Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

First Lady Martine Moïse was hospitalized following the overnight attack, interim Premier Claude Joseph said. The nation of more than 11 million people had grown increasingly unstable and disgruntled under Moïse.

“The country’s security situation is under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti,” Joseph said in a statement from his office. “Democracy and the republic will win.”

The Haitian Embassy in Canada also confirmed Moïse was killed in a tweet.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, the streets were largely empty in the Caribbean nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince, but some people ransacked businesses in one area.

Joseph said police have been deployed to the National Palace and the upscale community of Pétionville and will be sent to other areas.

Joseph condemned the assassination as a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act.” He said some of the attackers spoke in Spanish but offered no further explanation.

Haiti’s economic, political and social woes have deepened recently, with gang violence spiking heavily in the capital of Port-au-Prince, inflation spiraling and food and fuel becoming scarcer at times in a country where 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day. These troubles come as Haiti still tries to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew that struck in 2016.

Moïse, who was 53, had been ruling by decree for more than two years after the country failed to hold elections, which led to Parliament being dissolved. Opposition leaders have accused him of seeking to increase his power, including approving a decree that limited the powers of a court that audits government contracts and another that created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president.

In recent months, opposition leaders demanded that he step down, arguing that his term legally ended in February 2021. Moïse and supporters maintained that his term began when he took office in early 2017, following a chaotic election that forced the appointment of a provisional president to serve during a year-long gap.

Haiti was scheduled to hold general elections later this year.

The 18-year old teen mother is a primary six student at Mvumba Groupe Scolaire.

The incident took place on Tuesday 6th July 2021 in Urubare village, Sakara cell, Murama sector.

The Executive Secretary of Murama sector, Charles Mugirwanake has told IGIHE that a resident visiting his coffee garden saw the baby’s body covered with grasses and alerted officials.

He explained that investigation was immediately launched and identified the mother who was previously pregnant.

“She got pregnant while studying at Groupe Scolaire Mvumba. She admitted to have strangled the baby after delivery around 3a.m. and dumped her body in a coffee garden. The teen mother explained that she committed the murder fearing stigma in the society,” he said.

Mugirwanake urged residents to report pregnant teens early for advice to avoid similar incidences.

The teen mother has been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) post in the area.

Chief Inspector of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi , the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that that minerals were found at Munyentwari’s home.

“They were arrested at about 9pm as they packed the minerals in sacks and waiting for the vehicle to transport them to another illegal mineral dealer in Muhanga who would buy them,” CIP Karekezi said.

Munyentwari disclosed that the minerals are extracted in different concessions in Ngororero by groups of illegal miners. He added that he was buying a kilogramme of the mineral at Rwf200 and selling it to his client in Muhanga for Rwf250.

According to Munyentwari, he has been in this illegal mineral business for a while.

CIP Karekezi thanked local residents, who provided information that led to the arrest of Munyentwari and seizure of the mineral consignment.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Ngororero station.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.

The court also may order confiscation of any seized minerals in storage, trading or processing without a license.

The training is conducted by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with Carabinieri – Italy Police. Trainees were selected from Traffic and Road Safety (TRS) department, VIP Protection Unit, and Police Disciplinary Unit (DPU).

While opening the course, PTS Commandant, Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti, commended the existing relations between RNP and Carabinieri. He added that capacity building is one of the key priorities of RNP to have well trained and equipped officers as one of the requirements to ensure safety including road security.

“Motorbikes are considered as an important asset in maintaining road safety as they are easy to maneuver in road traffic congestion, public event management, dignitary escorts, ceremonial duties and speed, and traffic offence patrol,” CP Niyonshuti said.

He thanked Carabinieri for commitment to facilitate the course despite the existing movement restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brigadier General Stefano Dragani, the Carabinieri Liaison Officer to Rwanda said the course was organized to improve the trainees’ capabilities in fulfilling their tasks.

