IGIHE

Author: Publisher

  • Kenyan National Defence College visits Rwanda

    Kenyan National Defence College visits Rwanda

    {The Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba received in his office today a delegation of 14 General and Senior Officers from the Kenyan National Defence College.}

    The officers are visiting Rwanda from 7 to 15 December 2013 on a regional study tour aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the students about strategic issues of defence and socio-economic progress in a country such as Rwanda. Yesterday they visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Center at Gisozi.

    Brig Gen D P Okwano who is leading the team said that” We make this visit to compare what other countries do” and added that back at the College they will make a report and advice on policies that can propel Africa for new development.

    Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita, RDF spokesperson, said that the students were briefed on Rwanda Defence Forces composition and role of the forces in socio-economic development and peacekeeping operations.

    The team members from 6 African countries (Burundi, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) will visit some defence projects such as ZIGAMA Credit and Saving Scheme, Military Medical Insurance and Horizon Limited. They will also visit military training institutions and public institutions, agro-processing factories and manufacturing firms, cultural/tourism sites and energy projects.

    The Kenyan National Defence College enrolls students from different African countries including senior officers from Rwanda. The Kenyan National Defence College offers strategic level Professional Military Education to Senior Military and their civilian counterparts. Graduates from the College usually take up senior appointments in the Defence, Security and Public Sector establishments of their respective home countries.

  • Public concerned with the possible collapse of CEPGL

    Public concerned with the possible collapse of CEPGL

    {The public is concerned with the possibility in the collapse of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes, (CEPGL).}

    This was noticed after 10 years of not meeting by the Heads of State to the three countries for discussions about matters that affect this community.

    The CEPGL is normally comprised of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo

    However, the President of the Rwandan Senate, Dr. Ntawukuliryayo J. D, assured that “The CEPGL still works and also confirmed Rwanda is still a member of that community”.

    Ntawukuriryayo was responding to questions from Journalists who needed to know whether this community still exists while referring to a long period without any meeting of the three heads of state.

    Ntawukuriryayo recalled that three countries are united around economic projects including hydroelectric projects, Agriculture projects and financial projects among others.

    He added that a lot of activities to strengthen the Community and cooperation between countries are about to be initiated by the parliaments of the three countries.

    Senates of the three countries will meet from 12 to 15 December and they will discuss political issues while at the same time analyzing the appropriateness of projects involving three countries.

    “All this can change a tense you were talking about, “said Ntawukuliryayo wanting to resurrect a relaxed atmosphere between the three member countries.

    CEPGL was established in 1976 with the objective of economic integration through the free movement of persons and goods within the Community.

    In 2004, the Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, convened at the Egmont Palace in Brussels a meeting of foreign ministers of the member countries of the CEPGL to revive the activities of the Community.

  • Police wants the public to give no mercy to anyone involved in Corruption

    Police wants the public to give no mercy to anyone involved in Corruption

    {The Rwanda National Police and the Office of the Ombudsman conducted a live talk-show on Sunday with a call for the public to give no mercy to anyone involved in graft-related tendencies by reporting them to concerned authorities.}

    Speaking during a talk show held at telecom house, which was live on Rwanda television and radio, the Chief Ombudsman, Aloyse Cyanzaire warned leaders who solicit bribes from people that come to them to seek services.

    “Leaders should know that they are holding those offices not to serve their selfish interests, but rather the interests of the public. They are paid by the public and they should treat them with respect, give them quality services with no condition,” Cyanzaire said.

    Though Rwanda has continued to display a better performance on the international scene in the campaign against corruption, the Chief Ombudsman challenged Rwandans to unite against what she called “an evil to the economy” to fight the cases that still exist.

    “Corruption gives illegal opportunities to the very few and dinies legal chances to the most majority, thus hindering vast individual development and the country in general,” she observed.

    The latest report by Transparency International ranked Rwanda the least corrupt country in Eastern Africa, fourth in Africa and 49th worldwide.

    ACP Damas Gatare, the Commissioner for Public Relations and Community Policing in RNP said various strategies have been laid within the force to fight and prevent graft.

    They include electronic policing especially in the traffic department where driving licence seekers now register online and limits contacts with police officers, and the establishment of the ‘anti-corruption unit.’

