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Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at the Olympic Games, claiming a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the pair's 60th and potentially last meeting.

It was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic's 31st win in a rivalry that began on the same Roland-Garros clay courts in 2006.

Nadal was largely outclassed in the much-anticipated encounter on Monday, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set.

'I'm very relieved,' said Djokovic. 'Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.'

He added: 'I never thought back in 2006 that we'd still be playing each other almost 20 years later.'

In a sign of the wear and tear the pair have endured in recent months, Djokovic wore a protective strapping around his right knee while Nadal's right thigh was heavily strapped.

But Djokovic played freely, forcing Nadal to scamper around Court Philippe Chatrier, where the Spaniard had collected 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

The 37-year-old Serb raced to a 4-0 lead, on the back of a double break, and held for 5-0 before Nadal stopped the rot much to the relief of a packed, sweltering crowd.

Djokovic pocketed the one-sided opener when 2008 Olympic gold medallist Nadal ballooned a forehand wide of the mark.

The statistics made grim reading for the 38-year-old Spaniard, who managed to eke out just four points off the Djokovic serve in the first set.

There was no respite for Nadal, playing just his seventh tournament of an injury-plagued season, as Djokovic again carved out a double break for a 4-0 lead in the second set.

Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic gold medal to add to his 24 Grand Slam triumphs, surprisingly handed Nadal a lifeline when he served up a double fault to be broken for the first time.

Nadal retrieved the second break to claw his way back from 0-4 to 4-4 as the top seed went suddenly off the boil.

Djokovic responded in style, a drop shot leaving Nadal flat-footed as the Serb broke for 5-4 on a fourth break point and clinched victory in style with an ace.

Despite his defeat on Monday, Nadal still has hopes of a gold medal in the men's doubles where he is playing alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

The post Djokovic defeats Nadal at Paris Olympics in 60th and possibly last meeting appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/djokovic-defeats-nadal-at-paris-olympics-in-60th-and-possibly-last-meeting/

Amilcar Cabral once said, “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.”
To a person who has not internalized the words of Cabral, a consistently above 90% victory in an election is evidence of lack of democracy.

The recent sweeping victory for President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at 99.18% has created a new term— poll dictatorship, although one wonders how you dictate a voter turnout of 98.02% if not explained by the will of the people to affirm their choice of leadership. I proffer a different opinion as one who has looked at Rwanda through the lens of statistical evidence, having been a Statistician General of South Africa and worked quite closely with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

If you have lived under constant genocidal threat and ultimately, it materializes into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that in 100 days wiped more than a tenth of the population, you have to ask yourself what could be worse—is there anything you can ever fear or be afraid of? Based on what Rwandans experienced, I would argue that it is impossible to intimidate them. Anyone threatening Rwandans by deception, coercion or other acts faces an uphill battle because for them, it cannot be worse than what they witnessed.

So, the results of the poll in Rwanda speak not to the fear of what others think of as a dictator, but the fearlessness of fear because what fear can be left in you when you saw and endured the worst. The poll, rather than reflect fear, speaks to and affirms what Rwandans experienced out of a condition that swept their country in a blink of an eye and what progressively and cumulatively restored their dignity in the last thirty years. Why would you gamble that dignity ever again?

President Kagame, against all odds delivered on what Cabral referenced. Many do not remember or conveniently forget that President Kagame took six years from 1994 to 2000, before he could ascend to be the President of Rwanda even after winning the liberation struggle that lasted over four years. Perhaps what we need to ask him is what preoccupied him in those six years — perhaps therein lies the secret of his transformative leadership so overwhelmingly appreciated by the Rwandese and surprising to others.

A statistical visit to count a 1000 Hills

In January 2007 was the year I first visited Rwanda. This was on the occasion that Rwanda hosted the bean counters of Africa under the banner of Africa Symposium for Statistical Development (ASSD) over which I presided for twelve years. This followed on the inaugural session in South Africa in January 2006. President Kagame was so determined to drive the statistical agenda in Rwanda that he had agreed to attend the inaugural session of the ASSD in South Africa. Even though this presidential participation did not eventually materialize at the time, it was sufficient motivation for Minister Trevor Manuel to wisely advise that the next ASSD should be hosted in Rwanda.

