IGIHE

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  • Rwanda & Nigeria Could Sign Air Service Agreement

    {{Rwanda is seeking to sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria to promote free movement of goods and services between the two countries}}.

    The Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Joseph Habineza, made the call at a dinner to mark Rwanda’s 51st independence and 19th year of liberation on Thursday in Abuja.

    BASA is an agreement which two nations sign to allow international commercial air transport services between their territories.

    Habineza said that the agreement should be signed by both countries to facilitate trade and free movement between Nigeria and Rwanda.

    He expressed the readiness of the Rwandan Government to take advantage of the BASA to enable both countries benefit economically.

    “We have our airlines coming to Nigeria but we have problems now because we have not yet signed the BASA which is a simple thing.

    “But to implement it is a problem; if we have time to come up with policies then we should implement them. We need to focus on what we have to do to develop.”

    The envoy condemned the constraints to free movement among African countries, urging African leaders to implement the goals of the African Union (AU) to enhance trade and development.

    “Our problem in Africa is in the implementation of policies that should promote our development as a continent.

    “We should focus less on just saying but implementing these policies as we have celebrated 50 years of the AU.

    “ The founding fathers of AU had a purpose behind the setting up of the union and African leaders should change and embrace the essence of AU.

    “We should start doing business among ourselves to promote integration and we need to promote free movement to make this possible.”

    The envoy also urged African governments to reciprocate visa policies where necessary.

    “African countries make it difficult for free movement to be possible and business is not possible without free movement.

    “In Rwanda from Jan. 1 this year, we have made it possible that any African with a valid passport gets visa on arrival. Other African countries should adopt that.”

    Reacting to the overthrow of the Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, by the military on Wednesday, the envoy stressed the need for African countries to respect the rules and regulations of democracy.

    “ As long as we don’t respect rules, regulation and democracy, we will always be at the mercy of foreign powers because if you look closely there are some forces that do not want Africa to be united.

    “African Union is still theoretical; we should even have an AU army so that when we have such crisis we can intervene and solve our own problems.”

    He also urged the media to portray the image of Africa positively, saying: “we need to promote our image positively and tell our own story rather than have the foreign media do that for us”. (NAN)

  • EADB Receives Euros 25M for SME Financing

    {{The East African Development Bank (EADB) has landed a €25 million line of credit deal with the European Investment Bank (EIB).}}

    Granted under the Cotonou Investment Facility Resources Protocol, the line of credit will be used to part-finance projects implemented by private sector enterprises, and/or commercially run public-owned entities in the sectors of agriculture, agro-processing, fishing, manufacturing, construction, tourism and transport sectors, or education and healthcare services located in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

    EADB Director General Vivienne Yeda said the facility also has a Technical Assistance component to support the institutional strengthening of the Bank’s risk management and internal control framework.

    Ms Yeda called on member states to prioritise regional integration noting thatthe region stood to gain much by opening up its borders.

    “There is no better way of facilitating the private sector to do what they do best than to open up our economies, enabling them to produce efficiently and access markets in a timely fashion,” said Ms Yeda.

    EIB Vice President Pim van Ballekom said the financing will enable entrepreneurs and established firms to invest in new markets and can be expected to contribute to new jobs

    He observed that the money will be used for co-financing debt and leasing transactions for start-up, expansion, diversification and modernisation projects undertaken by private sector SMEs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

    “Access by small and medium sized businesses to long-term finance is essential for creating new jobs and economic growth,” said Mr. van Ballekom.

    Ms Yeda asked the private sector to take advantage of the favourable business environment to innovate, diversify and discover new markets.

    “I am pleased that the facility we are signing with EIB today will enable private sector enterprises, particularly SMEs that are innovative and hungry for expansion to access affordable credit,” said Ms Yeda.

    The new EIB-backed lending programme is the first joint engagement to improve access to investment loans by small and medium sized companies and represents the start of a new era of cooperation between the European Investment Bank and the East African Community’s financial institution.

    The East African Development Bank (EADB) provides a broad range of financial services in its Member States of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda with an overriding objective of strengthening socio-economic development and regional integration.

