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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-Radio Rwanda journalist detained in France over 1994 genocide
Representative image (AI) PARIS: A journalist at the government Radio Rwanda during the 1994 genocide of ethnic Tutsis was charged and detained in France at the end of April, a source close to the case told AFP on Thursday. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT) confirmed that Hyacinthe Bicamumpaka was indicted for genocide, complicity in crimes against humanity and conspiracy. His pre-trial detention was upheld on appeal on May 9, according to a judicial source. Alongside Radio Mille Collines, which was nicknamed "Radio Genocide" or "Hutu Power Radio", Radio Rwanda was the official Hutu government radio station during the genocide. Bicamumpaka was a "prominent journalist" who was "very close to the main planners of the genocide", the executive secretary of the genocide survivors' group Ibuka, Naphtali Ahishakiye told AFP. In 2021, French online investigative news outlet Mediapart said Bicamumpaka was in France with two other Rwandans suspected of having taken part in the genocide. France's OCLCH crimes against humanity unit began an investigation soon after. Bicamumpaka arrived in France in June 1994, with Rwanda in the grip of the genocide, according to French authorities. His refugee request, consulted online, stated that the Hutu origin journalist claimed he could not return to his country where "members of his ethnic group are now persecuted", and said he actively worked through his broadcasts to promote peace. His asylum claim was rejected, with the refugee commission stating that Radio Rwanda was a "vehicle of government propaganda at a time when the Rwandan government notoriously tolerated and encouraged a genocide against the Tutsi population". As a journalist for the station, "Mr Bicamumpaka could not ignore that he contributed, even indirectly, to the perpetration of mass murder", it added. The genocide by the Hutu regime in power between April and July 1994 resulted in about 800,000 deaths, according to the UN. The overwhelming majority were from the Tutsi minority.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
M23 fighters expel civilians to Rwanda
GOMA: Armed fighters from the M23 group, which has taken control of eastern DR Congo's key major town of Goma, on Saturday set about expelling thousands of people they say are illegals from , AFP witnessed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Monday the group's military spokesman Willy Ngoma had presented to the media 181 men whom they referred to as "Rwandan subjects" illegally in the country at Goma's main sports stadium. All of the men shown had ID papers from the DRC which the M23 asserted were bogus. An AFP reporter said the armed group had summarily burned the documents on the stadium pitch. Several hundred women and children, relatives of those detained, joined them at the stadium aboard trucks chartered by the M23. One of the men arrested, who gave his name only as Eric, had told AFP on Monday that he was from the town of Karenga, located in North Kivu, which is considered a stronghold of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda ( ). The FDLR is an armed group founded by former Rwandan Hutu leaders of the 1994 Tutsi genocide. Early Saturday, 360 people were loaded onto buses from Goma, Eujin Byun, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( ), told AFP. The UNHCR stressed that "returns of refugees to their countries of origin must be safe, voluntary, and carried out with dignity, in accordance with international law". The convoy crossed the border to Rubavu, in western Rwanda, an AFP correspondent reported. "We will do everything to reintegrate them into society, so that they have the same responsibilities and the same rights as other Rwandans," Prosper Mulindwa, mayor of Rubavu district, told reporters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The M23 and Kigali accuse Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR and have justified their offensive in eastern DRC by a need to neutralise that group. The majority of the families expelled by the M23 are from Karenga, and had been prevented from returning there after the M23 took over Goma, according to security and humanitarian sources. The families were living in a reception centre for displaced persons in Sake, some 20 kilometres (13 miles) from Goma, the sources said. In March, 20 suspected FDLR fighters, dressed in Congolese Armed Forces uniforms, were handed over to Rwandan authorities by the M23. Kinshasa denounced the incident as a "crude fabrication" intended to discredit its army.
