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The soldiers, who were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), sustained severe injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group in the battle to capture Goma and Sake.

A total of 194 wounded troops were evacuated from Goma to Rubavu, Rwanda, on Monday before being escorted to Kigali International Airport for repatriation.

Among them, 129 were from the Republic of South Africa Battalion, 40 from the Malawi Battalion, and 25 from the Tanzania Battalion.

Some of the wounded soldiers, who suffered life-altering injuries, were confined to wheelchairs, having lost their legs in battle. Others bore signs of grenade injuries, with reports of a young soldier losing his eyesight.

The SANDF said it is working with other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of its remaining wounded personnel during the course of the week.

“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirms that the group of critically injured soldiers who needed urgent medical attention have been successfully repatriated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and will receive high-level medical care. The remainder are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the course of the week,” SANDF said in its statement.

Reports indicate discussions over the soldiers’ repatriation had been ongoing for two weeks, with the United Nations mediating talks with M23 rebels, who have long demanded the withdrawal of SADC forces. Delays in the evacuation process raised concerns, as soldiers endured worsening conditions at the Sake military base.

The evacuation follows mounting calls for South Africa to withdraw from the mission, with 18 SAMIDRC troops killed in recent confrontations, including 14 from South Africa.

The deaths of two Malawian and two Tanzanian soldiers in battles around Sake and Goma have further fueled debates over the future of the SADC mission in the DRC.

Pressure is now mounting on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw troops, with Parliament questioning the justification for the country’s involvement in the conflict. Critics argue that the deployment has placed South African soldiers in unnecessary danger, sacrificing lives in a foreign conflict driven by private interests.

The soldiers who were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) sustained severe injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group during the battle for Goma and Sake.

The injured soldiers were transported to Kigali International Airport on Monday evening.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

According to a report by The New York Times, Tshisekedi, whose government has struggled to retain control over territories recently overtaken by the M23, is negotiating trade agreements for the DRC’s prized minerals.

The Congolese head of state’s goal is to leverage the natural resources—among the most abundant in the world—to garner assistance from Western powers, hoping they will apply more pressure on Rwanda, which he accuses of backing the M23 rebels. Rwanda has repeatedly denied the claims.

The DRC is rich in minerals, including cobalt, copper, diamonds, and gold, and has vast untapped resources valued at an estimated $24 trillion. Cobalt, in particular, plays a crucial role in global supply chains, as the DRC provides about 60% of the world’s cobalt reserves.

Tshisekedi’s offer aims to entice the U.S. and European countries into becoming more involved in the region, with the hope of tipping the scale in the DRC’s favour in its battle against M23 in the wake of the capture of Bukavu and Goma, key cities in eastern Congo.

Tshisekedi’s negotiations come at a time when China has made significant inroads into the DRC’s mining sector, with many of the country’s mineral resources controlled by foreign entities.

This has fueled ongoing tensions, as the local population continues to live in poverty despite the wealth generated from mining activities. Congo’s mineral wealth has often been siphoned off by foreign companies, with only a fraction of the proceeds benefiting the Congolese people.

The DRC’s mineral wealth has long been a point of contention, especially regarding Rwanda’s alleged role in supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Tshisekedi has repeatedly made.

Rwanda, for its part, denies involvement, and M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka has refuted Tshisekedi’s assertion that the group is motivated by the DRC’s mineral resources.

In past media statements, Kanyuka stated that M23’s struggle is not for control of valuable land but for survival, accusing Kinshasa of oppressing ethnic groups, particularly the Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the east, and denying them recognition as true Congolese citizens.

Meanwhile, reports of Tshisekedi’s latest overtures come just days after the U.S. government imposed sanctions on General (rtd) James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accusing him of facilitating connections between Rwanda and M23.

The Rwandan government strongly condemned the sanctions, terming them “unjustified” and counterproductive to regional peace efforts.

