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Sweden awards 6 million USD to UNICEF for their health programme in the DRC

{Sweden has awarded 57 million Swedish Kronas (6 million USD) to support UNICEF’s health programme in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), under the terms of partnership agreement signed on 25th April 2017 in Kinshasa.
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Sweden has lent its support to UNICEF since 2014, with a total of 23.6 million USD for the implementation of the healthcare component of their Co-operation Programme in the DRC, which aims to improve maternal and childhood health and child survival rates. They achieve this by promoting very efficient interventions, such as vaccination services, care for pregnant women and newborns, services for the care of respiratory and diarrhetic illnesses and for malaria and chronic malnutrition, and activities which promote good nutrition for young children. This programme aims to support these interventions by reinforcing the healthcare and community systems.

The DRC continues to tackle the extremely high child and maternal mortality rates, respectively 104 out of 1000 live births, and 846 out of 100,000 live births in 2014. Nevertheless, the DRC has still made considerable progress in terms of reducing the child mortality rate which has gone from 148 deaths per 1000 live births in 2007 to 104 deaths per 1000 live births in 2014 (Demographic and health study 2013-2014).

{{Health programme in the DRC to reduce mortality}}

The additional 6.3 million American Dollars in 2017 will be used for several endeavours. Firstly, to intensify the efforts to speed up the reduction of maternal, newborn and child mortality thanks to better accessibility to basic, efficient, equal health services. Secondly, to support reform in the healthcare system. Thirdly, to spread proven, high impact interventions in the areas of health and nutrition from UNICEF by her health programme in the DRC. Particular importance will be placed on community approaches in order to reinforce community participation, which will ensure that the interventions continue.

This is a major contribution from Sweden, which gives priority to improving the health of mothers and children in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s development policy. The co-operative development between Sweden and the DRC contributes to a sustainable country and to the consolidation of the state, as well as improving living conditions for those living in poverty and oppression. Sweden is also one of UNICEF’s humanitarian programme partners in the DRC.

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of each child, in everything we do. We work in 190 countries and territories all over the world with our partners to make this dream a reality, with a particular emphasis on going to the aid of the most vulnerable and marginalised children, in the interests of all children, wherever they may be.

Source:Relief Web

April 29, 2017
Ambassador Nkurunziza presents credentials to Lebanese president

{Rwanda’s Ambassador Williams Nkurunziza has presented his letters of credence to Lebanese President at his Beirut Palace, today, in a move signalling strengthened diplomatic relations.}

Ambassador Nkurunziza is the first-ever Rwandan envoy accredited to Lebanon and is expected to follow up on all Rwanda-Lebanon bilateral cooperation matters from Rwanda’s Mission in Ankara,Turkey.

The credentials’ presentation ceremony in Beirut was attended by Lebanese Foreign Minister, Hon. Gebran Bassil as well as senior Presidential and MOFA staff. Ambassador Nkurunziza was accompanied by his deputy Head of Mission, Counsellor Eric RUGAMBA.

In his remarks, the Ambassador also conveyed to President Aoun and the Lebanese people, best wishes from President Paul Kagame and reiterated his president’s commitment to strengthen and deepen relations between Rwanda and Lebanon, with special emphasis on economic cooperation.

“We seek to promote greater commercial engagement between our two economies and look forward to working with Lebanese public and private commercial entities towards this end,” the Ambassador said.

President General Aoun expressed his happiness in receiving Rwanda’s Ambassador and reiterated his government’s support to all efforts aimed at increased trade and investment collaboration between the two countries.

During his time in Lebanon, Ambassador Nkurunziza also met the Foreign Minister, Mr Gebran Bassil, who expressed his admiration of Rwanda’s pace of development and continued activie participation in peacekeeping operations around the world, particularly in Africa.

In furtherance of the Mission’s economic diplomacy mandate, Ambassador Nkurunziza and his delegation also visited the Investment and Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), the country highest trade and investment institution, to discuss direct collaboration with both Rwanda’s private and public sectors in promoting trade and investments for the mutual benefit of both countries. IDAL CEO, Mr Nabil Itani, undertook to collaborate with the Rwanda Embasay in creating greater awareness of opportunities in the East African country in Lebanon, leading to an IDAL-led first-ever Lebanese trade and investment mission to Rwanda.