    EADB is owned by the four Member States of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Other shareholders include the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), German Investment and Development Company (DEG), SBIC-Africa Holdings, Commercial Bank of Africa, Nairobi, Nordea Bank of Sweden, Standard Chartered Bank, London and Barclays Bank Plc., London.

    NMG

  • ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS. COMMAND POST EXERCISE – “AFRICA UNiTE” 2013

    {{Rwanda National Police (RNP) will On July 8-12 host a continental Command Post Exercise (CPX) code named “UNiTE AFRICA; campaign to end Violence against Women and Girls-2013,” to be held at its General Headquarters in Kigali}}.

    A total of 172 participants from 54 African countries, including security personnel and participants from Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations, are expected to participate.

    Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a global phenomenon across societies worldwide.

    It is a violation of human rights and a major problem as has been stated by different global leaders including the UN Secretary General (UN SG), H.E Ban Ki-Moon. In response to the call by the UN SG in the “Africa UNiTE Campaign to end VAWG,” which he launched in January 2010, the Kigali International Conference for Africa’s security organs was held in Kigali-Rwanda in October 2010 and concluded with proclamation of a 14-point Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) signed by Police Chiefs or their representatives .

    A follow up international conference (KICD AGM) on the role of security organs in ending VAWG was held in Bujumbura- Burundi in November 2012 in which 31 African Countries, UN agencies, African union, COMESA, among others, participated .

    This conference culminated into, among other things, the establishment of the KICD permanent secretariat in Kigali, Rwanda for coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the KICD initiatives.

    The launch of the KICD secretariat in Kigali, also to be named “Africa’s Security Organs Centre for Coordination of Action to end Violence Against Women and Girls (AFSOCCA-VAWG) was held on May 23, 2013 and was presided over by the UN Secretary General H.E Ban Ki-Moon. During this launch, 20 African countries’ Security Organs were represented.

    The KICD conforms with the UN resolution 1325 and other Regional and International instruments that bring to the fore efforts to curb VAWG.

    Other Activities done in the context of the KICD so far include: A regional capacity building workshop conducted in Kigali, Rwanda in 2011 under the theme “Africa Region Security Organs Capacity Building Workshop on VAWG: Prevention, Response and Peacekeeping.”

    Development of a training manual on the role of security organs in ending VAWG

    Africa Security Organs annual Review Meeting organized in Dec 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda

    KICD Website (www.kicgenderconference.org) has been launched

    In pursuant to the KICD point No.13 that calls upon Africa’s Security Organs to do joint exercises geared at ending VAWG, and in order to continue to take concrete measures in ending VAWG, the Government of Rwanda through its security organs championed by the Rwanda National Police, has partnered with the One UN in Rwanda to:

    Draft a protocol on AFSOCCA-VAWG for African countries to deliberate and adopt as legal enforcement to KICD, make a five-year strategic plan and draw a road map of activities for Africa’s Security Organs in ending VAWG.

    • Organize an all-Africa security organs’ Command Post Exercise (CPX) code named “Africa UNiTE” aimed at improving and harmonizing approach to ending VAWG, a Peaceful, post conflict and conflict situations.

    The Exercise is scheduled to take place from 8th to 12th July 2013 at the Rwanda National Police Head Quarters in Kigali.

    VAWG remains probably the most highly committed and grave offence in conflict and post conflict situations where rape is often used as a weapon of war.

    It has been estimated that at least one in every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime .

    In addition, four women are murdered each day worldwide by an intimate male partner.

    In spite of the overwhelmingly negative consequences on individuals and societies, it is often sanctified by customs and reinforced by institutions that limit women’s rights, their decision- making power and their recourse to protection from violence.

    Addressing VAWG remains a serious and formidable problem both to the national law enforcement organs, Government Organizations (GOs), NGOs and other stakeholders.

