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Israeli media revealed Thursday that the Israeli army killed Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas, 'by chance' and during 'routine sweeps,' without relying on intelligence information.

Reports indicated that Sinwar, Israel's top target, was killed during a field confrontation, where he was dressed in full military uniform, contradicting previous Israeli claims that he had been hiding among Israeli prisoners in tunnels for months in tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier Thursday, the army said, in cooperation with the Shin Bet security agency, it carried out dozens of operations in recent months, which restricted Sinwar's movements and eventually led to his death.

It added that a unit from the 828 Brigade spotted and killed three Hamas members during a clash in southern Gaza. After completing DNA tests, it was confirmed that Sinwar was among the dead.

The army said Sinwar was killed Wednesday, but his body was only discovered after the area was searched Thursday.

Although the military did not specify the location of Sinwar's death, Israeli media reports suggested the operation took place in the southern city of Rafah.

'Killed in routine sweeps'

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that a force from the army's Bislach unit was conducting a routine sweep in Rafah, where they suspected that figures were inside a building later found to be booby-trapped.

The report said the unit fired artillery rounds and heavy gunfire at the building, killing three Hamas members without knowing that Sinwar was among them.

After a while, the soldiers began to sweep the building. Two grenades were thrown —one exploded, the other did not, according to the report.

'The troops pulled back and sent a drone, which detected an injured figure, face covered, sitting in a room and attempting to knock the drone out of the air with a stick.'

When soldiers approached the bodies of the Palestinian fighters, they noticed that one of them bore a strong resemblance to Sinwar, according to the newspaper.

The Haaretz newspaper echoed Yedioth Ahronoth's report, stating that Sinwar's death was 'by chance.'

'There was no intelligence indicating Sinwar's presence; what happened was by chance,' it said.

 

Sinwar's belongings

Israel's Channel 12 shared a photo of Sinwar's belongings found after his death, which included prayer beads, two small prayer books, a passport, bullet, small flashlight, mint candy, nail clipper and cash.

There were no Israeli hostages with Sinwar, the channel reported, contradicting claims from Israeli security agencies.

Israeli media aired videos showing Sinwar after his death, dressed in full military uniform.

'Ready for combat'

Israel's official public broadcaster claimed that Sinwar's death followed increased military pressure on Hamas leaders in southern Gaza in recent weeks

The broadcaster alleged that the intensified pressure forced Sinwar to frequently move between locations in southern Gaza, leading him to be ready for a direct confrontation with Israeli forces.

It noted that Sinwar's constant movement explained his readiness for combat, as he was armed and wearing military gear.

Sinwar reportedly engaged Israeli forces from inside a building rigged with explosives, indicating he was ready for a direct confrontation, which contradicted previous intelligence claims that he had surrounded himself with Israeli hostages.

As of 1930 GMT, Hamas had not confirmed or denied the Israeli military's claims regarding Sinwar's death.

Israel's announcement of Sinwar's killing comes more than two months after he was selected as the leader of Hamas' political bureau.

On Aug. 6, Hamas announced that Sinwar was chosen to succeed Ismail Haniyeh as its political chief after Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on July 31, in an attack attributed to Tel Aviv, though Israel has not officially acknowledged responsibility.

Israel views Sinwar as the mastermind behind the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, carried out by Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, against Israeli settlements and military bases near Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.

The attack caused significant human and military losses for Tel Aviv and tarnished the international reputation of its security and intelligence agencies.

As a result, Israel declared that eliminating Sinwar was a top priority in its current war on Gaza.

Earlier, Israel's Channel 12 revealed that Shin Bet had formed a special unit to assassinate Sinwar.

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

More than 42,400 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 99,100 injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of Gaza amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.​​​​​​​

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

The post 'By chance, during routine sweep': Israeli media reveals circumstances of Sinwar's killing appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/by-chance-during-routine-sweep-israeli-media-reveals-circumstances-of-sinwars-killing/

The Texas supreme court has blocked the execution of a man on death row in a late-night ruling on the day of the scheduled lethal injection.

