IGIHE

Author: Publisher

  • Mandela was not trained by Israelis’

    Mandela was not trained by Israelis’

    Johannesburg – {{The Nelson Mandela foundation on Saturday quashed reports that the former president received training from Israeli agents in 1962.}}

    “Media have picked up on a story alleging that in 1962 Nelson Mandela interacted with an Israeli operative in Ethiopia,” the foundation said in a statement.

    “The Nelson Mandela Foundation can confirm that it has not located any evidence in Nelson Mandela’s private archive…..that he interacted with an Israeli operative during his tour of African countries in that year.”

    British national daily newspaper the Guardian website reported on Friday, that Mandela apparently underwent weapons training by Mossad agents in Ethiopia in 1962 without the Israeli secret service knowing his true identity.

    They attributed their report to “an intriguing secret letter lodged in the Israeli state archives”.

    The site reported that the missive, revealed by the Israeli paper Haaretz – two weeks after Madiba’s death – that he was instructed in the use of weapons and sabotage techniques, and was encouraged to develop Zionist sympathies.

    The foundation has however denied that such a thing occurred.

    “In 1962 Mr Mandela received military training from Algerian freedom fighters in Morocco and from the Ethiopian Riot Battalion at Kolfe outside Addis Ababa, before returning to South Africa in July 1962.”

    “In 2009 the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s senior researcher travelled to Ethiopia and interviewed the surviving men who assisted in Mandela’s training and no evidence emerged of an Israeli connection,” read the statement.

    Mandela died on December 5 in his Houghton home in Johannesburg and was buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

    Sapa

  • Bugesera: Police arrests plant smugglers

    Bugesera: Police arrests plant smugglers

    {Rwanda National Police yesterday in Bugesera district seized a truck No. RAC 698E, ferrying tonnes of a smuggled plant locally known as Umushikiri.
    }

    The truck has been confiscated and three suspects apprehended.

    The plant, mainly smuggled through Uganda and Tanzania via porous borders, is allegedly on high demand in Asia as a raw material for production of perfumes and other cosmetics.

    The Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Benoit Nsengiyumva, lauded the public for providing Police with timely information which leads to the arrest of such criminals.

    SSP Nsengiyumva also called upon the public to stop the illegal acts. “It is not only punished by the law but also destroys the environment.”

    Article 416 of the penal code provides for punishment to anyone who cuts trees or who causes others to do so.

  • Envoys head to South Sudan as fighting rages

    Envoys head to South Sudan as fighting rages

    {World leaders have stepped up efforts to pull South Sudan back from the brink of an all-out civil war, as fighting raged across the country including in a key oil-producing region.}

    Special envoys from the United States and Nigeria were flying into the capital Juba on Sunday, following on from a mission by foreign ministers from east Africa and after an appeal for an end to the violence from United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon.

    Fighting has been raging in South Sudan for a week, after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Machar has denied this, and has accused Kiir of carrying out a vicious purge of his rivals.

    Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Machar said he wants to be the next leader of the country.

    He said his troops are in control of Unity state where a military government has been established, and his forces will maintain security in South Sudan’s oil fields.

    The fighting has left hundreds dead and sent tens of thousands of people fleeing for protection in UN bases or to safer areas of the country, which only won independence from Sudan in 2011 but has been blighted by ethnic divisions, corruption and poverty.

    Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, tweeted from the UN base in the hotspot city of Bor in Jonglei State on Sunday that there were over 15,000 people sheltering there.

    “Things are changing by the hour,” he tweeted. “We are under intense pressure here, as are other locations in Jonglei. Massive setback for South Sudan.”

    The fighting has both ethnic and political dimensions, as troops loyal to Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, battle forces backing Machar, a Nuer.

    Foreign governments, including those of the US, Britain, Uganda and Kenya, have been organising special evacuation flights to pull out their nationals. On Saturday four US servicemen were wounded when their planes were fired at in a rebel-held area.

    The attack underlined the increasingly dangerous situation in the country, where at least one UN base has also come under attack in recent days – with the deaths of two Indian peacekeepers and possibly dozens of civilians.