Ambassador Nkurunziza is scheduled to meet with the Ministers of Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the Beirut Chamber of Commerce. He will also visit two facilities specialising in growing and processing of grapes and apples, two of Lebanon’s major exports.

Six other non-resident ambassadors from Georgia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and North Korea presented their credentials on the same day as the Rwandan Ambassador.

Lebanese President, H.E General Michel Aoun, has also conveyed fraternal greetings to Rwanda’ s President Paul Kagame and expressed his country’s desire for stronger bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

April 22, 2017
U.N. condemns ‘grotesque rape chants’ by Burundi youth militia

{The United Nations’ top human rights official is condemning a chant by a pro-government youth militia in the small East African country of Burundi.}

The chant is shown in a video recorded and distributed by the human rights groups iBurundi and RCP Burundi. The U.N. says the members of the militia, called Imbonerakure, are encouraging the rape of women from the opposition so “that they give birth to Imbonerakure.”

In a statement, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the video confirmed that this “organized militia” has been waging a “campaign of fear and terror.”

“Such blatant and brazen hate speech and incitement to violence must not be tolerated nor encouraged,” Zeid said. “In a region which has suffered so many massive outbreaks of violence and atrocities, this type of organized incitement rings very loud alarm bells.”

The current conflict in Burundi started about two years ago when President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a third term. An attempted coup by rebel military forces followed and since then the government has targeted those suspected of taking part in the coup. Their actions have taken an ethnic dimension and the Imbonerakure — which means “those who can see far” in the principal local language of Kirundi — have taken a central role.

Last summer, for example, Human Rights Watch issued a report that found the Imbonerakure routinely used rape in attacks against members of opposition parties and their family members. One researcher said at the time that youth militia members “tied up, brutally beat and gang-raped women, often with their children nearby.”

The government of Burundi denies that there is widespread conflict in the country. They’ve asked the government of Uganda to repatriate about 50,000 refugees because they say Burundi is now safe. What’s more, when this video first surfaced earlier this month, the ruling party condemned the chants and said that a preliminary investigation had found the chants were driven by “influences outside the party.”

In his statement today, the U.N.’s Zeid appeared unconvinced. He pointed out that chants have been reported across the country and that days after this video surfaced, Imbonerakure youth chanted the same song during the inauguration of a party office.

“The grotesque rape chants by the young men of the Imbonerakure across several provinces in various parts of Burundi are deeply alarming — particularly because they confirm what we have been hearing from those who have fled Burundi about a campaign of fear and terror by this organized militia,” Zeid added.

The conflict in Burundi has displaced more than 400,000 people to neighboring countries. According to the International Federation for Human Rights, more than 1,000 Burundians have been killed since the beginning of this conflict and some 8,000 are being held for political reasons.

Source:NPR

April 20, 2017
How poaching, smuggling in Africa fuel North Korea’s nuclear arrogance

{North Korea’s haughtiness may be 10,000km away from Nairobi, but Africa’s rich resources may be aiding its latest nuclear weapons scorpion show.}

After its failed nuclear launch on Sunday, the country’s national propaganda newspaper Rodong Sinmun boasted of readiness to crash the US.

“The DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is sure of its final victory in its showdown with the US. The Korean War in the 20th century brought about the beginning of a downhill turn for the US but the one in the 21st century will end in the final doom of the US,” the paper wrote, referring to the war in the 1950s in which it invaded South Korea

“The foolhardy manoeuvers of the puppet forces are reminiscent of a puppy knowing no fear of the tiger,” it said.

Yet, North Korea’s economy is 600 times smaller than that of the US and its diplomats around the world have been seen shopping for second-hand clothes, failing to pay rent or dealing in contraband.

{{ECONOMIC DATA}}

With little information about its economy, the CIA World Fact Book says the country is one of the least open economies in the world with “chronic economic problems.”

“Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance,” says the CIA.

“Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels,” CIA adds.

Pyongyang has not published economic data since the 1970s, but the World Bank estimates that its economy is worth $30 billion, 2.2 per cent the size of its liberal neighbour South Korea. That means Kenya’s economy is two times that of North Korea.

So where does this hermit kingdom, mostly isolated from the world, get the money to build these humongous nuclear warheads? Countries like Kenya are still struggling to tap nuclear energy for power generation alone.

