Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

However, Dr. Habineza who serves as the chairperson of DGPR was notably excluded from the parliamentary list—a decision he describes as carefully considered.

He recently spoke to IGIHE about his political journey, the challenges of the election, and his plans for the future of the Green Party.

{{Electoral defeat and party realignment}}

After the election, Dr. Habineza withdrew from the public eye, a move he attributes to his focus on restructuring his party internally.

“When you don’t win, some people feel discouraged, and it’s the leader’s responsibility to reunite and motivate the team,” he explained.

Despite the electoral loss, the DGPR remained resolute in realigning and reorganizing its structures to face future challenges.

Dr. Habineza briefly visited Sweden but returned quickly, to continue with his law studies and party responsibilities.

“During my time in Parliament, I learned a lot, but I hadn’t studied law yet. There were areas where I felt I lacked expertise, particularly in advocating for the Rwandan people. I started studying law while in Parliament, and I’m happy to say that I’m in my second year now. I’ll be finishing next year,” he shared.

{{Decision to run for president again}}

Dr. Habineza’s decision to run for president again in 2024, despite his previous defeat in 2017, was a thoughtful one.

He emphasizes that it was not driven by personal ambition but by a desire to contribute to Rwanda’s democratic development.

“We realized that although I ran in 2017 and didn’t succeed, we gained valuable insights,” he noted.

According to the 47-year-old, the DGPR’s participation in the election was about presenting a platform for their vision of national leadership.

Reflecting on the 2024 elections, Dr. Habineza observed significant improvements in the election environment.

“In 2024, the security situation was excellent,” he said, noting that local leaders were more receptive and the police provided necessary protection throughout the campaign.

{{The future}}

Despite two electoral defeats, Dr. Habineza remains committed to the political process.

“What could prevent me from running again?” he asked, emphasizing that the party’s confidence in him is a strong motivator.

He also draws inspiration from leaders like Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, who ran for president four times before eventually succeeding.

“Running once or twice doesn’t mean giving up; it means correcting past mistakes through continued effort,” he explained.

Dr. Habineza also indicated that he is open to stepping aside if the party identifies a more capable candidate.

For now, he is focused on strengthening the party’s election strategy, particularly by increasing its representation at polling stations.

“We had plans for this, but our resources fell short,” he admitted. Improving election monitoring will be a key priority moving forward.

{{Financial challenges}}

Dr. Habineza discussed the financial challenges his party faced, explaining that five political parties contested the 2018 parliamentary elections and received about Frw100 million each.

“We used those funds to purchase a party house, which we later sold to finance the campaign,” he said.

While the sale of the property came with additional debt, he confirmed that the debts have now been settled.

Looking ahead, Dr. Habineza is hopeful that the party will be reimbursed for campaign expenses, as the law allows political parties that garner more than 5% of the vote to recover part of their costs.

“We are optimistic that we’ll receive reimbursement, which we can use to buy another property,” he said.

Dr. Habineza revealed that the party spent over Frw300 million during the 2024 election campaign.

{{Exclusion of party member from parliamentary list}}

A recent development that attracted attention was the removal of one of the DGPR’s candidate from the parliamentary list just before swearing-in.

Carine Maombi, who was second on the party’s list, was unexpectedly replaced by Jacqueline Masozera Icyizanye after issues arose regarding her candidacy.

Dr. Habineza explained, “At the last minute, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau informed us that there were issues with her candidacy.”

While the matter is under investigation, he clarified that it has not yet reached the courts, and the party considers the issue resolved for now.

The finds, which include statues, coins, and pottery, shed new light on the history of the site during the late Ptolemaic period, the ministry said in a statement.

The mission, led by Kathleen Martinez, discovered foundation deposits beneath the southern wall of the temple’s outer enclosure.

Among the most significant finds are a small white marble statue of a woman wearing a royal crown and a limestone bust of a king wearing a “nemes” headdress.

Martinez said the female statue may depict Queen Cleopatra VII, although other archaeologists have suggested it could represent a princess due to differences in facial features, according to the statement.

The team also unearthed 337 coins, many bearing the image of Cleopatra VII, along with a variety of pottery, oil lamps, limestone vessels for storing food and cosmetics, bronze figurines, and an amulet in the shape of a scarab inscribed with the phrase “The justice of Ra has shone.”

A bronze ring dedicated to the goddess Hathor was also found.

These discoveries, along with pottery shards dating back to the late Ptolemaic period, indicate that the temple walls were constructed in the first century BC.

Martinez also announced the discovery of the remains of a Greek temple dating back to the fourth century BC, which was destroyed between the second century BC and the beginning of the AD era.

This temple is located near a deep tunnel system that runs from Lake Mariut in Alexandria to the Mediterranean Sea.

