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The purpose was to streamline the substance of various NCIP agreements, namely the mechanisms for the mutual defence pact; coordinating foreign affairs, defence, peace, and security policies; and methods for comprehensive conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

During the three-day meetings, the Defence Cooperation Cluster Technical Committee proposed practical recommendations to pave the way for the next senior officials’ session in preparation for the 15th NCIPs Summit.

In his closing remarks at the meeting, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, the Director General of International Military Cooperation, Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa commended collaborative efforts and constructive dialogue with the selected Technical Committee.

'I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of you for your hard work and commitment. The collaborative efforts and constructive dialogue we have witnessed here have been truly commendable, and I am confident that the work you have done will provide a solid foundation for the upcoming consultations at Ministerial and, ultimately, Heads of State Level.

“This collaborative momentum will therefore continue to drive our collective efforts going forward. ' Gen Karuretwa stressed.

The General further applauded the key outcomes of these discussions and said 'Your dedication to advancing the NCIPs and strengthening our mutual defence cooperation is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and partnership that defines our shared objectives”.

The Defence Cooperation Cluster Technical Committee proposed practical recommendations to pave the way for the next senior officials’ session in preparation for the 15th NCIPs Summit.

The meeting was successfully concluded in Kigali.

Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa commended collaborative efforts and constructive dialogue with the selected Technical Committee.

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Kilifi County Police Commander Joseph Ongwae reported that the aircraft, identified as 5Y-CDC, took off from Malindi Airport headed to Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

Shortly after takeoff, it experienced mechanical issues and crash-landed approximately two kilometers from the airport at around 2:52 p.m.

The aircraft, carrying a pilot, an instructor, and a student, landed on motorcycles in the area. All three onboard survived the crash, but two motorcycle taxi riders and a pillion passenger were killed. Three others sustained injuries.

Video footage shared online showed the plane engulfed in flames on the road, with nearby makeshift structures also catching fire. Firefighters quickly responded to contain the blaze.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. In a statement, the KCAA confirmed that all onboard the aircraft survived and were hospitalized, while expressing regret over the ground fatalities.

Emergency teams and government agencies remain on-site as investigations continue.

A light aircraft crash-landed on a roadside in Malindi, Kenya, on Friday, killing three people on the ground and injuring others.

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The incident involved the willful assault and serious injury of Jean Bosco Ndayishimiye, leaving the victim temporarily incapacitated.

The court ruled that Rutatina would serve the suspended sentence over a one-year probationary period and fined him Rwf 500,000.

The court also found Ismael Sindayigaya and Annet Irasubiza guilty as co-defendants in the case.

Together with Rutatina, they were ordered to jointly compensate the victim with Rwf 10 million in damages.

This case stems from an incident on November 27, 2024, when Rutatina allegedly instructed his employees to assault Ndayishimiye, who had spent the night at Rutatina’s house in Kayonza District while visiting an employee at the retired general’s ranch.

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) announced Rutatina’s arrest on December 6, 2024, following an investigation into the matter.

The prosecution later charged Rutatina along with ten of his employees, who faced varying levels of sentencing.

Niyibizi Félicien, alias Rasta, Habumuremyi Jean de Dieu, alias Kazungu, Mutungirehe Gérald, Ntabanganyimana Dan, alias Kidamage, Bucyensenge Casmir, and Rwema Samson were all convicted of willful assault causing harm.

The court issued different suspended prison terms and fines for each of them, while Bagorwanubusa Théoneste and Mupenzi Lameck were found guilty of failing to assist a person in danger.

All convicted individuals were collectively ordered to pay the compensation to Ndayishimiye.

However, they were exempted from covering court fees due to their detention during the proceedings. The court granted them the right to appeal within 30 days.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Rutatina retired from the military in 2016, having previously served as the Head of Military Intelligence for the Rwanda Defence Force.

Rwandan law specifies that retired military personnel fall under civilian legal jurisdiction.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr. Richard Mugahe Rutatina has been sentenced to a suspended three-month prison term.

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'In solidarity with the Venezuelan people, the U.S. Government and our partners around the world are taking action today. The Department of State is increasing the reward offers to up to $25 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Nicolás Maduro and Maduro’s Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello,' reads a statement by U.S. Department of State.

