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  • French Institution develops curricula denying the Genocide against Tutsis

    French Institution develops curricula denying the Genocide against Tutsis

    {With sadness Ibuka France is protesting against erroneous curricula regarding Rwandan History Chapter where French Establishment CNED misrepresents the history of genocide against the Tutsi.}

    According to CNED, Tutsi committed genocide against the Hutu Ethnic group.

    To protest this, Ibuka France has written an official letter to the French Minister of Education, Vincent Peillon, asking him to direct the CNED to correct the falsification of this episode of the history of Rwanda.

    Ibuka France gave also a copy of the letter to President François Hollande and the Minister of Justice, Mrs Taubira.

    The Letter starts as this “ {It is with sadness and indignation that Ibuka France learned that the prestigious French institution CNED taught since last summer, around the world that the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 was committed by Tutsis against Hutus.}”

    Ibuka France has asked the French Minister of Education , Vincent Peillon, to order the: withdrawal from circulation the entire edition, publishing in a newspaper a statement announcing the withdrawal and set up in France , a complete educational history of genocide including the Genocide committed against Tutsi in 1994.

    The Rwandan Genocide was a genocidal mass slaughter of ethnic Tutsis by ethnic Hutus that took place in 1994 in the East African state of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days (from the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira on April 6 through mid-July) a million of Tutsis and moderate hutus were killed.

    {{
    Glimpse on France role in 1994 Genocide}}

    France has been a long time accused to play a significant role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

    In 2010, Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy admitted that French “errors” had contributed to the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

    President Nicolas Sarkozy at Kigali's genocide Memorial Centre

    On the first visit by a French leader to Rwanda for 25 years, Mr Sarkozy did not formally apologise. Nor did he accept allegations that France had played an active role in training and arming the Hutu militias and troops who led massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

    But he suggested that the entire international community – and France in particular – should accept that its response had been culpably weak.

    Meanwhile in 1998, a French parliamentary investigation admitted that the late President François Mitterrand and the then centre-right government in France had been blinded by supposed French interests in the region into siding with radical, and eventually murderous, Hutu groups.

    {{How far was Mitterrand’s Government involved in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Rwandans}}?

    In a column written by {{Linda Melvern, the author of Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide (Verso 2006)}}, acknowledged that there is a remarkable television footage shot in the first days of the genocide in Rwanda. It shows a large room in the French Embassy in Kigali filled floor to ceiling with shredded documents.

    This was probably the paper trail that might have revealed the depth of involvement between the Elysée Palace and the Hutu faction responsible for massacring hundreds of thousands of Tutsi and opposition Hutu.

    {{Rwanda’s commission of inquiry published its findings into the role of France in the genocide of 1994}}.

    The report – the fruit of two years’ work that includes the testimony of 638 witnesses, including survivors and perpetrators of genocide – is damning. It says that certain French politicians, diplomats and military leaders – including President François Mitterrand – were complicit in genocide.

    The French authorities knowingly aided and abetted what happened by training Hutu militia and devising strategy for Rwanda’s armed forces.

    Training and funding was also given to Rwandan intelligence services on how to establish a database later used to draw up a “kill list” of Tutsi.

    The most shocking allegations come from survivors who allege that French soldiers participated in the massacres of Tutsi.

    These soldiers were a part of Operation Turquoise, a French military intervention in June 1994, an ostensibly humanitarian mission that had the backing of the UN Security Council.

    The Rwanda report directly contradicts an investigation by the French Senate, which reported in 1998 that France had in no way “incited or encouraged” the genocide.

    But it also builds on the Senate’s work, which had revealed how some French actions had been “regrettable”, and “the threat of a possible genocide had been underestimated”.

  • Imbuto Foundation signs Partnership Agreement with Embassy of China in Rwanda

    Imbuto Foundation signs Partnership Agreement with Embassy of China in Rwanda

    L-R_Radegonde Ndejuru, Ambassador_ Shen Yongxiang

    {Yesterday, Imbuto Foundation and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Rwanda have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly support Rwandan youth to pursue their secondary school studies. It was signed at Imbuto Foundation offices by His Excellency Mr. Shen Yongxiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China and Mrs. Radegonde Ndejuru, Director General of Imbuto Foundation.}

    This Memorandum of Understanding formalizes a partnership agreement in which the Embassy of China will provide scholarship support in the amount of thirty two thousand and four hundred U.S. dollars ($32,400 USD) to benefit 108 disadvantaged students over the year 2014. The funds will be channeled through the China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action launched by the People’s Republic of China to promote cooperation and exchanges between non-governmental organizations, women and youth from China and Africa.