    Corruption is zero tolerance in Rwanda National Police and any officer caught in the act faces heavy disciplinary actions, including discharging them from the force.

    He thanked the Office of the Ombudsman and Transparency International-Rwanda for their partnership to fight the vice in the country, and called upon Rwandans not to buy services they are legally entitled.

    “It’s time for all Rwandans to stand up for their rights, fight this vice through community policing, report such cases,” he appealed.

  • Ukrainian Protesters Take Down Lenin (Statue)

    Ukrainian Protesters Take Down Lenin (Statue)

    {Large protests continued in Kiev, Ukraine throughout the weekend in opposition to President Viktor Yanukovich and his government following the abandonment of a pact with the European Union. In the most visually impressive show of disdain for their leader, protesters tied electrical cable around a statue of Vladimir Lenin and toppled the statue, then broke it up into pieces with a sledgehammer (which had been blessed by an orthodox priest).}

    The statue, first erected in 1946, was replaced on its plinth by a flag of the EU as well as a sign that read “Yanukovich, you are next!” According to Reuters, the Ukrainian leader and Russian president Vladimir Putin “are widely believed to have struck a bargain whereby Ukraine will get cheaper Russian gas and possibly credits” if Ukraine spiked the EU deal.

    Meanwhile, state-run media has largely been trying to shift blame for the protests away from the government. According to BuzzFeed, the channel Rossiya “has outstripped its competitors in showing bizarre, paranoiac, and misleading reports.”

    One host said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was an ex-CIA agent who organized the protests to get back at Russia for the battle of Poltava in 1709; another claimed Ukrainians were only angry because of sharp seasonal changes in the weather.

    During one report, a protester interrupted a live broadcast to sarcastically present the reporter with a Academy Award spreading “lies and nonsense.”

    The Wire

  • Did Obama lie about Syria?

    Did Obama lie about Syria?

    {Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh has dropped yet another bombshell allegation: President Obama wasn’t honest with the American people when he blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a sarin-gas attack in that killed hundreds of civilians.}

    In early September, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States had proof that the nerve-gas attack was made on Assad’s orders. “We know the Assad regime was responsible,” President Obama told the nation in an address days after this revelation, which he said pushed him over the “red line” in considering military intervention.

    But in a long story published Sunday for the London Review of Books, Hersh — best known for his exposés on the cover-ups of the My Lai Massacre and of Abu Ghraib – said the administration “cherry-picked intelligence,” citing conversations with intelligence and military officials.

    A former senior intelligence official told me that the Obama administration had altered the available information – in terms of its timing and sequence – to enable the president and his advisers to make intelligence retrieved days after the attack look as if it had been picked up and analysed in real time, as the attack was happening. The distortion, he said, reminded him of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, when the Johnson administration reversed the sequence of National Security Agency intercepts to justify one of the early bombings of North Vietnam. The same official said there was immense frustration inside the military and intelligence bureaucracy: ‘The guys are throwing their hands in the air and saying, “How can we help this guy” – Obama – “when he and his cronies in the White House make up the intelligence as they go along?”’

    Here’s what Hersh alleges:

    The administration buried intelligence on the fundamentalist group/rebel group al-Nusra. It was seen, Hersh says, as an alarming threat by May, with the U.S. being aware of al-Nusra member able to make and use sarin, and yet the group – associated with the rebel opposition in Syria – was never considered a suspect in the sarin attacks. Hersh refers to a top-secret June cable sent to the deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency that said al-Nusra could acquire and use sarin. But the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Office of the Defense Intelligence Agency could not find the document in question, even when given its specific codes.

    Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, told a press conference: ‘It’s very important to note that only the [Assad] regime possesses sarin, and we have no evidence that the opposition possesses sarin.’

    It is not known whether the highly classified reporting on al-Nusra was made available to Power’s office, but her comment was a reflection of the attitude that swept through the administration.

    The administration was learning about the attack at roughly the same speed civilians were. Hersh says the thorough daily intelligence briefings in the days surrounding the gas attack did not make a single mention of Syria, even as videos and photos of the attack went viral across the Internet. He added that there was revealed a sensor system in Syria that had, in December 2012, shown sarin production at a chemical weapons depot arranged by the Syrian army. Though it was unclear whether this was a simulation or not – all militaries, Hersh says, practice simulations of such things – Obama promptly warned Syria that use of sarin gas would be “unacceptable.”