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Minerals, mobile phones and militias: how war unfolded in DRC
H ello and welcome to The Long Wave. This week, after three months of fighting, a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the works. I spoke to our east Africa correspondent, Carlos Mureithi, about the conflict, how quickly it escalated and the prospects for peace. The long shadow of the 90s Flag bearers … People scale a monument during an anti-government rally in Bukavu in February. Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images In late January, in a fast and shocking development, the M23 militia group seized Goma, one of the largest cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Weeks later, these rebels captured Bukavu, another large city of strategic importance, thwarting the Congolese army's attempts to halt their march. M23's mobilisation and rapid gains were the culmination of decades of political and economic tensions. Carlos tells me that the roots of this conflict lie in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which millions of refugees crossed from Rwanda to DRC and brought with them Hutu and Tutsi parties still litigating ethnic agendas. M23 is led by ethnic Tutsis, who took up arms more than 10 years ago and have engaged in several skirmishes since. The justification for the military action is that M23 needs to protect the minority group from further threats and marginalisation. Hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered in the genocide by Hutu extremists. Carlos says that although this conflict has raged for decades, M23's progress this year seems to have a different momentum, as the group has made larger inroads and significant territorial gains in a short space of time. 'This year, [the fighting is] the worst we have seen.' Conflict minerals Heavy metal … DRC is the largest producer of cobalt from mines, accounting for more than 70% of global production last year. Photograph: Junior Kannah/AFP/Getty Images M23's advance amounts to a grave breach of DRC's sovereignty. Carlos says this is especially the case because the Rwandan government is backing the rebel group. 'Rwanda denies it but according to the UN [and the international community], it is Rwanda that funds M23.' The country claims whatever support it is extending to M23, it is not full sponsorship, only an attempt to 'protect Tutsis, who were targeted in the genocide', Carlos adds. But according to experts on the region, Rwanda is heavily invested in securing proxy control over parts of DRC, not only because of political enmeshment through overlapping ethnic demographics, but also due to DRC's abundance of lucrative natural resources. Notoriously known as conflict minerals, these assets are of significant interest to Rwanda, Carlos says, a covetousness that is extending and entrenching military strife in eastern and southern DRC. It is striking that these areas are rarely spoken of in terms of their extraordinary beauty and almost otherworldly natural habitat of hills, lakes and soil tinged with red and orange. Buffeted between political and economic agendas, the region became the site of an ethnic and now commercial battle. While the conflict began as friction between communities, minerals also play a huge role, Carlos explains. Such minerals are exceptionally bountiful in DRC and are some of the most critical in modern technology. Cobalt, lithium and coltan are used in lithium-ion batteries in circuit-board electronics and power laptops, smartphones and electric vehicles. DRC is home to a staggering 60-70% of the world's supply of these minerals. Carlos says vast sums of money are made from capturing and trading these natural materials, which are a source of funding for even more territorial gains. A deadly wave of violence Uprooted … People displaced by war arrive from Goma on a handmade boat near Minova, South Kivu province, DRC. Photograph: Alexis Huguet/AFP/Getty Images 'Fast and violent' is how Carlos describes the events of the past three months. He stresses that this period is only the latest chapter in a conflict that 'has created one of the largest and deadliest humanitarian crises in the world. Since 1996, it has caused more than 6 million deaths and displaced a similar number of people internally and outside the DRC.' In March, Carlos was in Cibitoke, Burundi, which neighbours DRC and has become one of the destinations to which refugees fled the fighting. Those escaping the violence revealed 'really horrible ordeals'. As M23 progressed through south-east DRC, refugees saw hundreds of Congolese military personnel fleeing – some wounded. Carlos says: 'To show how desperate the situation was, these soldiers were telling civilians: 'We are running away from M23. We have been overpowered, they are coming here. If you can, the best thing for you is to leave this town.'' skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to The Long Wave Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Those who could, took whatever belongings they had and walked to the Burundi border, crossing a dangerous river on the way, one in which several people drowned. It was really striking to Carlos just 'how helpless the Congolese army was. It was a very desperate situation.' Eastern DRC – a remote area in a vast country Sunset in Bulambo, DRC … The shadow of war looms large in a country known for its diverse animal species and landscapes. Photograph:/500px One of the peculiar features of the DRC conflict is how localised it is, which perhaps goes some way towards explaining the tepid response from the army and security forces. The capital, Kinshasa, is a world away from Goma – a 47-hour car drive and a ferry journey. The refugees Carlos spoke to shared one thing: they blamed the