Robert Roberson, 57, was convicted of killing his two-year-old daughter more than two decades ago, but his supporters across the US and the lead detective on the case have insisted he is innocent and that the case rested on junk science.

A committee of more than 80 Texas lawmakers, including at least 30 Republicans, had asked the parole board and governor to stop the execution and had subpoenaed Roberson to testify next week in a last-ditch effort. A judge in Travis county, Texas, blocked the execution late on Thursday afternoon, less than two hours before it was scheduled to take place at the Texas state penitentiary in Huntsville, so Roberson could testify.

The Texas court of criminal appeals overturned that ruling late on Thursday evening, but the lawmakers appealed, and the state supreme court sided with them, issuing an injunction at about 10pm.

Roberson spent hours in a cell by the prison's death chamber as during his case appeal and his execution seemed imminent.

'He was shocked, to say the least,' said the Texas department of criminal justice spokesperson Amanda Hernandez, who spoke with Roberson after the court stayed his execution. 'He praised God and he thanked his supporters. And that's pretty much what he had to say.'

She said Roberson would be returned to the Polunsky unit, about 45 miles (72km) to the east, where the state's male death row is located.

Gretchen Sween, Roberson's lawyer, said he was celebrating the fact that he 'lives to fight another day'.

'The vast team fighting for Robert Roberson — people all across Texas, the country, and the world — are elated tonight that a contingent of brave, bipartisan Texas lawmakers chose to dig deep into the facts of Robert's case that no court had yet considered and recognized that his life was worth fighting for,' Sween said in a statement.

The Texas representatives Joe Moody and Jeff Leach, who orchestrated Roberson's subpoena and have championed his cause, praised the court's decision in a written statement. 'We look forward to welcoming Robert to the Texas capitol, and along with 31 million Texans, finally giving him — and the truth — a chance to be heard,' they wrote.

The case has drawn national outrage as Roberson's lawyers have insisted that no crime occurred and that medical records show his daughter died of pneumonia that progressed to sepsis.

Roberson brought his daughter Nikki Curtis to hospital in Palestine, Texas, on 31 January 2002. He told doctors that she was ill with fever and had fallen from a bed.

Curtis was 'not breathing and had a blue color to her skin', court documents cited by Time said, and was rushed to another hospital in Dallas, Texas. She was pronounced dead and doctors suspected abuse, finding that her injuries were in keeping with symptoms of shaken baby syndrome.

The syndrome is a condition in which a baby or small child is shaken repeatedly, resulting in their brain hitting the inside of their skull. Medics noted that Roberson was unemotional, further stoking abuse suspicions, and on 1 February 2002, authorities charged Roberson with capital murder.

The American Association of Pediatrics said in 2020 that shaken baby syndrome had been 'misinterpreted' by legal and health authorities. A neurosurgeon who helped create the hypothesis has said his work was distorted and that cases have been misdiagnosed. US civilian and military courts have exonerated at least 30 people in shaken baby syndrome cases since 1992, CNN reported.

Roberson's attorneys contend that his case is among the wrongful convictions. They cite medical experts who say Curtis's death stemmed from severe viral and bacterial pneumonia.

They say her dire medical condition worsened when she was given medication that is now considered improper for children. They contend that hospital staff's immediate shaken baby syndrome determination — which they based on brain swelling and bleeding as well as bruises — amounted to misdiagnosis.

Roberson's emotionless comportment was not a sign of culpability but rather due to his autism which was not diagnosed until 2018, his supporters also said. He insisted on his innocence in an interview with CNN.

'It wasn't a crime committed,' Roberson said. 'I was falsely, wrongly convicted of a crime — they said it was a crime, but it wasn't no crime and stuff because I had a sick little girl, you know?'

Roberson received custody of Curtis two months before her death. He did not know about the girl until she was born, CNN said.

Curtis's maternal grandparents had had custody, but they ultimately agreed that he should have custody. Roberson said that he picked up Curtis from her grandparents' house and brought her home.

Roberson said he turned on a movie and that they both fell asleep in the same bed. But Roberson said he woke after hearing Curtis's cries and saw her on the ground.