    ‘If what the sensors saw last December was so important that the president had to call and say, “Knock it off,” why didn’t the president issue the same warning three days before the gas attack in August?’

    The media succumbed to confirmation bias in response to a UN report on the attack. That report, which is less than certain in its terms, said that the spent weapon “indicatively matches” the specifics of a 330mm calibre artillery rocket. MIT professor Theodore Postol and other munitions experts later reviewed the photos and said that it was improvised, likely made locally, didn’t match anything in the Syrian arsenal and would not have been able to travel the nine kilometres from the Syrian army base that the media presumed it was fired from.

    Postol and a colleague, Richard M. Lloyd, published an analysis two weeks after 21 August in which they correctly assessed that the rockets involved carried a far greater payload of sarin than previously estimated. The Times reported on that analysis at length, describing Postol and Lloyd as ‘leading weapons experts’. The pair’s later study about the rockets’ flight paths and range, which contradicted previous Times reporting, was emailed to the newspaper last week; it has so far gone unreported.

    Though a UN resolution nullified the chances of American military intervention, the impact would be significant if the allegations hold up; recall that President George W. Bush’s legacy was deeply tainted by charges that the U.S. had no proof of nuclear weapons in Iraq when they said they did. Hersh hints at the seriousness of the charges himself: “The cherry-picking was similar to the process used to justify the Iraq war.”

    The Wire

  • Sudan: South Sudan’s Kiir and Ki Moon Discuss 2015 Polls

    Sudan: South Sudan’s Kiir and Ki Moon Discuss 2015 Polls

    {The South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon on Friday discussed how the new nation was preparing for its next elections.}

    The two leaders, a statement extended to Sudan Tribune said, met at the sidelines of the African security summit held in Paris, France.

    Although South Sudan’s path to its 2015 seems rocky, its president has publicly admitted that the polls will be conducted as scheduled.

    Ki Moon, the statement noted, also expressed concern about reports of security incidents, which have reportedly placed UN staff at risk in the new nation, following rising cases of harassment and threats.

    Also discussed, it said, was the situation in the disputed region of Abyei, during which the UN chief reportedly encouraged South Sudan to maintain the current momentum in relations with Sudan, in particular to conclude the negotiation process and border issues.

    {{IMPROVED RELATIONS}}

    Meanwhile the South Sudanese leader, in a bid attract foreign investors, affirmed his government’s commitment to build and strengthen bilateral relations with European countries.

    Kiir reportedly made this remarks shortly before he left for the Paris summit on the invitation of his French counterpart, Francoise Hollande.

    Soudan Tribune

  • Irakoze from Burundi takes home 5 Million from TPF6

    Irakoze from Burundi takes home 5 Million from TPF6

    {The popular singing competition show, Tusker Project Fame, ended its seventh season last night and Irakoze Hope from Burundi took home the big bucks and the crown.}

    When it came down to the wire, the vote was either Kenya’s dynamic duo Josh and Amos or Burundian Hope.

    The announcement of the winner was met with jubilation and disappointment as the two acts have steadily gained a cult following over the 8 weeks. Daisy came in third; Tanzanian Hisia took the 4th position with Kenyan Nyambura taking the fifth.

    In a two and half hour long finale, the 6th finalists took to the stage to musically convince the masses why they deserved the 5 million prizes.

    Borrowing a leaf from other international singing competitions, this season of TPF had the finalists performing with established artists, who in this case were TPF contestants and winners from the previous seasons.

    The winner Hope took to the stage with TPF5 winner Ruth Matete where they wowed the crowd with their big voices and dance moves. First runners up, Josh and Amos were joined by former TPF finalist Patricia Kihoro and they did not let their fans down.

    Tanzanian Hisia was joined by former TPF finalist Msechu as they put up a fun performance and busting moves that only they knew how to. Divas Nyambura and Daisy enlisted the services of TPF4 winner Davis who brought nothing but the finest performance to the stage.

    Patrick was backed by former TPF finalist Wendy Kimani who sexed up the stage with their saucy dance moves and big voices. At the end of it all, the artists showcased their new singles and previews of their videos were screened.