government, and felt that the ruling powers in Kinshasa had neglected eastern DRC. The government is also in business in the region and is among a host of parties extracting minerals and handing out contracts to foreign companies. Carlos says people believe that as long as politicians can keep making money from the region, they will let the fighting continue. Potential for peace Peace pact … The emir of Qatar speaks to the Rwandan president (left) and his DRC counterpart in Doha last month. Photograph: Mofa Qatar/AFP/Getty Images That might be changing, as M23's advance threatens to destabilise Kinshasa. Carlos tells me that only a couple of weeks ago 'the warring parties were not willing to just sit down and talk'. But sit down they did, and talks in Doha yielded a promise by both sides to provide draft peace documents. The Trump administration has also weighed in, expressing a strong interest in sponsoring a peace deal. These discussions are the most promising in recent history, Carlos says. An end to the fighting is urgent and welcome – but a permanent resolution can only come about if there is no return to the turbulent status quo. The key to an enduring peace is a commitment to extract DRC from the quagmire once and for all while loosening the grip of history and geography. To receive the complete version of The Long Wave in your inbox every Wednesday, please subscribe here.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
YSU spring 2025 commencement details
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Graduates, get your cap and gown ready — it's almost time to walk. Youngstown State University will split commencement ceremonies over Friday and Saturday this week, May 2 and 3. The ceremonies are scheduled as follows: Bitonte College of Health and Human Services – 5:30 p.m., Friday, May 2 Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education – 10 a.m., Saturday, May 3 The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics – 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 3 The Williamson College of Business Administration and the Cliffe College of Creative Arts – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 3 All ceremonies will take place in the main gymnasium of Beeghly Physical Education Center on YSU's campus. Tickets are not required. Graduates should arrive an hour before their commencement, dressed in regalia, and report to the room indicated for their college, posted online here. Free parking will be available in campus lots during the graduation celebration weekend. Handicap parking will be available in the M81 lot off of the Service Road. From there, a tram will be available to take guests to rear of Beeghly Center. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed on YSU's YouTube channel. BCHHS Colonel Sarah Evans will be the guest speaker for BCHHS. Col. Evans oversees health services for over 65,000 trainees and 21,000 beneficiaries annually. She leads a team of 335 personnel supporting the base's dual mission of technical and flying training, including the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Training Program. Originally from Youngstown, Col. Evans began her military career in 1985 as a combat medic in the U.S. Army and was later commissioned into the Air Force Nurse Corps in 2000. The BCHHS student speaker is Yvonne Uwamahoro, a seasoned mental health professional with two decades of international consulting experience in mental and public health, who is graduating with her Master of Social Work degree. Uwamahoro recently provided trauma-informed counseling for both survivors and perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. She has also led mental health awareness campaigns across Africa and internationally. BCLASS Speaking to BCLASS graduates will be Suzanne Barbati, a longtime advocate for education and community development. Barbati holds a bachelor's degree in Conflict Studies and Education from YSU. She is the founding director of OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology, where she led its transformation into a regional science and technology hub. Barbati also served as Director of Planned Giving before retiring. Her diverse career includes roles with the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, Mahoning County Commissioners and as a nonprofit consultant. The student speaker is Jordan Pintar, a graduating Sokolov Honors College student, majoring in philosophy with a minor in political science. Pintar has held numerous leadership roles in student government, including president, vice president, parliamentarian and senator. She has contributed to the YSU campus community through active involvement and leadership, including her role on the Ethics Bowl team, which earned top regional honors and placed fourth nationally. STEM Chris Ciolli, director of Data & Technology Process Excellence at The Lubrizol Corporation, leads a global team focused on enhancing innovation through advanced data management and process optimization. A Youngstown native and Fitch High School graduate, Ciolli earned his chemistry degree from YSU and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His career spans over 20 years across the diagnostics, pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industries, with leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories, Ricerca Biosciences and Lubrizol. Elena Zandier, a graduating YSU student, majoring in civil engineering with a minor in mathematics. Also a member of the Sokolov Honors College, Zandier has excelled in academics and leadership in organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers and Tau Beta Pi. She has also served as an undergraduate assistant, mentoring first-year engineering students and fostering their academic