The U.S. has also added a new reward offer of up to $15 million for Maduro’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.

While only a few nations, including Russia, have recognized Maduro’s victory in Venezuela’s disputed July election, the Cuban and Nicaraguan presidents were reportedly the only foreign leaders present at his inauguration.

Maduro rose to power following the death of socialist leader Hugo Chávez in 2013.
He faces numerous allegations, including corruption, human rights abuses, and involvement in drug trafficking.

Maduro declared victory for a third term in July last year, but the United States and the European Parliament declared Maduro’s opponent, Edmundo González, the “president-elect,” further challenging Maduro’s legitimacy.

González, who fled Venezuela in September and is currently living in Spain, has embarked on a tour of the Americas to gain international backing.

In response, the Maduro government has issued an arrest warrant for González and is offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to his capture.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday, following a contentious election marked by claims of voter fraud.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday, following a contentious election marked by claims of voter fraud.

His opponent, Edmundo González, had declared victory in the July election, alleging widespread irregularities.

Maduro’s inauguration defied mounting international pressure and sanctions, particularly from the United States, which has recognized González as the winner of the presidential race.

“May this new presidential term be a period of peace, of prosperity, of equality and the new democracy,” Maduro declared, pledging to uphold the laws of Venezuela.

The swearing-in ceremony came a day after a rare public appearance by opposition leader María Corina Machado, who led a protest against Maduro’s rule.

According to Machado’s team, she was briefly detained during the demonstration, adding to the ongoing tensions.

Maduro, a former bus driver, rose to power following the death of left-wing leader Hugo Chávez in 2013.

His leadership has been plagued by accusations of authoritarianism, along with severe economic and political crises that have deeply affected the country.

The July 28 presidential election sparked widespread protests, with many Venezuelans contesting the results.

However, a heavy-handed government response quickly quelled the demonstrations. During the unrest, an estimated 2,000 people were arrested, and at least 25 lost their lives.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday, January 10, 2025.

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It overtook the US to top the latest Global Innovation Scorecard, a biennial ranking of 74 countries and the European Union that the Consumer Trade Association (CTA), a US trade body, has tabulated since 2019.

Out of 25 countries that were named global innovation champions, Singapore received the highest composite score, a jump from its 15th position in 2023.

Rounding off the top five innovative countries were the US, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland ranked across 16 categories and 56 metrics, making it the most comprehensive analysis to-date, according to the CTA.

The other innovative champions include Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Singapore was presented with the Global Innovation Champion award on Jan 9 at CES, the world’s largest tech fair where companies showcase their latest products and prototypes, in Las Vegas. The four-day exhibition, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, concludes today January 10, 2024.

CTA said its scorecard measures countries on the basis of their political, economic and demographic realities to see how well-placed they are to fuel tech innovation, with the latest edition evaluating countries on a wider range of metrics than before.

Singapore developed TOMO, a humanoid robot capable of performing intricate in manufacturing environments.

While the 2023 scorecard had 40 indicators, the latest one had 56, comprising a range of data sources from agencies such as the World Trade Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Singapore achieved top scores in four of the 16 categories measured: business environment resilience and data transparency; the pro-innovation nature of its legal environment; its friendliness towards start-ups and small businesses; and its tax policies for companies.

It also scored well in other categories, such as the ethnic and immigrant diversity of its workforce; openness to telehealth and cross-border data flows; and broadband speeds.

CTA chief executive officer Gary Shapiro said in a brief ceremony that the scorecard looked at whether countries have the conditions that catalyze their innovators to invent a better future.

'That means not just evaluating the investment in cutting-edge sectors or red tape for start-ups, but also recognizing that countries that ensure freedom of speech create opportunities for workforce diversity and respect people’s fundamental freedoms,' he said.

Singapore overtook the US to top the latest Global Innovation Scorecard.

'By celebrating the best of the best, our innovation champions, we encourage other countries to follow their lead. As always, the countries that rank highest on the scorecard demonstrate the best of collaboration between government and industry,' he added.

In a Facebook post on Jan 9, Enterprise Singapore said the Republic is proud to be the highest-scoring innovation champion of all the countries evaluated.

