Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The Office of the Prime Minister announced these appointments on the evening of Monday, September 30, 2024.

Among other significant appointments, Michelle Byusa has been named Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, while Irene Murerwa succeeds Michaella Rugwizangoga as Chief Tourism Officer at RDB.

Jules Ndenga has been appointed CEO of Aviation Tourism Logistics (ATL), while Eva Nishimwe is the new Managing Director of Rwanda Airports Company (RAC).

Additional appointments include Isabelle Mugwaneza as Strategic Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marie Mediatrice Umubyeyi as Executive Secretary of the National Women’s Council (NWC), and Brave Ngabo as Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council.

On Monday, Nduhungirehe reacted to an article published by Africa Intelligence, which claimed that during a recent ministerial meeting in Luanda, Angola, the DRC had requested Rwanda withdraw its forces and the M23 rebels before signing an agreement aimed at combating the FDLR.

Minister Nduhungirehe dismissed the claims as false, explaining that during the discussions in Luanda on September 14, 2024, M23 was not part of the agenda.

“This is false information spread by ill-intentioned officials. During the 4th Ministerial Meeting under the Luanda Process, held in Angola on September 14, 2024, military and intelligence experts from all three countries, including the Head of Military Intelligence from the DRC, reiterated their support for the harmonized plan they had adopted in Rubavu on August 29-30, 2024, to neutralize the FDLR and lift Rwanda’s defensive measures. They all three requested the Ministers to endorse it,” Nduhungirehe said.

The intelligence experts who convened in Rubavu had proposed steps to neutralize the FDLR, a group Rwanda sees as a long-standing threat to its security, due to its close cooperation with the Congolese army (FARDC).

The Rubavu meeting, attended by DRC intelligence officials, resulted in conclusions meant to be ratified by the ministers in Luanda, with DRC representatives initially in agreement.

However, Nduhungirehe explained that upon arrival in Luanda, the situation shifted. The DRC’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, refused to sign the conclusions reached by the experts regarding the eradication of the FDLR.

“This plan was endorsed by the Foreign Ministers of Angola and Rwanda. However, the DRC’s Foreign Minister alone rejected the harmonized plan and opposed a new meeting of experts proposed by the facilitator for September 30 to October 1, 2024, to develop a concept of operations [CONOPS] for the plan,” Nduhungirehe stated.

Regarding claims of discussions about M23 withdrawing from Congolese territory, Nduhungirehe dismissed these as baseless.

“There was no plan discussed for the withdrawal of M23 from Congolese territory, a territory that is also theirs,” he noted.

DR Congo’s reluctance has reportedly delayed further meetings aimed at restoring relations between the two countries.

According to Boona FM, the incident occurred on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Kamonyi Village, Northern Division of Kisoro Municipality, Uganda.

Ntirivamunda, in his 40s, had gone to a local bar to purchase meat, which he shared with his visiting daughter.

Witnesses said that, after consuming the meal, a piece of meat became lodged in Elias’ throat, causing him to lose consciousness and tragically die on the spot.

The survey highlights that public transport is more commonly used in urban areas, with 25.9% of employed people in the City of Kigali relying on it for their commute.

In contrast, the usage of public transportation is notably lower in rural areas, where only 2.6% of employed individuals use it.

According to the survey, 8.3 million of Rwanda’s 13.2 million population are of working age, with 4.3 million currently employed.

Among those employed in Kigali, over 61% commute on foot, while 12.7% use personal vehicles.

In March 2023, the Rwandan government introduced 12 new public transport routes in Kigali, increasing the total number to 79.

The recent addition of 200 new buses has helped ease congestion at bus stations, particularly during peak hours when commuters are traveling to and from work.

In other urban areas, 75.3% of workers also walk to work, and 10.2% rely on private means of transportation.

In rural areas, only 5% of workers use private cars, with a mere 2.6% utilizing public transport.

The forum gathered key government representatives and business leaders, including Hazza AlQahtani, UAE Ambassador to Rwanda, and John Mirenge, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the UAE. The event was also attended by several Rwandan business owners operating in the UAE, and UAE investors with interests in Rwanda.

In his keynote address, Amb. AlQahtani emphasized the robust and developing relationship between the UAE and Rwanda.

“It is my privilege to welcome you to this important platform for the business communities of the UAE and Rwanda. This forum reflects our shared ambition to strengthen commercial ties, foster innovation, and create sustainable economic growth for both nations”.

