Augustine Tours, a leading tour operator in Africa, has announced its most popular itinerary for 2024: a seven-day Gorilla Trekking expedition across Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. The tour, which has already garnered 50 bookings, offers a blend of wildlife encounters and cultural experiences at an affordable price.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has been sworn in for a fifth term, extending his nearly 25-year rule. Despite winning a landslide victory with 99.18% of the vote, his re-election has been met with criticism over alleged human rights abuses and suppression of dissent. The ceremony, held in Kigali’s Amahoro National Stadium, was attended by 22 African heads of state.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame secured a fourth term in office on Monday, winning the presidential election with an overwhelming majority. The election saw a record voter turnout and was marked by allegations of media suppression and political repression. Despite criticism from human rights groups, Kagame’s anticipated victory was confirmed by the National Electoral Commission.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame is set to win another term in Monday’s election, securing his grip on power after a campaign characterized by a lack of meaningful opposition. Kagame, who has led Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide, faces little challenge from the authorized opposition and independent candidates, despite criticisms of his government’s human rights record and accusations of military involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has put a hold on its withdrawal, citing continued violence in the east of the country. The decision comes after the first phase of the withdrawal, completed in June, and is attributed to an escalation of clashes blamed on neighboring Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel group.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed his new Labour government will abandon the controversial Rwanda asylum seeker deportation policy, marking a significant shift from the previous Conservative government. Starmer faces the challenge of tackling domestic issues like economic woes and public disillusionment, while also finding a solution to the ongoing migrant crisis.
The United States has welcomed a two-week humanitarian truce in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aiming to ease suffering and facilitate de-escalation in the conflict-ridden region. The truce, starting at midnight local time on Friday, covers areas heavily impacted by fighting between government troops and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The conflict has displaced millions of people and hindered humanitarian aid efforts.
Attacks on two camps for displaced people in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province on Friday killed at least 12 people, including children, according to local officials, an aid group and the United Nations. The UN called the attacks a “flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime”. The Congolese army blamed the attacks on an alleged rebel group, known as M23, with links to Rwanda, while M23 denied involvement. UN experts and the US State Department have accused Rwanda of backing the M23, but Rwanda denies the claims.
Home Office minister Chris Philp faced ridicule after he questioned whether Rwanda and Congo were different countries. The blunder occurred during a BBC Question Time discussion on the government’s deportation policy. An audience member raised concerns about Congolese people being sent to Rwanda under the scheme, given the hostile relations between the two countries. However, Philp initially seemed unable to comprehend that Rwanda and Congo were separate entities, prompting laughter and disbelief from the audience and fellow panelists. The incident highlighted concerns about the minister’s understanding of the situation in the region, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding due to the M23 rebel group’s advance in eastern Congo.
Hope Hostel, a former sanctuary for Rwandan orphans of the 1994 genocide, is poised to welcome migrants sent from the United Kingdom. The hostel, located in the vibrant Kagugu neighborhood of Kigali, will serve as a transit center for migrants arriving from the UK. Rwanda has assured readiness to receive migrants, with authorities planning for their arrival for two years. The hostel has a capacity for 100 occupants, and additional accommodations will be provided as necessary.
