Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

{Leading Lebanese entrepreneurs are set to visit Rwanda later this year to explore investment and trade opportunities in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies.}

The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Lebanon (FCCIAL), Mr Mohamed Choucair, at the closure of a Rwanda Trade and Investment seminar at FCCIAL’s headquarterss, in Beirut, on Monday, 8th May 2017. MrChoucar, a leading business man in his own right, undertook to lead the delegation from 8th to 11th October 2017.

MrChoucair who co-chaired the seminar wirh Rwanda’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Williams Nkurunziza, welcomed the new engagement with Rwanda and expressed a desire to see more trade and investment flows between the two countries. Last year, Lebanese exports to Rwanda amounted to $281,000 while it imported nothing from Rwanda, he noted, adding that this pointed at the need to do more, in both directions.

Speaking to the seminar which was attended by some 30 of Beirut’s major business houses, Ambassador Nkurunziza not only highlighted Rwanda’s readiness for business, but also the fact that it was a virgin economy and an excellent launch-pad for discerning entrepreneurs keen on building an enduring business presence in Rwanda.

He shared with participants benefits for industrial investments presented by the flagship Made in Rwanda campaign as well as opportunities for investments in agro-industry, including large scale prodution of fruits, vegetables and poultry. Lebanon is a major producer and exporter vegetables and fruits such as table grapes and apples. In response to questions, the Ambassador also provided information on issues of land ownership, capital repatriation, labour skills and costs, purchasing power and industrial protection under the made In Rwanda Campaign.

In selling Rwanda to the participants, the Ambassador was assisted by Rwanda’s Honorary Envoy in the Middle East, Mr Tarek Ragheb, and Ms Hana Hallaj, Managing Director of the Kigali-based INTech Investments Ltd and Mr William Saad, a leading Lebanese businessman and partner in ISH which owns 26,000 telecommunication towers across, including Rwanda. All three have business experience with Rwanda and told participants the country was like an efficient European economy operating in the heart of Africa.

Some of the companies that expressed interest in the Rwanda proposition operate in sectors like furniture and paint manufacturing, agro-industry including coffee and nut growing and processing, micro-finance, motorcycle manufacturing and petroleum goods’ trading. All these indicate they would be part of the Chamber business delegation to Rwanda later in the year.

{Eighteen Rwandan police peacekeepers serving under the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were this Tuesday decorated with medal of service excellence.}

The medal parade presided over by the Joint Special Representative (JSR) to UNAMID, Kingsley Mamabolo was held in the mission headquarters.

The decorated currently in their final phase of their one year peacekeeping mandate, serve as Individual Police officer (IPOs), whose duty include mentorship and advisors.

A minute of silence was also observed to pay tribute to all peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The medal awarding ceremony was also attended by UNAMID Force Commander, Lt. Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi; Frank Samuel Koffwie, who represented the Police Commissioner, Mission Chief of Staff, Karen Tchalian and Dr. Mohammed Tarawana UNAMID Police Chief of Staff.

Mr. Mamabolo reflected on the previous Rwanda Police deployments since 2004, adding that “even the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi didn’t hold Rwanda back to contribute to international peace building.”

He thanked them for their resilience and standing challenges in protecting civilians and humanitarian assistance which brought “tangible dividends to the affected.”

The Joint Special Representative further commended the medalists for their professionalism and discipline, and maintaining the image set by other previous Rwandan Police peacekeepers and introducing home-grown solutions such as community policing while respecting the culture and values of the people of Darfur.

Senior Supt. Bernard Mukama, the Rwandan Contingent Commander thanked the people of Darfur for their partnership in restoring normalcy, and the support by UN to effectively execute their duties.

Source:Police

{Tigo Rwanda is excited to announce the launch of their 4G roaming service, which allows visitors to Rwanda to stay connected via 4G LTE Internet while roaming on the network.}

The new service, the first of its kind in Rwanda, will provide visitors from abroad with a better roaming experience and faster data roaming speeds while in the country compared to what is currently available on 3G.

Announcing the 4G Roaming service, Yaw AnkomaAgyapong, Tigo Rwanda Chief Commercial Officer said: “Since the successful introduction of the strategy to boost Rwanda’s presence in hosting international conferences and events, we are seeing an increasing number of visitors coming in to roam on the Tigo network. With this new service, our visitors, including business people and leisure tourists, can now keep their mobile lines open and use the best data roaming service available in the country.”

This innovation brought by Tigo comes after Korea Telecom Rwanda Networks (KTRN) announced that the 4G LTE subscriber base grew more than 200% in 2016 compared to the previous year. According to KTRN, 4G network coverage will be extended across the country this year with coverage expected to reach 92%.

In September 2015 Tigo Rwanda became the first Telco in Rwanda to deliver 4G service on mobile

Agyapong continued: “We want visitors to Rwanda to feel at home on the Tigo network and the 4G technology partnership with KTRN allows us to provide a broadband experience equal to what they can get at home in terms of speed.”