Indeed, the Second ASSD was opened by President Kagame himself in Kigali. In his address, the President led from the front on the subject of the importance of statistics and the strategic role it continued to play in Rwanda. I had little doubt that the National Statistics Institute of Rwanda was on the ready for greater heights. On the eve of the second ASSD the delegates were addressed on the history of Rwanda, the experience of the Genocide against the Tutsi as well as the national unity programme. The unity programme was also displayed in all the cultural events we attended during our stay in Rwanda.

At the end of a traumatizing journey through the genocide museum, it was hard to believe that a reconciliation programme was feasible. But the Rwandans showed determination to give birth to a new nation, building a different Rwanda. They drew from their cultural systems of justice and the Gacaca courts proved that they were not only bringing positive results in the atonement of crime, but facilitated peers to bring about remedy and reconciliation through the provision of grassroots-level justice for many of the cases.

What is behind Rwanda’s Transformation?

Transforming an organization starts with changing its culture, and the same holds true for society. Before 1994, Rwanda was mired in a culture of impunity, but today it upholds accountability and the rule of law. The previous culture of entitlement and laissez-faire attitudes has evolved into one of hard work and inclusion. Nepotism and mediocrity in public service have been replaced by merit-based teams, driven by performance contracts and enhanced by technological innovations for efficient service delivery.

Rather than following a prescribed rule book for development, the government has looked inward, drawing from historical context to develop homegrown solutions for societal and developmental challenges. A key aspect of this journey has been the continuous renewal of the ruling party and institutions, actively involving the youth as new talents emerge to ensure sustainable social progress and human development.

President Kagame, advocating for a growth mindset, famously said, “Work hard until it pains because poverty hurts more.” This message has resonated across society, igniting a culture of doing hard things and smart work. President Kagame’s government has prioritized security, national unity, effective governance, rapid development, and zero tolerance for corruption. The culture of meritocracy and performance-based benefits has transformed perceptions of both public and private sectors.

Transformation also goes with tangible results, Rwanda’s economic transformation has been impressive, with GDP growth rates averaging 7-8.5% annually over the past three decades. According to the World Bank, Rwanda’s GDP per capita has increased ninefold between 1994 and 2023. By focusing on technology-led development, Rwanda has positioned itself as a tech hub in Africa, with groundbreaking innovations in service delivery, such as using drones to deliver medical supplies to remote health centers and utilizing the digital platform IREMBO for efficient citizen services.

This is evidenced by the fact that Rwanda’s economy has shifted from being predominantly agrarian to a service-based economy. Services now contribute more than 50% of GDP, with agriculture and industry making up the balance.

Perfect vision through the lens of an outsider

I have visited Rwanda frequently since my first visit in January 2007 and I was back there on the 26-27 July. I am amazed by how Rwanda has successfully heeded the prescripts of Amilcar Cabral when he warned politicians that they should 'Always remember that the people are not fighting for ideas, nor for what is in men’s minds. The people fight and accept the sacrifices demanded by the struggle in order to gain material advantages, to live better and in peace, to benefit from progress, and for the better future of their children. National liberation, the struggle against colonialism, the construction of peace, progress and independence are hollow words devoid of any significance unless they can be translated into a real improvement of living conditions.'

No where has this been demonstrated with distinction as has been done in Rwanda. The evidence of progress after a genocidal calamity of unimaginable proportions shows the truth and possibility of what Morena Mohlomi, the 18th Century sage of the Ngolile Leadership Academy in the Caledon Valley of the then Lesotho, when he said that 'a responsible leader pursues peaceful and productive alliances, accommodates stakeholders, and uses new instruments of power to create intergenerational value.' The political renewal project, the abhorrence of corruption and incompetence and the creation of a developmental state using new instruments of power show that democracy can and does deliver spectacular affirmation in reality and at the polls.

Rwanda’s journey demonstrates that even from the darkest moments, with the right mindset and courage, selfless leadership with a vision supported by action, a nation can rise and thrive. As Rwanda continues on this path, its focus must remain on sustainable and inclusive growth, ensuring that every Rwandan benefits from the nation’s progress.