There was blood on the girl's lips and a bruise below her chin, which Roberson cleaned up. Roberson said that he stayed awake for several hours to make sure the toddler was all right and fell asleep again. In the morning, she was not responsive, CNN quoted him as explaining.

'I carried her to the hospital and stuff, you know,' Roberson told the network. 'I didn't have nothing to hide.'

Roberson's supporters include the Innocence Project, autism advocacy organizations and the celebrated legal novelist John Grisham, CNN notes.

Brian Wharton, the lead detective who testified against Roberson, has said he now believes the prosecution had been based on a fallacy. Last year, he told the Guardian: 'There was no crime scene, no forensic evidence. It was just three words: shaken baby syndrome. Without them, he would be a free man today.'

Roberson's lawyers had petitioned for his sentence to be commuted to a lesser punishment or that he be given a postponement to allow more time for litigating appeals.

But the Texas pardons and parole board on Tuesday failed to recommend that the Republican governor, Greg Abbott, grant clemency, Roberson's lawyers said in a statement. Abbott rarely grants clemency petitions. The US supreme court has rejected Roberson's appeals for a delay, though Justice Sonia Sotomayor has urged the governor to grant a 30-day delay.

In an interview last year, Roberson told the Guardian: 'I hope and pray that God gives them the knowledge for the people to make a righteous decision. I know I didn't do it. I'm not guilty. So I'm at peace with the Lord.'

Ed Pilkington contributed reporting

The post Texas supreme court blocks execution of man in late-night ruling appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/texas-supreme-court-blocks-execution-of-man-in-late-night-ruling/

The global football governing body issued the statement on Friday after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF rejected plans that could allow private investors to acquire a minority stake in a new commercial venture known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The backlash has intensified into one of the biggest governance disputes in recent FIFA history, with confederations representing 143 of FIFA's 211 member associations now opposing the proposal.

UEFA, which represents 55 national associations, warned that none of its member nations would take part in FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeds.

In a strongly worded statement, European football's governing body said the World Cup 'cannot be treated as an investment product' and accused FIFA of developing the proposal without meaningful consultation.

'No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety,' UEFA said.

CONCACAF, which represents 41 member associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal, while the AFC, representing 47 associations, called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance and decision-making processes.

The AFC said proposals of such global significance should be developed through 'transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation and genuine participation.'

FIFA, however, insisted the proposal has been misunderstood and denied suggestions that it was seeking to sell ownership of football's flagship tournaments.

'We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise and would like to address the issues that have surfaced,' FIFA said.

The organisation maintained that FFE is intended to give member associations greater opportunities to benefit from football's commercial growth.

'FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries,' the statement said.

'Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.'

Despite the widespread criticism, FIFA said it would proceed with a consultation process, arguing that all member associations should have the opportunity to examine the proposal before making a decision.

The controversy deepened further after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a former president of the United States Soccer Federation, resigned in protest.

'As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,' Cordeiro said.

'I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for FIFA's Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.'

The proposed commercial venture has reportedly attracted interest from an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, with plans to acquire a minority stake should the project receive approval.

Critics argue that bringing private investors into FIFA competitions would fundamentally change the governance of world football by placing commercial returns ahead of sporting interests. They also fear investor pressure could encourage FIFA to stage larger and more frequent international tournaments, placing additional strain on domestic leagues and players.

With Europe's governing body threatening to boycott FIFA competitions and support for the proposal weakening across multiple confederations, the governing body's plans now face their most significant challenge since they were first revealed.

For now, FIFA insists the consultation process will continue, but the growing resistance suggests any attempt to reshape the commercial future of the World Cup is likely to face a difficult path.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/fifa-says-nobody-is-selling-football-amid-growing-revolt-over-world-cup-stake-sale/

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the incident as 'a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.'

Most of the victims drowned while attempting to swim around the El Tarajal border breakwater separating Morocco and Ceuta, according to the Spanish authorities.

Sanchez traveled to Ceuta on Friday together with Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to inspect the situation. During the visit, he announced new measures to strengthen border security, including the installation of floating barriers near the El Tarajal breakwater to prevent further sea crossings.