    It is even more challenging to law enforcement in Peace keeping and Peace enforcement missions in Post conflict countries. Contributing factors include, but are not limited to;

    • Lack of understanding of the nature of VAWG, its forms, magnitude and effects;

    • Lack of experience in dealing with the scourge and its overwhelming state in post conflict countries;

    • Lack of legal framework and limited application of the legal framework where they exist;

    • Lack of/limited use of Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) in advancing the multidisciplinary response to VAWG, cultural aspects, diversity and;

    • complexity of post conflict situations which interweave gender related violence with emerging crimes to mention but a few.

    Notwithstanding the previous Peace Support Operations capacity building initiatives implemented in the past focus on routine Peace Support duties, emphasis has not been given to the role of PSOs in ending VAWG.

    Just to mention some former CPX, Command Post Exercice code named ‘EX AMANI’- 2008, had the aim of demonstrating the capacity of the deployable Brigade Headquarters and Planning Element to conduct strategic and operational Planning and preparation for multi-dimensional operations and to exercise command and control of deployed forces, on a simulated UN and AU mandated PSO, in order to confirm the Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) of the Brigade Headquarter and PLANELM Mechanisms.

    The Field Training Exercise code named ‘EX AMANI CARANA’-2009, had the aim of exercising EASF on the complexity of contemporary multi-dimensional PSO in line with ASF Development Plan.

    The Command Post Exercise code named ‘AMANI EASTERN AFRICA’ 2011 had the aim of training EASF structures to plan and execute an AU mandated EASF multidimensional Peace Support Operations based on AU Scenario 4.

    The aim of CPX “Africa UNiTE” is to Improve the perceptions of dimensions of VAWG and strengthen the capacities of Africa’s security organs in detecting and responding to the scourge both at home and during Peace Support Operations

    The general objective is to introduce an anti-GBV wing – Isange One Stop Centre – to provide free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to the victims, as a model to African countries where it does not exist, with view to fostering the latter to holistically respond to the threat of VAWG in conflict, post conflict situations and home settings.

    Specific Objectives include; Providing gender sensitive training to law enforcement personnel of the African continent; To enhance awareness of the different dimensions of VAWG in different settings; To inform the development of Standard Operation Practices (SOPs) in ending VAWG. And To share best practices in ending VAWG.

    The expected outcomes are; Enhancing capacity among Africa Security Organs to effectively prevent and respond to VAWG through a holistic approach and Harmonizing practices and procedures in ending VAWG in Africa.

    The activity will be held for 5 days and conducted in three phases including the theoretical training, the practical exercises and the after action review.

    During the Training; the first phase will be a three-day theoretical training aimed at enhancing awareness VAWG and international and regional legal instruments protecting women and girls against violence.

    The training will also address PSO mission preparedness from a gender sensitive perspective.

    The training session will also be a forum for sharing best practices in addressing VAWG and victims’ support and management using a holistic approach.

    It is also envisaged that participants will have brief session on the draft Protocol for AFSOCCA-VAWG.

    The second phase will be a practical exercise drawn from the theoretical lessons. Officers will form into groups with different role plays.

    They will receive injects developed from different scenarios on VAWG and react to those injects using the tools acquired from training and other provisions.

    The exercise will be evaluated, lessons drawn and recommendations made to enhance mechanisms of ending VAWG in home settings and peace support operations.

    Participants will include members of security organs from all African countries -each represented by three officers (One officer from the Military, Police and the Correctional services/Prisons).

    The trainers will be from Rwanda National Police, UN Rwanda, UNoPK, EASFCOM and other AU Regional Peace and Security arrangements, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), INTERPOL-THB desk and other stakeholders.

    The Observers will include gender perspective component of: UN, AU, EAPCCO, SAPCCO, CAPCCO, WAPCCO, ECOWAS, ECCAS, SADC, COMESA, EAC and gender sensitive organizations including CSW and other interested partners.

    The exercise will be conducted at the Rwanda National Police Headquarters in Kigali.

    Open Attachment…..

    ending_violence_against_women_girls._command_post_exercise_-_africa_unite_2013.pdf

  • Girl Journalists Win International Award

    {{Ni Nyampinga magazine and Global Press Institute Rwandan girl journalists GlorioseIsugi and Noella Nbihigo win the UlrickWickert Award for Child Rights.}}

    A supporter of Plan International, UlrickWickert established the UlrickWickertStiftung foundation in 2011 to award journalists for reports which create awareness of child rights, particularly those of girls.