'The sanctions are unjustified. The international community should support, not undermine, ongoing regional efforts toward a political solution. If sanctions could resolve the conflict in eastern DRC, we would have had peace in the region decades ago,' Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said.

Rwanda has consistently argued that the crisis in eastern Congo is rooted in deeper historical and governance issues that require political solutions rather than external pressure.

President Félix Tshisekedi, whose government has struggled to retain control over territories recently overtaken by the M23, is negotiating trade agreements for the DRC’s prized minerals.

IGIHE

Speaking at the second edition of the Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali on Tuesday, February 25, the Head of State highlighted the need for a secure and regulated environment to not only attract investment but also enhance financial inclusion and build resilience in Africa’s rapidly evolving financial sector.

In his keynote address, Kagame noted that Africa’s young, tech-savvy population presents a unique opportunity for innovation in the financial sector.

“Indeed, with our continent’s young and tech-savvy population, Africa can compete with the rest of the world and successfully innovate,” he said.

“FinTechs continue to dominate, with the number of companies tripling in recent years. These enterprises are fundamentally shaping our financial services sector, especially with mobile money and remittance services.”

The president pointed out that regulations must evolve to keep up with this rapid growth, particularly to address challenges like cybercrime and fraud.

“We need a harmonized regulatory landscape, and we must come together to combat cybercrime and fraud,” President Kagame remarked.

He also called for closer cooperation between public and private sectors to unlock opportunities through innovation.

“We can unlock many more opportunities through public-private partnerships and by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence,” he added.

The Head of State also discussed the need for Africa to develop its own regulatory frameworks and infrastructure, highlighting Rwanda’s commitment to digital infrastructure and skills development as key drivers of the country’s economic progress.

“Moving forward, creating an enabling environment for business and skills development should be our number one priority,” he said.

Kagame also addressed challenges facing Africa, including the growing brain drain of skilled professionals and financial exclusion, particularly among women in the informal economy. He argued that the continent must take ownership of its own development, rather than relying on external support.

'Taking ownership of our development is not something we can ask others to do for us. Business founders also need to do their part and gain the confidence of investors,' Kagame said.

The three-day Inclusive FinTech Forum brings together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, providing a platform to explore solutions for the continent’s economic challenges through digital finance.

Among the attendees was Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade, Industry, Culture, Community, and Youth in Singapore.

In his remarks, the minister celebrated the longstanding relationship between Rwanda and Singapore as the two countries mark 20 years of diplomatic ties.

He praised Rwanda’s rapid development in recent years, expressing his pleasure at seeing Rwanda becoming the “Singapore of Africa.”

“We admire and respect Rwanda for your resilience and outstanding achievements in economic and technological development,” the minister remarked.

Singapore is highly regarded for its exceptional development, driven by strong governance, strategic economic diversification, and world-class infrastructure. Under visionary leadership, particularly that of Lee Kuan Yew, the country transformed from a small port city into a global financial hub, maintaining one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, valued at 501.4 billion USD as of 2023.

Speaking at the second edition of the Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali on Tuesday, February 25, the Head of State highlighted the need for a secure and regulated environment to not only attract investment but also enhance financial inclusion and build resilience in Africa’s rapidly evolving financial sector.

The Inclusive FinTech Forum brings together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, providing a platform to explore solutions for the continent’s economic challenges through digital finance.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Speaking in Port Sudan, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin announced plans to escalate actions, accusing Kenya of hostility.

According to reports, Hussein mentioned submitting a memorandum to the African Union and imposing economic sanctions, including a ban on Kenyan tea imports.

Sudan criticizes Kenya for hosting the RSF’s signing of the Sudan Founding Charter, which aims to establish a parallel government. Hussein condemned this as interference and a violation of international agreements.

Since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF began in April 2023, it has claimed at least 29,683 lives by the end of 2024, according to crisis monitoring reports.

IGIHE

The resolution passed with 10 votes in favor, none against, and five abstentions, including France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia.