Dr. Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, a Research Associate at Oxford University, a board member of Institute for Economic Justice at Wits and a distinguished Alumni of the University of Ghana. He is the former Statistician-General of South Africa.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/opinion/article/from-the-eye-of-an-outsider-three-decades-of-liberating-change-and-progress-in

A statement released by the Prime Minister’s office on Sunday, July 28, indicated that the two leaders discussed their mutual commitment to addressing illegal migration.

'They acknowledged that illegal migration remains a pressing global challenge and emphasized the importance of dismantling the business model of criminal gangs profiting from human suffering,' the statement reads in part.

Illegal migration was a major challenge for the previous administration of Rishi Sunak and his predecessors in the Conservative Party. It remains a significant issue for the new administration as well.

Early this month, Starmer announced that he was terminating the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership.

The agreement, signed in December 2023, stipulated that asylum seekers arriving illegally in the UK would be transferred to Rwanda, where their claims would be processed.

In response to the intention to terminate the deal, the Rwandan government highlighted its adherence to the agreement.

“Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis,' said the office of the Government Spokesperson.

With the new leadership in the UK, the future of migration policies and international partnerships remains uncertain. However, the commitment demonstrated by both Starmer and Kagame to address global challenges collaboratively sets a hopeful tone for ongoing and future cooperation between the two nations.

President Paul Kagame and new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer deliberated on their mutual commitment to addressing illegal migration.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/uk-pm-starmer-and-president-kagame-discuss-migration-issues-in-paris-meeting

President Paul Kagame and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, July 27, discussed collaboration between Rwanda and the United Kingdom in tackling illegal migration.

Kagame and Starmer, who met in Paris on the side-lines of the Olympic Games, 'discussed their shared commitment to continue working together on solutions to tackle illegal migration,' the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Sunday.

'They agreed that it is a pressing global challenge, and breaking the business model of criminal gangs who profit from people's suffering must be the priority.'

The meeting came less than one month after the new UK Prime Minister was reportedly suggested he would end a treaty signed by his predecessor to partner with Rwanda in tackling illegal migration affecting the European country.

Signed in December 2023 when Rishi Sunak was Prime Minister, the migration treaty sought to reinforce the Migration and Economic Development Partnership Agreement which was initiated in April 2022 between the two governments.

 

Under the partnership, asylum seekers arriving in the UK illegally would be sent to Rwanda where their claims would be considered. While in Rwanda, the asylum seekers would be supported socioeconomically and a special tribunal would be set up to handle their claims.

Starmer took over on July 5, after the Labour Party won elections and replaced the Conservative Party from the premiership.

Although it is not clear whether the treaty has been scrapped, the Rwandan government said in early July that it had taken note of the new UK Government's intention to terminate it.

The Office of the Government Spokesperson said Rwanda had 'fully upheld its side of the agreement,' adding that it was committed to providing safety and opportunities for refugees and migrants.

Rwanda reiterated that the partnership was an initiative of the UK Government, which sought 'to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK — a problem of the UK, not Rwanda.'

The UK-Rwanda partnership came about as the previous two UK governments sought to deter illegal migration, especially tens of thousands of people arriving in the UK illegally through the English Channel. They also sought to stop networks of criminal gangs that smuggle migrants into the UK.

The post Kagame, new UK premier discuss illegal migration crisis appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/kagame-new-uk-premier-discuss-illegal-migration-crisis/

Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela's presidential election by the government-controlled electoral authority — a result that appeared to dash opposition hopes of ending his authoritarian, socialist rule. It was immediately challenged by rivals and several governments in the region and beyond.

After a six-hour delay in releasing the results of Sunday's poll prompted international concern, Venezuela's electoral council claimed Maduro had won with 51.21% of votes compared with 44.2% for his rival, the former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia.

The council said that with about 80% of votes counted, Maduro had secured more than 5m compared with González's 4.4m.

Independent observers had described the election as the most arbitrary in recent years, even by the standards of an authoritarian regime that started with Maduro's mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

Critics blame Maduro for leading Venezuela into a crippling economic and social crisis, as well as turning the country into an increasingly repressive state where political opponents are routinely jailed and tortured.

