Author: Publisher

{{Idebate Rwanda hosted Saturday the second debate competition. The day was marked by debates about different motions under the theme {‘Rwanda should reform the education system to tackle modern challenges}.’}}

The judges were overwhelmed by the incredible amount of research and preparation displayed by students in their well thought out arguments.

After a long day of debates, the semi finalist teams included Green Hills Academy, Gashora Girls Academy, Agahozo Shalom and Another Gashora Girls Academy teams.

The four teams offered some of the best debates of the day;Some of which turned from policy debate to philosophical debate when Green hills introduced the idea of critical pedagogy—where one first understands what education is in order to figure out what is wrong with today’s education.

Gashora Girls pointed out that that was an unrealistic way of solving a problem.
The final debate was between two Gashora teams and the team that won was opposing the motion while defending the status quo.

They argued that the current situation that put emphasis on ICT will help Rwanda tackle modern challenges better.

The best speaker was Irebe cassy from Green Hills Academy who never stopped to amaze every judge that was fortunate to judge her team.

While it is sometimes exhausting for both the Idebate team and the students, this Saturday was one of the most productive days.

Seeing how students have improved on both public speaking skills and argument skills is a source of pure happiness for Idebate and a source of self confidence boost for the students.

Students were happy with the opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.
Diane Mutako, a student from the team that won the debate said,” I am grateful to Idebate that has given me the opportunity to become a great public speaker and allowed me to have so much fun while learning.”

Idebate Rwanda would like to thank IFAK secondary school for tirelessly helping us by providing the venue; the judges that not only help us judge but also give the kind of feedback that teaches our students what to improve.

emma@igihe.rw

{{A Congolese soldier Utubi Jean Mubere 34, who had illegally crossed the border into Rwanda has been handed over to the Extended Joint Verification Mechanism : EJVM.}}

Utubi is a resident of Bunia and is attached to the 322nd brigade. He was arrested in Rwanda on March 9 at Buhaza village, Byahi in Rubavu sector, Rubavu district.

The Congolese soldier thanked Rwanda Army for the good care extended to him saying he was not beaten and always ate three times a day. “In the Congolese army (FARDC)it’s not possible to eat three times a day,” Utubi noted.

Utubi told reporters that he was prompted to cross over onto Rwanda soil fearing death after fellow FARDC soldiers began lamenting on his height which they claimed was like for Rwandan people.

However, while speaking to the Extended Joint Verification Mechanism , Utubi said he was arrested by Rwandan Army after he crossed over into Rwanda unknowingly.

Col Jacques Assambo who heads the EJVM thanked the Rwanda for the good working relations with the team saying sofar 14 congolese soldier had been handed over to EJVM.

{Full statement by Permanent Representative to the UN, Eugene Richard Gasana, at the UN Security Council briefing on Monusco/PSC Framework 14 March 2014}

{{Thank you Madame President. I thank SRSG Kobler and SESG Robinson for taking the time to brief us today on the reports of the Secretary-General and ahead of MONUSCO’s mandate renewal.}}

As the Secretary General report highlights, despite the positive developments of late last year, it is clear that the momentum has slowed, with limited progress on both the political and the military fronts.

We are looking at a volatile security situation in not only the East but throughout the country. “Negative forces” are still at rampage; killing and maiming, raping young girls and women, recruiting children and causing thousands of displacements of civilians.

The seriousness and scale of killings and violations that continue in Katanga and in areas formerly occupied by M23 in North Kivu are deeply troubling. A major reason for this is the prevalent culture of impunity that continues throughout the country.

All perpetrators, whether from the FARDC, which has committed 18 % of crimes reported in 2013, or any other armed group, must be brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes.

There is no doubt, no doubt, that the next few months will be critical and we need to take a serious look at how Resolution 2098 is being implemented especially in the neutralization of negative armed groups; in the consolidation of the peace process, and in the protection of civilians in liberated areas.

We welcome the reports presented by briefers on some members of some armed groups that have peacefully surrendered and indeed we applaud FARDC supported by MONUSCO for attacking and destroying a number of ADF camps.

The resumption of the Minova trial is another positive development and we look forward to a conclusive prosecution that can set a precedent for future cases.