For more details visit our website www.tigo.co.rw or go to Tigo Rwanda’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/RwandaTigo

{Police in Gicumbi and Bugesera districts, on May 8, arrested four men in connection with trafficking illicit drugs into the country.}

Two of the suspects; Daniel Ayabagabo and Laurent Ndoli were intercepted in Gicumbi as they transported banned illicit gin.

Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Northern Province said the duo were at the time transporting the gin to in a vehicle, Hillux RAA 169 T, which was impounded.

“When we searched the vehicle, we found an assortment illicit alcohol drinks which include 213 boxes of Kick Waragi, 80 cartons of Kitoko Waragi, 60 liters of Kanyanga, and 40 cartons of Zebra Waragi,” said IP Gasasira.

He said the suspects are detained at Byumba police station pending further investigations.

The intercepted gin are among alcoholic drinks classified as narcotic drugs in Rwanda under the law governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, especially in its article 24.

It stipulates that any drink that exceeds 45 percent of alcohol and any other drink which does not have the required quality for consumption is considered as narcotic drug.

Meanwhile, police in Bugesera also arrested one Israel Havugimana in connection with brewing and sale of illicit brew.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Havugimana was found with 140 liters of the illicit brew.

Another suspect, Athanas Nzabonakuba was caught in Bugesera with pellets of cannabis.

Police said the drugs trafficked into the country through porous borders, but commended the role the general public play in reporting and arresting dealers.

Article 594 of the Rwandan penal code also states that, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of Rwf500, 000 to Rwf5m.

Source:Police

Honorable Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe has officially opened a two weeks long regional Course on “Genocide, Mass Atrocities Crimes and Transitional Justice in Peace Support Operations”, at Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA), in Musanze.

The training that started on 8 May 2017 is jointly organized by RPA and the British Peace Support Team- Eastern Africa. Participants to the course are 24 military, police and civilian officers from 8 countries namely; Comoros, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Rwanda as well as one officer from the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

In his opening remarks, Gen Kabarebe urged participants to draw lessons from Genocide, Mass Atrocities Crimes in different parts of the World to enrich their experiences and use the lessons learnt in Peacekeeping Operations.

Minister Kabarebe talked about Transitional Justice from the experience of Rwanda, highlighting that the use of conventional courts to try Genocide suspects was out of question as Rwandan Society needed a justice system that could address the problem of impunity while promoting unity and reconciliation at the same time.
“As future peacekeepers you are likely to meet challenges related to transitional justice initiatives in PSO where you may deploy. You will be expected to assist, advise and contribute to the development of transitional justice mechanisms”.

From the opening session, participants headed to Kigali at Senior Officers Mess to attend, along with RDF Generals & Senior Officers, a Key Note address that was delivered by Lt Gen (Rtd) Romeo Dallaire, former Force Commander of United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR). Gen Dallaire presentation underlined the failure of the International Community and UN to stop the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda and other mass atrocities crimes perpetrated in different parts of the World.

From the experience of Rwanda, Gen Dallaire criticised the main powers in UN system to play with interests instead of being proactive and intervene when Peace is in danger. “When the Genocide against Tutsi happened, no one was interested in stopping the Genocide at UN Headquarters. Nobody cared; there was no value to investing resources in a country where they had no direct interests”, Gen Dallaire recalled.

Gen Dallaire also called regional officers to fight use of Child Soldiers during conflicts and urged them to make a priority protection of children in PSO. “Child soldiers need to be understood as security concern. It is in your responsibility, in your concept of operations to prevent and protect children from being abused in conflicts”, the experienced Gen urged the officers.

According to the RPA Director, Col Jill Rutaremara the objective of this Course is to equip the military, police and civilian with skills and knowledge to address genocide and mass atrocity crimes by developing effective, contextual and appropriate transitional justice strategies and mechanisms.

{Parents in Bugesera District have been urged to shun factors that influence domestic violence and neglecting their responsibilities to children.}

They were also called upon to protect minors against consuming alcoholic beverages, abusing illicit drugs and prevent early and unwanted pregnancies through sex education.

Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Cyprien Uwitonze, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Bugesera made the call on Monday during a parents’ meeting at of Mareba secondary schools.

About 300 parents attended the meeting.

She noted that although some children drink alcohol out of peer influence, others engage in such because they are either neglected by parents and guardians or are given no attention.

“Effective parenting means being concerned about the emotional, social and physical wellbeing of children,” she noted.

The DCLO also briefed them on laws that prohibit sale of alcoholic drinks to under-aged children, and reminded them that the implementation of such legal instruments is their responsibility as well.

Article 219 of the penal code states that: “Any person, who offers or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child or involves him/her in the sale of such products shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three to six months and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf1 million, or one of these penalties.”

The penalties also apply to any person who encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke, or go to bars.

AIP Uwitonze further noted that most of the children who end up on the street come from homes which have constant conflicts which do not give the child peace of mind, support and parental guidance.

Germain Uwamariya, one of the parents reiterated that parents and teachers to take the responsibility and work together to guide children and fight child abuse.

Source:Police