González's campaign had generated a rare wave of optimism among millions of disillusioned citizens after a decade during which the economy of the country with the world's largest oil reserves contracted by 80% and nearly 8 million people — almost a third of Venezuela's population — fled abroad.

Maduro dedicated his win to Chávez, who anointed Maduro as his successor shortly before his death in 2013. 'Long live Chávez. Chávez is alive!' Maduro shouted.

Addressing supporters in the capital, Caracas, the 61-year-old leader said: 'I am Nicolás Maduro Moros — the re-elected president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela … and I will defend our democracy, our law and our people.'

The opposition camp was quick to dispute the results. 'The Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened,' González said in his first remarks.

The opposition leader, María Corina Machado — who had thrown her weight behind González's campaign after being banned from running — rejected the result, claiming the opposition had won in every single state.

'We won and everybody knows it,' she said. 'We haven't just defeated them politically and morally, today we defeated them with votes,' Machado told journalists, claiming González should be considered the country's president-elect.

Edison Research, which conducts high-profile election polling in the US and other countries, published an exit poll showing González had won 65% of the vote, while Maduro won 31%.

'The official results are silly,' said Edison's executive vice-president, Rob Farbman, saying it stood by the results of its survey. Edison's exit poll was conducted nationwide with preliminary data from 6,846 voters interviewed at 100 polling locations. Local firm Meganalisis predicted a 65% vote for Gonzalez and just under 14% for Maduro.

​Although the result was celebrated by Maduro's regional allies, the US and others expressed concerns that the vote may have been compromised.

The Cuban leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, said the 'historic victory' was a triumph of 'the dignity and courage of the Venezuelan people', while Bolivia's leftwing leader, Luis Arce, noted the election had been held on what would have been Chávez's 70th birthday. 'What a great way to remember the Comandante Hugo Chávez,' Arce tweeted.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said his government had 'serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people'.

'It's critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the detailed tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly,' he said.

Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, who said his government wanted to see a breakdown of the results before recognising Maduro's win.

'The people of Venezuela yesterday voted democratically and in very large numbers,' Albares told Spain's Cadena Ser radio on Monday morning. 'We want total transparency and that's why we're asking for the results to be published, polling station by polling station. We don't have a candidate — we just want a guarantee of transparency. The publication of polling station information is key so that the results can be verified.'

Chile's president, Gabriel Boric, tweeted: 'Maduro's regime must understand that the results it has published are hard to believe … Chile will not recognise any result that is not verifiable.'

Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa — who accused Maduro of trying to cling to power and 'snatching away the hope of millions of Venezuelans' — called for the permanent council of the Organization of American States to meet to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

The result was a bitter blow to Venezuela's notoriously fractured opposition, which had united around the unlikely candidacy of González — a 74-year-old former ambassador and political neophyte — hoping he could help lead the country out of one of the worst peacetime economic collapses in modern history.

In an interview with the BBC on the eve of the election, Machado claimed the country was approaching a 'huge, unique, epic event that will change not only the history of Venezuela but also the whole region'.

'The system is cracking for the first time in 25 years,' Machado claimed of chavismo, predicting a 'huge, historic turnout' that would sweep Maduro from power.

Opposition supporters turned out in large numbers across the country, hoping to vote Maduro out of power.

'I voted for Edmundo González because I believe he is the only hope of change that we have here,' said Anabella Donzella, a 23-year-old economics student as she cast her vote in El Marqués, a middle-class area of Caracas.

Maduro, who was elected after Chávez's death from cancer and returned to office in a widely criticised 2018 election boycotted by the opposition, appeared confident as he visited his late leader's tomb in Caracas to lay a wreath before dawn on Sunday.

Wearing a pink guayabera and flanked by the first lady, Cilia Flores, Maduro likened the election to one of the most famous military showdowns in Venezuela's struggle for independence from Spain. 'This is our battle of Carabobo and we are heading straight for victory,' he said, dedicating his campaign to Chávez, under whom he served as foreign minister and vice-president.