    The journalists were awarded the prize in the international category for their story“Sugar Daddies Prey on Female Students Headed Home for Holiday in Rwanda.”

    Ni Nyampinga magazine is produced by Girl Hub Rwanda—a collaboration between the Nike Foundation and the U.K.’s Department for International Development—in partnership with the Global Press Institute.

    The writers, trained by Global Press Institute, produce stories for both Ni Nyampinga magazine and the GPI wire on girls’ issues.

    The writers and magazine celebrates girls’ creativity and achievements, spark conversation between girls and among girls and guardians, amplify the voice of the girl, and serve a comfortable and safe environment for learning about girlhood and personal issues.

    The award-winning storyexplains how rape, cross-generational sex, HIV transmission and unwanted pregnancies result from girls and young women accepting rides, gift, and other favours from “sugar daddies,” particularly during school holidays.

    According to Renate Meinhof, a member of the awarding jury, “GlorioseIsugi and NoellaNbihogo…get to the bottom of a concrete issue in the country by examining it from various angles.

    The reporters of the Global Press Institute describe the situation from close proximity, but they keep the required journalistic distance.”

    Proposals from 14 countries were submitted for the Ulrich Wickert Award for Child Rights, including reports published in print and online media or broadcast on the radio and TV.

    The award ceremony will take place in Berlin in October.

  • The Hague: Rwandans & Friends of Rwanda Celebrate July 4th Liberation

    {{About 250 Rwandans in The Netherlands celebrated the 4th July Liberation Day which attracted diplomats and friends of Rwanda that gathered in The Hague on the invitation of the Rwandan Embassy to reflect on the Day’s history.}}

    In his speech, Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga told the audience that the 19th celebration of the Liberation Day is particularly a special day for Rwandan to acknowledge some of the great strides and achievements of the last 19 years, but also to recognize with humility that a lot more remains to be done.

    He also emphasized that Rwanda has turned the corner and shifted gears from the struggle of liberation, to one of holistic and sustainable development.

    Guests were treated to a variety of Rwandan documentary films, beautiful pictures of different areas of the country and Rwandan songs throughout the event that was a true joyous sight where diplomats and other guests danced along Rwandan traditional dancers and Intore who entertained the crowd throughout the event.

  • France Accused of Vast Electronic Spying Network

    {{A leading French newspaper says France’s intelligence services have put in place a giant electronic surveillance gathering network.}}

    Citing no sources, the Le Monde daily says France’s Direction Generale de la Securite Exterieure, the country’s foreign intelligence agency, systematically collects information about all electronic data sent by computers and telephones in France, as well as communications between France and abroad.

    According to Le Monde, data on “all emails, SMSs, telephone calls, Facebook and Twitter posts” are collected and stored in a massive three-floor underground bunker at the DGSE’s headquarters in Paris.

    The paper specified that it is the communications’ metadata – such as when was call was made and where an author was when she sent an email – that is being archived, not their content.

    Officials at the DGSE did not answer phone calls or emails seeking comment Thursday.

    The vast archive, which Le Monde says amounts to tens of millions of gigabytes, is accessible to France’s other spy agencies, including military intelligence, domestic intelligence, Paris police and a special financial crimes task force.

    Le Monde compared the French digital dragnet to PRISM, the U.S. National Security Agency program which has most caught the imagination of Internet users.

    But PRISM appears aimed at allowing U.S. spies to peel data off the servers of Silicon Valley firms – whereas the program described in Le Monde appears to be fed through the mass interception of electronic data bouncing across the world.

    Also, PRISM can apparently be used to collect content, not just metadata.

    Le Monde said the French surveillance program relies on spy satellites, listening stations in French overseas territories or former colonies such as Mayotte or Djibouti, and information harvested from undersea cables – all three of which are methods long familiar to the NSA.

    A French lawmaker played down the report, saying France’s surveillance gathering system is not comparable with the NSA’s.

