The executive secretary of Gisenyi sector, Uwimana Vedaste has said that the body was taken to his family for burial.
“The body was found at the shore of Lake Kivu around 11am. We have learnt that he drowned in River Sebeya on 16th February 2021 when he tried to cross it along with other residents. Unfortunately, he slipped into the river. We have retrieved his body, embalmed it and taken home for burial,” he said.
The heavy rain that fell in Western Province saw River Sebeya flood destroying 172 houses and ravaged 3 hectares of arable land.
The new measures were adopted by the Cabinet meeting held on February 19.
Under the new nationwide directives, movements are prohibited between 8pm-4am, all businesses must close by 6pm; public offices will resume with essential staff with no more than 30% capacity while other employees continue working from home on rotational basis.
Private businesses will continue with essential staff at no more than 30% capacity while markets and malls will continue with essential vendors and must not exceed 50% of registered traders.
Movements between Kigali and provinces and of the district of the country is not permitted except for essential services, medical reasons or tourism.
Public transport (buses) should not exceed 75% vehicle capacity. Bus operators are tasked to ensure social distancing with only passengers wearing masks are allowed on board.
Motos and bicycles are permitted to carry passengers but must observe strict hygiene, all bars remain closed, physical meetings, gyms, recreational centres and gaming activities are prohibited.
Restaurants and café shall resume with 30 occupants limit and must receive clients until 6pm but take away or food delivery services may continue until 8pm.
Places of worship will resume with no more than 30% maximum occupancy, attendance at vigil must not exceed 10 persons at any one time, funeral gatherings should not exceed 20 persons, civil and religious weddings are allowed but must not exceed 20 persons and must comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, but receptions are prohibited.
Tourism activity will continue in strict adherence with COVID-19 health guidelines.
Individual and non-contact outdoor sport activities are permitted. The Ministry of sports also released detailed instructions of sports activities allowed to resume under specific conditions.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the forces is ready to enforce the new directives in partnership with other entities.
CP Kabera called upon all residents of Rwanda to be responsive to the new COVID-19 prevention measures.
He cautioned against any violations, which can lead to the new wave of spread.
The spokesperson emphasized wearing of face mask, physical distancing and hand hygiene.
“It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure maximum compliance of these health and prevention measures; no one should be forced and no one should see violations and keep quiet,” CP Kabera said.
The deceased include two men aged 85 and 77 from Kigali as well as a 43-year old man from Gicumbi district.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 199 have been tested positive out of 980 705 sample tests of whom 16 992 have recovered, 955 are active cases while 252 have succumbed to the virus.
The Ministry of Health has also reported that 13 patients are critically ill.
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.
Recent measures also extended curfew hours to 8pm yet some university students enrolled in night classes can study up to 10pm. Among others, inter-district travels are prohibited except for essential services and tourism activities.
The current situation raises worries for students from Kigali attending classes upcountry or vice versa wondering how they will reach respective schools.
In a talk show on RTV, the Minister of Education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine has revealed that they are aware of the situation noting that students with private cars can provide explanations to law enforcers on duty to give them a pass.
She requested students without private cars to make arrangements for a private car and apply for movement clearance permits.
“The situation will be complicated for students using public transport buses. They are few to fill a bus but they can make arrangement when the number increases to hire a bus and seek movement clearance permit,” she said.
Concerning students enrolled in night classes, Dr. Uwamariya said that existing policies agreed with Higher Education Council (HEC) continue to be respected.
“It is not taking place for the first time. Before closing schools on 18th January, we already had students in night classes. At the time, HEC collaborated with universities and agreed on existing curfew hours to catch up over the weekend,” she said.
Dr. Uwamariya explained that students enrolled in night classes will continue respecting instituted curfew hours.
The appreciation was made yesterday as Rwanda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Mother Language Day during a ceremony held virtually to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognized journalists range different categories including writers and broadcasters.
Maniraguha Ferdinand, an author and IGIHE journalist who emerged the best writer revealed that he was surprised for the recognition and urged fellow journalists to develop the spirit of promoting Kinyarwanda language as one of cultural vestiges.
“It is a great pleasure to be selected among journalists promoting the perfect use Kinyarwanda. I am passionate about writing but the recognition gives me courage to carry on. As a Rwandan working with a media house running Kinyarwada stories, I feel that fine tuning Kinyarwanda writing is my responsibility to promote my mother tongue language and write in a way style easily understood by readers,” he said.
“Journalists and other Rwandans should understand the relevance of upholding Kinyarwanda as one of major cultural vestiges,” added Maniraguha.
Other recognized best journalists include Yves Butoyi of Radio Salus, Ngabirano Olivier of TV1 and Barore Cléophas, RBA journalist and Chairperson of Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) who emerged the overall outstanding journalist.