The post Venezuela election: Maduro declared winner by government-controlled authority appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/venezuela-election-maduro-declared-winner-by-government-controlled-authority/

EIGHT people including children have been injured in a stabbing on a residential street — with armed cops swarming on the 'major incident'.

Cops were called to a property on Hart Street in Southport at around 11.50am today.

A man has been detained and a knife seized after a number of people were injured, Merseyside Police said.

North West Ambulance Service said eight patients have been treated so far and taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital.

Cops have warned people to avoid the area but said there is no wider threat to the public.

A local business owner, who was one of the people who called the police, said the incident in Southport was like a 'scene in a horror movie.'

Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, said: 'The mothers are coming here now and screaming.

'It is like a scene from a horror movie.'

'Police have got him,' he added.

'It's like something from America, not like sunny Southport.'

What we know so far…

• At least eight people, including children, have been injured in the 'major incident'
• Armed police were called to the scene on Hart Street, Southport, at 11.50am
• A man has been detained and a knife seized
• Patients have been taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital

Witnesses have reported seeing around 20 police cars and several ambulances as well as a helicopter circling above.

One resident told the Liverpool ECHO they had locked their doors and windows to 'stay safe'.

Others have reported hearing 'loads of sirens' and the entirety of the street is behind a police cordon.

A statement Merseyside Police read: 'We can confirm that emergency services are in Southport following a major incident this morning, Monday 29 July.

'At around 11.50am, we were called to a property on Hart Street to reports of a stabbing.

'There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible.

'Armed police have detained a male and seized a knife. He has been taken to a police station.

'Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident. There is no wider threat to the public.'

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service said: 'We're attending a major incident on Hart Street, Southport following reports of multiple stabbings in which we have dispatched multiple resources.

'We're assessing the situation and working with emergency partners.'

An ambulance spokesperson said: 'North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is responding to a major incident following a call at 11:48am to Hart Street in Southport following reports of multiple stabbings.

'We have dispatched 13 ambulances along with specialised resources of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene.

'So far, NWAS has treated eight patients with stab injuries who have been taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital.'

In a statement, an Alder Hey Children's Hospital spokesperson said: 'The Trust is working with other emergency services to respond to this incident and our Emergency Department is currently extremely busy.

'We ask parents to only bring their children to the Emergency Department if it is urgent.

'All other appointments and services are running as normal.'

Southport MP Patrick Hurley said he was 'deeply concerned' by the reports coming from Merseyside Police.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I am deeply concerned by the reports coming from Merseyside Police about a major incident on Hart Street in Southport today.

'I am hoping for the best possible outcomes to the casualties affected.

'My thoughts go out to all those affected, their loved ones and to the entire community.

'The police have confirmed that an individual involved in the attack has now been detained.

'I am repeating the advice of the police to avoid the area whilst the police and ambulance teams support this incident.'

The post Southport major incident: Children among 8 stabbed in knife rampage as mums' screams heard appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/southport-major-incident-children-among-8-stabbed-in-knife-rampage-as-mums-screams-heard/

Issues involved include some loan recipients complaining of being tasked to repay amounts higher than what they originally borrowed and others who have completed repayments but still appear on the debtors’ lists.

According authorities, some people have even been listed as debtors without ever having applied for a loan.

Wilson Rurangwa, the Head of the Education Department at BRD, told IGIHE that periodic audits have revealed that some employers continue deducting loan repayments from employees’ salaries without remitting these funds to BRD.

'There are cases where employers deduct loan repayments from employees’ salaries but keep the money instead of transferring it to BRD. This has been observed for several months in some instances,' he said.

Rurangwa implored individuals who still appear on debtors’ list s despite having repaid their loans to approach BRD for correction and possible refunds if overpayments are identified.

He pointed out that some institutions deduct repayments from employees’ salaries without notifying BRD, leading to discrepancies in records.

An audit conducted on of 28 companies operating in Rwanda indicates that none complied with regulations for loan repayment collections, which contributed to the errors in the system.

Initially managed by the Ministry of Education since 1980, the responsibility shifted in 2008 to the Students Financing Agency of Rwanda (SFAR).

