Author: IGIHE

The suspect who is a resident of Kirehe sector was apprehended on April 7th, 2020, the day Rwanda began commemorating for the 26th time, the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

Muzungu Gerald, Kirehe district mayor confirmed that the suspect was arrested while investigation proceeds. “We are gathering evidence to verify the accuracy of the crime.”
Muzungu said that the suspect and his wife are illegally married and moved to Kirehe district from Kigali. Further information about the case will be announced after thorough investigation.

Muzungu warned Rwandans to combat genocide ideology and avoid inappropriate attitude during the commemoration period. “We should all champion values of unity and reconciliation especially as we commemorate genocide for the 26th time. All forms of ethnic slurs are punishable by law.”

Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) recently warned Rwandans to avoid genocide ideologies, denialism and historical revisionism regarding the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

The project is designed to help the government prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.

It will support the COVID19 National Preparedness and Response Plan by financing critical interventions, such as prompt diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 cases; contact tracing to minimize risk of transmission; risk assessments to identify hot spot areas, and screening travelers at Ports of Entry.

The emergency project will also bolster clinical care capacity and establish isolation capacity at a selected number of national and district hospitals responsible for triaging and treating COVID-19 cases.

“As we commemorate 26 years since the genocide and pay our respect to those who lost their lives, we note that the country is now hard hit by the COVID-19 global pandemic which runs the risk of reversing some of Rwanda’s hard won socio-economic and health achievements,” says Yasser El Gammal, World Bank Country Manager.

“I am confident that with the high-level leadership, the resilience of the Rwandans swift action taken by the government, and support of the World Bank and other development partners, Rwanda can bend the curve on this pandemic and get back on track”,

The Rwanda COVID -19 Emergency Response Project also focuses on harnessing digital solutions and data analytical tools that will improve the management and containment of the COVID-19 response.

Building on the country’s strong track record on digital solutions, several innovations will be explored, including digital maps that allow to visualize the spread of the disease in real time; mobile apps for sending health messages; and telemedicine capability to allow for suspected cases to be assessed without the need for physical movements by patients.

“Swift detection of COVID-19 and a rapid emergency response can save lives, reduce health care costs, and prevent the staggering socio-economic costs associated with disease outbreaks. As we have learned from past outbreaks, rapid containment, prompt and efficient diagnosis and treatment of patients; and community involvement are critical”, noted Miriam Schneidman, Lead Health Specialist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank.

The Rwanda COVID-19 Emergency Project is part of the World Bank Group $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery.

The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

The International Finance Corporation is providing $8 billion in financing to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association are making an initial $6 billion available for the health-response.

As countries need broader support, the World Bank Group will deploy up to $160 billion over 15 months to protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.

* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.6 billion people who live in IDA countries.

Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $21 billion over the last three years, with about 61 percent going to Africa.

Every April 7, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda across the globe, join to pay tribute to over one million innocent lives massacred in just one hundred in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Commemoration activities were held in South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and Abyei where Rwandan Police peacekeepers are deployed.

The separate events to remember were held in consideration of the measures aimed at fighting and preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) such as avoiding big gatherings and observing social distancing.

A moment of silence was observed and flags brought at half-mast in honour of the innocent lives massacred 26 years ago.

The peacekeepers followed Kwibuka proceedings and message by His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the national broadcaster–Rwanda Television.

In his message on Kwibuka 26, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said that the “systematic killing… unspeakable crimes pierced the conscience of the world.”

“We remember the victims. Today, we recommit to protecting civilians and preventing Genocide from occurring ever again,” Guterres said.

He noted that it is the collective responsibility to guarantee the human rights and dignity of every person and uphold the rule of law.

“In memory of the victims of genocide, we will counter hatred in all its manifestation. We are inspired by the compassion of the courageous survivors of these atrocities and those who did what they could to prevent them,” the UN Chief said.

He commended all Rwandan peacekeepers deployed to UN peacekeeping missions around the world noting that “your service, born from sacrifice, gives hope to us all.”
Rwanda maintains over 1000 Police peacekeepers in different UN missions across the globe.

Commemoration activities will be followed on television and radio stations and other social platforms, from homes to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

The grant agreement will support the Green City Kigali, a Sustainable Urban Development initiative (with €20 million), Decentralization and Good Governance (with an additional €18 million), as well as the Promotion of Growth and Export, oriented SMEs (with additional € 14.1 million).

This financing agreement will contribute to the implementation of the Government of Rwanda’s priority areas, such as Decentralization/Good Governance, Employment Creation, as well as Green Growth Strategy which will contribute to the achievement of Rwanda’s long term development goals.

Development Cooperation between Rwanda and Germany focuses on Decentralization and Good Governance, TVET, Private Sector Development including export finance, Green Urban Development as well as improved access to energy and digitalization.

The Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Rwanda enjoy a long-standing bilateral cooperation and today’s financing agreement is another milestone in strengthening this excellent cooperation.

The Bilateral Cooperation between Rwanda and Germany began in the year 1963. KFW and GIZ are the implementing Agencies on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany: GIZ through Technical Cooperation and KFW through Financial Cooperation.

Every two years, both countries hold Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) to fix the modalities of a new development program. The next IGN for the period of 2020 -2022 are expected to take place in Kigali in September 2020.