    President Barack Obama warned against continued fighting.

    “Any effort to seize power through the use of military force will result in the end of longstanding support from the United States and the international community,” the White House said.

    Government loses territory

    South Sudan’s government meanwhile acknowledged that much of Unity State, the country’s main oil-producing area, was in the hands of the rebels.

    Machar denies government suggestions that rebels have been forced out of Bor, which is situated about 200 kilometres north of Juba, although South Sudan’s army spokesman said government troops were advancing.

    A local official in Bentiu – the rebel-held capital of Unity State – said the area was littered with bodies following the fall of the town, which was prompted by the defection of a top government commander.

    “There are so many bodies, over a hundred not yet buried,” the local official, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

    Army spokesman Aguer confirmed that “Unity State is currently divided, with the SPLA and the loyalists to the government on one side and those who are supporting Riek Machar on the other.”

    “We are not in control of Bentiu and we don’t know how many people are wounded and how many people are killed,” Aguer said.

    Source:
    Al Jazeera and agencies

  • Exclusive : A young French man, Xavier Viaud, tell us about his role as European Ambassador for the Rwandan Orphans Project

    Exclusive : A young French man, Xavier Viaud, tell us about his role as European Ambassador for the Rwandan Orphans Project

    {Xavier Viaud, 29, coming from a finance background, works towards promoting the charity he volunteers with the Rwandan Orphans Project. Through various activities across Europe, he’s trying to collect much needed funds to improve the lives of Rwandan children in need.This altruism and sense of giving, how does it translate into concrete action? How do these sentiments square against one another? }

    {{
    IGIHE}} : {Xavier, please tell us more about the Rwandan Orphans Project.
    }
    {{
    Xavier Viaud}} : The Rwandan Orphans Project (ROP) is a centre for street children located in Kigali. We provide housing, clothing, food, health care and education and many other needs to around 100 boys from around the country. The project was born in San Diego, California when a group of friends decided to help children in need in Rwanda years ago. Sean Jones (USA) and Jenny Clover (UK) have been running the centre since 2010.

    At the ROP we believe that education is our children’s best hope of escaping the strong grip of poverty. Because of this all of our children are either enrolled in our in-house catch-up school or go to secondary or vocational schools around Rwanda.
    The ROP is much more than just an orphanage or a shelter for children; we feel all children, regardless of the hardships they may have endured in the past, deserve a chance to make something of themselves. Nearly every young boy who comes to the ROP Centre has fallen behind in his education.

    We at the ROP know that education is the most valuable asset one can possess so in our catch-up school, each boy has a chance to continue their schooling. We also offer our older children the opportunity to attend a secondary school or vocational school after they have completed primary school. One of the biggest challenges in taking in children from the streets is changing their behavior. Through schooling and gentle guiding from our staff, we try to gradually change the boys’ behavior.
    {{
    IGIHE}} : {Where is that commitment with a humanitarian organization coming from and why choosing Rwanda ?}

    {{XV }} : Briefly about my background ; I am from Bordeaux, France, I am 29, I have a background in corporate finance in London where I’ve been living for the past two years. I am also involved in humanitarian projects in Rwanda.

    A few years ago, I discovered that country thanks to my fiancée who’s French/Rwandan. I have learnt a lot about the country and its people, I have grown passionate about a rich culture full of strength and resilience, and historical heritage, I got deeply moved by the tragic events Rwanda went through, I have been fascinated ever since by Rwanda whose exemplary governance practices have led to an astounding economic and social development.

    After several trips enabling me to grow familiar with the culture and way of life within my fiancée’s family, I eventually felt the need to do something meaningful for me and people in need somehow; I guess I needed something more substantial in my life, something that would allow greater involvement with a community than anything else. Then in March 2013, while I was working in finance in London, I decided to take the step forward to help Rwandan children in need and got involved as a volunteer with the Rwandan Orphans Project.