In 2013, after merging institutions under the Ministry of Education, SFAR was integrated into the Rwanda Education Board (REB) as a department responsible for student loans.

Some of these disparities stem from loans granted over 20 years ago but BRD lacks detailed records on repayments because these transactions were handled by other entities without proper documenting.

Rurangwa says that BRD is actively compiling reports from these institutions to update records and clear debts where possible.

Based on the existing structures, students who have or intend to apply for loans from BRD are required to open accounts with BRD Minuza, a platform created to make student loan services easily accessible.

The accounts help individuals monitor deductions from their salaries and ensure accurate remittance to BRD.

In case excess detections are made, the extra amounts are refunded. So far, Rwf300 million has been refunded to individuals who were overcharged.

Individuals with concerns about their loan repayment processes are encouraged to contact BRD for further assistance by calling 3288.

Between 2016 and 2023, BRD has disbursed over Rwf370 billion in scholarships and loans to more than 96,000 students in universities and higher learning institutions.

The Rwandan government began providing direct student loans in 1980, and in 2016, BRD was selected as the channel through which the process would be sustained.

The institution was handed the responsibility to offer these loans and collect outstanding debts amounting to Rwf70.9 billion from previous recipients. BRD has since recovered over Rwf31 billion.

Between 2016 and 2023, BRD has disbursed over Rwf370 billion in scholarships and loans to more than 96,000 students in universities and higher learning institutions.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/brd-grapples-with-debt-recovery-from-student-loans

Washington this week put under sanctions the Congo River Alliance, known by its French name Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a coalition of armed groups accused of fuelling violent conflict and civilian displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The US designated individuals and entities associated with AFC, including former head of the Congolese electoral commission Corneille Nangaa, at a time a trial at the military court in Kinshasa started against him, his relatives and his companions accused of involvement in the rebellion, on July 25.

Nangaa and 24 other people, including his wife and brother, are being prosecuted in absentia (for Nangaa and 19 of his companions) for 'war crimes, participation in an insurrectional movement and treason' in the eastern part of the DRC. They face heavy sentences, including the death penalty, if found guilty.

AFC and its affiliates — including the US- and UN-designated, M23 rebel group — have called for the overthrow of the government of the DRC and 'have used violence to achieve this political goal, resulting in serious violations of international law that have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC,' said a statement from the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac).

Washington condemned the continued displacement of civilians in North Kivu and encirclement of its provincial capital, Goma, and the human rights abuses committed by M23 in Masisi, Rutshuru, and Nyiragongo territories, the statement added.

'The US has long sought to hold accountable those actors' harming civilians and creating instability in eastern DRC. Today's measures are intended to support a DRC that is peaceful, prosperous, and sovereign. We remain committed to supporting regional peace processes, including the Angola-led Luanda process and East African Community-led Nairobi process, which seek to create the conditions to end the hostilities,' it said.

US Treasury has also sanctioned Bertrand Bisimwa, a leader of the political wing of the M23, and Charles Sematama, a former colonel in the Congolese army who defected in January 2020 to Walikale territory in North Kivu before moving to South Kivu where he is deputy commander of the Twirwaneho militia, an armed group affiliated to the AFC.

The US Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said the action 'reinforces our commitment to hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate instability, violence, and harm to civilians to achieve their political goals.'

'We condemn AFC and its affiliates, including M23, for fuelling this deadly conflict and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC,' Ofac wrote.

Nangaa launched the Fleuve Congo alliance in Nairobi in December 2023 and allied himself with the M23, who have been waging war against the Congolese army and have succeeded in capturing certain territories in eastern Congo.

Ofac states that the M23 and its allied groups have a 'long history of destabilising the DRC's North Kivu province and perpetrating human rights abuses.

As chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nangaa was also put under US sanctions for corruption allegations in 2019, in relation to his role in the December 2018 elections, which Kinshasa said were 'democratic' and 'enabled the DRC to experience a peaceful transition … for the first time in the country's history.'

Several other political and military leaders of the M23 are under sanctions imposed by the US, the UN and the European Union. These include M23 military spokesman Willy Ngoma and Sulltani Makenga, the military leader of the M23/AFC.

