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  • Eritrea Denies Supporting South Sudan Rebels

    Eritrea Denies Supporting South Sudan Rebels

    {{The Eritrean government has dismissed reports alleging that the Red Sea nation has been providing military support to South Sudan rebels led by former vice president, Riek Machar.}}

    Recently, Eritrean citizens living in Bor, the capital of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, alleged that they have been receiving threats because Eritrea is backing the insurgency, which began other three months ago.

    Eritreans who fled to neighbouring countries in protest to political oppression in the homeland are considered to be traitors by the government in Asmara and could face lengthy prison terms if returned home.

    In late February, American human rights activist, John Prendergast addressed the United States Congress subcommittee on Africa about the alleged military support and the concern raised by Eritreans in Jonglei.

    In a statement issued few days ago, the Eritrean government said the country has in the past been falsely accused of supporting Khartoum in the April 2012 battle between Sudan and South Sudan over the contested oil-town border town of Heglig.

    Asmara also said that they have wrongly been accused of backing David Yau Yau, who has been leading rebellions against the Juba government on and off for almost four years.

    “Today they are peddling a preposterous lie accusing the Government of Eritrea for supporting Machar” the statement said, adding “No one is surprised by this outrageous lie”.

    The Eritrean government further said its relation with the government and people of South Sudan is an indelible historical fact.

    Asmara supported the now government (SPLM) and national army (SPLA) of South Sudan during the civil war that led to independence from Sudan in 2011.

    “Eritrea’s unequivocal stance in regard to the new realities was not influenced by, and occurred irrespective of, the factors and protagonists that impinged on the unfolding developments,” the statement said

    A negotiator with South Sudan’s SPLM-in-opposition in Addis Ababa similarly rejected the rebel group has ties with the Eritrean government.

    “We have no relation with Eritrea. Neither have we ever talked to them nor they ever talked to us,” Puot Kang Chol, one of the representatives of the 16-member rebel delegation, told Sudan Tribune.

    He, however, said Eritrea has the right to voice concern like any other African countries over the situation in South Sudan.

    He dismissed allegations of receiving any military support from Eritrea.

    A new round of regionally mediated peace talks talks between South Sudan’s government and SPLM in Opposition is due to resume in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Thursday.

    So far IGAD – the Intergovernmental Authority on Development – has only managed to get the two sides to a agree to a weak ceasefire deal that both sides were unable to keep.

    It is hoped that the next round of talks will address the root causes of the conflict which was triggered by a power struggle within the SPLM back in December.

    Some observers have told Sudan Tribune that the resumption of the peace talks are unlikely, arguing that rebels are unhappy with the regional bloc’s decision to deploy East African troops in South Sudan in addition to the peacekeepers deployed as part of the United Nations mission, which is in the process of increasing to over 14,000 personnel.

    {sudantribune}

  • Bruce Melody Releases Colabo with Uganda’s Radio

    Bruce Melody Releases Colabo with Uganda’s Radio

    {{Rwanda’s rising star, Bruce Melody has released a new song named ‘Music’ which features Uganda’s artist Radio.}}

    The Rwandan artist who has released more songs in the recent past says the new song featuring the ugandan artist is aimed at expanding his music to a wider audience in the region.

    Melody is also among the ten artists selected for this years Primus Guma Guma Superstar PGGSS4.

    also read: http://www.igihe.com/imyidagaduro/muzika/abahanzi/bruce-melodie/indirimbo-1034/article/music-ft-radio

  • Kellogg School of Management MBA Students Visit Rwanda

    Kellogg School of Management MBA Students Visit Rwanda

    {{About 30 full-time MBA students from the US based Kellogg School of management are in Rwanda where they have met with President Paul Kagame.}}

    The school of North-western University in Illinois US is ranked the 15th top Business School by the Financial Times and is considered the best school for Marketing in the US.

    Michelle Buck accompanying the delegation of full-time MBA students with interests in ICT, Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Conservation.

