Latest Rwanda News

Rebels claim to capture more ground in Congo's east, raising further concerns about election safety

Nov. 22, 2023 20:13 PM EST

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A rebel group with alleged links to neighboring Rwanda claimed Wednesday to have seized a key town in Congo’s conflict-hit eastern region amid intense fighting, raising further security concerns ahead of the country’s Dec. 20 presidential election. Mweso...

Weeklong negotiations for landmark treaty to end plastic pollution close, marred in disagreements

Nov. 20, 2023 12:24 PM EST

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The latest round of negotiations to craft a treaty to end global plastic pollution closed late on Sunday after talks in Nairobi, Kenya, where delegates failed to reach a consensus on how to advance a draft of the agreement after a week of strained negotiations. ...

Congo's presidential candidates kick off campaigning a month before election

Nov. 19, 2023 13:21 PM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and a politician hoping to unseat him next month launched their campaigns Sunday as the incumbent leader faces ongoing violence in eastern Congo and a divided field of opposition candidates. Opposition party...

After court defeat, the UK says its Rwanda migrant plan can still work. Legal experts are skeptical

Nov. 16, 2023 09:06 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s interior minister said Thursday that the U.K. government can revive its blocked plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda without breaching international law, with the first flights taking off next year. Home Secretary James Cleverly said the government is...

The UK government wants to send migrants to Rwanda. Here's why judges say it's unlawful

Nov. 15, 2023 20:15 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Supreme Court dealt the government a defeat on Wednesday, ruling that its flagship policy to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda is unlawful. The government is vowing to make some changes and press on with the controversial plan. Here’s a look at...

UK top court says a plan to send migrants to Rwanda is illegal. The government still wants to do it

Nov. 15, 2023 20:13 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — The British government said Wednesday it will still try to send some migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda, despite the U.K. Supreme Court ruling that the contentious plan is unlawful because asylum-seekers would not be safe in the African country. In a major blow to...

A suspect in the 1994 Rwanda genocide goes on trial in Paris after a decadeslong investigation

Nov. 14, 2023 07:22 AM EST

PARIS (AP) — A Rwandan doctor who has been living in France for decades goes on trial Tuesday in Paris over his alleged role in the 1994 genocide in his home country. Sosthene Munyemana, 68, faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in such crimes. He has...

US asks Congo and Rwanda to de-escalate tensions as fighting near their border displaces millions

Nov. 07, 2023 09:33 AM EST

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Rwanda and Congo to de-escalate tensions and withdraw troops from their border following increased fighting that has displaced nearly 7 million people. Blinken spoke separately by phone with Congolese President...

Rwanda announces visa-free travel for all Africans as continent opens up to free movement of people

Nov. 02, 2023 15:24 PM EDT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Rwanda announced Thursday that it will allow Africans to travel visa-free to the country, becoming the latest nation on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at boosting free movement of people and trade to rival Europe’s Schengen zone. President...

At least 16 people killed when a boat caught fire in western Congo, as attacks rise in the east

Oct. 23, 2023 19:01 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — At least 16 people were killed Monday when a boat caught fire on the Congo River, local officials said. The boat was carrying fuel and was on its way to the city of Mbandaka from the eastern part of the capital, Kinshasa, said Papy Epiana, the provincial...