    This summer, I spent over two months teaching children a range of subjects and organizing activities for them, as well as trying to promote the project in Kigali. When I came back to Europe, it became clear that I could not simply go back to my life as I knew it before and decided to keep supporting the centre after Sean and Jenny appointed me their new European Ambassador.
    This very unique experience most fundamentally and lastingly changed my perspectives; I have learnt the true meaning of humility, courage and resilience both from the ROP staff and the children themselves.

    {{IGIHE}} : {How does the ROP benefit the local community ? }

    {{XV }} : The Rwandan Orphans Project is one of the few centres in Rwanda that offers its own free education prgramme and allow poor children from the local community to attend our school completely free of charge. The ROP primary school therefore enables children whose parents cannot afford to pay school fees, even at local public schools, to get an education and if it wasn’t for the ROP’s free programme, they would not be in any education programme at all.

    Our programme is a very successful primary school; out of 86 schools in the district of Kicukiro, we are one of only 3 that have had 100% success rate on our National Exams and that’s something we’re quite proud of. We are also ranked in the top 20 out of the local 100 schools in our area.

    Not only our organization provides a quality education programme to our street children, but we also enable the local community to benefit from it.

    {{IGIHE}} : {Xavier, please tell us about the ROP staff. }

    {{XV}} : Our staff in Rwanda are the ones who perform amazing work with the children every day. Each of them has consistently shown dedication, enthusiasm and love for the children of the ROP. It is through their hard work, commitment and determination that each child is transformed from being a survivor on the streets to a healthy, disciplined and educated young man. The staff consists of six qualified teachers, a director, a supervisor and a deputy director/accountant, along with Sean Jones and Jenny Clover who run the centre.

    Besides, two caretakers and two social workers look after the children; the caretakers have the responsibility of watching over the children and making sure they are safe, clean and healthy. They also organize activities for the children and they play a major role in mentoring the boys and encourage them to work hard in school and maintain good behavior. The social workers conduct interviews of incoming children, assess the mental health of our boys and conduct regular counseling sessions with those who need it. They also conduct workshops with the children to teach them life skills and prepare them for life outside of the Center.

    {{IGIHE}} : I{n concrete terms, what are the major achievements the ROP witnessed this year ?}

    {{XV {{}}}} : Well, this year we witnessed one of our own graduate from the National University of Rwanda with a degree in mechanical engineering. He is the first ROP graduate to finish university and we take great pride in his accomplishment and share his joy of success.

    We started our agriculture project this year. This project is an income generating program that will use the income created from the sales of the vegetables we produce to help fund the ROP throughout the year. Our nursery school, another income generating program, also saw growth this year and we hope to see it filled to capacity when the 2014 school year starts in January.

    In terms of recruitment, we’ve been able to hire more staff to help take care of the children and their needs. Today we finally have enough caretakers to manage the well-being of our 100 boys who rely on them for guidance and advice each and every day.
    After nearly a year of photography lessons, a group of boys from the ROP had their photos displayed at an exhibition in Kigali as well as a photo auction in San Diego, California. Both exhibitions were a smashing success and visitors to both we surprised and impressed with the enthusiasm and talent of our young artists.

    Also, this year we’ve been fortunate enough to have a team of dedicated international volunteers who have added extra-curricular activities to the ROP program and have provided badly-needed medical support for our children, among other generous deeds. They have also been instrumental in helping spread the word of the ROP’s work around Rwanda and all over the world.

    One of most important successes is the expansion of our social work program. We now have two social workers who focus on the rehabilitation of our children’s behavior, their mental health and rebuilding the relationships between our children and what family members they may have, so that one day we may reunite them in a way that is successful for both family and child. And if we can’t reunite them to live together, it’s important that the children have relationships with family members if at all possible.

    This particular programme, I believe, does make the Rwandan Orphans Project stand out among other similar organizations in Rwanda.

    {{IGIHE}} : {Xavier, would you like to add anything else for our readers?}

    {{XV}} : As mentioned above, a lot has been achieved in 2013. In the final days of this year we will be seeing five of our boys graduate high school and six others graduating from their vocational training schools. These eleven boys came to into the ROP years ago because they had nowhere to go and nobody to take care of them. In one month they will leave with an education, the pride of going from a street child to a graduate, and a world of possibilities that didn’t exist for them only a few short years ago. Today a world of opportunities is at their feet, not because of the ROP, but because of people like you keep the ROP alive.