Reaffirming the UN’s mission to maintain global peace and resolve conflicts, the resolution calls for an immediate end to hostilities and mourns lives lost without assigning blame to Russia.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea emphasized that while the resolution is not a “peace deal,” it provides “a path to peace.”

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that peace must be “just, sustainable, and comprehensive.”

Earlier, the UN General Assembly rejected the U.S. draft and instead approved a resolution submitted by Ukraine and European allies, reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while advocating for a just and lasting peace.

UN Security Council resolutions are legally binding under international law.

The war between Russia and Ukraine erupted three years ago.

IGIHE

Chi-Man Kwan was received by President Kagame on February 24, 2025.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, Kwan is in Rwanda to attend the Inclusive Fintech Forum, an international conference on financial technology, taking place from February 24 to 26, 2025.

President Kagame is expected to officially open the IFF conference on February 25, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Center, where leaders from different sectors around the world will be in attendance.

This forum is organized by the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) in collaboration with Elevandi, a company specializing in financial technology, and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). The partnership aims to establish the forum as a key platform for global financial technology solutions.

According to the 2024 FinSope report, financial services in Rwanda reach 96% of the population, with 86% of them accessing these services through mobile phones.

Insights gathered from the more than 3,000 participants attending this forum will help shape discussions at major global conferences, including the Singapore FinTech Festival, Japan FinTech Festival, 3i Summit, and Point Zero Forum.

Raffles Family Office is one of the leading firms in Southeast Asia, providing wealth management and advisory services to high-net-worth families. The firm manages assets worth billions of US dollars.

On the same day, President Kagame also met with Benjamin Fernandes, CEO of NALA; Marlon Chigwende, Founder of Admaius Capital Partners; Madhusudanan Madhu, Co-Founder of M2P; Parag Bhise, CEO of Nucleus Software, and Prajit Nanu, CEO of Nium. The CEOs are in Rwanda for the Inclusive FinTech Forum.

Their discussions revolved around the growing FinTech sector in Rwanda and the various opportunities for partnerships offered by the ease of doing of business in Rwanda.

President Kagame has received Chi-Man Kwan with whom they discussed investment opportunities in Rwanda.

Chi-Man Kwan was received at Urugwiro Village along with his delegation.

IGIHE

This initiative is a collaboration between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to a statement released late Monday.

The two regional blocs have selected former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to lead their joint peace process in the DRC.

This appointment follows a joint summit held on February 8, where the EAC and SADC proposed merging the Nairobi Process, an EAC-led mediation effort led by Kenyatta, with the Luanda Process, a separate peace initiative facilitated by Angolan President João Lourenço under the African Union.

Both peace processes have encountered obstacles. The Nairobi Process has reportedly reached an “impasse,” according to Kenyatta’s spokesperson, Kanze Dena. Meanwhile, a peace summit under the Luanda Process was abruptly canceled in late December.

As part of their renewed efforts, the EAC and SADC have scheduled a ministerial meeting for February 28.

The M23 rebels have taken control of multiple towns, including Goma and Bukavu, the capital cities of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, respectively.

The eastern DRC remains a battleground for various armed groups. This renewed mediation effort signals a fresh attempt to bring stability to the region, though the success of the initiative will depend on cooperation from all parties involved.

Reports indicate that calm has been restored in all areas captured by the M23 rebel group, which disclosed intentions to continue fighting for the Liberation of DR Congo, shall Kinshasa maintain reluctance on direct negotiations.

former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is among appointed facilitators.

IGIHE

The petition claims Musk is supporting a foreign government that threatens Canada’s sovereignty.
The petition was initiated by British Columbia writer Qualia Reed and was sponsored by New Democratic Party member Charlie Angus.

It accuses Musk of acting against Canada’s national interests by advising Trump, who has repeatedly suggested annexing Canada during his second term.

Musk, born in South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who is from Regina, Saskatchewan. Despite leading U.S. companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), Musk faces criticism for supporting Trump’s push to reduce the U.S. federal government’s size.

