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"The closure of borders hinders economic growth, social cohesion, and cultural exchange," declared the Bishops of Rwanda and Burundi at the conclusion of the first Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Association of Ordinary Conferences of Rwanda and Burundi (ACOREB), which took place from March 30 to April 1 at the Saint Joseph Center in Kibungo, Rwanda.


The government in Bujumbura has closed the land border with Rwanda, accusing the country of supporting Burundian rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government in Kigali denies these accusations.


Burundi also believes that the perpetrators of the failed 2015 coup are in Rwanda (see Fides 15/5/2015) and intends to bring them to justice. However, Rwanda says that under international law, it is unable to extradite individuals seeking political asylum.
"We ask our leaders to act wisely and mercifully to restore normalcy and promote unity between our nations," the bishops of the two countries said in the statement presented at a press conference.


The crisis between Rwanda and Burundi is linked to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where large parts of the provinces of North and South Kivu have fallen under the control of the Rwandan-backed M23 guerrilla movement. Burundi, which had stationed its own military units in the Congolese province of South Kivu, withdrew them shortly before the M23 and Rwandan troops captured the provincial capital, Bukavu.


The government in Bujumbura now fears a possible incursion by the M23 and Rwandans into its territory and an expansion of the Congolese conflict to the entire Great Lakes region. For this reason, the bishops of Rwanda and Burundi also join the message of the Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences (ACEAC), which calls for negotiations to resolve the conflicts peacefully.


"From February 24 to 26, 2025, the Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences (ACEAC) held a meeting in Dar es Salaam to seek solutions for peace in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo," recall the bishops of Burundi and Rwanda. "The members of ACOREB welcome and support the message of ACEAC, which calls on all parties involved in this deadly war to return to the negotiating table to resolve their conflicts through peaceful means and sincere and inclusive dialogue."

"The Episcopal Conference of Burundi (CECAB) and the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (CEPR) have translated this message into the local language and disseminated it in all parishes to raise awareness among the faithful, to pray for peace in our sub-region, and to be witnesses of fraternity," they emphasize.

"In a world where many people sow discord and build walls of division for their own selfish interests and greedy ambitions, the bishops urge the Catholic faithful to invest in building bridges and to bear witness to communion, universal fraternity, and the truth." (L.M.) Agenzia Fides

Walter Buchanan, a 66-year-old Scottish man, has been sentenced to life in prison after he brutally murdered his 37-year-old Kenyan wife, Darrel Odhiambo.

An Edinburgh High Court judge, Lord Cubie, sentenced Walter Buchanan to life imprisonment after he found him guilty of killing his wife by strangling her. 

"As you have already been told, the sentence for murder is fixed by law. I must now impose that sentence upon you. I sentence you to imprisonment for life,'' the judgment by Judge Cubie reads in part.

Darrel found that Buchanan had been cheating on her, and upon enquiring, the Scottish man unleashed war on her. He is said to have assaulted her and, as part of that assault, compressed her neck and restricted her breathing, causing her demise at their flat near Hamilton Racecourse in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. 

 

Police Scotland

''The court heard that she sent a message, apparently unhappy that you were out without her; she may have harboured unfair suspicions about with whom and where you were; I emphasise that her actions or words provide no justification, provocation, or explanation for what happened. You returned home, and there was a verbal and then physical confrontation,'' the judge continued.

According to the judge, the compression of her neck led to a brain injury, bruising, and a rib fracture on February 18, 2023. The two had been married for six years, and the accused had earlier denied the charges; however, a jury found him guilty of murder in January 2024

Buchanan alleged that he thought that she had gone to sleep only to wake up with a cold body. He called the police, followed instructions for CPR, and would later tell the officers that she had choked.

He then changed his account and later alleged that she had been drinking and fell on the stairs. The post-mortem described several injuries and concluded there had been manual strangulation and smothering.

The jury found that at the time of the incident, the Scottish man either intended to kill or was so wickedly reckless as to the consequences of your actions that it amounted to murder. 

Buchanan’s crime left their son motherless and caused frustration to Darrel's mother and sisters, who expressed their frustration to the court. 

"You deprived your wife’s mother and sisters and extended family of her society. I have read from the victim impact statements the feelings of loss which they endure; and you have left her son Jimmy motherless," the judgment continued.

Although Buchanan has been sentenced to life imprisonment, he has a chance to apply for parole since the judge found that he was remorseful after what he did. However, he must first serve for not less than 15 years before he can apply for parole.

