Ben Affleck remembers late Rwandan politician

Actor and activist BEN AFFLECK has paid tribute to Rwandan politician ALOISEA INYUMBA after learning of her death on Thursday (06Dec12).

The Argo filmmaker and star had worked with Inyumba over the years in his efforts to raise awareness and aid for Rwanda's neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he was upset to hear that the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion had died at the age of 48 after a long battle with cancer.

Taking to his Twitter.com blog to remember his pal, he writes, "Deep sadness to lose a friend & hero, the remarkable Aloisea Inymba (sic), Rwanda's Minister, Gender & Women in Development".

Affleck has made several trips to Central Africa in recent years and established his own charitable foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative, in 2010 to help women and children affected by rape and sexual violence.