Under Canadian parliamentary rules, petitions require at least 500 signatures to be considered. Reed’s petition has far exceeded this, collecting approximately 167,000 signatures by Monday.

The petition asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to revoke Musk’s citizenship immediately. The House of Commons will resume on March 24 unless a general election is called beforehand. The petition remains open for signatures until June 20.

Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration has led to significant budget cuts across U.S. federal agencies, affecting thousands of public employees.

Despite criticism, Musk recently appeared at a conservative event in Maryland, where he playfully waved a large chainsaw. On social media, he continues to express support for Trump’s policies.

Elon Musk is under fire from Canadians who want his citizenship revoked.

IGIHE

The 29-year-old Lawal was reportedly heading to the club’s training ground at St. Mary’s Stadium in Entebbe, Central Region of Uganda, but got involved in an accident on Entebbe Road that claimed his life.

Abdul Wasike, the Vipers SC head of communications confirmed the sad news on Monday. 'It is a sad day as we communicate the death of our player Lawal. We are still trying to gather more information about the accident,' said Wasike.

The Nigerian forward, who played a pivotal part for SC Vipers, joined the club in 2022 from Rwanda Premier League side AS Kigali.

He previously played in the Nigerian Premier League with Kano Pillars FC, Wikki Tourists FC and FC Nasarawa.

Lawal was part of the AS Kigali side that won the 2022 Super Cup.

Lawal got involved in an accident on Entebbe Road that claimed his life.

The 29-year-old Lawal was reportedly heading to the club’s training ground at St. Mary’s Stadium in Entebbe.

He previously played in the Nigerian Premier League with Kano Pillars FC, Wikki Tourists FC and FC Nasarawa.

IGIHE

The soldiers sustained injuries in recent clashes with the M23 rebel group and were evacuated on medical grounds to receive specialized care in their home countries.

The evacuees include 129 soldiers from the Republic of South Africa Battalion, 40 from the Malawi Battalion, and 25 from the Tanzania Battalion.

They arrived at the Rwandan border at around 1:00 p.m., where they were first searched by security officials before proceeding to have their passports stamped at the immigration office. They remained at the border in Rubavu until the evening, finally departing from the city at around 6:30 p.m. to head toward Kigali.

Some of the soldiers were confined to wheelchairs, having lost their legs in the intense battles they fought. Some were dressed in military uniforms, while others wore civilian clothes.

They were escorted from the La Corniche One-Stop Border Post to Kigali International Airport by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Military Police.

The repatriation follows increasing pressure for the SADC mission to withdraw after 18 soldiers, including 14 from South Africa, were killed in clashes with M23 rebels.

The M23 fighters overpowered the Congolese army and the mission’s forces, capturing Goma and surrounding the remaining troops.

The deadly confrontation also resulted in the deaths of two Malawian and two Tanzanian soldiers during skirmishes in Sake and Goma, North Kivu Province.

Reports of the soldiers’ planned departure from Goma first emerged on Friday. However, the process was delayed at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.

For two weeks, discussions had been ongoing regarding their return, with the United Nations mediating talks with M23 rebels, who have long demanded the withdrawal of SADC forces from the DRC.

Among the injured soldiers, one has reportedly suffered a severe disability, losing both legs. Another, a young soldier, lost his eyesight during the war.

Several others sustained grenade injuries, which led to further complications due to the harsh living conditions they endured at the Sake military base. Reports indicate that among the soldiers, two women are expectant.

The repatriation comes even as South Africa’s Parliament continues to press President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw troops, criticizing the deployment as sacrificing soldiers in a foreign conflict for private interests.

The mounting losses have intensified debates over the country’s continued military involvement in the DRC.

The soldiers were transported in these vehicles from the La Corniche One-Stop Border Post to Kigali International Airport on Monday. They were at the border in the morning hours ahead of the exercise.

Emergency response teams from the Red Cross were also at the border early Monday morning.

The injured soldiers were transported to Kigali International Airport on Monday evening.

IGIHE