Researchers, students and artistes are among other people recognized by RCHA for promoting the perfect use of Kinyarwanda language.
Speaking to IGIHE, female singer Karasira Clarisse attributed the recognition to the love for Rwanda language and culture.
“I am fond of my culture and language and eager to expend much effort in promoting them. With this regard, I compose songs depending on specific message I want to convey most importantly focusing on Rwandan culture and Kinyarwanda to with which I am fond of,” she said.
In Rwanda, this year’s theme revolved around ‘Kinyarwanda language, the foundation of unity and dignity of Rwandans’ while the global theme goes by ‘Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society’.
The list of recognized individuals was read yesterday during a live ceremony on RTV that was characterized by traditional performances and play encouraging the general public to uphold Kinyarwanda language and Rwandan culture.
The cabinet meeting held on 19th February 2021 permitted restaurants and cafés to operate at 30% occupancy following a month of closure due to COVID-19 preventive measures.
Some restaurant owners, who spoke to RBA, revealed that they are making preparations to resume activities adhering to instituted guidelines.
“We will adhere to instituted preventive measures keeping social distancing, reminding clients to wash hands and testing temperature,” said the owner of Plus 250 restaurant, Ngango Fredy David.
Barakabuye Nsengiyumva, the Chairperson of Rwanda Hoteliers’ Association (RHA) has said that discussions held with restaurant and hotel owners are promising that no one will violate preventive measures.
“We held discussions mainly revolving around continued collaboration with relevant authorities to prevent the spike in Coronavirus cases. This means, respecting health guidelines is paramount to prevent the spread of the virus, “he noted.
Previously, some bars were reported rebranded as restaurants and operated like bars.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije has advised people against such vices lest they expose the country at risk.
“I would like to remind Rwandans to be cautious and avoid the reoccurrence of problems we went through in November and December where restaurants operated like bars,” he said.
Minister Ngamije explained that some clients cheat that they looking for food yet they want to drink and end up turning restaurants into bars.
“The problems we went through affected the economy, social wellbeing and education. We don’t want violation of preventive measures to step back our efforts,” he said.
Measures including the reopening of restaurants will go into effect on 23rd February 2021.
At least 13 people were arrested during the two operations.
Twelve of the producers and sellers were arrested in Ryakibogo cell, Gishamvu Sector in Huye District with combined 1490 litres of Muriture and Ibikwangari, the locally produced illicit brews.
About 1400 other litres of an illicit drink called Umuneza were seized on Saturday, February 20, from an illegal plant owned by one Phocus Nkuriyingoma located in Gahurura Cell of Rukoma Sector in Nyagatare District.
All the seized psychotropic substances were disposed of in a public exercise through which residents were sensitized on dangers of consuming these harmful drinks and legal repercussions to producers and sellers.
All alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws in Rwanda are classified as ‘simple narcotic drugs’ under article 5 of the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple narcotic drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Frw5 million and Rwf10 million.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the operations in Rwikibogo cell were in response to high cases of illegal production plants and bars selling assorted illicit drinks.
In Nyagatare, CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Nkuriyingoma has been producing Umuneza drink for the last two weeks without a licence issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).
“Residents provided information about a fenced house where motorcycles have been picking unknown luggage. Police and local leaders responded on Saturday at about mid-day and found Nkuriyingoma producing the alcoholic drink without a licence and seized over 1400 litres which he had already produced. Authorities were also not aware of of his business,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added that Nkuriyingoma was operating clandestinely in a fenced house to prevent being detected.
He was selling the substances in Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts.
The spokesperson thanked the residents, who raised the suspicions and led to the seizure of the substances, dismantle the illegal brewery and to arrest the suspect.
The deceased include a 60-year old woman and 62-b year old man from Kigali.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 21, Nyaruguru: 7, Rwamagana:5, Nyanza: 4, Gisagara: 4, Rusizi: 3, Rubavu:3, Ngororero: 3, Ruhango: 2, Huye: 2, Gatsibo: 2, Muhanga: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Nyamagabe:1, Musanze: 1, Burera : 1, Gicumbi:1, and Karongi: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18503 have been tested positive out of 978 050 sample tests of whom 16 803 have recovered, 1001 are active cases while 249 have succumbed to the virus.
The Ministry of Health has reported that nine people are critically ill.
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.
Testimonies from survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and former genocidists, recounting the participation of Whites in the killing of May 13, 1994 in Bisesero [western Rwanda], will also be put online to offer a real immersive experience to listeners, helping them better understand this very sensitive part of contemporary history.
