the United Nations as well as all governments caring about the rule of law and international peace and security to immediately and explicitly condemn the U.S. attack.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry on Saturday also said that Spain calls for a deescalation as well as moderation and respect for international law in Venezuela.

Xinhua

The U.S. attack on Venezuela and its so-called “management plan,” as analysts observed, is in essence a testament to its scheme to expand the “Donroe Doctrine,” a Trump-modified version of the Monroe Doctrine aimed at controlling the Western Hemisphere and plundering its resources.

“RUNNING” OR PLUNDERING VENEZUELA

Trump told a press conference on Saturday that the United States will set up a working group composed of diplomatic and military personnel to “run” Venezuela until “a safe, proper and judicious transition.”

He also threatened that the United States is “not afraid” to have military forces on the ground and will launch a larger second wave of strikes against Venezuela if necessary.

Although the specific plan remains unclear at present, the so-called “running” by the United States is essentially an attempt to conduct substantive intervention in Venezuela through political manipulation and resource control, experts have noted.

Allan Fajardo, a sociologist at the Honduran National Autonomous University, told Xinhua that there are two possibilities for the so-called “transitional management” by the United States.

One is to maintain the current government and institutional framework of Venezuela in form and continue to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs by exerting political and economic pressure.

The other possible method is to foster a pro-American regime directly, without even ruling out the possibility of larger-scale military intervention and occupation of Venezuelan territory in the future, he said.

Trump also mentioned at the press conference that large American oil companies will enter Venezuela to repair severely dilapidated oil infrastructure and start generating revenue.

Cao Ting, director of the Research Center for Latin American Studies at Fudan University, said that judging from the consistent style of the Trump administration, its strategic goal might be to control the oil lifeline within Venezuela by fostering U.S. proxies in the country without engaging in a long-term occupation.

This so-called “running” model is not focused on improving people’s livelihoods or rebuilding the country, but on seizing resources, said Jaime Tamayo, an international relations specialist and political scientist from the University of Guadalajara.

It will lead to the depletion of Venezuela’s governance capacity, the separation of administration and security, the deterioration of public security and the breeding of violence, scholars have said.

POST-MADURO VENEZUELA

According to the Venezuelan Constitution, if the president is “absolutely absent,” power will be transferred to the vice president and a general election will be held within 30 days.

However, Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice did not announce that Maduro is “absolutely absent,” although it has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to immediately take over as acting president after Maduro’s capture, which, according to media analyses, suggests that there might be no general election within 30 days.

Experts believe that Rodriguez and her brother are currently important representatives of the left-wing forces, with relatively moderate positions.

In a televised speech on Saturday, Rodriguez took a tough stance toward the United States, condemning its actions as unprecedented military aggression and saying that Venezuela will never become a colony of any country or a slave of any empire, despite Trump’s earlier claim that she has promised to do what the United States wanted.

Tamayo believes that the current left-wing political forces in Venezuela and their social foundation remain relatively stable, making it difficult for the United States to break the country’s existing political pattern in a short time. It may adopt a strategy of provoking division to win over some senior political or military figures in Venezuela.

LATIN AMERICA ON HIGH ALERT

“Today it’s Venezuela, tomorrow it could be anyone else,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said on Saturday, raising alarm across Latin American countries over the hegemonic interference of the United States.

Latin American experts and media outlets believe that the U.S. action against Venezuela aims to create a “chilling effect” to deter the regional countries and is an upgraded version of the “Monroe Doctrine.”

Jose Ignacio Martinez, an international relations specialist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said that Washington is highlighting its overbearing logic to arbitrarily define who can become the president and which is a “legitimate country,” while casually labelling relevant countries and leaders as “terrorists,” “drug dealers,” or “dictators.”

Leaders of Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Honduras and Chile, among others, have publicly condemned the United States and called on the international community to take urgent action.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the U.S. military’s actions as “unacceptable,” saying that they violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and set a dangerous precedent.

The U.S. actions strike at the core of national sovereignty and have raised concerns even among some opposition forces in Venezuela. Under mounting pressure, Latin American countries may seek greater unity and self-reliance to counter hegemony, according to analyses by Latin American media.

Xinhua

According to a statement from the presidency issued by its spokesperson Massere Toure, the decision followed the legislative elections held on Dec. 27, 2025, after which the prime minister submitted his resignation and that of his government to the president.

“The president of the republic on Wednesday, Jan. 7, signed several decrees,” the statement said, noting that the first decree terminated the functions of the prime minister and members of the government.

“Pending the appointment of a new prime minister and new members of the government, the outgoing prime minister and members of the government will be responsible for handling current affairs,” the statement added.

Following the presidential election on Oct. 25, 2025, the legislative elections held on Dec. 27 resulted in Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, the ruling party led by Ouattara, winning a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Xinhua

Speaking to reporters at a daily briefing, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN chief had just concluded a meeting with Venezuelan UN ambassador Samuel Moncada, which lasted about 45 minutes.

“During the meeting, the secretary-general reiterated his publicly-stated position on the U.S. military action in Venezuela,” said Dujarric.

In remarks to the UN Security Council on Monday, delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Guterres said he was “deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted.”

“I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the Jan. 3 military action,” said the UN chief, who also called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive, democratic dialogue in which all sectors of society can determine their future.

In the early hours of Jan. 3, U.S. military forces carried out a series of strikes on Venezuela, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, before putting them in custody in New York, which sparked widespread condemnation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed the availability of his good offices to support a possible inclusive national dialogue in Venezuela

Xinhua

Starting with Trump’s “America First” slogan, the statement said they comprised of 31 UN entities and 35-non UN organizations.

According to the list published on the White House website, most of the targets are UN-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels focusing on climate change, global governance, labor and other issues that the Trump administration has categorized as promoting diversity and “woke” agenda.

The United States will withdraw from UN organizations, including the UN Economic and Social Council’s panels for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia, as well as the International Law Commission, the International Trade Centre, and UN Trade and Development.

Among the non-UN organizations are the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency; as well as the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.

Jan. 20 will mark the first anniversary of Trump’s second presidential term. Since returning to the White House nearly one year ago, Trump has announced plans to quit the World Health Organization, the Paris climate agreement and the UN cultural agency UNESCO. He also cut U.S. funding for the UN, stopped U.S. engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, and extended a suspension of funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social that he is doubting whether NATO would come to the U.S. defense when it is needed, two days after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a U.S. military attack on Greenland could effectively end the military alliance.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum directing his country’s withdrawal from 66 international organizations, which “no longer serve American interests,” the White House announced on X.

IGIHE