Blocked persons

'AFC's primary member is M23, a Rwanda-backed rebel group that seized vast swathes of eastern DRC in 2012 and briefly controlled the border city of Goma, before fleeing to neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda in 2013. Ofac designated M23 on January 3, 2013, pursuant to E.O. 13413, for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC, including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement, and receiving arms and related materiel, including military aircraft and equipment, or advice, training, or assistance, including financing and financial assistance, related to military activities in the DRC,' Ofac said.

These sanctions come at a time when, on the battlefield, the parties to the conflict have been observing a humanitarian truce for nearly a month at the request of the United States.

The UOFAC freezes all assets and interests in assets of the designated persons sanctioned which are in the US or in the possession or control of US. In addition, all entities owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

Unless authorised by a general or specific licence issued by Ofac, or exempted, Ofac regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US persons or within (or in transit through) the US that involve property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Reacting to the sanctions, Nangaa said:'Neither illegitimate sanctions nor Kafkaesque trials will shake us in our noble struggle for national recovery! As Congolese citizens, nothing, and then nothing, will stop us in this struggle for the liberation of the Congolese people.'

The post US sanctions rebel leaders as Kinshasa military court begins trial in absentia appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/us-sanctions-rebel-leaders-as-kinshasa-military-court-begins-trial-in-absentia/

Manchester United are reportedly working on plans for the future of Old Trafford after the club's new stadium taskforce reached its initial conclusions.

Old Trafford has been United's home since it was opened in 1910, and holds a capacity of 74,310.

But some parts of the stadium have fallen into a state of disrepair over recent years, with many fans blaming the Glazer family for not sufficiently investing in its redevelopment.

Last season, sections of the stadium's roof would leak during heavy rain, with footage of water pouring down onto seats emerging after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in April.

In March, new minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe decided to assemble a taskforce to look at options for either renovating Old Trafford entirely.

The taskforce consists of United legend Gary Neville, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the chief executive of Trafford Council, Sara Todd. It is chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe.

And the taskforce has now, according to The Athletic, reached an initial conclusion that a new 100,000-seater stadium should be built adjacent to the existing Old Trafford site.

It is claimed that Ratcliffe's preference is for the new stadium to be built from scratch instead of renovating Old Trafford in its current state.

Such an agreement would allow United to continue playing at the current site while building work is ongoing, with a 'new Old Trafford' being constructed.

And Ratcliffe reportedly wants to create a 'major economic and social hub', with retail outlets opening up around the stadium as part of a campus-style structure that would also link to MediaCity.

There are several issues for the taskforce to consider, however. One issue is believed to be the cost, with a new build costing around £2 billion compared to renovation, which is said to come in at around half that amount.

Ratcliffe would need to consider his options in order to finance the stadium, and any agreement would have to go through consultation and community engagement before anything is finalised.

In March, the 71-year-old proposed the potential use of taxpayers' money to help fund the stadium by requesting support from the former Conservative government. The proposal was rejected, however.

He told the Manchester Evening News: 'The people in the north pay their taxes like the people in the south pay their taxes. But where's the national stadium for football? It's in the south.

'Where's the national stadium for rugby? It's in the south. Where's the national stadium for tennis? It's in the south. Where's the national concert stadium? It's the O2, it's in the south. Where's the Olympic Village? It's in the south.'

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/man-utd-working-on-plans-to-build-new-100000-seater-stadium-that-would-cost-mind-blowing-fee-to-construct/

Josephine Malonza, a Rwanda-based architect and urban designer, refers to the upcoming Nyabugogo bus terminal as a 'mega project' which every city would like to have in order to support its current and future needs.

Scheduled to be constructed from 2025 to 2027, the multi-million dollar terminal is one of the big infrastructure projects lined up in the next two to five years as Kigali continues to position itself among impressive places on the continent.

In this article, we look at the top five projects that will make Kigali better in the next few years.

A bigger and better bus terminal in Nyabugogo

Nyabugogo, Rwanda's main hub for cross-border road travel is set to get a bigger and better bus terminal to facilitate movements of people within Kigali and connection with the rest of Rwanda and neighbouring countries.