    Launched in 2003, Imbuto Foundation’s Scholarship Project provides financial support to youth with high academic potential who fail to pursue secondary school education due to the lack of financial means. This initiative supports at any one time an average of 1,000 beneficiaries with school fees, health insurance, uniforms and scholastic material. An estimated 5,862 scholarships have been awarded since 2005. Sponsors range from banks and private sector companies to individuals, NGOs and now, partner countries.

    The Scholarship Project is in line with Imbuto Foundation’s vision of a society with a prosperous, educated and healthy population, which echoes the country’s long-term development aspirations in Vision 2020. The project selects within a pool comprised of poor students enrolled in public schools who obtain an average of at least 70% in their grades, with boys and girls having an equal chance of being selected. The project has a side component, focusing on the reintegration of a small group of adolescent girls and young women who have dropped out of school and wish to resume their secondary level education.

  • Rwandan police shot by colleague at Ruhwa Border Post

    Rwandan police shot by colleague at Ruhwa Border Post

    {Nobody knows if it’s by mistake or error, but what is certain is that Rwandan police called Patriot Ntawukuriryayo alias Inkotanyi was killed shot in the night of December 15 to 16, by his colleague Onesphore Ntwari Hagabimana, at Ruhwa Border Post, Northwest of Rwanda.}

    Rwanda News Agency referring to Burundi News Agency has reported that after this unfortunate incident, the author put down his gun before being arrested by colleagues who later handed him to the Rwandan criminal police for investigation.

    Burundian police just say they heard this shooting on the other side of the border. When they wanted to know more, they were informed by their Rwandan colleagues such accident occurred without premeditation.

    About security and good neighborliness prevailing on the border between Rwanda and Burundi, the Commissioner of Police of Cibitoke OPC2 Jerome Ntibibogora said nothing to worry about at Ruhwa Border Post.

    For cross-border movement of goods and people, Burundians as Rwandans must comply with the laws of both countries to be allowed to exercise their profession, according to the same commissioner.

  • East African foreign ministers Seek to end South Soudan Crisis

    East African foreign ministers Seek to end South Soudan Crisis

    {A group of East African foreign ministers will travel to South Sudan on Thursday to seek an end to days of fighting, the first foreign mission to enter the country since the eruption of the conflict that has killed up to 500 people.}

    Clashes between rival groups of soldiers started in the capital Juba late on Sunday and spread on Wednesday to the flashpoint town of Bor, scene of an ethnic massacre in 1991, raising fears of a slide into civil war.

    South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of starting the fighting and trying to launch a coup, charges denied by Machar. Kiir said on Wednesday he was ready for dialogue.

    “We will travel to Juba tomorrow to gain first-hand knowledge of the situation on the ground, and discuss ways to seek a political settlement to the crisis,” Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom told Reuters.

    “This is our neighbourhood and we are hopeful that this situation will be solved amicably.”

    The ministers will travel under the umbrella of the East African trade bloc the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

    Reuters

  • Secretary of State John Kerry Expresses Regret to Indian Official Amid Diplomatic Row

    Secretary of State John Kerry Expresses Regret to Indian Official Amid Diplomatic Row

    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the Indian National Security Adviser to “express his regret” over the detention of an Indian diplomat in New York City, which has strained relations between the two countries, a State Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

    The Indian official, Shivshankar Menon, had called the treatment of India’s deputy consul general in New York City, Devyani Khobragade, “despicable” and “barbaric” after she was publicly handcuffed and strip-searched on Dec. 12. Khobragade, later released on bail, was accused of paying her housekeeper less than minimum wage and submitting false documents on an application for the housekeeper to live and work in the U.S.

    {The incident provoked a backlash in India, where Khobragade was seen as the victim of U.S. mistreatment. U.S. diplomats were stripped of ID cards that make clearances easier, and bulldozers removed security barricades outside the U.S. embassy in New Delhi.}

    “In his conversation with National Security Adviser Menon he expressed his regret, as well as his concern, that we not allow this unfortunate public issue to hurt our close and vital relationship with India,” spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement.