He also pledged to accelerate the identification and return of irregular migrants, thanked Morocco for its cooperation in border management and repatriation, and vowed to intensify efforts against human trafficking networks.

The Spanish government has reinforced security in Ceuta by deploying additional National Police officers, Civil Guard personnel and military units, while emergency reception facilities remain under heavy pressure.

The Spanish authorities estimate that around 50,000 migrants have entered Ceuta over the past two days, making it one of the largest irregular migration crises ever recorded on the enclave's border.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/death-toll-reaches-34-as-around-50000-migrants-enter-spains-ceuta-enclave/

For HarakaPlus, a transit-tech startup born in Rwanda, that everyday experience sparked a bigger question about how technology can help people move through cities with greater confidence.

Founded by Millicent Kariuki, CEO and co-founder, alongside Bilen Gebremariam and Germain Rwibutso, HarakaPlus uses real-time bus tracking and passenger-demand data to help commuters plan journeys while giving transport operators insights to improve efficiency.

Since launching its minimum viable product in 2025, the platform has been accessed by nearly 2,000 users, with close to 500 people using it repeatedly each day.

The company's journey from a local idea to being selected among the innovators shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering's Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in 2026 offers lessons for entrepreneurs seeking to turn practical challenges into solutions with wider potential.

Building on Kigali's mobility progress

HarakaPlus emerged in a city that has already invested heavily in improving public transport and advancing its smart city ambitions.

The founders were not seeking to replace existing systems, but to complement them by using data to strengthen the connection between commuters, operators and the services they rely on.

'HarakaPlus was born from a problem that all three of us co-founders have experienced personally. Although we come from different backgrounds and grew up in three different African cities, we all shared one common experience: spending too much time waiting for public transport without knowing when it would arrive,' Kariuki told IGIHE.

'When we moved to Kigali, we saw many of the same challenges. While Rwanda has made tremendous investments in modernising public transport and building one of Africa's leading smart cities, there was still an information gap between commuters and transport operators,' she added.

The gap was not necessarily about the availability of transport, but about access to information. Passengers wanted to know when buses would arrive, while operators needed better insights into passenger demand and route performance.

'We discovered that this wasn't simply a transport problem; it was a time problem. Every unnecessary minute spent waiting is time taken away from work, school, family or running a business,' she said.

That understanding shaped HarakaPlus' mission of using data to make public transport more predictable.

From an idea to the Africa Prize stage

The platform allows commuters to track buses in real time and estimate arrival times, while transport operators receive data that can support better planning and service delivery.

The approach earned HarakaPlus a place among 16 innovators shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, making it the only startup from

Rwanda in the 2026 cohort

The shortlist features innovators working on solutions across sectors including healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, education and mobility.

For Kariuki, the programme came at a critical stage as HarakaPlus worked to grow from a promising idea into a sustainable company.

'We applied to the Africa Prize because we recognised that building a transformative mobility company requires much more than funding. We were looking for world-class mentorship, investor readiness support, engineering expertise and access to a network of people who have successfully scaled impactful businesses,' Kariuki explained.

Through the eight-month programme, HarakaPlus has received training, mentorship and exposure to experts across Africa and the United Kingdom.

A major highlight was learning from transport systems abroad, including the UK, where the team observed how technology, operators and public institutions collaborate to improve mobility.

A journey still underway

Although HarakaPlus has already reached the shortlist stage, the Africa Prize journey is not over.

The company remains in contention for the final stage, where the overall winner will receive £50,000, while three finalists will each receive £10,000 and another innovator will receive £5,000 under the One-to-Watch category.

Kariuki said winning the top prize would help accelerate HarakaPlus' growth by supporting product development, expanding the engineering team, strengthening partnerships with transport operators and supporting expansion into other East African markets.

However, she stressed that the programme's value extends beyond the competition itself.

'Beyond the formal programme, becoming part of a community of innovators solving real challenges across Africa has been incredibly inspiring,' she remarked.

Opening doors for Rwanda's innovators

The Africa Prize is now accepting applications for its 2027 edition, inviting engineers and innovators across sub-Saharan Africa to submit solutions with the potential to create social or environmental impact.

