Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The mass organized to celebrate the first-ever Rwanda’s Cardinal took place at Kigali Arena.

Cardinal Kambanda expressed delight for joining Christians after his new special appointment to comfort believers.

“ I am excited to join all of you to thank God and share with you the blessing acquired during my installation as Cardinal. Today, I bring the blessing here in Rwanda,” he said.

The President of Rwanda’s Episcopal Conference, Bishop Philippe Rukamba revealed that they were proud for the milestone and good news for all Rwandans.

“His Eminent Cardinal, your installation as cardinal made us happy. We interacted with different people on televisions, radios and social media channels expressing gratefulness because they showed how a person becomes cardinal,” he noted.

“You are adding up another stage to a long sequence of Christians and clerics Rwanda has ever had. Since the past, we are always aware that God spends the day elsewhere and returns to sleep in Rwanda. Your appointment as cardinal convinced us to understand this enough and helped us to understand the impact of Catholic Church in Rwanda globally,” added Rukamba.

He thanked Cardinal Kambanda for his contribution help Rwandans heal from wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as the head of Justice and Peace Commission among Rwanda’s Catholic Church Bishops.

“We consider your installation as cardinal as something proving that we are on the right psychiatric journey because it helps a Christian to pardon like Christ and God,” he said.

Bishop Rukamba explained that promoting unity and reconciliation under the championship of President Paul Kagame was the enabler to restore peace among Rwandans.

The Mass was also attended by other bishops from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi , diplomats accredited to Rwanda, representatives of different faith based organizations among others.

“The Continental Free Trade Area is the lifeblood of our continent’s integration and prosperity. It will also be the primary portal through which Africa engages with its partners around the world on trade and investment. We must therefore work together continuously to protect and strengthen this pact for the sake of the generations that follow us.”

Kagame made the remarks on Saturday as he participated in the 13th Extraordinary Sessions of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) which took place virtually.

The 13th Extraordinary AU Summit began on the morning of 05th December 2020 to finalise the instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area so that trading may commence on 1st January 2021. After the opening ceremony with statements by the Chairperson of the AU, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, participants moved into closed session.

President Kagame made a statement during the closed session stressing the importance of the AfCFTA to Africa’s integration and prosperity agenda.

He congratulated the African Ministers of Trade, the African Union Commission, and the new AfCFTA Secretariat for successfully overseeing the technical negotiations.

“I wish to congratulate the African Ministers of Trade, African Union Commission and the new AfCFTA secretariat for successfully overseeing the technical negotiations. The remaining negotiations should be completed as soon as possible in order to maximize the benefits of higher trade volumes for all of us,” he said.

Kagame stressed that the African Continental Free Trade Area will always be associated with the name of President Mamadou Yusuf of Niger ‘who has led this process on behalf of the assembly’ and thanked him for outstanding contributions.

Among others, Kagame observed that it is a collective achievement which could not have happened without the strong support of the African heads of state and Government who have remained steadfast throughout the journey.

He noted that such level of commitment ‘will continue to be necessary to sustain the agreement and make it successful’.

A World Bank report released in December 2019 on the AfCFTA showed that the common market would benefit the African continent in different ways.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which was signed by 44 African countries on March 21st, 2018 in Kigali shows that a single market for goods and services across Africa will lead to poverty reduction. At least 30 million Africans (1.5% of Africans) will rise above the poverty line.

The report shows that 12 million people in West Africa, 9.3 million in Central Africa and 4.8 million in East Africa will rise above the poverty line. The AfCFTA has the potential of lifting 67.9 million Africans (3.6% of Africans) to middle income status by 2035. That is a $5.50 income per day.

The AfCFTA will connect 1.3 billion African citizens from 54 countries and is expected to generate $3.4 trillion annually. This trade bloc will improve Intra-African trade and definitely solve the problem of food import in Africa.

The Continental Free Trade Area was expected to start operating on July 1st, 2020 but was delayed due to Covid pandemic. The starting date has been extended to 1st January 2021.

Gasana, 58, served as Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York since 2012 until 2016. At the time, Rwanda replaced Gasana and summoned him but never returned to the country.

Since then, he was reported for involvement in different activities intended to destabilize Rwanda’s security. He is said to have coordinated RNC members’ discussions with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in which he was asked to join their activities.

In March 2019, Gasana was part of discussions that brought together President Museveni and Charlotte Mukankusi , the head of diplomacy in RNC.

The letter from the family of Gasana to which IGIHE has a copy, signed by his sister Alice Gasana shows that the entire family was shocked to hear a relative involved in wrongful acts.

Apart from cooperation with dissidents intending to destabilize Rwanda’s security, he was recently reported to have raped two times, a Rwandan girl who was conducting an internship at the embassy in 2014.

“On behalf of the family, I, Gasana Alice wishes to take this opportunity to share my heartfelt feelings with Rwandans over things talked about my brother Eugène-Richard Gasana for more than four years,” reads part of the statement.

