Author: Publisher

{{Twenty Four military, police and civilian officers from Rwanda are undergoing a 5 day course on “Protection of Civilians”. The course was opened at RPA headquarters, Nyakinama, Musanze, on 21 April 2014}}.

Col Jill Rutaremara, RPA Director said that the aim of the course is to familiarize the peacekeeping personnel with specialized training materials on protection of civilians at the tactical level.

While opening the training, Brig Gen Charles Karamba, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, said that “there is urgent need for effective intervention to protect men, women and children particularly in countries undergoing armed conflicts”.

Gen Karamba said that protection of civilians require complementary roles by military, police and civilian components.

He said that the UN has adopted strategies to protect civilians but challenges still remain. He referred to what is happening in DRC where “despite the enormous presence and robustness of MONUSCO, the FDLR continues to kill and rape innocent civilians”.

He said that similar conflict areas in Central African Republic, South Sudan and other places will be useful case studies for discussion on this course.

Lt Col Richard Zabot, one of facilitators from UN Integrated Training Service (ITS) said that the training will cover theoretical presentations and practical exercises. He said that any UN Peacekeeping Mission has protection of civilians as its mandate;

therefore the course is useful for Military, Police and Civilians in the field to implement protection of civilians and fulfilment of the mandate.

The course is a result of collaborative efforts between RPA and the Integrated Training Service of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

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{{Survivors of the Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda have called upon the arrest of some Burundians formerly refugees to account for their role in the genocide which claimed over a million lives.}}

In 1989, the political instability in Burundi led to the fleeing of some Burundians that were hosted as refugees in Rwanda however, the Burundi refugees that later participated in the genocide in Rwanda have never been brought to account.

IGIHE visited Kinazi sector in Ruhango district the site of former refugee camp that hosted Burundians. The site is now a forest of Eucalyptus trees.

Samuel Dusengiyumva representing Genocide survivors in Kinazi sector said he survived massacres in the former Ntongwe Commune.

He says he has requested authorities to follow up the former Burundi refugees and bring them to Justice for their actions in the genocide.

Dusengiyumva says the former Burundi refugees are today living a free life in Burundi.

“There is information about the former refugees and also there is vital information provided about the suspects during Gacaca. Their names were provided in various cases during Gacaca trials,” he said adding that the suspects need to be located and apprehended.

Dusengiyumva also told IGIHE that his colleagues liaised with the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) which later said they are were working in collaboration with the Burundi Embassy in Kigali as well as the Rwandan embassy in Burundi but there has not been any breakthrough.

Meanwhile the Senate President Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo noted that he was aware of the issue of Burundian refugee’s involvement in the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994 at Ntongwe but he hasn’t obtained any solution so far.

Dr. Ntawukuriryayo made the remarks while attending the ceremony during which bodies of Genocide victims killed in Ntongwe were given a decent burial.

Police in Musanze district is holding Ruhangaza Emmable a resident of Muhoza sector in Kigombe cell found in possession with five guns all in good condition.

The suspect was arrested on April 15 late night and detained at Muhoza Police station pending further investigations.The information about arrest of the suspect was kept secret not to jeopardise investigations.

Musanze district has been in the limelight recently after over six local leaders we arrested in connection with collaborating with the FDLR rebels based in neighbouring DR-Congo.

The Police spokesperson for the Northern Province confirmed to IGIHE that investigations are being conducted over the matter, “we are investigating the case. I will inform you once the investigations are complete” he said.

{{A Rwandan boy has been terminated from benefiting from a project ‘Keep a Child Alive’ founded by US superstar Alicia Keys.}}

Mushimiyimana Noah was a gifted singer and this caught the attention from Alicia Keys who later enrolled him to receive support from the ‘Keep a Child Alive.’

Alicia Keys had Mushimiyimana travel and live in the US and came along with an interpreter Shambo Bertin to facilitate their communication.

Mushimiyimana explained that while he was in US he used to meet Alicia Keys who promised him a hand to develop his music carrier.

However, during one of the several interactions with Alicia Keys, Mushimiyimana said he suspected his interpreter could have said negative things about him which could have made Alicia Keys ask him to pack his bags and leave.