    So, as you can see the ROP continues to grow and we continue striving to provide the best education, comprehensive care and loving environment we can so our children can grow and thrive. But we cannot achieve our goals on our own. Being a small, yet growing organization we rely mostly on the generosity of individuals and small groups to fund our children’s program. While we are striving to find ways to generate our own income so that we may someday become self-sustaining, the truth is that we’re not there yet.

    As we enter this holiday season I would like to ask you to consider making a donation to help support the children of the ROP. The donations we collect as we reach the end of 2013 will play a crucial role for the outlook of the Rwandan Orphans Project in 2014 and will dictate what services we will be able to continue providing our children and what options we have for providing even better care and support to them in the coming year.

    I would like to tell you that this is an opportunity to be part of something great that is truly changing the world, one amazing child at a time.

    {{Info}}:

    {{Facebook: www.facebook.com/RopRwanda
    Give: www.virginmoneygiving.com/orphansinrwanda
    Web: www.rwandanorphansproject.org/}}

  • MIDIMAR launches construction of a new camp in Gisagara

    MIDIMAR launches construction of a new camp in Gisagara

    Thursday December 19, 2013: The Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Mukantabana Seraphine together with UNHCR representative in Rwanda, Neimah Warsame, and Gisagara District Mayor Leandre Karekezi, inaugurated construction works for a new refugee camp in Mugombwa Sector in Gisagara District in the Southern Province.

    The new camp will host about 10,000 Congolese refugees who have spent about a year in Nkamira Transit Center in Rubavu District in the Western Province.

    At the inauguration of construction works, Minister Mukantabana Seraphine laid a foundation stone for the multifunctional building that will serve as a one stop center for the camp administration, immigration officials and the police.

    Minister Mukantabana Serpahine expressed gratitude to Gisagara District authorities for the generosity to avail that land for the establishment of the new camp.

    “MIDIMAR is very grateful for the generosity and kindness expressed by Gisagara District mayor. He didn’t hesitate to respond positively when he was contacted during the process of searching for a land to establish the new camp.” Declared Minister Mukantabana

    Minister Mukantanaba Seraphine also thanked UNHCR representative in Rwanda for her commitment and continued support to the government of Rwanda in handling the emergency of Congolese refugees’ influx that started since April 2012.

    The relocation of refugees from Nkamira to Mugombwa camp is expected beginning January 2014 in order to enable school-aged children to immediately catch up with the next academic year.
    Mugombwa Refugee camp will be extended to a 47, 7 hectares land. Different partners have came on board to assist by establishing infrastructures to serve the yet to be settled refugees. Currently, 49 classrooms in course of construction by ADRA are at final stage. Water installation activities have also started. Terracing and drainage activities are also expected to start next week.

    All infrastructures in course of establishment at Mugombwa camp like schools, water, health facilities have adopted a community integrated approach to serve both refugees and local residents.

    The ongoing works at new camp site have impacted community development by employing thousands of local residents as manpower in some works like schools constructions, route tracing, ground preparation and terracing to start soon.

    Mugombwa becomes the fifth camp for Congolese refugees in Rwanda added to Gihembe in Gicumbi District in the Nothern Province, Nyabiheke in Gatsibo District in Eastern Province, Kiziba in Karongi District in the Western Province and Kigeme camp in Nyamagabe District in Southern Province.

    The five camps host over 70, 000 Congolese refugees

  • Rwanda to send troops to Central Africa Republic

    Rwanda to send troops to Central Africa Republic

    {Rwanda is sending troops to join an African Union force in the Central African Republic to help restore security to the strife-torn nation, foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo said Friday.}

    “Rwanda was asked by the AU to contribute troops to the CAR and deploy urgently, and yes, right now the RDF (Rwanda Defence Force) is preparing to go,” she said in a message posted on Twitter.