{{WEAPON DEALS}}

The answer may lie in Africa. A recent report by the South African Institute of Security Studies (ISS) says despite international isolation coupled with UN sanctions, North Korea has continued to enjoy covert trade links with African countries.

This often involves smuggled goods, poaching and illegal weapon deals, which in turn enriches the government in Pyongyang.

“Africa’s increasing trade activities with the DPRK after 2006 may be a sign that the Pyongyang regime is trying to diversify its economic partnerships to reduce its dependency on China,” says the report on cooperation between African states and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Overall, of cases involving diplomats, North Korean embassy officials have been implicated in 16 of 29 cases of rhino horn and ivory trade. In these illicit activities, ‘driven by economic necessity and justified with ideological veneer’, North Korea’s embassies appear to play a key role,” reveals the report.

North Korean diplomats smuggle banned wildlife products and launder money using diplomatic bags which are normally exempted from security searches.

{{DIPLOMATS ARRESTED}}

A report by the Global Initiatives, a Swiss anti-organised crime watchdog last year, said North Korean diplomats in Africa were arrested ferrying rhino horn and huge sums of cash.

The report suggested that illicit activities sustain diplomats abroad, but Pyongyang still taxes certain amounts, often half of it.

In February this year, a UN Panel of Experts reported to the Security Council that the country continues to trade in arms and related material, exploiting markets and procurement services in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“The regime’s ongoing violations of United Nations resolutions continued to deepen its international isolation, with the exception of several traditional relationships with countries in Asia and Africa,” the report says.

The UN has imposed sanctions gradually on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to discourage its nuclear arms race. But somehow, it has beaten those blockades.

{{SANCTIONS}}

The sanctions require all UN members to implement them. But less than a dozen African countries have even submitted reports to the UN about implementation.

In recent times, countries like Kenya and Botswana formally condemned the nuclear tests, with the latter formally terminating any diplomatic relations.

But neighbours like Uganda, Congo-Brazzaville, Namibia, Ethiopia, Congo-Kinshasa and Madagascar have continued to enjoy military relations with North Korea.

In Uganda, one of the few countries on the continent where Pyongyang has an embassy, North Koreans trained police officers there.

In Namibia, they were contracted to build a military site. In the DRC and Ethiopia, they helped build arms factories there.

ISS says that from 2007 to 2015 the value of trade activities between African states and the DPRK amounted to an average S$216.5 million per year, against an average $90 million per year from 1998 to 2006.

{{North Korea poor with wealth of nuclear weapons?}}

Engulfed by economic sanctions, the North Korean economy can only generate $3.2 billion, often in deficit with what it needs to run its affairs.

The ruling Workers’ Party, the Korean People’s Army and members of the cabinet run almost every enterprise in the country where they often compete among themselves and routinely determine levels of production from ordinary citizens.

The 2017 World Economic Freedom Index ranks it at 180, and calls it the most “repressed economy.”

The CIA says North Korea’s exports are mainly minerals, metallurgical products, textiles, weapons and some manufactured products.

But the UN has imposed sanctions against normal trade with North Korea with exceptions.

North Korea often traffics its own citizens to forced labour and sex abroad, where it then taxes them for revenues, says the State Department.

Sometimes government officials engage in drug trafficking to earn foreign exchange.

Source:Daily Nation

April 19, 2017
Munyakazi to be charged with promoting genocide ideology

{Dr. Leopold Munyakazi, a Rwandan deported from United States for trial on genocide crimes currently held in Muhanga prison will as well be charged with genocide ideology.
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Munyakazi, 66, was held for genocide ideology during the 23rd commemoration of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi as confirmed by the spokesperson of Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), CIP Sengabo Hillary.

He explained that Munyakazi said that people should be occupied with other activities other than commemoration of genocide calling it is useless.

Munyakazi is said to have uttered such words one day before commemoration week closed.

“Leopold Munyakazi said that people should not be always commemorating but rather stop it for other activities. He will be charged for genocide denial during prosecution,” CIP Sengabo has told IGIHE.

He explained that RCS has the responsibility of bringing charges for criminal acts committed under areas of its jurisdiction which is the case with Munyakazi.

Article 135 of Rwanda’s penal code stipulates that a person held accountable for genocide ideology and related crimes is liable to a punishment from five to nine years and pay the fine ranging from Rwf 100,000 to Rwf1,000,000.