    Michelle Buck is a Clinical Professor of Management and organisation and teaches Graduate and Executive Courses in Leadership and Negotiations.

    While in Rwanda, the team has so far visited Nyamata genocide Memorial and Inema Arts Centre. They are scheduled to visit the Ministry of ICT, College of Education and Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

    After their visit in Rwanda, the students will also travel to Uganda and Tanzania.

    {Pictorial below shows Kellogg MBA Students meeting with President paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro}

  • Airtel Introduces Nokia X Affordable Smartphone in Africa

    Airtel Introduces Nokia X Affordable Smartphone in Africa

    {{Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), a leading telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa and Nokia have announced that the new Nokia X smartphone will be available to purchase across 17 countries in Africa from mid April 2014.}}

    Designed for consumers in high-growth markets, the affordable Nokia X offers stunning design, a seamless user experience and access to the world of Android™ apps.

    Out of the box, they can enjoy signature Nokia experiences including free* HERE Maps, with true offline maps and integrated turn-by-turn navigation.

    The Nokia X family is also an affordable introduction to the most popular Microsoft services, including free cloud storage using OneDrive and Outlook.com.

    {{An affordable introduction to the Nokia X family}}

    The first offering, the flagship Nokia X, is beautifully crafted with Nokia’s signature design approach.

    The handset boasts a 4” capacitive display and exchangeable back covers that come in a variety of bold colours. Inside, the device runs on the Nokia X Software Platform and is powered by a1Ghz dual core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor.

    Tile-based icons give the Nokia X’s user interface a fresh look, while by the upgraded Fastlane feature makes switching between favourite apps and content even smoother.

    Commenting on the partnership, Airtel Africa Chief Marketing Officer, Andre Beyers said: “This is yet another first from Airtel and Nokia.

    As Africa’s largest Internet provider, we are excited that Airtel customers in 17 countries will be amongst the first in the world to enjoy a unique combination of Nokia’s stunning design and user experience integrated with a wide range of services.

    In addition, Nokia X will come with data bundles for our customers to access their favorite social sites and chat applications.”

    “We are delighted to partner with Airtel to offer the Nokia X smartphone” said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “Consumers can enjoy their favourite apps, the best of signature Nokia experiences and the most popular Microsoft Internet and cloud services, wrapped-up on a smartphone that holds-on the Nokia promise.”

    Nokia X

  • Nairobi to Host Public Financial Management Harmonisation Workshop

    Nairobi to Host Public Financial Management Harmonisation Workshop

    {{A five-day Stakeholders’ workshop on the harmonization and coordination of public financial management standards in line with the EAC Monetary Union Protocol is underway in Nairobi, Kenya.}}

    On 4 November 2013, a two-year EAC-World Bank Public Financial Management Coordination and Harmonization Project in the Partner States was launched at the EAC Headquarters by the Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) in charge of Planning and Infrastructure Dr. Enos Bukuku.

    At the launch, Dr. Enos Bukuku disclosed that the World Bank had committed United States Dollars One million to support public financial management coordination and harmonisation in the Partner States.

    He said transparent public financial management was a critical facet for a robust fiscal regime which was vital for the implementation of the Monetary Union, the third Pillar of EAC integration process.

    The Nairobi event is the first Stakeholders workshop, in a series of workshops, to be held for EAC Partner States officials on harmonization and coordination of public financial management standards in line with the EAC Monetary Union Protocol.

    Benefits of Public Financial Management Coordination and Harmonisation Project in EAC

    In November 2013, the EAC Partner States signed the East African Monetary Union Protocol in Kampala, Uganda. For the East African Community to boast of an effective and fully functional Monetary Union, an operational, robust fiscal regime should be in place.