'This top honour recognizes Singapore’s skilled workforce, advanced broadband connectivity, entrepreneurial climate and openness to new technologies,' it said.

Singapore has been named the world’s most innovative country.

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The event, centered on advancing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026—2035, underscored the urgent need to pivot toward self-reliance in food production.

Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, set the tone by highlighting Africa’s paradoxical reliance on food imports despite its abundant natural resources. Her call to action was that Africa must harness its potential and invest in its agricultural systems to break this cycle of dependency.

“Our continent spends billions annually importing food while sitting on fertile soils and vast arable lands. This is a contradiction we can no longer afford and innovative solutions must be adopted to transform Africa’s agricultural sector,” she remarked.

Ministers explored avenues for enhancing agricultural productivity, such as policy reforms, research investment, and the adoption of climate-resilient practices. Emphasis was placed on mechanization, irrigation, and value addition to agricultural products as means of creating sustainable food systems.

Nabbanja also underscored the need for regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which she described as a “catalyst for intra-African trade and cooperation.”

Discussions also revisited lessons from the 2023 CAADP review, which revealed persistent challenges in achieving food security and sustainability. Ministers were urged to align their strategies with the Kampala CAADP Agenda, a blueprint for fostering innovation and climate adaptability in agriculture.

Particular focus was given to breaking trade barriers that hinder regional agricultural markets, enabling nations to capitalize on their strengths and share resources effectively. The summit’s resolutions aim to redefine Africa’s agricultural priorities, emphasizing food security, increased productivity, and regional cooperation.

These strategies, once refined, will be presented to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for adoption. The hope is that these efforts will serve as a turning point for a continent poised to feed not only itself but also the world.

In her opening remarks, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja questioned Africa’s paradoxical reliance on food imports despite its abundant natural resources.

Once refined, the resolutions out of this summit will be presented to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for adoption.

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The President criticized the DRC government for continuing to blame Rwanda for the presence of these rebels, despite being well aware of their origins.

Speaking at a press briefing on January 9, 2025, President Kagame stated that the M23 fighters are Congolese, a fact acknowledged by the DRC government, and explained that they are fighting for the rights of their fellow countrymen who were persecuted and forced to flee.

'These are Congolese even to the admission of Congo’s leaders, the past and the present. Now, why are they fighting? Why do we have over 100,000 refugees here in Rwanda originating from that region? Is it because Rwanda wants refugees and attracted them from Congo to come to Rwanda? Do they like fighting?' he wondered.

The President further questioned the narrative that labels the rebels as foreigners, pointing out that such accusations are unfounded.

'[They are involved] in the fighting that is happening in eastern Congo, and you call that violation of sovereignty, territorial integrity. How does it arise? On one hand these are Congolese, on the other hand, they are foreigners. How do they combine these two identities?'

President Kagame emphasized that those who call M23 fighters foreigners are either unaware of or are deliberately ignoring the complex history of the situation in eastern DRC.

He explained that the roots of this conflict go back to colonial times when borders were arbitrarily drawn, and that the M23 rebels did not originate from Rwanda when they resumed fighting in November 2021.

He reminded that when the rebels fled in 2013, most of them went to Uganda, where they regrouped and took up arms again to confront the DRC’s forces in 2021.

This was due to the failure of the Congolese government to address the persecution of Rwandophones, particularly Tutsis.

President Kagame noted that one of the reasons Rwanda is blamed for the situation in eastern DRC is because M23 fighters speak Kinyarwanda, and speaking Kinyarwanda in the DRC has become a pretext for the persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.

Additionally, President Kagame explained that Rwanda is also blamed due to the presence of the genocidal militia group FDLR in the DRC, which poses a security threat to Rwanda.

He recalled that United Nations peacekeepers deployed to eastern DRC had to handle issues including the dismantling of the FDLR, but despite spending significant resources, they have not made substantial progress.

The President also pointed out that some countries, including former colonial powers in Africa, have created groups of so-called experts to assess the security situation, but when they are in the region, they tend to conceal the truth.

'Those who were involved in the colonial times and who were blamed for it have the power to manipulate and always fall short of doing what is right.