Amb. AlQahtani outlined the strategic opportunities available for Rwandan businesses across various sectors, including real estate, renewable energy, technology and logistics.

“The UAE offers a dynamic and globally recognized business environment. With a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a government committed to economic diversification, we present an attractive destination for international investments,” he said.

Amb. AlQahtani highlighted the UAE’s ongoing efforts to solidify its position as a global economic hub, noting that the country’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.4 trillion in the first half of 2024; a 25% increase in exports.

He also stressed the UAE’s ambitious goal of achieving AED 3 trillion in non-oil trade by the end of 2024.

“This demonstrates our commitment to fostering long-term economic prosperity, and Rwanda can play a significant role by capitalizing on opportunities across sectors such as AI, agri-tech, and renewable energy,” Amb. AlQahtani added. “By identifying synergies between our economies and addressing any challenges that may impact the growth of bilateral trade, we can pave the way for more robust collaboration.”

He encouraged Rwandan entrepreneurs to explore emerging industries, particularly in the fields of green technology, advanced manufacturing, and smart agriculture.

On behalf of Rwanda, Amb. John Mirenge reiterated the country’s enthusiasm for welcoming UAE investments.

“Rwanda is committed to supporting UAE businesses that are looking to establish or expand their presence in our country. While we have seen positive developments, there is room for much more, and I strongly encourage more UAE businesses to consider Rwanda as a prime destination for growth,” Mirenge said, calling for a concerted effort to elevate bilateral trade to new heights. He encouraged Rwandan entrepreneurs to explore emerging industries, particularly in green technology, advanced manufacturing, and smart agriculture.

Leading the physical delegation in Kigali was Juliana Muganza, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), alongside representatives from the Private Sector Federation (PSF), the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

In her remarks, Muganza emphasized the growing importance of UAE-Rwanda partnerships and the critical role these partnerships play in driving Rwanda’s Vision 2050 agenda.

“We have laid a solid foundation for foreign investment, and we are confident that collaborations like these will continue to unlock new opportunities for growth and development in both nations,” she said.

The forum also featured participation from key UAE institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, with officials sharing insights into the UAE’s strategic sectors, including AI, food security, and logistics.

Both Rwandan and UAE officials expressed optimism for the future of trade and investment between the two nations. This platform has once again demonstrated that the partnership between Rwanda and the UAE is not only resilient but has considerable also filled with boundless potential to develop further.

“We look forward to seeing more initiatives that will strengthen our economic ties and contribute to the prosperity of our people,” Muganza concluded.

With both countries already seeing tangible benefits from their cooperation, the meeting solidified the foundation for deeper collaboration, offering Rwandan businesses a gateway to one of the world’s most vibrant economies while presenting UAE investors with new opportunities in Rwanda’s rapidly expanding market.

The report suggested that the majority of the 82.2 million people live in the IGAD region, with 54.7 million in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.

“Conflict remains the dominant driver of East Africa’s food crisis, with about 39 million people across the IGAD region facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Conflict has resulted in critical destruction of infrastructure and main sources of food and income, aggravating the already dire food security conditions,” the agencies said.

Food insecurity in the area is also worsened by climate shocks and hazards.

The institutions found that extreme weather and climate change like floods and droughts, which are now more severe and frequent, have become major drivers of food insecurity.

The IGAD member states, namely Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, are home to over 29 million displaced individuals, mostly in Sudan, as a result of both conflict and climate-related risks, the report noted.

The food security situation may deteriorate as the region is expected to experience below-average rainfall during the October-December season.

According to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center, La Nina, associated with drought conditions in the eastern Horn of Africa, will likely emerge in late 2024 and persist through early 2025.

According to Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) statement, Admiral Mangrasse commended the progress made over the past years since Rwanda Security Forces deployed to fight terrorists.

He appreciated the strong partnership between Rwandan Security Forces and Mozambican Forces which brought peace and stability and enabled thousands of displaced persons to return to their homes in Cabo Delgado Province.

Both sides discussed the progress registered so far in the joint effort to uproot terrorists from their strongholds and hideouts in the last three years since the first deployment of Rwanda Security Forces in Cabo Delgado Province in July 2021.