The commemoration event which brought together more than 550 Rwandans living in China, was conducted online due the global coronavirus outbreak, which has made it impossible for gatherings as done in the past.

In his speech, Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, H.E. James Kimonyo urged the Rwandan community in China to uphold the values of patriotism and selflessness of the men and women of Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) who under the leadership of President Paul Kagame fought the then government forces and militias and single-handedly stopped the genocide.

The Ambassador called on the participants to promote unity and fight the genocide ideology and denial. He also appealed to the international community to work with Rwanda in bringing to justice the genocide perpetrators who are still at large.

The commemoration event also included testimony by Mr. Ntezimana Jean Nepomuscene, a genocide survivor currently studying in China, who shared the story of his life before, during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Mr. Ntezimana, who is on the path to become an Internal Medicine Doctor, ended his testimony thanking the Rwanda Patriotic Army for saving him and the Government of Rwanda for supporting the genocide survivors, giving them hope for the future.

It is the twelfth year since the African Union started the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, commemoration activities will be limited. Moussa

Faki Mahamat said that no formal gathering will happen to commemorate the genocide this year but encouraged Africans to join Rwanda in commemorating in the confines of their home.

“This annual commemoration affords us an opportunity to reflect, and continue the fight against genocide, its ideology, denial, and impunity with a view to ensure that never again shall Africa experience such a heinous crime against humanity.”

The 26th commemoration activities will be held under the theme ‘Remember, Unite, Renew’.

Faki Mahamat said that African countries should learn lessons from the history of Rwanda and renew their commitment to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.

He called upon member states of the African Union (AU) to arrest and prosecute the fugitives of the genocide. “Fighting impunity should equally be at the heart of our collective efforts as AU member states as well as the international community by arresting, prosecuting or extraditing indicted fugitives.”

Faki Mahamat said that during the genocide in 1994, the world stood still in awe as millions of Tutsi were being killed.

“As we remember the fallen mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters in Rwanda, we should not be oblivious of the fact that genocide is always well planned, deliberately executed with impunity, yet genocide is also always followed by denial.”

He reminded African countries that the 26th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi is in line with the AU theme this year
“Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development”. “If genocide ideology persists, its denial will continue unabated and impunity will reign.”

Faki Mahamat concluded saying that AU member states should collectively combat genocide ideology, impunity and denial working hand-in-glove with the international community and all other stakeholders.

On April 7th each year, Rwandans across the globe begin a 100-day commemoration period dedicated to remembering the lives of genocide victims.

The ceremony lasted for a very short time and gathered a few people with regards to established preventive measures against coronavirus.

President Kagame and the First Lady lay a wreath and lit a flame of remembrance to honour more than a million victims of the Genocide against Tutsi.

Lighting a flame signifies that the memory still lives on and burns bright. It is a ritual that promotes reflection and signifies remembrance.

In his address to the nation, President Kagame said that Rwandans are accustomed to comforting each other during this period and seeking solace in the arms of their neighbors especially during the Walk to Remember, vigils or discussions in our respective villages.

He said that due to the unpredictable circumstances which led to the outbreak of coronavirus, Rwandans will not be together to commemorate as a nation but that it should not stop them from celebrating the lives of genocide victims and paying them the tribute they deserve.

For the 26th commemoration, Rwandans will remember in their homes and local channels will broadcast discussions pertaining to the remembrance period. The Rwandan diaspora will be able to follow up on the discussions via social media and other digital channels.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

I would like first to thank Rwandans across the country in their homes and friends of Rwanda who are following up closely on this ceremony as we begin commemoration. I equally thank you for abiding by hard but necessary preventive measures established to combat coronavirus around the globe.

For survivors and their families, commemorating is particularly different during the pandemic as we cannot be together or console each other. Rwandans are accustomed to comforting each other during this period and seeking solace in the arms of their neighbors especially during the Walk to Remember, vigils or discussions in our respective villages.
Due to the unpredictable circumstances which led to the outbreak of coronavirus, we will not be together to commemorate as a nation but that will not keep us from celebrating the lives of our lost loved ones and paying them the tribute they deserve.

Today, we remember the genocide, a tragedy that left indelible scars on people and on our nation.
We will continue to educate young Rwandans and future generations the dark history of our country and the lessons we learned from it.

Those lessons are an integral part of our lives as Rwandans and will serve in building a better Rwanda through accountable leadership and protecting citizens from harm.
We have learned the hard way the importance of unity in building an inclusive community for Rwandans and future generations.
The relentlessness and empathy which characterize Rwandans are a strong enough foundation to mitigating all the hardships that might come our way.

As citizens of the world, our lives are in many ways intertwined. We will continue to push efforts to build a better world by sharing our history and nurturing values of unity and reconciliation.

We should always remember that in union there is strength and for as long as we will remain united, our nation will never again perish.

Thank you. God Bless you all.

A statement signed by the Mayor, City of Kigali, Rubingisa Pudence, states that:

“The City of Kigali informs the public that we are currently following instructions on measures to prevent coronavirus, and those with food shortages can call 3260 toll-free line.”

Rubingisa has also told IGIHE that the line has been opened to help people who may be missing out on the program to receive food and other necessities.

“There are vulnerable people who might have been forgotten or not been put on the list. Some of those called the 114th COVID-19 helpline reporting they were missing the food-eligible list.”