success. WCBA/CCCA Speakers Meghan Borsic is the head of design and senior vice president for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, bringing over two decades of creative leadership to one of the world's most iconic brands. Renowned for transforming bold ideas into reality, Borsic champions innovation and human-centered design across Disney's expansive media landscape. Her career includes influential roles at Meta and Amazon, where she led teams that developed groundbreaking global products. Jacob Sylak is a graduating student, majoring in business administration. Balancing academics with NCAA Division I athletics, he maintains a strong GPA while leading the YSU Men's Golf Team as captain. Sylak has hands-on experience in sales and business development through his role as a Hospitality Sales Intern at P3 Hotel Software, where he supports U.S. market expansion and leads strategic client initiatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
We Need Serious Leadership On Genocide Prevention
A picture taken on April 29, 2018, shows a visitor looking at victims' portraits at the Kigali ... More Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images) In the United States, April is designated as Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month and is aimed at commemorating and raising awareness about genocides that occurred in the past, including the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the Rwandan Genocide. April was the obvious choice for this commemoration, as past decades have seen significant atrocities being perpetrated in this month. This is also why several genocides are being further commemorated during the month of April. April 7 marks the UN International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It was established to remember members of the Tutsi community, an African ethnic group, who were killed or injured in the atrocities. In 1994, as many as one million people – overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide – were systematically killed in 100 days of the atrocities, and thousands more were injured. Among those, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women were subjected to systematic sexual violence. These statistics send a strong message. The speed of the killings confirms that the atrocities were planned. The implication is that the destruction of the Tutsi people, an ethnic minority group, was the intention. April 24 marks the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, a day to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Beginning on April 24, 1915, with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople by Ottoman authorities, some over 1.5 million Armenians were deported and subjected to horrific atrocities. The main atrocities occurred between 1915 and 1916 and 1920 and 1923, when the Ottoman Empire invaded parts of Armenia, subjecting Armenians to further mass killings. The day is marked only by a handful of states globally. This may, April 24 also mark the Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) to commemorate the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the largest armed Jewish uprising during the Second World War. On April 19, 1943, a group of young men led by Mordechai Anielewicz fought back Nazi troops who entered the Warsaw Ghetto to deport its inhabitants to concentration camps. Over the years, the Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month has also been used to shine a light on ongoing atrocities globally and the serious risk of atrocities. Despite the legal obligation to prevent genocide enshrined in the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention) and the political commitment of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), atrocity crimes are too common and are rarely addressed with comprehensive responses. The duty to prevent genocide is never triggered, as states continue to shy away from identifying the serious risk of genocide and acting upon it. The R2P has not delivered palpable change either. Commenting on the 20th anniversary of the R2P, Professor the Hon. Gareth Evans and Dr. Jennifer Welsh, Co-Chairs of the International Advisory Board of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, stated that: '20 years later – with all too obvious horrors and civilian suffering still occurring in Gaza, Sudan, the DRC, Myanmar and elsewhere – it is clear that R2P is still at best a work in progress. It is time to reflect on what we have learned about preventing and responding to the atrocity crimes outlined in the World Summit Outcome Document, and to focus on how we can do better.' With every situation of atrocity crimes perpetrated globally, it is clear that we urgently need serious leadership on genocide prevention. In recent years, the US played a crucial role here, especially with the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, an act aimed at improving the US response to mass atrocities. It is yet unclear what President Trump's plans are on the issue. As it stands, it appears that genocide and atrocity crimes prevention do not appear to be a priority for the Trump Administration. Reportedly, with the planned major overhaul of the US State Department, the Office of Global Criminal Justice, which works on the US response to international crimes, is to be subjected to cuts. Further changes have not been confirmed, nor how this is going to affect the US's ability to play its important role in atrocity prevention. Genocide and atrocity prevention are a matter of national security. Such work requires resources, capacity building and long-term commitment. It is key that genocide and atrocity prevention become a priority for this new administration and help to deliver the change that is urgently needed.