    The U.S. had earlier pledged to review procedures followed in the arrest, invoking a “spirit of partnership and cooperation.”

    Agencies

  • Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan resolve to reduce roaming charges

    Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan resolve to reduce roaming charges

    Information Communication and Technology (ICT) ministers from Kenya, Uganda, {Rwanda and South Sudan have met in Nairobi to discuss the integration of ICT infrastructure in the East African region, resolving to jointly find ways of reducing the cost of roaming voice and data charges.}

    The ministers, who are expected to discuss other issues such as the harmonisation of policy regimes among the four countries, cybersecurity, digital migration and SIM registration, said the high cost of roaming is a great barrier to investments across the region.

    Fred Matiangi, Kenya’s ICT cabinet secretary, said there was a need to define wholesale and retail price caps for roaming charges based on best practices.

    “It doesn’t make sense if we want to support regional trade to have a situation where it costs you KSh3 to call to the USA, but you pay KSh30 to make a call to Rwanda and we are all determined to bring down the cost of calls in the region,” he said, reports Capital FM.

    Matiangi said the respective ministers will come up with options that are reasonable for regulation through engaging their respective regulators on the matter.

    “We are in an era where we are talking about removing all barriers to regional trade and regional engagements and the cost of roaming calls in East Africa is a serious barrier to regional trade,” he said.

    Leading Kenyan operator Safaricom in October increased its international calling rates to East African Community (EAC) countries following new taxes on international calls from the Kenyan government, but recently the operator introduced new roaming bundles for its subscribers travelling across the region.

    HumanIPO reported in September the Kenyan government had called on African mobile networks to lower their roaming charges for international calls, but Safaricom chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Collymore had urged governments to consider easing taxes levied on mobile operators within the region in order to put an end to high roaming charges.

  • Higher Learning Institutions to play role in Law research and drafting

    Higher Learning Institutions to play role in Law research and drafting

    {The Ministry of Justice revealed that the Faculty of Law in the University of Rwanda (Former NUR) and the Stanford Law School (SLS) from California will work with the Rwandan Law Reform Commission (RLRC) in the process of strengthening connections between policy formulation, law drafting and law making.}

    Minister of Justice and the Attorney General Busingye Johnston reveals that shortly after meeting with representatives of those institutions who gathered in Kigali to discuss the new tripartite intellectual partnership among Learning and Legal institutions and external actors to build the Rwandan Capacity in policy making and law drafting.

    Busingye told delegates, including two teachers and 4 Student from SLS that this is the first time that the Rwandan Legal sector is creating partnership with academic institution in the process of law making according to the desired law development.

    “This is the new relationship within justice sector that is aiming to ensure the quality of law. We really appreciate this opportunity of working with law experts and researchers. We expect a lot of changes in this collaboration,” Busingye said.

    He insisted that this new system is not coming to block the usual system but it comes as an added advantage for the benefit of law reform.

    According to Erik Jensen, Professor of the Practice of Law and Co-Director in the Rule of Law Program, such collaboration is meaningful today as legal systems development creates challenges to formal laws.

    “This collaboration is so useful because transition in legal systems generates many challenges that are resolvable by taking creative measure.”

    Opportunities are expected to all sides as SLS will contribute to the research in Rwanda when students will be also gaining from the Rwanda Justice experiences especially for those who aspire to play their role in the international law system.

    Besides Rwandan Students will also be given the opportunity to explore the abroad justice experience through this better collaboration which is expected to be permanent.

    {{ntawiclaude@igihe.com}}

  • Ethiopian Airlines in unscheduled landing at Arusha municipal field

    Ethiopian Airlines in unscheduled landing at Arusha municipal field

    {The airport’s runway is reportedly only 1.620 metres long, or 5.315 feet, too short for regular B767 operations, so the question is now being asked what prompted this high risk landing at ARK (IATA three letter code) / HTAR (ICAO four letter code). The airport’s elevation is given in official documents as 4.550 feet above mean sea level or 1.387 metres.}

    The aircraft, registered as ET-AQW was operating on flight number ET815 from Addis via Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar and back to Addis.