Dr Munyakazi was deported to Rwanda on 28th September 2016 where after the prosecution accused him him of genocide crimes he committed in former Commune of Kayenzi, Kirwa sector, Gitwa cell in Gitarama prefecture, in the the currently Kamonyi district, Southern Province.

Munyakazi had fled to the US in 2004.

April 19, 2017
Huye woman arrested distilling illicit brew

{Police in Huye District arrested one Alphonsine Uwimana after she was allegedly found distilling illicit substance locally known as muriture.}

At the time of her arrest on April 11, Uwimana was found with over 300 liters of muriture.

She is currently held at Ngoma police station as police process her case that would be forwarded to the prosecution.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Andre Hakizimana, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Uwimana was arrested red-handed as she brewed the substance in the backyard of her home.

He added that information on Uwimana’s criminal business was revealed by residents, who “understand the negative impact of such substances.”

“Such drinks adversely affect the health of consumers and influence their illegal actions; they are produced without proper hygiene and contains alcoholic content that are harmful to human health,” CIP Hakizimana said.

Such substances that have no defined alcohol volume content as prescribed by the law are listed as illegal and dangerous under the ministerial order nº20/35 of 09/06/2015 determining unauthorized drinks and other controlled substances classified as narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.

In a related development, on the same day a police operation in Nyagatare District also seized dozens of zebra waragi – a prohibited gin – at the home of a man only identified as Makundi

A similar operation in Rwamagana district on April 12 also yielded to the seizure of 110 pellets of cannabis from the home of one Joseph Rebero.

CIP Hakizimana observed that most crimes like assault, gender based violence and child abuse have always been attributed to excessive consumption of alcohol and drug abuse.

Article 594 of the penal code stipulates in its second paragraph that, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five year years and a fine of up to Rwf5 million.

Source:Police

April 15, 2017
DRC repatriates bodies of American, Swedish experts for UN

The United Nations mission in Democratic Republic of Congo says the bodies of American and Swedish experts have been repatriated to their countries of origin.

The UN’s deputy special representative for DRC, David Gressly, said on Wednesday that investigations have opened into the deaths.

American Michael Sharp, Swedish national Zaida Catalan and local interpreter Betu Tshintela went missing March 12 in Central Kasai province while looking into recent large-scale violence by the army and militia groups.

Their bodies were found last week.

President Joseph Kabila on Wednesday promised punishment for those responsible.

Source:News 24

April 7, 2017
How cells react to injury from open-heart surgery

{Research identifies a new potential way to help cardiac muscle recover from procedures}

Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute investigators have learned how cardiac muscle cells react to a certain type of injury that can be caused by open-heart surgery. The findings point to a new potential way to help these hearts recover more completely.

The cells, known as cardiomyocytes, can be damaged by the process of stopping and starting the heart during surgeries that use cardiopulmonary bypass machines to take over the heart’s functions. Hundreds of thousands of these operations are performed each year in the U.S. to replace failing hearts, bypass clogged arteries, fix leaky valves and more.

While most patients recover easily enough, some patients suffer long-term effects or even fatal heart failure from the stresses of the surgery.

In their study, published in the JCI Insight journal of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the investigators scrutinized cardiac muscle cells in tissue samples taken from patients before and after open-heart surgeries. Their work demonstrates for the first time in human hearts that cardiac muscle cells react to this type of injury by both destroying and creating new mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside each cell.

“By accelerating beneficial aspects of this process, doctors one day may be able to speed up healing from open-heart surgery,” said Roberta Gottlieb, MD, director of Molecular Cardiobiology and professor of Medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. She was the principal investigator of the study.

Currently, physicians try to protect the cardiac muscle during open-heart surgery by cooling it and infusing it with potassium to stop its contractions. The goal is to reduce the trauma produced by the one-two punch of first depriving the heart of blood (ischemia) and then flooding it with blood (reperfusion).

“Despite these measures, ischemia/reperfusion injury remains a major cause of complications after heart surgery,” said Allen Andres, PhD, a research scientist in Gottlieb’s laboratory and assistant professor of Medicine. He was the first author of the study, working with Robert Mentzer, MD, professor of Medicine, who initiated and designed the study.