The Rwandan boy who doesn’t speak English said:” For the first time, I went to New York in 2008 where I spent one month together with my interpreter.”

We used to regularly meet both Alicia Keys and her producer Swizz Beatz chatting about different issues including career development one.

“I think my interpreter’s preference to misinterpret my words was due to the fact that he wanted to return quickly to Rwanda to meet his wife he married few days before accompanying me to US and therefore I too should go with him but did not know who ordered our departure” He explained.

However, it is said that Alicia Keys and others wished the boy to be back in USA as they were interested in his music talent.

He noted that to date he know nothing about his former sponsor requesting whoever has capacity to help him get in touch with Alicia Keys so their friendship don’t end in a sudden manner.

Mushimiyimana told IGIHE that that he is living in critical conditions after his return to Rwanda.

Mushimiyimana was born in 1993. He said his mother has mental problems adding that he has never known his dad since he was born.

{Ntwali John Williams relaxing at a resort}

{{Ntwali John Williams the editor of Ireme vernacular website has dismissed media reports that claim he has fled the country yet he is in Kigali. But told IGIHE he was extremely worried about his safety following a series of reports about his whereabouts.}}

The latest Post on his Facebook page reads; {“I am extremely worried of information since last week that I’m either arrested or fled the country,while I’m around.What’s behind the scene?”}

Mr. Ntwali and other three senior Rwandan journalists have been reported missing. Some other media outlets reported that the quartet has fled the country and sought asylum in host countries including France.

Inn an exclusive phone interview with IGIHE today, Mr.Ntwali said in a firm voice “I’m worried about media reports about my whereabouts. Iam in Kigali and have not fled the country. I don’t know the motive of the media reports but have duly informed Police.”

{{IGIHE: have you heard or read what is being reported about you?}}

Mr. Ntwali: Yes, I have been told by many people and have also read some of the articles

However, i have been telling those asking me about these reports that i cant say much because i don’t know the motive behind such reports. Iam currently trying to find out the source of these reports and where all this is leading to.

Am currently in touch with government authorities over the matter. After two hours i might make a statement on the matter. I don’t want to rush into making statement”

{{IGIHE: Where are you now?}}

Mr. Ntwali: I am in Kigali, previously I was in Uganda where I had gone to the newspaper to printer but suspended the plan owing to what I had heard.

{{IGIHE: Do you know have any knowledge of the whereabouts of other Journalists allegedly missing? }}

Mr. Ntwali: I don’t know anything about their whereabouts. My phone has been off for sometime and this could have pushed people to think I had fled.

My problem is that am so much worried about the reports that claim I have been arrested or have fled the country yet I’m actually in the country.

{{IGIHE: Why is your MTN line inaccessible?}}

Mr. Ntwali: When I was in Kampala something suspicious happened. I lost my documents, a flask disc and cell phone with all my contacts and money.

When I returned to Kigali, I wasn’t in a hurry to communicate with anyone on my old phone address. I had to acquire a new sim-card.

I wasn’t so much in need of communicating with anyone. I acquired a new line which would help me communicate with real friends and not pretenders.

{{IGIHE: Recently you publicly distanced yourself from the management and content of your own website saying it had been corrupted and hacked by unknown people. What exactly is going on?}}

Mr. Ntali: I haven’t regained control of my website. I can’t really explain how my website was snatched but my safety comes first. It’s what I have to work on before I would consider making a follow-up on the website issue.

Gatera Stanely the editor of Umusingi newspaper has also been reported missing by various local media out-lets.

IGIHE visited Gateras home in Kanombe sector. Neighbours said they have not seen Gatera for sometime and he didn’t inform them he would be away this long. His house was locked.

It has been reported that Gatera had been released recently after spending one night in custody on corruption charges.

The media claims further that after Gatera’s release on April 17, he allegedly fled the country on concerns of his safety. His phone has persistently been off.

Eric Nduwayo, the publisher of Isimbi newspaper is also rumoured to have fled the country and currently enroute to his final destination in France.

Meanwhile the Rwanda Media commission has acknowledged that the journalists are not in the country.