“This course is one of the pacts of the memorandum of understanding signed between Carabinieri Coops and Rwanda National Police, and the instructors are experts from the department of training,” Brig. General Dragani said.

He applauded the existing collaboration between Italy and the Government of Rwanda and pledged continued partnership particularly in security-related matters.

This is the third intake of the Motorbike Riding course conducted in the framework of the cooperation pact signed between Rwanda National Police and Carabinieri in 2017.

The course covers various aspects of traffic including acceleration, deceleration and emergency breaking; techniques to be used in case of fall from the motorbike, control of the vehicle in emergency and search techniques.

The MoU elaborates cooperation in the priority fields of counter terrorism, public order management, traffic and road safety, and Peace Support Operations. Other areas include aviation security, helicopter operations and cybercrime investigations, environmental crime investigation and exchange of experts in various policing disciplines.

Under this partnership framework, at least 422 Rwandan Police officers have been trained in various policing disciplines such as first responders’ course, aviation security, defensive driving course, public order management, environmental security training, special forces Training and FPU Training of Trainers.

Meanwhile, on Monday, July 5, the Carabinieri trainers visited Kigali Memorial Centre where they laid wreaths to pay tribute to more than one million Rwandans killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The statement released last night shows that 883 people have caught the virus while 554 recovered.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 44 279 people have been tested positive of whom 28 391 recovered, 15 397 are active cases, 57 are critically ill while 491 have succumbed to the virus.

The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 257, Musanze: 94 and Gicumbi: 46.

A total of 392,003 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

On Monday, July 5, at about 7pm, Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested seven people at the home of one Amani commonly known as Rasta located in Kivugiza Cell, Nyamirambo Sector in Nyarugenge District, where they were holding a birthday party for one Josiane Kabatesi (also arrested).

This came a day after 19 other people were also arrested in Rwezamenyo Sector, Nyarugenge District where they were holding a birthday party for their colleague.

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that the parties are reported by residents leading to the arrest of partygoers.

“Residents of Kivugiza called the Police reporting the prohibited gathering where people had organized a birthday party. Police found them eating and drinking,” CP Kabera said.

“We are not is the period of such parties and celebrations which can lead to further spread of the Covid-19 and loss of lives, and no one should entertain such behaviors and practices. Fighting Covid-19 is the responsibility of everyone to save lives, and that includes reporting people holding such prohibited parties and other violations which can fuel further spread of the virus,” he added.

The spokesperson further warned against violating the curfew and urged the public to plan their daily errands well to be home by 6pm.

The eight families received new homes on Monday 5th July 2021.

Adelphine Mukaremero, a Genocide widow who is among recipients of new homes voiced appreciation to the Government of Rwanda for attaching relevance to their welfare along the development journey.

“I have been going through hard life and sometimes housed by Samaritans because I had no shelter. With the new home, I am optimistic for better life and can’t find words to express my feelings of gratitude. One sure thing is that I am overwhelmed with joy and thank the Government of Rwanda under the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame for taking care of us,” she said.

The Executive Secretary of Mageragere sector, Christophe Ntirushwa has revealed that resettled residents will continue receiving support to improve livelihoods.

“The model village shelters approximately 300 residents including recently relocated families. We assure continued support to members of this community as much as we can, where necessary,” he said.

The Executive Administrator of Nyarugenge district, Emmy Ngabonziza explained that providing decent homes for vulnerable residents is a critical aspect to improve wellbeing.

“The true liberation is about turning problems into solutions as we continue moving towards sustainable development. Relocating these families to new homes is part of our vision to transform livelihoods of vulnerable residents through the provision of decent homes,” he affirmed.

Financed by the Fund for Support to Genocide Survivors (FARG) and partners, construction activities cost Rwf261 million.

Rugendabari Model Village accommodates 80 families of Genocide survivors and more 8 families of soldiers who got disabilities during war.

It has infrastructures including water, electricity, a poultry project, an Early Childhood Development Center, an administrative office and a health post.