The recently promulgated Amnesty law as per Nairobi agreement is also positive step in national reconciliation but one that will require measurable actions. We urge MONUSCO and international community to closely monitor its implementation.

{{Madam President,}}

However, these positive developments should not obscure the fact that one of the oldest armed groups remains at large. As always for the past 20 years, the problem that we have is the posture of the DRC government and the UN peacekeepers “currently MONUSCO” towards the threat posed by FDLR genocidal forces responsible for the genocide against the Tutsi.

Throughout the last quarter of 2013 we were told that FDLR are next on the list of negative forces to be eliminated; what happens from when the promise is made to the next briefing, no one knows, no accountability… At our last meeting on MONUSCO, the military operation plan presented to the Security Council was that FARDC was to go after ADF, they did it.

Following that, we were told that MONUSCO was to put their resources against FDLR. Nothing happened! Only a week or two before this briefing, do we hear in the news that there was a military operation against FDLR.

This threat of FDLR persists despite the mandate of MONUSCO, which was given extra offensive capabilities after the deployment of the Intervention Brigade and the lack of MONUSCO to commit to fighting this force remains evident.

Once again, It is high time we see a change of attitude of the DRC Government towards the FDLR; Rwanda has for several years expressed legitimate concerns with the lack of political will of the Government of DRC to tackle the threat of FDLR.

Various UNSC reports have detailed evidence of all kinds of support given to FDLR by DRC and Rwanda has even provided more.

The continuous excuses given by MONUSCO again and again when it comes to conducting military operations against FDLR, is kind of disturbing. When it is not excuses of lack of intelligence, (and which Rwanda did share with MONUSCO), it is engaged in propaganda operations to hoodwink the UNSC about military operations with FARDC against FDLR.

On 09 Mar 14, MONUSCO/FIB jointly with FARDC raided FDLR illegal roadblock along Karengera – Tongo road. Reliable information reveals that Col Ramadhan, acting FARDC commander of the 8th Military Region, leaked information of the impending FIB attack on FDLR, hence undermining this operation.

It is not only Rwanda expressing frustration over inaction against negative forces; the countries of the region, under ICGLR have expressed frustration by lack of political will by MONUSCO to address the threats of armed groups in the Great Lakes region.

Eastern DRC has been host to domestic and foreign armed groups particularly M23, FDLR and ADF-NALU.

As a result, ICGLR came up with detailed mechanisms to address the situation, including political and military measures. Some of these mechanisms have been taken over by UN, including Intervention Brigade under MONUSCO and yet the major threat posed by FDLR has not been tackled.

This was again subject of ICGLR Heads of State Summit in Luanda, Angola on 15th January 2014, where the Chiefs of Defence Staff of Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa were again tasked to assess the situation and come up with new mechanisms of eradicating FDLR.

On the FDLR Current Situation; Let me briefly share with you some updates on the FDLR activities. The FDLR strength is estimated to 3,640 with infantry integral weapons. This strength is likely to increase due to ongoing recruitment and training. Currently, FDLR is engaged in the following activities:

Enhancing collaboration with FARDC especially at operation level. This has enabled FDLR to refit, re-arm, share intelligence, have freedom of action and free passage for infiltration and terror attacks in Rwanda.

Since July 2013 to date, 42 FDLR infiltrators/terror elements have been arrested and undergoing prosecution in Rwandan courts;

Mobilization, recruitment, training and establishment of terror networks in Rwanda. These activities are facilitated by provision of safe passage and logistics by FARDC;

The recent claim by MONUSCO that FDLR is located in populated areas is a sheer lie; instead the outfit has most of its forward units in Virunga National Park in North Kivu Province. It also maintains its dispositions in unpopulated areas of Mwenga and Uvira Territories in South Kivu; and

On Illegal mining and taxation in eastern DRC to sustain the war effort.

{{Madam President,}}

I would like to discuss a different issue of M23 Ex-Combatants; while the SG report suggests that consultations on the unresolved issue of these ex- combatants in Rwanda are ongoing; we remind this Council that these combatants have been in Rwanda since March 2013. It is almost a year.

The Government of Rwanda has done everything required by international law to contain this group, including relocating them to Ngoma District in Eastern Province approximately 250 Km from the DRC border, but despite our repeated calls for international community to take over responsibility, not much has been done.