In addition, the mission uncovered a large cemetery containing 20 burial chambers, as well as a tomb with three chambers beneath the ancient Taposiris Magna lighthouse.

Inside one of these chambers, nine white marble busts and several other artifacts were found, the statement said.

Preliminary underwater excavations near the remains of the Taposiris Magna temple have also yielded human skeletal remains and a large quantity of pottery, further underscoring the historical and cultural significance of the site, according to the statement.

Guterres made the remarks through a statement released on Sunday, where he called this a historic opportunity to build a peaceful and stable future for the nation.

“The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine,” Guterres declared, highlighting the UN’s role in supporting the transition. He stated that the UN Special Envoy would work closely with all parties involved to guide Syria toward a lasting political solution.

Guterres also urged calm and restraint, stressing the importance of an orderly political transition.

“Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity must be restored,” he asserted and called for upholding the rights of all Syrians. He emphasized the need to avoid violence during this critical period.

The Secretary-General underscored the necessity of an inclusive political transition that respects the aspirations of all ethnic and religious groups within Syria. He pointed out that international support must be both comprehensive and sustainable for the process to succeed.

Guterres also paid tribute to the suffering of millions of Syrians, vowing that the UN would honor the memory of those who endured the conflict. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to helping Syrians rebuild their nation and chart a new course.

The situation in Syria has been one of the most complex and devastating in modern history.

The conflict, which began in 2011 as part of the wider wave of Arab Spring uprisings, saw Assad’s government engage in severe repression of peaceful protests, leading to violent escalation.

Over the years, the war has involved numerous international actors, including Russia and Iran supporting the regime, and the United States and Turkey backing various opposition groups. The result has been a fractured country, with millions displaced, a humanitarian crisis, and widespread destruction.

Despite the challenges of forgoing a regular monthly salary, he saw farming as an opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of Rwandans and contribute to national development.

Uwizeyimana ventured into chili farming under Fisher Global, a Rwandan agriculture company involved in growing and exporting chili. He views the trade between China and Rwanda as a blessing, and his daily smile is a testament to his success as one of the farmers exporting to the Asian country.

As an ecologist, Uwizeyimana’s background has been instrumental in running a successful farming business that has created jobs for hundreds of local Rwandans.

Reflecting on his time studying in China, Uwizeyimana realized his dream of contributing to Rwandan development through a business that benefits local communities.

“We work with around 1,500 farmers. We provide the right seeds, technical assistance, agronomists, and training. After harvest, we dry the chili before exporting it to China,” Uwizeyimana told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Cassien Habineza, the company’s head agronomist, joined the team in 2023. He shared how much he has learned, which has benefited him personally and professionally. “With a reliable income, I’ve been able to improve my family’s welfare,” he said.

Fisher Global operates chili farms on 300 hectares across Rwanda, working with various agricultural cooperatives. Although the company specializes in chili farming, it also grows soybeans and maize, with soybeans serving as a rotational crop to maintain soil health.

According to the company, over the past three years, Fisher Global has exported between 200 and 300 metric tons of dried chili annually, with 230 tons exported last year alone. Uwizeyimana’s goal, however, is to expand exports to 1,500 metric tons of dried chili per year.

The company’s farms are mainly located in eastern Rwanda, with a presence in several districts across the country, excluding the northern regions where the climate is not conducive to chili farming.

From each hectare of chili, a farmer can harvest around 10 tons of fresh chili per season, with two growing seasons per year. Currently, the company employs approximately 31 permanent staff and around 1,200 casual laborers, including those involved in chili and onion farming and transplanting.

Uwizeyimana believes that chili farming has become a vital link between Rwanda’s agricultural sector and global markets. “When people talk about chili, they often think of China. Everyone knows that our main market is China, and we have many farmers involved,” he said.

Commercial chili farming is a relatively new concept in Rwanda, where most people once grew it on a small scale for home consumption. Today, however, it’s a lucrative industry, generating substantial income and offering significant employment opportunities, Uwizeyimana said, adding that as chili farming continues to expand, it is playing an important role in the country’s economic development and boosting the purchasing power of local communities.

Uwizeyimana expressed optimism about China’s new policy, which, effective Dec. 1, grants zero-tariff treatment to goods from the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations. He sees the policy as a major boost for African farmers and predicts it will increase the volume of African exports to China. “This policy shows that China is a good friend of African countries,” he said.

Motivated by the new policy, Uwizeyimana plans to expand his chili farming operation to produce even larger quantities for export.

Habineza, an agronomist, also sees the policy as a boon for African farmers. “In this case, companies’ profits will increase with the zero-tax treatment policy introduced by China. I think it will also strengthen cooperation between African and Chinese companies and ease the exportation of products to the Chinese market,” he said.