''I bear in mind your age and your previously useful role in society. I consider that the appropriate punishment part in your case should be 15 years,'' the judgment concluded. By Christine Opanda, Kenyans.co.ke

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a collective self-defense airstrike against ISIS-Somalia on April 1, 2025.

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a collective self-defence airstrike against ISIS-Somalia on April 1, 2025.

The airstrike occurred southeast of Bosaso, Puntland, in Northeastern Somalia.

AFRICOM’s initial assessment is that multiple enemy combatants were killed and that no civilians were injured or killed.

ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. and partner forces. This group's malicious efforts threaten U.S. national security interests.

AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia’s ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our civilians abroad.

Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security. By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs  United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany

© UNOCHA On the first day of Eid, humanitarians recovered the buried bodies of eight Palestinian Red Crescent workers, six Civil Defense personnel, and one UN employee killed while working to save lives in Gaza.

In his daily press briefing, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that large-scale Israeli shelling and ground operations have resulted in widespread destruction and the displacement of more than 100,000 Palestinians from Rafah in the past two days alone, most of whom have been displaced multiple times.

Deadly attack on medical personnel

“The Secretary-General is shocked by the attack of the Israeli army on a medical and emergency convoy on 23 March resulting in the killing of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian workers in Gaza,” he said.

Mr. Dujarric stressed that all parties to the conflict must protect medical, humanitarian and emergency workers at all times, and respect and protect civilians, as required by international humanitarian law. He underscored the need to end the denial of life-saving assistance.

Since October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, including 280 UN humanitarian personnel.

Resume the ceasefire

Mr. Dujarric said the Secretary-General honours all humanitarian workers killed in this conflict and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation into these incidents.

The UN chief reiterated his strong condemnation of the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, stressing that there was no justification for the terror attacks or the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

Mr. Guterres renewed his urgent call for the immediate resumption of the ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

UN rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change

Mr. Dujarric was asked about the plans Israel has announced to take control of more land in Gaza.

“The Secretary-General also reminds that Security Council resolution 2735 (2024) rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza,” he said.

In this regard, the UN chief is increasingly concerned about inflammatory rhetoric which calls on the Israeli military to “capture extensive territory that will be added to the State of Israel’s security areas.” 

‘Even ruins have become a target’

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA), reported on Wednesday that Israeli forces shelled one of its buildings in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

He said in a social media post that the building was previously a health centre and had been badly damaged earlier in the war.  In Gaza, “even ruins have become a target,” he remarked.

Initial reports indicate that the facility was sheltering more than 700 people when it was bombed, and that “among those killed are reportedly nine children, including a two-week-old baby," Mr. Lazzarini said, noting that displaced families had stayed in the shelter after it was hit because “they have nowhere else to go.”

Investigate all attacks

Since the war began, more than 300 UN buildings have been destroyed or damaged, although the coordinates of these locations have been shared regularly with the parties to the conflict. He said more than 700 people had been killed while seeking UN protection.

Mr. Lazzarini added that too many UNRWA premises have also reportedly been used for military and combat purposes by Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, or by Israeli forces.

“The total disregard of UN staff, premises or operations is a profound defiance of international law,” he said.

I call once again for independent investigations to find out the circumstances of each of these attacks and the serious violations. In Gaza, all lines have been crossed over and over again.”

Gaza ‘a death trap’

Jonathan Whittall, acting director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described the situation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday as a “war without limits.” 

He described what is happening there as “an endless loop of blood, pain, death,” saying “Gaza has become a death trap.”

Mr. Whittall was briefing reporters at UN Headquarters in New York via video link from Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.

The top official noted that he was not sure what he could say to describe the situation on the ground, but decided against mincing his words especially after having coordinated a mission on Sunday that uncovered the mass grave of a number of humanitarian workers who were killed in Rafah.

The dead paramedics were “still wearing their uniforms, still wearing gloves” and killed while trying to save lives, he said. He added that their ambulances “were hit one by one” as they entered an area where Israeli forces were advancing.

He noted that the grave where they were buried had an emergency light from one of the ambulances. 

Mr. Whittall said he began by highlighting this case as it was emblematic of where the Strip stands today: “What is happening here defies decency, it defies humanity, it defies the law,” he said. “It really is a war without limits.”

He said that forced displacement orders resumed after the collapse of the ceasefire, and 64 per cent of the Gaza Strip is now under active forced displacement orders by Israel or within the so-called “buffer zone.”