As the eldest sister in the family of four, she narrated a bit of Gasana’s history recounting how they lived together in Burundi and Europe.

She explained that, during his teenage hood, Gasana was kin on Laws though other people wanted Gasana to become a diplomat which finally came true.

“Concerning the brother I am telling you, it has been four years hearing bad news against him discomforting me, the entire family and other relatives. He was reported to have committed some acts individually and conspiring in other activities all of which disturbs the family and relatives,” noted Alice Gasana.

As the eldest and head of family, Alice Gasana, reacted on behalf of the family and relatives to condemn acts reported to her brother noting that it is against virtues acquired during childhood.

“That is why, I take this opportunity on behalf of the family to condemn and distance myself from shameful acts reported to my brother because they are against virtues we acquired during our childhood,” she said.

Alice Gasana highlighted that her brother should be held accountable individually because the family was not involved.

“We have been shocked as a family. We were extremely shocked to hear the name of a sibling reported in such shameful acts. I take this take to declare that the family is completely against the acts,” she said.

“Brother Gasana, I know well that you used to respect myadvises. As your commitment to apologize is still pending, I apologize on your behalf as a sibling.”

Kagame made the remarks yesterday as he addressed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business. He noted that the Covid pandemic has delayed the start of trading and advised all to stay on course.

“Two years ago, we signed a historic agreement, and together wrote a new chapter in the story of African integration. The Covid pandemic has delayed the start of trading but we must stay on course,” he said.

Kagame revealed that doing more business with each other will be mutually beneficial for countries adding that it will also help to build the capacity to compete internationally.

“In Africa, we will start trading amongst ourselves in a few weeks. We need the private sector to be fully involved. That means, all of you gathered here with us today. We have to work closely together, to ensure the right frameworks are in place for the success of this process,” he noted.

“In addition, we must continue to communicate the benefits of free African trade to our citizens, especially, young people and mobilize them to remain engaged for the next phases of African Integration,” added Kagame.

The President also congratulated and welcomed Wamkele Mene , the new Secretary-General of the CFTA Secretarial and thanked the African Union Commission, for organising this Business Forum, which has become a tradition with each Summit.

A World Bank report released in December 2019 on the AfCFTA showed that the common market would benefit the African continent in different ways.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which was signed by 44 African countries on March 21st, 2018 in Kigali shows that a single market for goods and services across Africa will lead to poverty reduction. At least 30 million Africans (1.5% of Africans) will rise above the poverty line.

The report shows that 12 million people in West Africa, 9.3 million in Central Africa and 4.8 million in East Africa will rise above the poverty line. The AfCFTA has the potential of lifting 67.9 million Africans (3.6% of Africans) to middle income status by 2035. That is a $5.50 income per day.

The AfCFTA will connect 1.3 billion African citizens from 54 countries and is expected to generate $3.4 trillion annually. This trade bloc will improve Intra-African trade and definitely solve the problem of food import in Africa.

The Continental Free Trade Area was expected to start operating on July 1st, 2020 but was delayed due to Covid pandemic. The starting date has been extended to 1st January 2021.

Places of worship are required to accommodate 50% of their capacity and respect all COVID-19 control measures including social distancing, washing hands, and wearing of face mask.

Under the newly issued guidelines, the Ministry of Local Government has revealed that ‘faith-based organizations can organize religious gatherings for more two days of choice per week and inform local leaders from the sector in which a church is located’.

The two days will be additional to existing proclaimed days of worship especially, Friday for Muslims; Saturday for Adventists and Sunday for other churches.

Burial and wedding ceremonies will also continue to be observed anytime respecting COVID-19 guidelines.

The guidelines also indicate that religious gatherings for people in advanced ages from 65 and above should be exclusively held except those leading church services.

Children from six and above have been also allowed to go to pray together with their siblings or parents.

Baptism and other sacraments will be ordained respecting COVID-19 health guidelines.

Burial ceremonies should not exceed 75 persons.

Ambassador Rwakazina is Rwanda’s ambassador to the Holy See with residence in Geneva, Switzerland. She also represents Rwanda to the United Nations and various organizations.

During the ceremony, other ambassadors from nine countries including Denmark, Estonia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mauritania, Uzbekistan and Zambia also presented letters of credence to represent their countries.

After presenting credential letters to Pope Francis, Amb. Rwakazina held bilateral talks known as ‘Concordat’ with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin which focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Rwanda and the Holy See.

A concordat is a convention between the Holy See and a sovereign state that defines the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in matters that concern both the recognition and privileges of the Catholic Church in a particular country and with secular matters that impact on church interests.

Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the Holy See were established 56 years ago but were profoundly affected with involvement of members of the Catholic Church in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Rwakazina’s presentation of credentials comes only a week after Cardinal Antoine Kambanda was installed cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory held on 28th November 2020.