News

NAIROBI, Kenya — East and Southern African leaders have endorsed a plan to merge regional mediation efforts under the African Union while pledging to align them with recent global peace initiatives, in a push to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meeting virtually on Aug. 13, the Joint Extraordinary Summit...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin began a five-day visit to Burundi on Tuesday, August 12, where he was received by Vice President Prosper Bazombanza. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Parolin said he brought a message similar to that of Pope John Paul II during his visit to the...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions on an armed group and several companies accused of fueling violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through the illicit trade of critical minerals. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the measures target the Coalition des Patriotes Résistants Congolais–Force de Frappe...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — President Évariste Ndayishimiye on Tuesday announced a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, appointing a new prime minister and overhauling several key ministries. Nestor Ntahontuye has been named the new Prime Minister, replacing Gervais Ndirakobuca, who had served in the role since 2022. Ndirakobuca was recently elected senator and has since assumed the position...

WASHINGTON / NAIROBI (Aug. 1, 2025) — Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have taken a critical step toward implementing their June peace agreement, holding the inaugural Joint Oversight Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., on July 31. The United States, along with the African Union and the State of Qatar, observed the session, which...

ARUSHA, Tanzania -East African Community Secretary-General Veronica M. Nduva has expressed strong concern over Tanzania’s recent decision to bar non-citizens from operating in 15 business sectors, saying the move may violate the bloc’s Common Market Protocol and undermine regional integration. Speaking through an official EAC Secretariat statement issued from Arusha, Nduva warned that such...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s National Assembly on Thursday re-elected Gelase Daniel Ndabirabe as its president for the 2025–2030 legislative term in a plenary session aimed at forming the Bureau of the Assembly. Ndabirabe, the sole candidate, received 109 of 111 votes, or 98.1 percent. One lawmaker abstained and one ballot was declared invalid.

Nigeria staged an extraordinary second-half comeback to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 on Saturday night, capturing their 10th TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title at the Stade Olympique. Trailing 2-0 at halftime before a raucous home crowd, the Super Falcons displayed their trademark resilience and composure. Second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo,...

BUJUMBURA, July 27, 2025 — Burundi’s ruling party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD‑FDD), has won all contested Senate seats in the official indirect elections held on July 23, 2025, solidifying its political dominance across all five provinces. The results are now pending validation by the Constitutional Court.

BUJUMBURA — Kellia Kaneza Lagloire was crowned Miss Burundi 2025 during the national pageant’s final ceremony held on July 25 at Cercle Hippique in Bujumbura. The event, organized by INGO S.A., marked a renewed focus on cultural heritage and youth empowerment, following previous criticisms of the competition’s relevance and structure. This year’s edition integrated...