Applicants must be developing scalable solutions with a clear path towards commercialisation. Software-based innovations must demonstrate a functional minimum viable product and user traction, while hardware solutions require working prototypes.

For Kariuki, innovators should not wait until they believe their ideas are fully developed before seeking opportunities to grow.

'You don't need to have everything figured out before applying. The Africa Prize exists to help innovators grow,' she said.

Applications for the 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation opened on July 13 and will close on September 8, 2026.

'The Africa Prize community continues to grow and each year we're seeing increased engagement from innovators across the continent, reflecting the depth and diversity of engineering talent in sub-Saharan Africa. This year, we're focused on building new connections in regions where awareness of the Prize is still growing, to broaden our reach and support even more innovations with the potential to scale and make a lasting difference,' Meredith Ettridge, Associate Director, International, at the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The Africa Prize programme, now in its 13th cycle, has supported more than 180 businesses from 24 countries.

Interested applicants can find more information and submit their applications at africaprize.raeng.org.uk.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/lessons-from-harakaplus-as-85000-africa-prize-opens-doors-for-rwandas-innovators/

Uwimana, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said he spent three years with the FDLR, an armed group formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled to eastern DR Congo following the genocide.

He shared his experience after being reunited with his family on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, following a rehabilitation programme by the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC). He was among 22 children who were reunited with their families.

Uwimana told IGIHE that he was abducted in Masisi Territory, in the Ironga area where his family lived.

'I had gone to visit relatives when FDLR soldiers who were heading to Pinga airfield to collect ammunition captured me. They forced me to carry the ammunition. After we delivered it, we arrived at their military camp, but they refused to allow us to return home,' he said.

He said they were later taken to the battlefield after spending three days at the camp, where they were forced to support the group's operations.

'Whenever we asked why we could not go home, they told us we would only leave after the ammunition we had carried had been used up,' he said.

Uwimana said that once they reached the battlefield, they were given weapons and forced to participate in fighting.

The experience separated him from his family, who later fled and eventually settled in Rwanda's Nyabihu District.

He revealed that he was unable to continue his education beyond Primary Three because of the conflict, adding that during his time with FDLR, he was subjected to training aimed at carrying out violent acts.

'We would go to the battlefield like other fighters. We were also sent to steal food, including cassava and beans, from civilians. They trained us to attack people, destroy property, rape and kill,' he said.

Uwimana said that at one point, as hunger worsened, FDLR members directed them to steal livestock from communities near Goma. However, they were attacked upon arrival, forcing them to flee, and he eventually found himself inside a national park.

He later decided to surrender after communicating with a former FDLR member who had already left the group and completed rehabilitation at the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre.

The former colleague encouraged him to surrender, after which Uwimana was taken through the La Corniche border crossing and transferred to Mutobo, where he underwent a three-month reintegration programme before being reunited with his family.

Uwimana said FDLR leaders had repeatedly warned them against returning to Rwanda, claiming they would either be killed or imprisoned if they did so.

'We were given false information by our leaders, and at times we believed what they said. But I was surprised by the way I was received in Rwanda. We were given clothes, food, and lessons that helped us return to normal life,' he said.

Now reunited with his family, Uwimana said he hopes to return to school and build a better future, noting that education provides opportunities that are difficult to access for those who cannot read and write.

He also called on other young people still in armed groups in the forests of DR Congo to surrender, saying many of the messages they receive from their leaders are based on falsehoods.

Valerie Nyirahabineza, Chairperson of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), said 22 of the 24 children who completed the rehabilitation programme had been reunited with their families, while efforts were ongoing to trace the families of the remaining two.

The children reunited with their families are aged between 16 and 18 years.

Since its establishment, the commission has helped reintegrate 1,029 children who were previously associated with armed groups.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/former-fdlr-child-recruit-recounts-years-of-forced-service-abuse-in-armed-group/

The message was shared through a statement issued on July 31, 2026, by RPF-Inkotanyi Secretary General Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo.