Investigators for decades have tried to develop drugs to treat ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with cardiac surgeries, with little success, according to Gottlieb. “There have been wonderful results in animal tests, but not in people,” she said. “We need to have a better understanding of the beneficial and deleterious processes that characterize the human heart’s response to ischemia and reperfusion.”

Prior to beginning the study, the Cedars-Sinai investigative team had expected to find that cardiac muscle cells would dismantle some of the mitochondria after ischemia/reperfusion injury. This process was known to occur in the hearts of laboratory animals. Cells and cell structures in various parts of the body often self-destruct after their genetic material gets damaged by stress or other events.

The investigators were gratified to confirm that self-destruction of mitochondria occurred in the human heart too. But they were surprised to learn that human cardiac muscle cells also assembled new mitochondria in response to ischemia/reperfusion injury. “We don’t know if this mitochondrial production is good or bad news for the heart,” Gottlieb said. “These could be better mitochondria or carry genetic defects. We intend to find out.”

To learn more, the investigators are developing proposals to collect data on mitochondria from heart transplant patients over a period of months. And they are already investigating a pharmacological agent that shows promise in stimulating mitochondrial creation in animal models.

Source:Science Daily

April 7, 2017
Brussels Airlines taps into digitalization with new mobile app

{Brussels Airlines released its mobile app in the App Store and on Google Play., last month, marking the beginning of the era of digital transformation for the Belgian airline to improve their products and services for the clients.}

As more and more travelers use online and mobile channels to plan their holidays and business trips and get in touch with travel companies on-the-go, Brussels Airlines declares 2017 the year of digital innovation, during which it will invest heavily in the improvement of its digital tools to service its customers even better.

The airline recently sent its 10 millionth mobile boarding pass and replies to more than 500 requests a day from its travellers on Twitter and Facebook, showing that their customers are ready for more digital tools. The first one this year is the Brussels Airlines app, which is now available for iOS and Android devices.

“With more and more data being available to us, we can much better grasp what it is our guests want and deliver just that to them. Close to 35% of our sales currently takes place on brusselsairlines.com, but also in terms of servicing, our digital platforms need to be equipped to cater for all our guests, also the ones who booked their tickets via travel agencies,” said Sebastien Scarmure, the Airlines’ VP e-Commerce and Mobile.

“They need accurate information about their flights on-the-go and be able to change details of their booking without being obliged to go via the traditional communication channels. The app is a first move in this direction, but much more is to come throughout the next years to offer a complete experience during every step of the way.”

Brussels airline is putting a lot of efforts in creating a relevant and efficient digital experience for the customers, so they can focus on their holiday or business trip. The website will also get a makeover to focus more on personalized servicing and a “data pool” project will make it possible to get all up-to-date information about everything that is happening within the airline’s operation and use that information to keep travelers as well as co-workers informed.

Today, the Brussels Airlines app allows travelers to book their tickets in just a few clicks, to check in and use the mobile boarding pass and to keep up with flight changes. This first release of the app will be followed by more updates soon and push notifications will be added to keep passengers informed proactively.

Founded by SN Airholding in 2002, Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline that offers the widest choice of flights to and from the capital of Europe, Brussels Airport. The company has 49 aircraft operating some 300 flights daily, connecting the Capital of Europe to over 90 premium European and African destinations and New York JFK, Washington D.C. and Toronto. As from March 2017 the airline will operate 5 weekly flights to Mumbai, India.

On its European routes, Brussels Airlines offers the choice between Bizz&Class, Flex&Fast, Light&Relax and Check&Go. In addition to its 23 destinations in Africa and North America, Brussels Airlines and its intercontinental partners also offer long-haul codeshare flights to the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Thailand.

Brussels Airlines offers cargo capacity on all its flights, commercialized by the Cargo Department. The Brussels Airlines app can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play.

By Jean d’Amour Mugabo

March 10, 2017
President Kagame welcomes Nguesso

{The president of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame and and the First Lady Madam Jeannette Kagame have welcomed President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazaville with her wife Antoinette Sassou Nguesso in talks held yesterday.}

The two countries have strong bilateral relations which they wish to further strengthen as highlighted in yesterday’s meeting.

Talking to the press during his 3rd visit to Congo Brazaville in 2013, President Kagame revealed that there is a good relationship between the two countries.

December 16, 2015