Foreign
U.S. Calls On Rwanda To Immediately Withdraw Its Defense Force Personnel, Surface-To-Air Missile Systems From DR Congo
The US noted that the armed group was being sanctioned by its government and the United Nations
The United States has “strongly” condemned the worsening violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by the actions of the Rwanda-backed M-23 armed group, including its recent incursions into the town of Sake.
The US noted that the armed group was being sanctioned by its government and the United Nations.
A statement by a US Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said the escalation in DR Congo has “increased the risk to millions of people already exposed to human rights abuses including displacement, deprivation, and attacks”.
It said, “We call on M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from its current positions around Sake and Goma and in accordance with the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
“The United States condemns Rwanda’s support for the M23 armed group and calls on Rwanda to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the DRC and remove its surface-to-air missile systems, which threaten the lives of civilians, UN and other regional peacekeepers, humanitarian actors, and commercial flights in eastern DRC.
“It is essential that all states respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and hold accountable all actors for human rights abuses in the conflict in eastern DRC.
“We call on the government of the DRC to continue to support confidence building measures, including ceasing cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group named as a “negative force” by regional bodies and the government of the DRC, and which exposes the civilian population to risk.
“We continue to support regional diplomatic efforts that promote de-escalation and create the conditions for lasting peace in DRC and we call on all sides to participate constructively in reaching a negotiated solution.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he must play a role in determining who becomes the next leader of Iran.
He made the remark, following the death of the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Speaking in an interview with Axios on Thursday, Trump stated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, is widely viewed as the likely successor but insisted he does not support the idea.
While noting that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, is widely viewed as the likely successor, Trump insisted he does not support the idea.
The U.S. president said he would reject any Iranian leader who intends to continue the policies of the late Khamenei.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump stated.
Earlier this week, Trump also suggested that many of the individuals previously considered potential successors had died during recent strikes linked to the ongoing conflict.
His remarks come after a large-scale military campaign launched by the United States and Israel targeted several sites in Iran.
The development triggered retaliatory attacks across the region and increasing uncertainty over the country’s future leadership.
Iran has yet to officially announce a new Supreme Leader.
United States President Donald Trump said Tuesday that it is too late for Iran to pursue negotiations, despite signals from Tehran indicating interest in talks.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’”
His remarks came two days after he had indicated openness to discussions, amid ongoing joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with Friedrich Merz, Trump asserted that the attacks had caused extensive damage.
“Just about everything’s been knocked out,” he said.
Trump also claimed that Iran had been preparing to launch an attack prior to the US and Israeli action, contradicting earlier comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting Israel initiated the conflict.
“I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” Trump said.
Addressing concerns about the aftermath of the operation, Trump said the worst-case scenario would be the emergence of a new leader similar to Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
“I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person,” he said. “That could happen. We don’t want that to happen.”
Trump further stated that two waves of strikes had killed individuals previously considered as potential successors.
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports,” he said.
Iran’s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad, the Fars news agency said Tuesday.
Khamenei, who led the country for 36 years, was killed at 86 during a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.
He was originally from Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, where his father is buried at the Imam Reza shrine.
Before the burial, a “large farewell ceremony” will be held in Tehran, the Revolutionary Guards said on their Telegram account.
No date for the burial was disclosed.
After Khamenei’s death, power was entrusted to a three-man interim council until the Assembly of Experts elects his successor.
It includes the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council, the body that oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates.
Fars, citing an official familiar with the process, reported that “for security reasons”, the assembly’s final meeting could be postponed until after Khamenei’s burial.
Iranian media said the building housing the 88-member body in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, was hit Tuesday by US-Israeli strikes.
Its main headquarters in the Iranian capital was also struck the day before.
AFP
Tinubu’s economic overhaul paving way for investment and stronger trade links — Oduwole
Gunmen abduct 16 residents, four kids in FCT satellite town
Police nab man for selling sister’s one-month old baby for N2m
-
News21 hours agoSecuring Credible Elections in 2027: What Nigerians Must Do.
-
News21 hours agoTinubu Govt Approves New Gratuity Package For Federal Workers
-
News21 hours agoElectoral Act: Political parties threaten to boycott 2027 general elections
-
News21 hours agoMiddle East War Halts Work At WHO’s Dubai Emergency Hub
-
News21 hours agoSenate Panel Queries ₦210 Trillion in NNPC Accounts, Orders Refund and Forensic Audit
-
Health20 hours agoBreast Cancer Cases in Women Predicted to Rise by a Third Globally
-
News20 hours agoMultiChoice To Shut Down Streaming Platform Showmax After 11 Years
-
News21 hours agoTinubu Promotes Strong Ally Ibrahim Masari As Special Adviser