    She did not give details of how many troops Kigali would contribute, but said they would leave for Bangui “very soon”.

    “No date of deployment is fixed yet but we are aiming for before end of the year,” she said.

    Military spokesman Joseph Nzabamwita said the army would announce troop numbers “at the appropriate time”.

    The AU force in CAR is due to be 6,000 strong at full strength, working alongside some 1,600 French troops.

    The US has been airlifting Burundian troops into the country as part of that force.

    The Central African Republic spiralled into chaos after a March coup in which the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group overthrew president Francois Bozize.

    Rebel leader Michel Djotodia was installed as the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian nation and disbanded the Seleka, but many rebels went rogue, spreading terror which government forces could not stop.

    Months of brutal massacres, rapes and looting have followed, with locals forming Christian vigilante groups in response to the atrocities.

    Daily Nation

  • RDB Launches Tourism Marketing Program

    RDB Launches Tourism Marketing Program

    {{(Kigali, Rwanda) December 20, 2013}}, { This month the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is launching extensive new tourism marketing program to promote Rwanda amongst the East African Community (EAC)}.

    The inauguration of the18-month EAC marketing program coincides with the recent announcement at the World Travel Market in London by the governments of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda introducing the East African single joint visa. The new EAC visa will take effect on January 1, 2014, allowing visitors to travel more freely through the 3 nations with a single and more affordable visa ($100 US).

    The EAC marketing program will compliment the visa’s launch through engaging social media campaigns for regional travelers as well as special events and partnership opportunities for tour operators, travel agents, and journalists.

    The EAC Marketing Campaign will build on the broad recognition Rwanda is receiving as a top international travel destination. National Geographic Traveler recently selected Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest as one of the top 20 destinations in 2014 for “what’s authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel today.” Condé Nast Traveller lists Rwanda as one of its “Top 10 Destinations to Watch in 2014,” citing the country as Africa’s emerging safari hostpot. Rwanda is the only African destination to be included on the list. G Adventures, an international tour operator, identified Rwanda as one of its five hottest destinations in 2014 for British travelers.

    The program will differentiate Rwanda from neighboring destinations by informing EAC nationals, expatriates and international travelers about the country’s extensive nature- and culture-based tourism attractions, while enticing them to add Rwanda’s to their regional circuit or to extend the Rwanda leg of their multi-country itinerary.

    Ultimately the program will result in increased visitation and tourism receipts for Rwanda. Tourism is the nation’s largest foreign exchange earner, thus the investment in EAC promotion is important to secure future economic growth.

    The EAC Tourism Marketing Program is being implemented with the support of Solimar International, a Washington, DC-based tourism development and marketing firm. They bring extensive international expertise and several years experience working in East Africa.

    For more details about tourism in Rwanda visit: www.rwandatourism.com

  • Airtel Rwanda launches Airtel money 150% Bonus Promotion

    Airtel Rwanda launches Airtel money 150% Bonus Promotion

    {{Kigali, Rwanda. December 20, 2013}}. {Airtel Rwanda has launched an exciting promotion on its Airtel Money platform that will see all Airtel money customers get 150% bonus airtime each time they top up using Airtel Money.}

    Launching the promo at the Airtel head office, Phillip Onzoma, head of Airtel Money, said that Airtel’s pillar in innovation is what birthed its m-commerce initiative, Airtel Money.

    “Since the introduction of Airtel money on the Rwandan market, our customers have enjoyed the safety of our m-commerce transactions. This promo is just another innovation by Airtel to make Airtel Money transactions rewarding to customers,” Onzoma said.

    He disclosed that airtel money is set to have more promotions such as this with the aim of rewarding Airtel customers who use Airtel’s m-commerce platform.
    Airtel Money not only allows customers to top up airtime but also pay utility bills, taxes and also conveniently sand and receive money.

    Airtel was recently awarded the CommsMEA African Operator Award 2013 consolidating its position as Africa’s best telecom provider.