However, the chili business has not been without challenges. Working with a workforce that lacks agricultural knowledge has been a significant hurdle. “We not only have to train people but also cultivate the right mindset, especially since many of our employees are young. It’s a challenge to guide them toward the right agricultural practices,” Uwizeyimana noted.

Looking ahead, Uwizeyimana is optimistic about the future of the chili business. He is confident that his efforts, along with the growing market for Rwandan chili, will continue to drive transformation in the agricultural sector and enhance the livelihoods of many.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the United Nations (UN) confirmed the emergence of this unknown epidemic in the DRC.

Authorities have recorded nearly 31 fatalities out of 406 reported cases, with the first infections traced back to late October. The outbreak has been most severe in Panzi and Kwango, located approximately 700 kilometers southwest of Kinshasa.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, emphasized the country’s vigilance.

“The Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre [RBC] are monitoring the situation daily. We are committed to safeguarding the lives of Rwandans. Together, we have successfully managed outbreaks such as COVID-19, Monkeypox, and Marburg. While we cannot rule out the possibility of the disease reaching Rwanda, we are prepared to respond as we did in the past,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified key symptoms of the disease, including headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, and anemia. The cause of the outbreak remains unknown pending laboratory test results.

The World Health Organization (WHO) evaluates the effectiveness of national regulatory authorities in overseeing the quality of medicines and other medical products. Countries are rated from Level 1 to Level 3, depending on their capacity.

Maturity Level 3, awarded by WHO, is given to countries with advanced, modern, and effective systems for controlling the quality of medicines and vaccines.

The Rwanda FDA underwent this evaluation between December 2022 and October 2024. On December 5, 2024, WHO officially announced that Rwanda had achieved Maturity Level 3.

Prof. Bienvenu explained that reaching Maturity Level 3 required substantial effort and capacity building, noting that “the Government of Rwanda has made this possible.” He emphasized that this achievement highlights Rwanda’s commitment to protecting the public health of its citizens.

“With this recognition, medicines and vaccines produced in Rwanda can now enter the international market. This opens the door for pharmaceutical industries to set up operations in Rwanda, with confidence that their products will be globally accepted,” he said.

Currently, a BioNTech factory in Rwanda has started producing vaccines locally, and other companies have expressed plans to establish operations in the country in the near future.

Prof. Bienvenu also pointed out that reaching Maturity Level 3 means that Rwanda’s FDA is trusted and recognized for its ability to exchange information and collaborate with other countries and institutions. This includes sharing not only data but also all documents related to medicines and vaccines.

He added, “Rwanda will be able to make decisions regarding the quality of medicines and vaccines that will be used as a benchmark by other countries, just as we will rely on decisions made by other countries.”

In total, 18 countries worldwide have achieved Maturity Level 3 for regulating medicines and vaccines, including eight in Africa.

CHAN 2024 is set to begin on February 1, 2025. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had initially awarded co-hosting rights for CHAN 2024 to three countries from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) zone: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

However, with Kenya struggling to meet the necessary requirements, Rwanda is being considered as a replacement co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenyan media reports indicate that CAF delegates visited Kenya last week and expressed dissatisfaction with the state of preparations.

The delegates reportedly issued a deadline of December 31, 2024, for Kenya to complete the required work or lose its hosting rights.

Currently, Kenya has no approved stadiums for the tournament. Kasarani Stadium, one of the proposed venues, is only 30% complete, while Nyayo Stadium lags even further behind. Both are unlikely to be ready by the December deadline.

In contrast, Rwanda’s infrastructure is well-prepared for hosting. Stadiums such as the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali Pelé Stadium, and Huye Stadium all meet CAF’s standards and are capable of hosting CHAN matches. Rwanda had previously hosted the entire tournament in 2016, demonstrating its capability.

If Rwanda is confirmed as a co-host, it will join Tanzania and Uganda in organizing the competition. However, no official statement has been made by Rwandan authorities regarding this development.

Meanwhile, Rwanda’s national team, Amavubi, is gearing up for two final qualifying matches for CHAN 2024 against South Sudan, scheduled for December 22 and 29, 2024.

The Head of State was speaking on a panel co-hosted by the Doha Forum and the Center for China and Globalization, on “China’s Role in a Rising Global South: Redefining the Future World Order”, discussing the impact of deepening ties between the global south and China.

Kagame highlighted the long-standing historical relationship between China and Africa, noting that it predates the independence of many African nations.

He emphasized that China’s involvement in Africa has evolved, particularly in terms of trade and investment, which now hold significant value with tangible benefits for countries like Rwanda.

Rwanda’s exports to China grew from $39 million in 2018 to $131.2 million in 2023. Over the past five years, China has been Rwanda’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), further strengthening bilateral trade relations.