The statement said: 'The RPF-Inkotanyi family joins in mourning with the Liberal Party [PL] following the death of Honourable Senator Mukabalisa Donatille, who was the president of the party.'

RPF-Inkotanyi said Senator Mukabalisa will be remembered for her dedicated service to the country and her contribution to Rwanda's development journey.

'Honourable Senator Mukabalisa Donatille will always be remembered for the good work she did for the country and her contribution to the development journey, especially during her tenure as President of the Chamber of Deputies and during her time as a Senator,' the statement read.

The ruling party also extended condolences to Mukabalisa's family, friends, and colleagues she worked with at different levels, encouraging them to remain strong during this difficult period.

Senator Mukabalisa died on July 30, 2026, after an illness. She served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2024 before joining the Senate.

Throughout her political career, Mukabalisa was among the women who played a significant role in Rwanda's leadership, particularly through her decade-long tenure at the helm of the Chamber of Deputies.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rpf-inkotanyi-sends-condolences-to-pl-following-mukabalisas-passing/

According to a report published on July 30, 2026, by African Facts, one of the key figures linked to the Habyarimana family is Kaumbu Mandungu Bula, commonly known as 'Kao,' an adviser to DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.

Kao is the son of Antoine Mandungu Bula Nyati, who served as a minister under former President Mobutu Sese Seko and died in Benin in 2002.

The investigation states that Kao's relationship with the Habyarimana family dates back many years, beginning when they met in Belgium.

According to the report, in November 2007, Kao prepared documents for the registration of what was presented as a charitable organization in Kinshasa. The organization was registered in 2008 as a branch of a UK-based charity established in London.

Although the organization was officially described as charitable, the investigation alleges that it primarily served financial interests and had close links to the Habyarimana family.

Jean-Luc Habyarimana, the youngest son of the former president, is identified as one of the central figures behind the establishment of the Kinshasa branch and several other organizations presented as charities. The report also suggests that other members of the Habyarimana family were connected to these entities.

The investigation alleges that between 2008 and 2009, money was transferred through various organizations before ending up in the hands of members of the Habyarimana family and their close associates.
It claims that on May 20, 2008, Jean-Luc Habyarimana signed an investment agreement worth €125,000 with the UK-based organization.

Under the agreement, the organization was expected to repay him €250,000 between December 2008 and December 2009, representing what the report describes as a 100 percent return.

The investigation further alleges that from late 2007, Kao and individuals linked to the Habyarimana family received at least €382,000. According to the report, the funds originated from a Swiss bank account that had itself received money from a company registered in Panama.

It also claims that between 2008 and 2009, Jean-Luc Habyarimana received €325,000 through UK-registered organizations established between 2007 and 2009.

However, African Facts states that it found no evidence that organizations registered in the DRC, the Central African Republic, and Gabon carried out genuine charitable activities.

Emails referencing Agathe Kanziga

The investigation also cites emails allegedly exchanged between Kao and Jean-Luc Habyarimana.

One email, dated May 17, 2009, reportedly asks whether Jean-Luc's elder brother, Léon Habyarimana, had received funds and requests that the family promptly notify Kao whenever their mother, Agathe Kanziga, received money.

According to the report, Kao wrote: 'Hello everyone. I'm writing because Léon has not told me anything since yesterday. I think he has received the money. Please keep me informed because when Mama Agathe calls me, she doesn't know what is happening. Communication is very important.'

Another email reportedly referred to a €15,000 transfer to Kanziga through Léon, with Kao allegedly expressing concern that her sons had not informed her about the transaction.

The report also refers to a September 6, 2016, search conducted by French gendarmes at the Habyarimana family's home in Courcouronnes, Essonne, during an investigation into Agathe Kanziga's suspected role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

According to the investigation, documents and computers seized during the search included an address book containing telephone numbers for family associates, including three numbers belonging to Fabien Singaye, described as a former intelligence operative under Habyarimana's government in Switzerland, and two Belgian telephone numbers linked to Kao.

Adviser to President Tshisekedi

In January 2023, President Tshisekedi appointed Kao as his special adviser, placing him among the president's closest aides involved in major political and security matters.

