Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

According to BBC, the report was presented yesterday, two years, after the delegation of 13 historians started reviewing archives on France, Rwanda relations between 1990 and 1994.

The expert commission presented the report to French President Emmanuel Macron. The report said France had been “blind” to genocide preparations.

The team studied French official files.

Rwanda, which has long accused France of complicity, said it welcomed the report.

The Government said it “represents an important step toward a common understanding of France’s role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi”.

The report blames the then French President, François Mitterrand, for a “failure” of policy towards Rwanda in 1994. The findings are being made public after years of French official secrecy over links to the Government led by Juvenal Habyarimana.

President Macron appointed the 15-member commission two years ago, giving them access to presidential, diplomatic, military and intelligence archives.

Among the archives are those of Mitterrand, who had close ties to former Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana.

The commission members include experts on the Holocaust, on the massacres of Armenians in World War I and on international criminal law. They are led by historian Vincent Duclert.

In 2015, then-President François Hollande announced that the Rwanda archives would be declassified but two years later, after a researcher sought permission to study them, France’s Constitutional Council ruled that they should remain secret.

The Government of Rwanda said it would soon release its own report, “the conclusions of which will complement and enrich those of the Duclert Commission”.

News about the alleged sexual assault went viral on social media on 17th March 2021 when a Twitter user identified as Kamaraba Salva narrated a story of attempted sexual assault on behalf of her friend whose names were not mentioned.

Few days later, Fiona Muthoni Ntarindwa has via Twitter handle posted that his university lecturer assaulted her sexually.

Recently, Kamarana wrote that the sexual assault took place some years back in 2017 which triggered mixed reactions among the public wondering how the assault is being reported in 2021 after keeping quiet for four years.

“In her post, Ntarindwa explained that there is no right time for sexually abused person. My professor sexually assaulted me! When Kamaraba Salva revealed that Dr. Christopher Kayumba had sexually assaulted me in Jan 2017, some asked why I had come out now. But is there ever a right time for a victim of sexual assault to speak out? I immediately reported the assault to the University of Rwanda which never gave it any attention,” she said.

“I was forced to sit through class with my abuser- something no one should ever have to go through. Kamaraba has given me the courage to speak up for myself. I know it’s hard to speak up against sexual abuse. You feel like you are alone &no one will listen or believe you. When you are ready to share, you will have my listening ear. Direct Messages [DMs] are open,” added Ntarindwa.

In a reply message, the accused Dr. Kayumba said Fiona is a liar who wants to tarnish his reputation.

“So it’s you Fiona they used to make wild accusations against me? No, I never abused you. For years, you insisted every time I left class for me to put you on my research teams or make you join our media. I refused because I had heard you were using your body to get favours,” he said.

“Dear Rwanda Investigation Bureau [RIB], this Fiona is a serial liar who, despite claiming attempted rape in 2017, she continued to invite me to her TV shows in 2018 &2019 & even wanted to meet privately& to latter I refused. She even insisted on meeting our editor who refused because he had heard her tricks,” added Kayumba.

On 23rd March 2021, RIB said that it summoned Dr. Kayumba for interrogation on the sexual assault case filed early March.

The former Ag. Dean of the School of Journalism & Communication, Mr. Njuguna Joseph recently confirmed to IGIHE that the case was reported to him.

“It is true. She came to my office telling me that there is a lecturer who attempted to assault her. I promised her to speak to that person (Kayumba Christophe) but he used to spend long time without coming at school,” he said.

The body of the late president arrived at Rubambagwe Stadium, Chato, mid-morning, and he was honoured with the singing of both the national anthem and the East African anthem, and a 21-gun salute.

A Catholic Mass was then conducted by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) president, Archbishop Gervas John Nyaisonga.

The body was later transferred to his home for burial.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, ex-presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete, and other dignitaries were in attendance.

Mr Magufuli died on March 17, from heart complications at Mzena Hospital, and current President Samia Suluhu announced his death on the same day.

He is the first Tanzanian president to die in office.

In the past week, Mr Magufuli’s coffin was transported to six cities to allow people to pay their last respects. The burial is a culmination of commemorations for the Tanzanian leader.

Operating in 23 African countries, Vivo Energy entered Rwanda’s market in 2019.

Two years after acquisition of ENGEN, the company has also acquired two more fuel marketers bringing the number of locally owned stations to 40.

Vivo Energy Executive vice president of East Southern Africa region, Hans Paulsen revealed that the company seeks to take the lead on African continent.

“2020 was a tough year but Vivo managed to expand activities by 14%. The acquisition of these companies increased our operations by 16% which evidences that we are thirsty for continued expansion, becoming the first or second fuel marketing company. This is what we want to do in Rwanda to make sure our clients are receiving better services,” he said.

“We would like to tell our customers that they are number one with us. Acquiring these companies helps us to maintain growth, stay closer to customers and meet their demands,” he added.

Vivo Energy has also launched electric vehicle charging station at the existing Engen petrol station in Kanogo adding up to Rwanda’s efforts of reducing carbon emissions.

The station fills the car’s battery in 15 minutes and can move up to 80 kilometers.

The Deputy CEO of Rwanda development Board (RDB), Zephanie Niyonkuru commended Vivo Energy for being a good partner with the Government of Rwanda.

“We are delighted to hear about the introduction of electric charging station. Rwanda is expending much effort to embrace electric car charging system. We are still looking for solutions including the launch of electric cars and motorbikes. Vivo Energy is joining us along the development journey and we look forward to more fruitful cooperation ahead,” he said.

Vivo Energy entered Rwanda’s market in 2019, after acquisition of over 240 petrol stations. It has expanded footprints operating under ENGEN or Shell brands in 23 African countries since it was established ten years ago.

Vivo also partnered with ‘Fast Food’, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to launch shops at its petrol stations.

As of today, the Government has allocated over Rwf 955 million to the manufacturing industry but the capital is expected to increase and receive more Rwf 150 billion to recover and mitigate COVID-19 effects.

Premier Ngirente explained that funds will be available in the next fiscal year after increasing capital in Economic Recovery Fund expected to increase from the current Rwf 100 billion to Rwf 370 billion.

The Government had planned to inject more Rwf 100 million into the recovery fund but Premier Ngirente explained that the funds will be increased to Rwf 250 billion to support more businesses.

It was revealed yesterday as Rwanda announced a plan to increase this year’s Economic Recovery Fund by more than three times to Rwf 350 billion in order to support the recovery of businesses severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Economic Recovery Fund, currently valued at Rwf100 billion prioritizes sectors including tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, transport and logistics, agro-processing, education, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) linked to domestic and global supply chains, said Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, while presenting the economic recovery plan in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to parliament.

The manufacturing industry was one of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, falling by 19 percent, while the construction sector dropped by 6 percent, according to Ngirente.

He said the government has designed the Manufacture and Build to Recover Program, an initiative that aims to fast track private secondary investments in manufacturing and construction.

The program will help reduce the cost of setting up industries of key essential products and facilitating the growth of SMEs in the country, said the prime minister, who is also an economist.

He added that the program is expected to increase industrial output, create 27,394 new direct and indirect jobs, boost exports, recapture domestic market and generate more than Rwf 1 billion through new investments during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The government incentives under the program consist mainly of tax exemption on imported construction materials not available in the East African Community, he said.