Politics

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s National Assembly on Friday swore in two newly appointed cabinet ministers during a ceremony held in Bujumbura under the auspices of President Évariste Ndayishimiye, formalizing appointments announced earlier this week. Alfred Ahingejeje was sworn in as minister of justice, human rights and gender, while Damien Niyonkuru took office as minister...

Burundi’s ruling party CNDD-FDD has reappointed Secretary General Révérien Ndikuriyo and his deputy, Cyriaque Nshimirimana, to another five-year terms following an extraordinary national congress, that was held in the country’s capital Gitega on Sunday. The congress was held under the leadership of President Évariste Ndayishimiye in his role as head of the Council of...

Rwanda has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it supports and coordinates with the AFC/M23 rebel movement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, describing the relationship as a defensive and temporary measure aimed at countering what it calls “an ongoing genocidal threat linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.” In a statement released by...

President Évariste Ndayishimiye on Friday appointed two new ministers, continuing a pattern of cabinet adjustments that has, in several instances, resulted in relatively short ministerial tenures since he took office in 2020. According to a statement from the Office of the President, Alfred Ahingejeje was appointed Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Gender, while Damien Niyonkuru was named Minister of Infrastructures, Social Housing,...

U.S. Embassy Bujumbura Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Melanie Higgins met this week with Chris Showalter, chief executive officer of Lifezone Metals, to discuss proposed plans for a joint U.S.–Burundi initiative to develop the Musongati nickel deposit, according to a post from the embassy on X formerly known as Twitter. The discussions focused on ways to...

The African Development Bank on June 26 officially handed over educational and technical equipment worth $3 million to the RUSI Public Polytechnic and Vocational Retraining Center during a ceremony in Karuzi province attended by President Évariste Ndayishimiye, senior government officials and development partners. The equipment, described by officials as modern and customized, was provided...

East African Community (EAC) observers said Uganda’s January 2026 general elections were “largely peaceful” but noted significant logistical challenges, late polling station openings and restrictions on internet access during the vote, according to a preliminary statement released Monday. The EAC Election Observation Mission, deployed at the invitation of Uganda’s Electoral Commission and led by...

The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday it will pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals it says have historically had high rates of welfare use after arriving in the United States. The freeze, scheduled to begin Jan. 21 and remain in place indefinitely while the department reviews screening and vetting...

The East African Community has deployed a 61-member Election Observation Mission to monitor Uganda’s general elections scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, as authorities announced a temporary suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services during the election period. The regional bloc said the mission was deployed following an invitation from the Ugandan government...

Senior officials from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have exchanged pointed accusations on social media, underscoring deepening tensions between the neighboring countries as regional and international peace efforts struggle to contain renewed violence in eastern Congo. The latest exchange followed comments by Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, who on Jan. 9 outlined...