Rwanda has expressed support for a proposed joint summit between regional blocs aimed at addressing the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The call for the summit comes amid renewed violence involving the M23 armed group, which has seized control of the strategic city of Goma and threatened to advance toward Kinshasa.

The group’s offensive has intensified concerns across the region, prompting emergency meetings among African leaders.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a 16-nation bloc, recently proposed a joint summit with the East African Community (EAC) to discuss the worsening security situation.

While the SADC meeting was attended virtually by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame was absent, as Rwanda is not a member of the bloc.

However, Kagame had earlier participated in an emergency EAC meeting, which Tshisekedi did not attend.

In a statement on Sunday, Rwanda’s foreign ministry welcomed the summit initiative, reiterating its position that a political solution remains the best path forward.

However, the statement also criticized the presence of the SADC-led peacekeeping force in the DRC, arguing that it has only worsened the conflict.

Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC remain high, with Kigali accused of backing the M23 rebels—an allegation it denies.

A UN report from July 2024 claimed that Rwanda had around 4,000 troops operating in eastern DRC and exercised significant influence over the rebel group.

On the other hand, Rwanda accuses the DRC of harboring the FDLR, an armed group linked to Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The conflict continues to fuel instability in the mineral-rich region, as both diplomatic and military efforts struggle to contain the violence.

A sweeping shake-up is underway at the FBI, with agents involved in investigations that led to now-abandoned criminal charges against President Donald Trump facing termination, U.S. media reported Friday.

According to CNN, dozens of FBI agents, including those who investigated Trump supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, are being reviewed for possible dismissal.

Some supervisors are also under scrutiny, raising concerns about a broad political purge within the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with the plan, reported that officials are working to identify potentially hundreds of agents for termination.

Beyond the FBI, the Justice Department has also dismissed about 30 federal prosecutors who worked on Capitol riot cases and were still on probationary status.

On Monday, the department fired several officials who had been involved in prosecuting Trump, with an unnamed official stating that the acting attorney general no longer trusted them to “faithfully implement the president’s agenda.”

Meanwhile, NBC News reported that more than 20 FBI field office heads, including those in Miami and Washington, are among those facing dismissal.

At least six senior FBI leaders have been given an ultimatum to retire, resign, or be fired by Monday, CNN added.

However, acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, a veteran agent appointed by Trump to oversee the bureau until a new director is confirmed, has refused to approve the widespread firings.

Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned the dismissals as a “brazen assault on the rule of law.”

“The Trump administration’s purge of dozens of DOJ and FBI officials involved in investigating Donald Trump and the January 6 rioters is a major blow to the integrity and effectiveness of these institutions,” Durbin said.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), which advocates for bureau employees, issued a statement warning that mass dismissals could significantly weaken national security.

“If reports of these terminations are true, they run fundamentally counter to the law enforcement objectives outlined by President Trump,” the group said.

“Firing potentially hundreds of agents would severely hamper the Bureau’s ability to counter national security and criminal threats.”

The restructuring at the FBI and DOJ follows the resignation of Special Counsel Jack Smith earlier this month.

Smith had led two federal cases against Trump, one involving efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another concerning classified documents but both were dropped after Trump won the November election.

In keeping with Justice Department policy, which bars prosecuting a sitting president, Smith formally dismissed all charges.

On his first day back in the White House last week, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 supporters convicted for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Following Trump’s reelection, FBI Director Christopher Wray resigned, and Trump has since nominated Kash Patel, a former advisor and staunch loyalist, to lead the bureau.

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Patel was asked whether he was aware of plans to punish FBI agents who investigated Trump.

“I am not aware of that,” he responded, adding that “all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.”

Despite these assurances, concerns persist over whether the mass dismissals mark a shift toward politicization of federal law enforcement.

Canada has announced sweeping retaliatory tariffs on United States of America imports in response to President Donald Trump’s latest trade measures, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday, warning Americans about the economic fallout of the escalating trade conflict.

Speaking at a press conference, Trudeau outlined Canada’s plan to impose 25% tariffs on a range of U.S. products, covering C$155 billion ($107 billion) worth of goods.

The first round, affecting C$30 billion in imports, will take effect on Tuesday, coinciding with the implementation of Trump’s tariffs.

The remaining C$125 billion will be subjected to levies within three weeks.

The move follows Trump’s decision to slap 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, along with 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, fueling concerns of a global trade war.

Trump also announced a separate 10% tariff on all Canadian energy imports.

Among the U.S. products facing Canadian tariffs are beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, and fruit juices, including Florida’s orange juice.

Other affected goods include clothing, sports equipment, and household appliances.

Addressing Americans directly, Trudeau cautioned that Trump’s tariffs would have severe economic consequences, potentially jeopardizing jobs in the U.S. auto and manufacturing industries while driving up consumer costs.

“Tariffs against Canada will put American jobs at risk, potentially shutting down auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities,” Trudeau said.

“They will make groceries more expensive and raise prices at the gas pump.”

Canada is also weighing additional countermeasures, including restrictions on critical minerals and energy procurement, Trudeau added.

The U.S.-Canada trade relationship is one of the world’s largest, with their shared border facilitating over $2.5 billion in daily trade, particularly in energy and manufacturing.

In 2023, Canada exported nearly C$550 billion worth of goods and services to the U.S., accounting for over three-quarters of its total exports.

Energy made up 30% of this figure, while manufacturing contributed around 15%.

Trudeau’s announcement comes at a politically turbulent time, as he prepares to step down following a leadership crisis in the Liberal Party.

With low approval ratings and polls favoring the opposition Conservatives, Trudeau has already announced his resignation after nine years in office.

Appealing to shared history, Trudeau referenced past military alliances between the two nations, underscoring Canada’s longstanding commitment to the U.S.

“From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, from the fields of Flanders to the streets of Kandahar, we have fought and died alongside you during your darkest hours,” he said.

“We’ve built the most successful economic, military, and security partnership the world has ever seen.”

Calling on Canadians to rally behind domestic industries, Trudeau urged consumers to support local businesses and tourism.

“We didn’t seek this confrontation, but we won’t back down,” he declared.

In a social media post, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s preparedness for the trade war.

“The United States has confirmed that it intends to impose 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods, with 10% tariffs on energy, starting February 4,” he wrote.

“I’ve met with Premiers and our Cabinet today, and I’ll be speaking with President Sheinbaum of Mexico shortly. We did not want this, but Canada is prepared. I’ll be addressing Canadians later this evening.”