People who do not speak French will find information on this investigation by following these links : www.bisesero.net/en (english) or www.bisesero.net/rw (kinyarwanda).
Hooza Podcast is a free application with content in free access, downloadable here: https://hoozapodcast.glideapp.io
{{Igihe spoke to Serge Farnel about this event.}}
{{Igihe: Why offer an audio version of your book?}}
{{Serge Farnel:}} To give as many people as possible access to this essential part of contemporary African history : the ultimate resistance of Tutsi civilians to the last genocide of the 20th century. This incredible act of bravery took place on the high hills of Bisesero, in western Rwanda. This story concerns us all, whether we are Rwandan or not, whether we live in Africa or not. It is our history. However, not everyone can read and concentrate on such a dense story. So, when Victor Nkindi, the founder of Hooza Media, suggested that I record it in his studios, I found his idea great.
{{When did you make this recording?}}
In 2014, when I presented this book in Rwanda during the 20th commemoration of the genocide, everyone was then gathered in the capital. I went to Bisesero because I wanted to be with the Basesero [Bisesero inhabitants] that day.
We remember that survivors of the great massacre of May 13 in Bisesero came this year to the Kigali memorial to testify to the active participation of Whites in this massacre.
Yes, the Rwandan television cameras were there too, and Rwandan viewers could see and hear them talk about these May 13 Whites in this symbolic place. The audience was able to ask any questions they wanted. It was an important moment for these survivors.
{{The particularity of this story is that it is based on many testimonies, right?}}
Very many, yes. My aim was to build the fullest possible account of the history of the genocide in Bisesero. I am not the only one who has collected these testimonies. I therefore rely on a large pool of sources: African Rights, the Mucyo Commission, journalistic reports, other investigators …
The particularity of the testimonies that you have gathered, however, is that they relate to the direct participation of Whites in the May 13 massacre, which led to nearly 50,000 civilian victims in Bisesero.
Absolutely. But I am not the only one who has collected such testimonies. For instance, there are those collected by a second investigator who has incidentally, as he explains in detail in an article, discovered by himself this participation through a different channel than mine. I have learned that he was finally able to return to Rwanda recently. And then, a third investigator also confirmed the presence of Whites on May 13.
However, I have been informed that since several years, it is forbidden to question survivors of Bisesero, apart from a short list of witnesses who have not seen these Whites of May 13. Two years ago, a French journalist (RFI) alerted the public about this on a French radio station. But I have no doubt that things will evolve peacefully. Rwanda is too attached to the whole truth to omit parts of its history.
The presence of these Whites with heavy weapons on May 13 shows the incredible courage of these extraordinary Tutsi civilians, in that it was the only way to overcome their resistance. Also, laying out their entire history is a tribute that they should not be deprived of. We all owe it to them; it is our duty.
To come back to the witnesses that I interviewed myself, I also included those who do not mention the Whites of May 13, either because their testimony concerns another place, or because they did not see any themselves that day in Bisesero.
{{So, the story does not concern Bisesero only?}}
In fact, yes, but we cannot understand what happened there without understanding why so many Tutsis gradually came to this place. To understand this, we must tell what was happening in the town of Kibuye, located below the high hills of Bisesero, a town that some Tutsi fled to avoid being massacred in stadiums or churches.
As far as the Kibuye stadium is concerned, we must understand how the genocidists led them there. This brings us to the commune of Mabanza, where we follow a family forced to walk for about twenty kilometers to reach this stadium. When they arrive, another family, who lived opposite the stadium. is there (or will be there, I can’t remember who got there first) and the listener will follow both families at the same time.
This is the idea of the story: to have your eyes everywhere and be able all the time to construct these events in their finest details, both in space and time.
{{You were also saying, regarding the May 13 testimonies, that you included those who have not seen white people?}}
Yes. Even if a significant number of survivors testified to the presence of these Whites on May 13, they probably represent a very low percentage of all survivors of Bisesero. Even if their presence was decisive, these Whites may have been between twenty and forty, amid a crowd of thousands of Rwandan genocidists, soldiers, Interahamwe militias or even Hutu peasants. The Tutsi were running to escape the fire of heavy weapons and machine guns, grenades and machetes. Not all of them were thus able to see them.
If you do not try to meet those likely to testify of their presence, you will only come across this type of testimony by chance, especially since a survivor who saw them will not necessarily spontaneously give you information that he does not know is important to you. But fortunately, there are enough of them to attest to their presence, and who have already done so.
{{How did the public react to the active participation of Whites in this great massacre?}}
If we take the time to listen to these testimonies, there is not much we can do other than accept what they tell us. However, there was probably, for some people, a phase of inability to cope with such information, especially if they were influenced by the attempt to disqualify the witnesses, which have been slandered!