Before the intervention of Rwandan troops , terrorists had claimed the lives of 3,000 civilians, and more than 800,000 people had been displaced. The insecurity had also brought all development projects in the insurgent-controlled areas to a standstill.

Over the past three years, the Rwandan security forces, in collaboration with Mozambique’s armed forces, have made significant strides in dismantling the Al Sunna Wa Jama (ASWJ) terrorist group from their strongholds in Mocimboa da Praia and Palma. This has allowed a substantial number of internally displaced people to safely return to their villages.

Rwanda and Mozambique have enjoyed vibrant relations for many years, with cooperation agreements spanning various sectors, including security, trade, and investment.

Reliable sources have confirmed to IGIHE that Kayumba traveled to Kinshasa this September and met with leaders of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

This follows Tshisekedi’s earlier public statement that he was willing to collaborate with anyone committed to overthrowing Rwanda’s government.

Kayumba Nyamwasa, founder of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), played a major role in creating the P5 coalition, a group of terrorist organizations with the shared goal of threatening Rwanda’s security.

This coalition initially included groups such as Amahoro PC, Kayumba’s RNC, Victoire Ingabire’s FDU-Inkingi, a faction of PS-Imberakuri led by Bernard Ntaganda, and PDP-Imanzi. However, internal divisions soon surfaced, weakening the coalition’s impact.

The RUD-Urunana terrorist group, responsible for a deadly attack in Musanze in 2019 that claimed 14 civilian lives, was also part of this coalition.

Kayumba’s long-standing connections with Theoneste Misago, an FDLR operative in Southern Africa, and Alphonse Munyarugendo, based in Mozambique, remain strong. These ties have been further bolstered by support from Etienne Mutabazi, a former spokesperson for the RNC who served in Habyarimana’s army.

Mutabazi, who held a key role in the RNC’s Legal and Ethical Conduct Commission, publicly stated in 2022 that the FDLR poses no threat to Rwanda.

Despite this claim, sources reveal that Kayumba continues to maintain contact with Maj. Gaston Iyamuremye, alias Victor Byiringiro, the current leader of the FDLR.

Under Kayumba’s latest plan, Misago coordinates FDLR activities, recruits new members for the terrorist group, and raises funds for their operations.

Alphonse Munyarugendo, known as “Monaco Dollar,” plays a crucial role in this plot. A former member of Habyarimana’s army who joined in 1989, Munyarugendo runs businesses in Mozambique and remains deeply involved with the FDLR.

His brother, Col Anatole Nsengiyumva, was convicted for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Munyarugendo himself was responsible for heavy artillery at Kanombe military barracks in 1994 and later served in the DRC’s army, FARDC, overseeing operations in Pweto.

{{Tshisekedi’s broader plot against Rwanda}}

Kayumba Nyamwasa’s trip to Kinshasa is part of a broader plan by President Tshisekedi to destabilize Rwanda, a goal he has publicly stated multiple times.

In December 2022, Tshisekedi met with Congolese youth and expressed his desire to support efforts to overthrow the Rwandan government.

“Rwandans are our brothers and sisters. They need our help to liberate them… from leaders holding them back,” he said.

Since then, Tshisekedi has ramped up his support for Rwandan subversive groups, including providing platforms for the FDLR and lending support to exiled figures like Eugène Richard Gasana.

Gasana, who has assumed a coordinating role among these groups, is reportedly working closely with Tshisekedi in this destabilization campaign.

Additionally, a confidential document dated July 26, 2024, and signed by Tshisekedi’s Director of Cabinet, Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, reveals that the DRC government has been in talks with Niger to transfer six Rwandan nationals to Kinshasa.

These individuals were prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for their involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, some having been acquitted or released after serving their sentences.

Among these individuals are high-profile figures such as Sagahutu Innocent, Nzuwonemeye François Xavier, Mugiraneza Prosper, Nteziryayo Alphonse, Ntagerura André, and Protais Zigiranyirazo—key actors in Habyarimana’s regime.

Notably, two of them were senior military officers: Major Nzuwonemeye, head of military intelligence, and Captain Sagahutu, his deputy. Protais Zigiranyirazo, President Habyarimana’s brother-in-law, also held significant power within the regime.

Tshisekedi’s moves to gather and collaborate with these individuals, as well as his ties to various subversive Rwandan factions, highlight his continued efforts to destabilize Rwanda.