    The EAC-World Bank Public Financial Management Coordination and Harmonisation Project intends to support the development of such a robust regional fiscal environment and will among others, contribute towards the attainment of the following benefits:

    the development of an EAC Regional Procurement Legislation to Support Regional Programs;

    the harmonisation towards International Public-Sector Accounting and Auditing Standards for the Management and Oversight of Regional Initiatives;

    the harmonisation of EAC Public Budgeting and Reporting Frameworks for credibility, comprehensiveness, transparency and Policy-Based Public Financial Management;

    the promotion of EAC Regional Mutual Recognition Agreements amongst the EAC Partner States Accountancy bodies to facilitate mobility of Finance professionals through the harmonization of the accountancy profession’s syllabus;

    the coordination of the EAC Regional Oversight role of the Partner States Parliamentary Public Accounts Committees in collaboration with the East African Association of Public Accounts Committees to develop good practice guidelines and standards that will harmonize how the Committees oversee the utilization of public funds to achieve value for money;

    the coordination and strengthening of financial reporting amongst the media and promoting the use of civil society as key players in the monitoring of service delivery, working closely with the Governments of the Partner States.

    The Project Coordinator/Senior Accountant at the EAC Secretariat Mr. Godfrey Magadu is affirmative that implementation of the project will be done by EAC Secretariat bringing together key stakeholders in the Partner States to agree on harmonized standards then later on provision of technical support to implement the agreed standard.

    EAC

  • Stolen Computers Recovered in Gatsibo

    Stolen Computers Recovered in Gatsibo

    {{Police in Gatsibo district is holding four people in connection with stolen laptops.
    According to Police, Seven of laptops were stolen recently from Groupe Scolaire Bihinga.}}

    Eleven laptops for the “One Laptop per Child” were stolen from the school computer laboratory at separate intervals since October last year, the school head teacher, Oliver Mbabazi said.

    Senior Supt. Benoit Nsengiyumva, the Eastern Region Police spokesperson said the computers were recovered on March 18 in Kanyobwa and Ruhuha villages in Simbwa cell, Kabarore sector following thorough investigations.

    The suspects are currently detained at Kabarore Police Station as investigations continue.

    Mbabazi said they conducted an inspection in the computer laboratory in last October.

    “By then, all the laptops were in the laboratory, but when we conducted an inspection again on March 14, we found out that eleven of them were missing,” Mbabazi said.

    Police is still searching for the school guards, who went missing since the theft was discovered last week.

    Police is investigating to find out if there are some school staff that were involved in the theft.

    RNP

  • Leading EAC Netball Sides Eye Dar Tournament

    Leading EAC Netball Sides Eye Dar Tournament

    {{Top netball teams from Kenya and Uganda have confirmed their participation in this year’s East Africa Club Championship opening on Saturday at the National Indoor Stadium, it has been revealed.}}

    Tanzania Amateur Netball Association (Chaneta) chairperson, Anna Kibira, yesterday named title-holders National Insurance Corporation (NIC) of Uganda and Kenya’s Ganeck as among 30 teams expected to battle it out for top honours during the championship.

    “Netball fans should expect a major treat because all top teams in the region have confirmed their participation in the championship,” said Kibira.

    “All teams are expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam two days before the tournament roars into life. “And preparations for the championship are on course. It is our hope that it will go down as one of the best international netball competitions Tanzania has ever hosted,” she added.

    She appealed to institutions and individuals for support, saying they still need more financial support to make the regional event a success.

    The other foreign teams lined up for the tournament are Moict, Kenyatta International Hospital and Western Stima (women) and Prisons all from Kenya.

    Also on the list are Uganda’s KCCA, Prisons (women), Kampala University and Prisons (men). Tanzania mainland’s representatives in the event are JKT Mbweni, JKT Ruvu (Coast Region), Magereza of Morogoro, Jiji Arusha and Dar es Salaam’s Kazamoyo and Mangaya, which will compete in women’s and men’s categories.

    Zanzibar will field five teams. They are JKU and Mafunzo which will take part in the women’s category, while the men’s sides are JKU, Police and Msambweni.