'You find they have groups they create, they say 'Groups of Expert’, expert in doing what? You find these experts are led by people who are supposed to come and really cover up the blame that should be leveled against those who are responsible for those crimes of colonial times,' Kagame stated.

He stressed that anyone wanting to understand the realities of the situation in eastern DRC, and to find solutions, does not need to rely on experts but rather seek peace and security for the Congolese people.

President Kagame reiterated that FDLR plays a major role in destabilizing eastern DRC, and that the problem of this group should not be ignored.

He explained that Rwanda approached the DRC government offering support to eliminate FDLR but they refused despite having allowed Burundi and Uganda to cross into the country to fight armed groups threatening their security.

President Paul Kagame has clarified that M23 rebels fighting against the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) forces came from Uganda when they resumed fighting in North Kivu.

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President Kagame made these remarks during a New Year press conference on January 9, 2025, where he addressed various topics.

In response to a question from an Al Jazeera journalist about what new developments might be expected from the new U.S. administration regarding issues in the DRC, President Kagame stated that he respects the changes that have occurred in the country, acknowledging that they were made for good reasons.

'I respect the change that has taken place in the United States, because for it to happen, it must have been for very good reasons that The Americans endorsed in their vote,' he said.

Kagame also noted that although there has been a change in leadership through democratic processes, the country’s approach to political issues is expected to evolve.

'There are many things, even geopolitically, at least the approach, that are going to change for sure […] I think that it will be the same to the approach of how African matters may be dealt with generally and also specifically with Eastern Congo. The same might see change happen,' he said.

'That’s what I think from a distance and just waiting for what will follow,' he added.
The President highlighted that changes are taking place not only in the United States but also across the globe at a “terrific pace” and stressed the importance of hard work to thrive in this “whirlwind.”

Donald Trump, of the Republican Party, won the U.S. presidential elections held on November 5, 2024. He defeated his main rival, Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, securing 277 Electoral College votes to Harris’s 224.

After the elections concluded, President Kagame congratulated Donald Trump on his victory and pledged to continue cooperation between Rwanda and the U.S. for mutual benefits in the years ahead.

Trump is expected to take the oath of office as the 47th U.S. President on January 20, 2025.

Throughout his campaign, Trump emphasized that restoring America’s dignity would involve refraining from interventionism, focusing instead on strengthening America as a global hub, and improving the quality of life for Americans.

President Paul Kagame expressed optimism in the potential changes under the leadership of Donald Trump.

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He was responding to a question about the replacement of five ministers since the new government was sworn in after last year’s presidential elections.

The press conference, which included both local and international media, covered various issues, including the security crisis in eastern DRC.

Regarding the replacements, Kagame explained that further changes are still expected.

'Changes in the government are not over. We are still at the beginning,' he said. 'This process is guided by various factors, including the context of the time, the nature of the people, and the leadership’s desire to ensure efficiency, minimize time waste, and reduce costs while achieving our goals.'

He added that these decisions are aligned with the country’s current needs, trying to work at a manageable to address challenges in agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, the private sector, and other key areas.

Kagame compared the process to a blueprint. 'It’s like having a plan for everything—how things are done, who does them—and this plan guides the outcome. As things progress, adjustments are made where necessary,' he explained.

The President reiterated that the primary focus is on the people, ensuring that their needs are met in the best possible way.

He acknowledged the limitations posed by the country’s resources but emphasized that the government works to make the most of what is achievable.

He also highlighted the importance of accountability, stressing that leaders must focus on serving the people rather than prioritizing personal interests.

'We must consider whether someone performs well in their current role, or if they might be more effective elsewhere. It’s about ensuring that the focus remains on the people, not on personal interests,' Kagame said.

Before making any appointments or replacements, he follows a thorough process to ensure the leaders selected truly represent the interests of the citizens.

'I go through all these steps first. If I see a need for change, I don’t hesitate. Even if I appoint someone overnight, but realize the next day it’s not working, I will remove the person,' Kagame affirmed.

Kagame further emphasized that his decisions are not swayed by personal feelings.

'I don’t care if someone gets upset or not. What matters to me is whether I’ve addressed an issue for the people and ensured that things are done properly,' he concluded.

President Paul Kagame has emphasized that the Government of Rwanda follows a rigorous process for selecting and replacing leaders.

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