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“We’ve Suffered Enough”: Gisele Busima Speaks Out on U.S.-Brokered DRC–Rwanda Peace Deal

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By Ndiho Media

A new U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising both hope and complex questions. Championed by President Donald Trump and signed in Washington, the deal promises to pull Rwandan troops out of eastern DRC and dismantle armed groups like M23 and the FDLR. But on the ground—and among survivors—the reaction is far from unanimous.

To understand what this moment means for everyday Congolese, Different Perspectives sat down with Gisele Busima, a Congolese-American entrepreneur and survivor of political persecution in the DRC. For her, this isn’t just a diplomatic milestone — it’s personal.

“My cousins have been displaced, killed, raped over the last 30 years,” she said. “This signature meant a lot—not just to me, but to the people of eastern Congo.”

Busima credits President Trump for making the deal happen and believes his leadership was the key factor in its success.

“He’s the only American president who’s had the courage to face this crisis head-on. He deserves a Nobel Peace Prize,” she said. “He’s not afraid to tell the truth.”

But she also sounded a clear warning: the hard part is still ahead.

“We’ve had peace deals before. They’ve meant nothing. This time, it has to be different. It depends on whether President Tshisekedi and President Kagame actually follow through.”

Busima says she was falsely accused of being a Rwandan spy, detained without charges, and subjected to emotional, mental, and physical abuse in Kinshasa.

Her plea to President Tshisekedi was direct:

“Mr. President, Rwanda is not killing us—we are killing ourselves. End the xenophobia. You are not just the president of Kinshasa or one tribe. You are the president of all Congolese.”

Despite everything she’s endured, Busima refuses to stay silent.

“I lost my business, my reputation, my freedom. But I’m speaking out—for every Congolese woman who’s been tortured, raped, or disappeared. The truth has to come out.”

Ndiho Media has reached out to the DRC’s Minister of Information for comment and is awaiting a response.

In part two of this exclusive interview, we’ll explore the specific allegations Busima has raised against key figures in the Congolese government.

Stay with us. The story isn’t over.

Kenya’s Democracy Under Siege: A Deadly Crackdown on Protesters Raises Alarm

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By Ndiho Media | Nairobi

Kenya is reeling from one of the deadliest waves of political unrest in recent years. At least 16 people were killed and more than 400 injured during mass protests in Nairobi this week, as security forces cracked down on demonstrators demanding accountability and economic justice.

Ndiho Media spoke with Hussein Khalid, a leading human rights advocate and CEO of VOCAL Africa, who painted a grim picture of the state of civil liberties in the country.

“This week was meant to commemorate comrades who were killed last year,” Khalid said. “Instead, the state responded with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets—and once again, live ammunition.”

The protests were sparked by growing frustrations with President William Ruto’s administration, which had campaigned on promises of economic reform and youth empowerment through a “bottom-up” agenda. Instead, young Kenyans say they feel betrayed.

“The same government that claimed to be for the hustlers is now turning its guns on them,” Khalid added. “What we are seeing is a war on dissent.”

He said the situation has become so dangerous that activists now live in fear of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

“Yes, I am afraid. People are being taken from their homes. Some disappear, some are found dead,” Khalid said.

The government has blamed the unrest on “terrorists” and “looters,” but Khalid rejected that narrative, calling it a dangerous attempt to criminalize a constitutional right.

“We don’t need permission to protest. It’s a guaranteed right in our constitution,” he said. “If the government wants to ban demonstrations, they need to call a referendum. Until then, we will not be silenced.”

There’s also concern over a government-ordered media blackout during the protests. Khalid said attempts to muzzle the press are unconstitutional.

“Media freedom is non-negotiable. If the police don’t want their brutality reported, they should stop committing it,” he said.

Despite the bloodshed, the youth-led movement shows no signs of backing down.

“We’re at a standstill,” Khalid told Ndiho Media. “Protesters are mobilizing for another round, and the government refuses to listen. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight.”

Washington’s Africa Pivot: Trade, Visa Bans, and Energy Politics

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By Ndiho Media

As Washington sharpens its global strategy, Africa is feeling the shift — and not always for the better.

In a wide-ranging interview with Ndiho Media, Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at the University of Granada in southern Spain, unpacks how U.S. foreign policy toward Africa is evolving under the Trump administration. From Senate hearings to sweeping visa bans and energy politics, Africa’s place on the U.S. agenda is changing fast.

Senate Priorities: From Health to Hegemony

According to Walsh, while the level of engagement by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hasn’t dropped, the focus has. “Under Senator Cory Booker, global health, human rights, and democratic governance were front and center,” Walsh said. “Now, under Senator Ted Cruz, the top priority is countering China, followed by energy security and access to critical minerals.”

That means less funding for development aid and a greater push for deals. “The mantra is trade, not aid,” Walsh explained. “If it doesn’t serve a strategic U.S. interest, it’s off the table.”

Visa Bans: Policy or Politics?

Over 30 African countries have been affected by recent U.S. visa bans. The rationale? A mix of national security concerns and immigration enforcement. “Some of the justifications include terrorism, poor vetting, or high visa overstay rates,” Walsh told Ndiho Media. “But when you look at the data, the bans are inconsistently applied. It’s confusing and, frankly, undermines U.S. credibility.”

Walsh believes Congress needs to step in. “We need a clear statutory framework. Right now, it’s too discretionary — we don’t even know who’s making the final calls.”

Energy, Influence, and What’s Next

On the energy front, countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are key targets for investment. “The U.S. wants reliable access to resources — oil, gas, rare earth minerals — but it also wants to outcompete China in these markets,” Walsh said. “That’s why they’re willing to underwrite private investment risk to get a foothold.”

But the bigger picture? A global power realignment. “We’re witnessing the U.S. rethinking its role in multilateral institutions, from the UN to the IAEA. They’re reviewing everything,” he added.

Final Thought

“The administration believes the old model of aid dependency didn’t work,” Walsh concluded. “But by pulling back without a replacement, the U.S. could be creating a vacuum — and others are more than willing to fill it.”

Israel-Iran Tensions Escalate as U.S. Weighs Military Option

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By Ndiho Media,

Israel and Iran are exchanging direct strikes in a dangerous military escalation, raising fears of a broader war in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a possible strike on Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility — a move that could pull America deeper into another regional conflict.

Meanwhile, global powers are scrambling to de-escalate the situation. But as Dr. Edgar Githua, a security and diplomacy expert at Strathmore University in Nairobi, warns: “If the U.S. joins in, you risk drawing in Russia, China, even Pakistan. That’s how world wars start.”

Githua told Ndiho Media that Israel’s preemptive strikes are rooted in a long-standing fear that Iran is close to building a nuclear weapon. Iran has enriched uranium to 70%. You need 90% for weapons-grade. They’re two months away. That’s why Israel is striking now.”

The stakes are high. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei faces mounting pressure, while Israeli leadership says he “cannot continue to exist.” The rhetoric is sharp, and the consequences are possibly catastrophic.

Githua also touched on the broader history, noting that while Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran is — yet continues to block complete inspections. That’s why the world is jittery.”

He warned that the current cycle of strikes and retaliation could lead to a much larger regional war unless diplomacy prevails. “It’s never too late. But without honesty from Iran and restraint from Israel, this could spiral out of control.”

His upcoming book, Why Iran’s Nuclear Ambition Will Lead to International Conflict, examines these very tensions and warns of the global fallout.

As missiles fly and alliances harden, Githua’s closing words echo loudly: “There are no winners in a nuclear war. Humanity loses.”

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