However, when I learned about the slander campaign, I published on the investigation’s website [www.bisesero.net] the evidence to stop it. We will consider that this has been a part of the path that facts must take in their march towards History, summed up nicely by this Rwandan proverb: “The truth goes through the ordeal of fire without being consumed. ”
On the other hand, we can wonder why the presence of Whites at the May 13 massacre has been recorded in history so long after the events, particularly after the Mucyo commission [Rwandan commission responsible for gathering evidence of France’s involvement in the genocide].
As a journalist, I accompanied this commission in December 2006 in Bisesero. It focused its investigation on the three days from June 27 to 30, 1994 of Operation Turquoise [official French mission that began on June 22, 1994 in Rwanda], which is understandable since its mission was to gather evidence of France’s involvement in the genocide.
It had thus to concentrate on the dates of the official French missions. So, it did exactly what it had to do, and in an admirable way. On this point, the work that this commission has done is historically exceptional. My investigation began a year after the publication of its report, and I immediately informed Mr. Mucyo of what I had just found out.
{{When exactly did you inform him?}}
Just after recording the first testimonies of the presence of Whites on May 12 and 13 in Bisesero. Back in Kigali, the first thing I did was to call one of the commissioners of the Mucyo commission, and then its President, in other words Jean de Dieu Mucyo himself. He was then the Executive Secretary of the CNLG [National Commission against Genocide]. He immediately requested to meet me. Mr. Mucyo and I then discussed a long time to try to understand who these Whites could have been.
I gave him a copy of my rushes for the sake of total transparency. After analysing them, he asked me to come back and go on with my investigation. He participated in its funding with Tharcisse Karugarama, then Rwandan Minister of Justice. When he asked me that, I didn’t feel that he was embarrassed in any way. During the two previous years, he had investigated with his team the part of the story entrusted to him. As for me, I was just bringing an additional element relating to a period outside of the French official missions. Indeed, the great massacre of Bisesero took place on May 13, in other words after the end of the French operation Amaryllis to evacuate Westerners (April 15) and before the start of the French operation Turquoise (June 22), a mission presented as humanitarian.
{{What are you expecting from this event?}}
May it help to make this part of history known to my contemporaries. I am also hoping that Rwanda will do what is necessary, before it is too late, to pursue the white genocidists of May 13, whatever their nationality, whatever they were then, active soldiers in the army or mercenaries. Whatever! But let’s stop wasting time.
The men of mercenary Paul Barril were probably part of this group of genocidists. A number of factual elements suggest this. And these men are identifiable. We are talking about fifty thousand civilians massacred in one day! Let’s not forget that. Should we choose not to act, our responsibility would be historically enormous.
The suspects, who were intercepted in Gacurabwenge Cell of Busasamana Sector, are identified as Cyprien Sebifumbo alias Zakayo, Valens Muhire and one only identified as Rukinga.
Their arrest came a day after another major cannabis supplier was intercepted in Nyamasheke District with three sacks weighing 80kgs.
The operations are part of the ongoing crackdown on major drug dealers to break chains of supply with scores so far arrested especially in the Western Province, which is mapped as a major transit route for traffickers from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonavanture Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Sebifumbo and Rukinga were at the time transporting 10000 pellets of cannabis while Muhire had a bundle of 3000 pellets.
They had just trafficked the narcotics into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
CIP Karekezi explained that ANU had prior information that these three men were part of the drug trafficking chain and had brought new quantities.
“Police officers attached to ANU first arrested Muhire at his home where a bundle containing 3000 pellets was recovered. Muhire led the officers to another house in the same village of Nyarubuye where Sebifumbo and Rukinga were arrested with other two bundles with combined 10000 pellets of cannabis,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “These three were just transporters hired by two separate dealers in Rubavu and Musanze districts to bring the narcotics from the main supplier in DRC.
Muhire was to be paid Frw60, 000 after delivering the narcotics to the local dealer in Kanzenze Sector, Rubavu District while Sebifumbo and Rukinga were to be paid Frw100, 000 after delivering the bundles of narcotics to another dealer in Musanze District.”
The suspects also disclosed that they got the narcotics from a major supplier in DRC called Mama Thoma.
The spokesperson warned that there is a list of suspected drug dealers compiled with the help of the public, who are being trailed to bring them to justice.
“The two dealers in Musanze and Rubavu, who had hired these three men to traffic the narcotics from DRC, are known and are being searched to face the wrath of the law.”
He commended the role of the public in the fight against one of the high impact crimes, through information sharing.
CIP Karekezi called for further information sharing on other suspected drug dealers to facilitated the ongoing operations against the vice which affects mainly the young people, the majority abusers.