The bus terminal will have a modern complex replacing the current bus stop, transforming it into a better hub for travelers. The project will be carried out by the city administration in partnership with the World Bank, and is expected to commence in 2025 and be completed in 2027.

As part of the project, Nyabugogo bus terminal will be upgraded into a multi-modal terminal station that will also have space for travel-related business. It is understood that as the project gets underway, bus services will be temporarily relocated to another part of the Nyabugogo area to allow the construction works of the new terminal to go on.

More suburbs to be transformed into model villages

More suburbs of the city will be transformed into model villages with asphalt roads and other essential infrastructure, a move that Malonza describes as a strategy for sustainable rural settlement development.

Last year, City of Kigali got $70 million (over Rwf 90 billion) funding to upgrade four unplanned settlements namely Mpazi in Nyarugenge District, Gatenga in Kicukiro District, Nyagatovu and Nyabisindu both located in Gasabo District.

'The new projects are part of an ongoing initiative by the City of Kigali as informal settlement upgrading projects. Their main objective is improved provision of basic infrastructure,' Malonza said.

Model villages will get basic infrastructure such as roads, pedestrian ways, drainage, street lights, electricity, health centres, markets, schools, water and other services.

Malonza noted that basic infrastructure is the most impactful aspect as it comes with multifaceted benefits economically, socially and ecologically, boosting people's well-being and livelihoods.

She also pointed at the impact of rehousing under such projects, saying it gives opportunity to people to continue living in the same neighbourhood, something that keeps their social fabric intact.

Rwf 67 billion wholesale market in the special economic zone

In order to improve the local horticulture value chain, there is a plan to open a new wholesale market in Kigali, and it is expected to be the largest in the East African region.

Worth $51.6 million (more than Rwf 67 billion), the market will be located in the special economic zone.

Besides processing 180,000 tons of horticultural products, the new market will improve logistics planning, quality control, and storage of fruits and vegetables. Such improvements will include cleaning, grading, drying, and storage of horticultural products to reduce post-harvest losses and increase export earnings.

Upgrade of roads, implementation of dedicated bus lanes

The city of Kigali is working on the construction of 45.1 kilometres of roads, a project that was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2023/24 fiscal year.

The project, which is partly done, includes construction of roads including Mulindi-Gasogi-Rusororo-Kabuga, Miduha-Mageragere, Busanza-Muyange, and so on.

The city also plans to construct 300 kilometres of feeder roads, saying it will ease public transport challenges.

Kigali also plans to put in place Dedicated Bus Lane (DBL) systems during peak hours in some of the busy public transport corridors.

With this, it is expected that the average waiting time for buses during peak hours may reduce from 30 to 15 minutes.

Alphonse Nkurunziza, a senior lecturer of transport planning, engineering and urban structure at the University of Rwanda, said DBL is a key strategy for improving the city's public transport system 'because buses will move on schedule' and won't be delayed by traffic jam.

Construction of more eco-parks and sports facilities

More eco-parks and sports facilities will be established to promote healthier lifestyles and relaxation in Kigali.

In February, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) embarked on activities to rehabilitate five degraded wetlands to turn them into 'recreational areas' in the city.

The wetlands include Kibumba (68 ha), Nyabugogo (131 ha), Rugenge-Rwintare (65 ha), Rwampara (65 ha) and Gikondo (162 ha).

Faustin Vuningoma, an environment activist and coordinator at Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network (RCCDN), told The New Times that protection of swamps and marshlands through the establishment of eco-parks is very important because marshlands act as filters for the environment.

'Swamps and marshlands are like kidneys for the environment,' he said.

He added that eco-parks will also provide space for people who want to relax as well as contribute to bringing more tourists to the country.

The main objectives of the five wetlands' rehabilitation projects include enhancement of the city's landscape and development of recreational activities, flood mitigation, improvement of wetlands' biodiversity, and water quality improvement.

The activities to construct the eco-parks on about 500 hectares are estimated to cost $80 million (approx. Rwf102 billion).

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/how-top-5-projects-are-poised-to-reshape-kigali/