    Standard Digital

  • President Uhuru launches the Kenya at 50 gold coin

    President Uhuru launches the Kenya at 50 gold coin

    {President Uhuru Kenyatta today launched the @KenyaatFifty coin during the celebrations of 50 years of independence at the Kenya international conference centre. }

    Attending the launch was Deputy President William Ruto, Arts and sports Cabinet secretary Wario and the Chairman of Central bank of Kenya among other dignitaries.

    Deputy President William Ruto urged Central bank of Kenya to reduce interest rates from the current 10% and increase mortgages from twenty thousand to a million for the economic development of the country.

    President Uhuru thanked Central Bank of Kenya for producing the commemorative gold coin and also urged them to ensure price stability as we move to the next financial stage.

    The Kenya at 50 gold coin has got the map of Kenya a poignant reminder that we are one indivisible country”, Uhuru said. Investment in transport, creating a conducive business environment, investment in rural development and food security, quality and free access to healthcare are the five major pillars to be improved in order to create economic stability in the country.

    The gold coin will be found in limited editions in major towns that is Kisumu, Eldoret, Nairobi, Nakuru and Meru.

    standardmedia

  • Rwanda should be transformed to Africa’s main city of modeling-“House of Fashion”

    Rwanda should be transformed to Africa’s main city of modeling-“House of Fashion”

    {After signing a contract of partnership with Mulindi-Japan One Love, the house of fashion modeling company confirms they want to transform Rwanda to Africa’s major city of modeling. }

    According to Bunyeshuli John the Boss of “house of fashion”, Rwanda possesses all qualities of modeling including beautiful girls with ability; therefore this can make it qualify to be the future Africa’s City for modeling.

    The House of fashion is composed of 59 male and female models, 15 designers, who invent designs from Rwanda.

    In an interview with IGIHE Dusabe Jeanine confirmed, there partnership with Mulindi-one love project will assist to achieve many goals and promoting the modeling industry and work with passion.

    According to Alexia Uwera an employee of the house of fashion as a company, wants to turn modeling into a professional job in future, which will direct Rwandan models to self reliance.

    House of fashion opened doors in the year 2012 and has managed to emerge due to their hard work and determination.

  • Africa demands Permanent Seat In the UNSC

    Africa demands Permanent Seat In the UNSC

    {After the Africa-France Summit in Paris, African Diplomats gathered in Algiers for a three-day meeting on peace and security in Africa. During the first day, especially diplomats stressed the need for Africa to be heard.}

    According to the information of Algeria Press Service, Rwanda, Chad and Nigeria brought on the table the idea of establishing a “coherent dialogue “between African Council of UN security group and the Security Council of the African Union (AU) to defend the interests of Africa and allow it to be “master of its destiny.”

    The move was announced Sunday in Algeria by the three new African non-permanent members to the Security Council of the UN (Nigeria, Chad and Rwanda)

    To this end, Godwin Ogama representing the Nigerian Foreign Minister said that the absence of a coherent dialogue between representatives of the African Group to the Security Council of the UN and their counterparts in the AU Council for Peace and security ” remains a barrier to the process of realizing the aspirations of the African peoples for peace and security in particular.”

    Speaking at the high level meeting on peace and security in Africa, Mr. Ogama recalled that the Algiers meeting “will put in place mechanisms to fill this gap and to build bridges between these two institutions.”

    He stressed that “it is imperative that we work together to address the various pressures on the African continent in the Security Council of the UN unifying views on issues relating to Africa in particular as regards to the conflict management ” Mr. Ogama noted that this inconsistency has ” weakened the position of Africa” recalling in this regard the appearance of seven former African heads of state before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

    Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat , said that” it is more necessary than ever , 50 years after the creation of the AU, to reach a unified agreement on the issues that concern the continent “

    He affirmed his country’s readiness to participate in the African Standby Force to serve in the maintenance and promotion of peace. For her part, Mushikiwabo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, deplored the “blocking ” of the dialogue between African countries stressing that Africa should stand up and defend its own interests “through adopting a unified position to cope with the pressures imposed by the great powers in the security Council ”

    “Africa today is to be master of its destiny,” she said.

    She also stressed that the reform of the United Nations has established itself as imperative. “It is inconceivable that Africa is represented by a limited number of countries that do not have the right of veto in the Security Council, while 70 % of the questions addressed by this UN body focused on Africa.”