    Patricia Adam, a lawmaker who until last year headed parliament’s intelligence committee, said French spies “are line fishing, not trawling” the vast oceans of data thrown up by mobile phones, emails and Internet communication.

    AP

  • Tanzania Invites FBI to Boost Probe into Arusha Bomb Strikes

    {{Tanzanian police have invited detectives from the US and Kenya to boost investigations into recent grenade attacks in Arusha.}}

    Since the Soweto blast, on June 15, no major breakthrough in the investigation has been reported, even as pressure from the public piled against the security agencies to show results of their act.

    Arusha Regional Police Commander Lebaratus Sabas confirmed Wednesday that members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) were on the ground to help unravel the mysteries surrounding the explosions.

    “Police are continuing with the Soweto grounds grenade attack, but we have invited the FBI and Kenyan police to also work closely with us as we try to piece information together,” Mr Sabas told a press briefing in the city.

    But the opposition Chadema Secretary-General Willibrod Slaa scoffed at the move and said it would not yield any useful results.

    “There is nothing new as it is not the first time that FBI have been mentioned in many other internal investigations,” said Dr Slaa.

    He said the opposition party stood by its earlier stance that the police were suspects and that they were still hoping an independent judicial inquest would be formed to investigate the Arusha bomb blast.

    {NMG}

  • Zimbabwe Court Rejects Bid to Delay Poll

    {{Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal to delay elections set for 31 July.}}

    Both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had asked for the elections to be postponed.

    Mr Tsvangirai argued that Zimbabwe needed more time to prepare for a free and fair election.

    The two men have been in a fractious coalition government since disputed elections in 2008 but will again face each other this year.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, elections should proceed on the 31st of July in terms of the proclamation by the president of Zimbabwe in compliance with the order of this court,” Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku said, according to Reuters news agency.

    Mr Tsvangirai accepted the ruling, his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said, it reports.

    “Since the court has ruled, it means we have to go by that date,” he is quoted as saying.

    Last month, Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the voters roll was in a “shambles” and the vote could be rigged.

    Following an initial court ruling, Mr Mugabe had called elections for 31 July but asked the court for a postponement following pressure from Mr Tsvangirai and regional leaders.

    The court said it would give reasons for its decision later.

    The election would herald the end of the coalition government the two leaders formed after the 2008 poll.

    Mr Mugabe, 89, and Tsvangirai, 61, will contest the election again.

    Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round of the 2008 election, accusing the security forces and pro-Mugabe militias of attacking his supporters around the country.

    Mr Mugabe denied any links to the violence.

    BBC

  • Rwanda Police officers leave for Haiti Mission

    {{140 Police officers left Kigali International Airport to Haiti to help restore peace. The contingent, lead by Chief Superintendent Peter Hodari, will serve under MINUSTAH, the UN Mission in Haiti.}}

    The troops are replacing another contingent that was deployed last year. Rwanda has more than 469 Police Peacekeepers around the world.

    RNP

  • Sarkozy’s UMP Party hit by Bill for Overspending

    France’s conservative opposition party the UMP has suffered a financial blow as election auditors billed it for 11m euros (£9.4m; $14.3m).

    It was asked to repay state funds advanced for Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2012 presidential campaign, on grounds it had breached spending limits.

    According to the Constitutional Council, which rules on electoral disputes, it had overspent by 2.1%.

    Mr Sarkozy resigned from the Council in protest at the move.

    As a former French president, he automatically became a member of the constitutional body last year.

    Party leader Jean-Francois Cope launched a national fundraising campaign after Thursday’s decision, which leading centre-right daily Le Figaro described as a “hard blow” for the UMP’s finances.

    Since its defeat at the presidential and parliamentary elections, the party is believed to have further lost support because of a bitter party leadership battle.

    Satirical blogger Nain Portekoi tweeted an image of the party’s tree logo looking withered.

    The UMP was allotted 22.5m euros for Mr Sarkozy’s unsuccessful contest with Socialist challenger Francois Hollande and was found by the Constitutional Council to have overspent by 466,118 euros.

    To ensure an even playing-field, France caps election funding, bans large donations and subsidises campaign spending.

    {BBC. UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope announced a party fundraising drive}