The two nations also saw a bilateral trade volume of $550 million in 2023, with China’s imports from Rwanda increasing by 86.2% from last year.

China’s investments in Rwanda, which exceed $1.2 billion since 2019, span critical sectors like manufacturing, construction, real estate, and mining.

Notably, the upgrade of Masaka District Hospital to an 837-bed facility, which will form part of the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) and construction of Nyabarongo hydropower plant are among infrastructure projects demonstrating China’s significant contributions.

Kagame highlighted that the impact has not only been felt in Rwanda but also across various African countries, including larger economies.

While many critics, particularly from Western countries, have raised concerns about Africa falling into a “debt trap” due to Chinese loans, Kagame was firm in defending China’s approach.

He attributed the risks associated with debt to governance and management, rather than the nature of the loans themselves.

The President pointed out that African countries must be more diligent in engaging with their partners to ensure that loans are deployed effectively in projects that deliver mutual benefits.

The debt trap narrative, largely pushed by Western critics, often casts China’s loans to African nations in a negative light, suggesting that Beijing is deliberately setting up countries for failure.

However, many African leaders argue that the West’s history of imposing harsh conditions on aid and trade has left many African countries seeking more reliable and flexible partners.

China’s non-interference policy and willingness to engage without imposing restrictive terms has become an attractive alternative for many nations.

According to the China-Africa Research Initiative, as of 2023, African countries owe approximately $160 billion in debt to China, a significant portion of their external debt.

However, these loans are generally linked to infrastructure projects, such as roads, hospitals, and power plants, that have the potential to drive economic growth and improve living standards across the continent.

Kagame also addressed the broader global context in which China’s role in Africa is situated.

He spoke of the need for a new, more stable global order that includes the voices and interests of the Global South.

“The purpose of a global order is to have global stability, which we do not have,” he stated, emphasizing that true global stability can only be achieved when countries from the Global South work together.

“We need to realize that there is a lot we can do that benefits us in the Global South, but we need to come together.”

He noted that cooperation between the Global South and Global North could also be beneficial, but the Global North has often been unwilling to foster such collaboration in a way that feels equitable for all parties.

Kagame acknowledged that global geopolitical competition, in which China plays a significant role, is inevitable.

However, he argued that China’s approach to international competition has been more balanced and fair than that of the Global North.

“We don’t see anything in history that suggests that China has misused its strength. Rather, we have been benefitting from the cooperation and the attitude of bringing everybody to the table where everyone feels they are winning in the process,” he said.

Kagame also stressed the importance of the Global South working together to contribute to global stability.

“We just need to work together and make sure that we are contributing our fair share to this global stability that the world wants,” he said.

President Kagame participated in the panel discussion along with other panelists including Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia, Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, Dr. Eduardo Enrique Garcia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, and Dr. Henry Wang, President of the Center for China and Globalization.

Under the banner “Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity”, Doha Forum promotes the interchange of ideas and discourse towards policymaking and action-oriented recommendations.

The latest formal external trade in goods report revealed a 15.7% decrease in the value of Rwanda’s domestic exports in October 2024 compared to September 2024. However, exports grew by 61.8% compared to October 2023.

By October 2024, the trade deficit stood at $363 million, driven by a 23.9% increase in the value of imports compared to October 2023.

Key imports included machinery and transport equipment worth over $103 million and manufactured goods valued at $100 million.

Overall, imports rose from $507.9 million in October 2023 to $629.7 million in October 2024, marking a 23.9% increase.

The Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda recently told the Parliament that the growing import bill is worsening the trade deficit due to declining prices for Rwanda’s key exports.

“Our main exports—minerals, coffee, and tea—have experienced price drops, reducing foreign earnings. This has widened the trade deficit, affecting the foreign exchange market,” he said.

Governor Rwangombwa explained that the demand for foreign currency needed for imports has increased, while export earnings have declined.

He noted that reducing the trade deficit would require favorable conditions, such as discovering high-value minerals, but emphasized that addressing the trade imbalance would take time due to the changing dynamics of the global economy.

The Government’s development plan targets a 13% annual growth in exports and aims to boost private sector investment from $2.2 billion to $4.6 billion by 2029.

He is expected to attened the meeting along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Angolan President João Lourenço in an effort to address regional security challenges.

This confirmation was announced by President Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, on December 6, 2024, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI).

The talks follow a November 25, 2024, ministerial agreement outlining steps to dismantle the FDLR terror group and ease security measures imposed by Rwanda along its border.

The December 15 discussions are expected to focus on finding a lasting solution to the M23 rebel group crisis, which was not addressed during the earlier meeting.

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, recently stressed that resolving the root causes behind M23’s armed rebellion requires direct talks between the DRC government and the group.

In an interview with Top Congo FM on December 6, 2024, DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, dismissed the possibility of such negotiations.