There were some contacts that were initiated in December but its really not that much.

On the report of the PSC Framework, I will not dwell much on that since the implementation of the PSCA will be discussed on 27th of this month in Nairobi.

To conclude, as we have said previously, next month marks the 20thcommemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi and there could be no greater symbol of justice for its victims than the defeat and eradication of FDLR, a virulent genodical force that has been allowed to terrorize the region for the past two decades.

I thank you Madame President

{{A Belgian woman Martine Beckers who lost her relative during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi’s in Rwanda has been shocked by learning that she is invited to attend the 20th commemoration events in Rwanda.}}

Martine Beckers was invited by the Belgian government to attend the 20th Commemoration of genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s in Rwanda scheduled for April 7.

Her relative killed on April 9, during the genocide was married to a Rwandan Tutsi man.

Martine Beckers says she was shocked, traumatized and hurt by this invitation as she wrote in a text message(“surprise”, “choquée”,”blessée”).

Beckers who has been to Rwanda twice (2000 and 2004) wondered whether this invitation was not politically motivated.

{{A man identified as Shumbusho Ignace 36 has been missing since March 14 after he was last seen grazing his cattle near Gishwi river.}}

The incidence happened at Ngara village in Muganza sector in Nyaruguru district.
Shumbusho was grazing four cows and two sheep; however, that evening he didn’t return home. Relatives waited longer expecting that he would return home but all in vain

Kandemera Therese a sister to Shumbusho said , relatives began searching for him at about 7PM and failed to find him but only found the livestock and herding stick .

However,some residents suspect that Shumbusho could have drowned in the stream while others didn’t ruleout murder.

Nkuriza Mathieu a local leader in charge of social affairs confirmed to IGIHE that Shumbusho had indeed disappeared and the search was on in efforts to locate him.

Residents told IGIHE that there have been cases of people attacked in the same area.

{{The Rwanda Formed Police Unit (FPU1) contingent serving under the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has launched a hunger security awareness programme in the West African.}}

The launch of the campaign was held on March 14 in the northern city of Gao, the contingent base.

The exercise also aimed at encouraging MINUSMA forces and local security institutions to engage in various initiatives to assist vulnerable communities.

The exercise was marked with the donation of bottled clear water to vulnerable families of Soso Koira and Aljanabandja,the quarters in Gao city.

The Rwandan peacekeepers alone donated over 21,000 litres of clean water.

About 90 per cent of the population in Gao city are currently in extreme water shortage following the recent instability in the northern parts of Mali which destroyed public infrastructures including water tanks and pipes.

“We are introducing these community policing activities to engage everyone including our friendly peacekeeping forces, local security organs and the population itself, to cooperate in solving problems affecting locals,” Chief Sup.Bértin Mutezintare ,the Rwanda FPU contingent Commander ,said.

The event was also attended by army and police peacekeeping forces in Mali, local security institutions, authorities and residents.

The initiative was welcomed by MINUSMA authorities and local population and pledged to promote it for the good of the communities.

RNP

{{African leaders from various disciplines met in Dar es Salaam last week to discuss obstacles and achievements of the continent’s economic integration.}}

The leaders opined that economic integration was an opportunity rather than a threat.

“We looked at the whole philosophy of economic integration; we discussed the achievements and implementations of the Maputo Declaration as well as the implementation of the new Economic Partnership for Africa Development,” said former President Benjamin Mkapa.

He added, “We were discussing the pace of economic integration on the continent because we believe it is a major drive for economic development. It was an informal dialogue and I can’t give more details of an informal meeting because I am not the spokesperson of the group.”

The meeting brought together six former heads of states and government of Botswana, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, andSouth Africa. They were Mr Mkapa, Mr Joacquim Chissano, Mr Thabo Mbeki, Mr Festus Mogae, Gen (rtd) Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr Pedro Pires.

Africa Development Bank president Donald Kaberuka and 40 other prominent people who included former civil servants, CEOs and academics were invited to the event.

Mandela Institute for Development Studies president and chairman Nkosana Moyo said, “The discussed issues can help participants to make decisions in their institutions that can help to foster economic integration.

They may also like to give their assessment to the African Union for policy formulation and actions.”

NMG