    With Airtel money services in 17 countries across the continent, the mobile commerce platform is positioned to become Africa’s widest financial service provider serving more diverse communities than any other financial institution in Africa.

  • Rwanda Drop Six Places in Fifa Rankings

    Rwanda Drop Six Places in Fifa Rankings

    {Rwanda’s Amavubi have slipped six places to 133th in the latest Fifa world rankings released on Thursday after their dismal showing at the just-concluded Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Kenya where they lost three of the four matches they played.}

    Eric Nshimiyimana’s side lost 1-0 to both Uganda and Sudan and beat Eretria 1-0 in the group stages before losing to hosts and eventual winners Kenya by yet another solitary goal in the quarter finals

    Rwanda are now in a lowly 40th position in Africa.

    In the region, Kenya moved up eight places after a successful Cecafa campaign, to 109th, and are in 32nd position in Africa. Uganda was unmoved, remaining in 86th and 22nd positions in the world and Africa, respectively; while Sudan moved eleven places to 119th in the world and 35th in Africa.

    Tanzania are up four places to 120th and 36th, while Burundi dropped twelve places to 124th and 37th in the world and Africa, respectively. Ethiopia stayed in 93th in the world.

    Ghana lead in the African rankings and occupies position number 24 in the world.

    Spain retained its number one spot, followed by Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Portugal, Uruguay, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil, in that order.

    {{New Times}}

  • WB Helps to Boost Hillside Farming Productivity in Rwanda

    WB Helps to Boost Hillside Farming Productivity in Rwanda

    {{WASHINGTON, December 19, 2013 }} – {{The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved funds to improve sustainable farming practices and irrigation infrastructure for hillside agriculture, and increase the production of maize, beans and Irish potatoes while boosting the income of rural households in Rwanda. }}

    Agriculture drives the expansion of the Rwandan economy, and at least 73 percent of the country’s households work in farming. Driven by increased investments and agricultural land use consolidation, agricultural productivity has helped to reduce poverty in Rwanda over the last decade.

    The Land Husbandry, Water Harvesting and Hillside Irrigation project (LWH) supports a key element of the Government of Rwanda’s Second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy. The project activities have already helped to increase agricultural yields in project intervention areas, and rural incomes have seen a boost for some 21,180 households, according to the project document.

    Today’s US$35 million from the International Development Association (IDA)* will provide additional financing to expand LWH’s activities into poor hillside communities, and is expected to benefit at least an additional 15,000 farming households.

    “Rwanda has the highest population density in sub-Saharan Africa with 416 persons per square kilometer,” said Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda. “Taking steps to increase agricultural productivity and to protect environmentally fragile areas is key to achieving higher growth, reduced poverty and economic transformation.”

    The LWH uses a modified watershed approach to introduce sustainable land husbandry measures for hillside agriculture on project sites and the approach builds on the Government’s land consolidation system. The project introduces groups of hillside farmers to new sustainable farming techniques including soil conservations, soil reinvigoration measure and land-use practices that improve soil health. These activities will be scaled up and expanded on an additional 7,000 hectares in the poorest regions of the country.

    Rwanda’s uneven rainfall, and poor agricultural water management resulting from a lack of irrigation infrastructure, contributes to limited agricultural productivity. This project will support new water-harvesting infrastructure, such as valley dams and reservoirs, and 500 ha of new hillside irrigation works in areas where there is significant poverty and where crop production potential is high.

    Project beneficiaries will also receive training in how to maintain the irrigation and erosion control infrastructure, as well as skills in good agricultural practices, rural finance, marketing, social organization, and leadership.

    “The scaling-up of the LWH project will continue to raise agricultural productivity and will help Rwanda achieve it’s vision for its transformation from subsistence agriculture to a knowledge-based economy,” said Mark A. Austin, World Bank Task Team Leader for this project. “We expect that today’s project will benefit farmers and their household members, as well as community members who either work in land-husbandry activities or receive other forms of training, and both groups will get increased incomes because of the project interventions,” said Valens Mwumvaneza World Bank Co-Task Team Leader.

    * The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 81 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 108 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $15 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent of commitments going to Africa.