One month since Israeli aid blockade began

“Nowhere and no one is safe,” according to Mr. Whittall, who said his colleagues tell him they “just want to die with their families” and that their worst fear is to survive alone.

We cannot accept that Palestinian civilians are dehumanized to the point of being somehow unworthy of survival, he said, noting that a month has passed since aid supplies were blocked from entering Gaza.

Responding to reporters’ questions, he said there was nowhere else in the world, to his knowledge, where an entire population of 2.1 million people is under siege, denied all forms of humanitarian aid, and the commercial sector is destroyed and then expected to survive entirely dependent on aid in a besieged and bombarded area.

He added that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was spiraling out of control, with all bakeries supported by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) closed, markets reduced to rubble, ambulance teams being killed, and people living on an aid system which is under attack.

Mr. Whittall emphasized the lack of humanitarian solutions to the problems facing Gaza. He stated that the crisis requires political action that begins with accountability, stressing that aid cannot compensate for political failures.

End the cruelty

“I think it's important for us to acknowledge that what is happening in Gaza is not going to stay in Gaza,” he warned. “We cannot let the rules-based order be replaced by one set of rules for some people, and another set of rules for others.”

The UN official expressed hope that Member States would use their political and economic influence to enforce international law, that a ceasefire would be reached to stop the slaughter and free the hostages, that "Palestinians would be finally seen as human, and that this cruelty will end.”  UN News

Sudanese woman stands with her child who is being treated for malnutrition at a nutrition stabilisation centre in Abu Shouk camp, North Darfur (File photo: WHO / Lindsay Mackenzie)

At least seven people were killed and nine injured on Monday when indiscriminate shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck Abu Shouk camp for the displaced in El Fasher, North Darfur. 

Darfur Governor, leader of Sudan’s Joint Forces, and head of a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, Minni Arko Minawi, condemned the attack as “very regrettable”.

He states that the shelling caused severe injuries among unarmed civilians and called for action to stop further violations.

Radio Dabanga could not verify whether the RSF was targeting military elements within the camp.

In December, RSF spokesperson Lt Col El Fateh Gurashi accused Minawi’s *Joint Forces of using displaced people in Zamzam camp as “human shields,” claiming they were turning the camp into a military base and recruiting civilians.

Famine declared in Abu Shouk Camp 

The UN has warned that famine is taking hold in Abu Shouk, Zamzam, and Hai El Salam camps, as well as the Western Nuba Mountains, affecting 640,000 people.

UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that “reported shelling in the Abu Shouk displacement camp… killed and injured civilians,” adding that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that famine will spread if aid remains blocked. “It is critical that aid organisations have safe and unimpeded access to people in need,” OCHA stated.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it needs over $82 million to support 7.5 million farmers with seeds and essential resources before the planting season in June. OCHA stressed that “timely support to Sudan’s farmers is essential, not only to avert famine… but also to restore livelihoods.”

Dujarric warned that time is running out. “With the rainy season starting soon, and flooding along key routes likely to compound access challenges, time is running out.”

‘El Fasher economic woes’

Reports indicate that people in El Fasher are facing severe shortages of food and essentials, with prices soaring.

A bar of soap costs SDG4,500 to SDG5,000, lentils SDG12,000 per kilogram, and rice is unavailable. A single onion sells for SDG1,000, while sugar costs SDG15,000 per kilogram. 

The acting governor of North Darfur, Hafez Bakhit, said the RSF-imposed siege had drastically affected living conditions.

Maj Gen Ahmed Elkhader Saleh, commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ Sixth Infantry Division, vowed to break the RSF siege of El Fasher, adding that “victory was looming on the horizon”.

‘40,000 displaced arrive in Nyala’

More than 40,000 displaced people have arrived in South Darfur’s capital of Nyala, after fleeing last week’s fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF in Khartoum.

A volunteer in Nyala described the humanitarian situation as dire, with displaced families sheltering in overcrowded homes and schools. 

He warned of food and medicine shortages, worsening sanitary conditions, and a lack of humanitarian response. He urged authorities and aid agencies to act immediately.


*The Sudanese Joint Force is made up of fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction headed by Darfur Governor Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), the JEM faction led by Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim (JEM-JI), and several small rebel groups. These movements formed the Darfur Joint Force in June 2022 as agreed in the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, to protect the people of Darfur. They renounced their neutrality in November last year and are now fighting against the RSF alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). By ABU SHOUK CAMP / ZAMZAM CAMP / EL FASHER / NYALA, Radio Dabanga

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