According to the investigation, Kao has participated in discussions involving mining agreements, arms procurement, military operations and the use of foreign mercenaries.

Kao's close relationship with the Habyarimana family is particularly significant as fighting continues in eastern DRC between government forces and the AFC/M23 coalition.

Both the DRC government and members of the Habyarimana family, particularly Jean-Luc Habyarimana, have repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting AFC/M23 fighters and deploying troops in eastern DRC. Rwanda has consistently rejected the allegations, describing them as baseless.

Jean-Luc Habyarimana made a discreet visit to Kinshasa in June 2024 before returning publicly in November 2025, when he was photographed during the visit. Reports indicate that he met senior DRC officials. Rwanda has previously maintained that such visits form part of a broader effort to destabilize the country.

On April 8, 2026, DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya publicly praised Jean-Luc Habyarimana, describing him as someone committed to peace in the region and stating that the Congolese government would continue engaging with 'Rwandan friends'.

The investigation also alleges that on April 16, 2024, Kao attended a meeting in Kinshasa with representatives of the Wazalendo militia, where he encouraged continued recruitment of young people into the militias.

According to reports by United Nations experts, meetings bringing together representatives of Wazalendo militia have also been attended by representatives of the FDLR, a terrorist group that has long operated in eastern DRC and has been reported to cooperate with Wazalendo factions.

The investigation concludes that the presence of individuals with longstanding ties to the Habyarimana family in positions close to the DRC's political and military leadership could have implications for the country's security-related decision-making.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/new-details-emerge-on-habyarimana-familys-links-to-drc-power-circles/

The accident occurred on July 30, 2026, at around 5:00pm in Nyakabungo Village, Gasoro Cell, Kigoma Sector.

The truck, which was carrying sand, reportedly veered off the road due to its heavy load before crashing into the nearby commercial building, where it struck people inside.

Nyanza District Acting Mayor Patrick Kajyambere told IGIHE that one person died in the accident, while five others, including the truck driver, sustained injuries.

'A woman died on the spot while five others were injured, including the driver. We have not yet confirmed the exact number of people affected because one person is still missing,' Kajyambere said by press time.

He added that the deceased and the injured were taken to Nyanza Hospital for medical attention, while expressing condolences to the families affected by the accident.

Kajyambere said the cause of the accident has not yet been established, adding that investigations by the Rwanda National Police traffic unit will determine what led to the crash.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/nyanza-one-killed-five-injured-in-howo-truck-accident/

In a public notice issued on July 30, 2026, RDB, the national regulator of lottery and gambling activities, announced that the suspension takes immediate effect and covers all of the company's outlets, agents, digital platforms and other gambling-related operations across Rwanda.

The regulator ordered the company to cease all operations immediately and remove all advertising and promotional materials associated with its services.

According to RDB, the enforcement action follows findings that Baron Sports Gaming Ltd had been repeatedly offering casino-style games outside the scope of its approved licence, in violation of the law governing gaming activities.

'The company is required to cease all operations immediately and remove all associated advertising and promotional materials,' the notice states.

RDB also advised members of the public not to participate in any games or activities offered by Forzza until further notice, warning that any continued operation by the company during the suspension period is unlawful and will be subject to further enforcement action.

The regulator used the announcement to remind all licensed lottery and gambling operators to operate strictly within the scope and conditions of their respective licences.

It warned that any unlicensed or unauthorised gambling activity is unlawful and could result in regulatory sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of a licence.

RDB said the move reflects its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Rwanda's gambling sector, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and protecting consumers and the wider public.

The action against Forzza is the latest in a series of regulatory measures by the Rwanda Development Board aimed at enforcing compliance in the country's gambling sector. In October 2025, RDB terminated the licence of Inzozi Lotto, the operator of Rwanda's National Lottery, citing the company's failure to meet its contractual and regulatory obligations.

Earlier, in August 2025, RDB also suspended the Category D Sportsbook gaming licence of Kings Bet Ltd, accusing the company of persistently breaching the law governing gaming activities and failing to comply with directives issued by the regulator.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rdb-cracks-down-on-forzza-for-breaching-gambling-licence/