    From initial reports it appears that none of the passengers or crew have been injured and that the plane made it to a complete halt just before the end of the runway. The airport in Arusha has reportedly been closed for any other flights in and out of ARK requiring the rescheduling of Precision Air’s flights as well as a number of charters from and to the national parks

    Additional sources from Kilimanjaro International Airport just gave added details that the flight was approaching JRO but could not land due to an aircraft on the runway with a problem. Why the flight was then diverted to ARK and not a standard diversion airport like Nairobi or Dar es Salaam will be subject to a detailed investigation, especially if rumours were to be confirmed that the incoming flight was short of fuel.

    The diversion to Arusha Municipal Airport is already being hotly debated in local aviation circles as it put passengers, crew and aircraft at extreme risk. It is unclear if the B767, even if stripped of equipment and seats, will be able to safely take off from ARK and fly to JRO, when that airport is eventually open and fully operational again.

    While full compliments must be extended to the cockpit crew for their skills to land the plane safely the reasons for the diversion will be subject to a full air incident enquiry with all options presently kept open as to the reasons for the unscheduled diversion. Stand by for more updates as and when more news and additional information become available.

    Source eTN

  • Zimbabwe queues return as banks face cash crunch

    Zimbabwe queues return as banks face cash crunch

    {Zimbabwe is facing yet another gloomy festive season as local banks reel under a biting liquidity crunch that has seen the return of long queues and the reimposition of unpopular cash withdrawal limits.}

    Renewed trouble in the banking sector is certain to pile pressure on President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu (PF), which is grappling to arrest the economy’s decline.

    Scenes of long queues at banks will bring back memories of the days of hyperinflation in 2008.

    The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe earlier this month canceled the licence of Trust Bank, over allegations of abuse of depositors’ funds and violation of banking laws. This sparked a fresh round of depositor anxiety over the banking sector. Last year saw the cancellation of the licences of two banks, Interfin and Genesis Investment.

    Mr Mugabe’s response has been to push for the implementation of the party’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), which was debated by his Zanu (PF) party at a weekend conference held in Chinhoyi.

    Ugly scenes of violence and vandalism have erupted at several banks in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare in recent days as angry depositors vented frustration over their inability to access funds.

    On Monday, soldiers assaulted a bank official at Allied Bank in Harare, and there was a stampede at Metbank’s Bulawayo branch. Earlier this month, a bank manager at Metbank’s Mutare branch had to be taken into police custody after angry depositors demanded mob justice.

    A bank official at Metbank said on Tuesday: “We are not limiting withdrawals for teachers, but for other clients. It all depends on our allocation. The situation is really bad for the time being.”

    Stephen Gwasira, Allied Bank CE, said the incident at its Harare branch was “unfortunate”. The bank was making “aggressive efforts to address the liquidity constraints”.

    Economic commentator Farai Murambiwa said volatility in the banking sector was a direct consequence of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s failure to fulfil its function as lender of last resort.

    Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is expected to present the budget statement to Parliament on Thursday after a month-long delay.

    Bdlive

  • Nigeria to use USA for World Cup training camp – Keshi

    Nigeria to use USA for World Cup training camp – Keshi

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi wants the African champions to use the United States as their pre-World Cup training base.

    Football officials had previously floated the idea of training in Argentina, Colombia or the United States.

    But Keshi said he has decided on two American cities, Miami or Houston, because they are likely to have similar weather as Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city where the Super Eagles will be based for the tournament.

    Nigeria are scheduled to begin their World Cup training on May 25.

    “I have proposed that we camp in the United States because by the time we would be opening our camping the US would have the same weather as Brazil,” Keshi said.

    “There are several US cities that would be hot like Brazil and would have the same temperature (as) Sao Paolo.”

    He specifically identified Miami and Houston, which has a large Nigerian community.

    Japan will most likely be one of Nigeria?s pre-tournament friendly opponents after they expressed a desire to test their readiness against the Eagles.

    “While in Brazil for the draw, I was told Japan were interested in playing us, but I would also like to play countries like Peru,” Keshi said.

    “Considering the countries we have in our group, I would love the Eagles to play countries from the region that have the same playing style,” he added.

    “But it would also depend on the availability of such countries because some of them may have concluded their friendly arrangement already.”

    Nigeria will face Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of next year?s World Cup.

    AFP