    NMG

  • Kenya Deports 3 Belgians Over Terrorism

    Kenya Deports 3 Belgians Over Terrorism

    {{Kenya government has deported three foreign men, accused of fighting alongside Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab insurgents, to Belgium to face trial on terrorism charges, diplomatic sources said Friday.}}

    The men, Belgian Mustapha Bouyabaren, Frenchman Rachid Benomari and Algerian Mohamed Said, were all jailed in July 2013 for a year for after pleading guilty to entering Kenya illegally.

    The men are believed to have arrived in Kenya from Somalia, where a brutal Islamist insurgency is raging to topple the government.

    Judges in the Kenyan capital ordered that Benomari and Said be deported on Thursday, while Bouyabaren was ordered to be sent to Belgium earlier in the week, diplomatic sources added. In Belgium, the three will join the trial of 16 others which opened on Monday.

    According to Le Soir daily, Benomari has appeared in photos brandishing a knife with which he promised to “cut the throat of infidels”.

    The Brussels trial, which is taking place under heightened security, comes amid mounting concern over the number of Belgians believed to be travelling to Africa, Syria and the Afghan-Pakistani border to fight alongside jihadist groups.

    In recent years several foreigners crossed from Kenya into Somalia to join the Shabaab, but now advances by African Union troops and infighting within the group have seen some foreigners leave the insurgents.

    AFP

  • Coffee Price at Nairobi Exchange Drops

    Coffee Price at Nairobi Exchange Drops

    {{The Price of Coffee has dropped by 12% at the weekly Nairobi exchange for the first time in five months. the drop has been.attributed to low quality coffee and the drop in prices at the New York Exchange. }}

    The average price for coffee beans at the auction fell to $256 per 50-kg bag compared to $292 per bag last week.

    “Currently we are getting slightly low quality coffee from the farmers as opposed to initial crop that was of high quality,” said Nairobi Coffee Exchange executive officer Daniel Mbithi.

    Mr Mbithi said the current crop was almost coming to an end with low quality coffee coming to the auction. The trend is expected to continue until June when the mid year crop comes to the market.

    The volumes supplied to the auction have also declined from 1,600 tonnes last week to 1,500 tonnes this week.

    The price of grade AA coffee dropped from a high of $382 recorded during last week to trade at $340 while grade AB’s value declined from $294 to sell at $255. The grade refers to size and density, rather than bean quality.

    However, grade E gained to sell at $356 from $311 sold in the previous auction. Mr Mbithi said the rise in price was because of the high demand for the 1.4 tonnes of beans that were on offer.

    Kenya is a relatively small coffee grower but its speciality coffee is sought after by roasters for blending.

    At the New York Exchange, coffee prices dropped from $206 to $191 currently despite the severe shortage expected following poor weather in Brazil that has ravaged two consecutive crops.

    The lack of rainfall in Brazil in January and February has been combined with very high temperatures in many coffee growing areas, according to International Coffee Organisation.

    {businessdaily}

  • UNSC to Stop Illegal Oil Export from Libya

    UNSC to Stop Illegal Oil Export from Libya

    {{The UN Security Council (UNSC) decided Wednesday to take measures to stop illicit crude oil export from Libya, requesting countries to prohibit vessels with illicitly exported oil from entering their ports.}}

    In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council condemned the attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya while calling the Libyan government “to expeditiously contact the concerned vessel’s flag state, in the first instance, to resolve the issue”, Xinhua reported.

    The 15-member UN body requested the Libyan government to inform a related sanction committee any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya.

    According to the resolution, under the decision of the sanction committee, related UN member nations should carry out inspections to the vessel and direct it to return the crude oil.

    Member nations are also requested to prohibit vessels with illicitly exported oil from entering their ports “unless such entry is necessary for the purpose of an inspection, in the case of emergency or in the case of return to Libya”, among other measures.

    The resolution meanwhile stressed that these measures apply only to vessels designated by the related committee and shall not affect the rights or obligations or responsibilities of member states under international law.

    businessdaily