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{{The East African}}-{President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi stayed out of the loop of the third infrastructure summit in Kigali, Rwanda but their absence loomed large in the conference room.}

President Museveni told journalists in a brief press conference on Monday that talk of a “coalition of the willing” involving Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya was inaccurate since the three countries were only discussing infrastructure projects along the northern corridor and would involve Tanzania once discussions moved to the southern corridor.

However, the final communiqué read out after the meeting of the three heads of state did not include an update on efforts to fast-track the East African political federation, a matter whose discussion outside the East African Community Tanzanian officials have expressed concern over.

At the last infrastructure summit in Mombasa Uganda was tasked to spearhead efforts to fast-track the political federation and a committee headed by the country’s Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Aronda Nyakairima met in Kampala this month to kick-start the writing of a draft constitution. They had been expected to provide an update to the summit on Monday.

Gen. Nyakairima on Monday declined to comment on the exercise while Kenya’s East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism minister Phyllis Kandie said talk of a political federation was a “side-show” which had not been discussed by the ministers or the heads of state in Kigali.

Tanzania’s ministry of East African Cooperation recently issued a statement warning that the tri-lateral talks among Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are against the EAC protocol.

The statement argued that all EAC member states had to endorse the regional infrastructure deals signed by Presidents Kenyatta, Museveni and Kagame otherwise they contravene Article 7(1) (e) of the EAC protocol.

“Even though this Article allows member countries to enter bi-lateral or Tri-lateral agreements, it is a must that issues under consideration for implementation under this arrangement are fully discussed and agreed upon by all member countries,” the statement from the ministry said.

However President Museveni said yesterday he was unaware of complaints from Tanzania about the trilateral agreements.

“Unless I get an official letter from the state, I consider what I see in the press as lies,” he said in response to a journalist’s question.

Tanzanian diplomats are understood to have expressed their concerns about being left out of the regional plans through the Council of Ministers. Officials in Dar es Salaam say they have not been invited to participate in the Coalition of the Willing and are expected to raise the matter more directly at the next EAC Heads of State Summit in Kampala in late November.

Burundi sent a ministerial delegation to the last summit in Mombasa and President Nkurunziza visited with President Kenyatta a few days later on what was said to be a private visit.

{Narcotics suppression police on Sunday arrested a woman from Rwanda at Don Mueang international airport with 2,097 grammes of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, with a street value of about 7 million baht in her possession.}

Paisal Chuenchit, director of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s interrogation and suppression office, announced at a press conference the arrest of Christine Nsabimana, 31, a Rwandan national, who arrived at Don Mueang airport via AirAsia flight FD 2545 from Macau.

During a search, police found three plastic bags wrapped with yellow adhesive tape containing 2,097 grammes of crystal meth in Nsabimana’s suitcase.

Ms Nsabimana said she was hired by an African man in China to deliver the drugs to someone in Thailand.

She was charged with Type 1 illicit drug possession with intention to sell.

Bangkok Post

{Kenya’s First Lady Her Excellency Margaret Gakuo, this Monday 28th October 2013 visited Kacyiru Police Hospital, which hosts Isange One Stop Center that supports victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV). It offers free medical, legal and counseling services to victims of GBV. }

The Kenyan First Lady also visited the Kacyiru Police Hospital Family Package that deals with social integration and economic empowerment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

During the visit, H.E Madam Gakuo was accompanied by her Rwandan counterpart, Her Excellency, the First Lady of Rwanda, Jeanette Kagame.

Madam Gakuo is in the country to attend the summit on regional integration.

The guests were received by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Operations Dan Munyuza and other police officials.

The Commandant of the Police Hospital, CP Dr Daniel Nyamwasa said the Kenyan First Lady paid a visit to witness how GBV related issues are addressed at the Center and how the Family Package works.

The Center has made tremendous strides in addressing GBV challenges. It has handled 6246 cases since 2009.

The Family Package in Kacyiru Police Hospital numbering about 600 are under “Impore Association”.

RNP

{Four Heads of State meeting in Kigali yesterday took concrete steps to fast track regional integration during the third edition of a joint summit where several ongoing regional projects were reviewed.}

Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Paul Kagame were joined by their South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit, in the summit that resolved to remove all remaining trade barriers with immediate effect.

President Kagame referred to the meeting as a “milestone” and said that he was encouraged by the progress.

“This third summit to review important integration projects has been very productive,” said Kagame. “I am pleased that the single customs territory is now operational. This is a critical milestone that will boost doing business between our countries and contribute to the growth of our economies.

“But we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be. However, we are encouraged by the advances we have made,” he added.

One of the major decisions was the creation of a Single Customs Territory that will see the reduction of the days a truck takes between Mombasa and Kigali from three weeks to eight days.

Transit trucks will now be weighed only once at the point of entry and would be fitted with electronic tracking tags to monitor their moving on the Northern Corridor.

By November 2013, Kenya will have shared design plans of a new Standard Gauge Railway with the other countries present in the meeting. Railway training schools in Uganda and Kenya will also be strengthened to become regional institutes.

Energy was also high on the agenda. Partner states were given a November 30 deadline to have deposited, in National Bank of Rwanda, their contributions towards a feasibility study for proposed oil pipeline that will link the countries.

Other key areas discussed was the implementation of a single EAC tourist visa and the use of national or voter IDs, as well as student identity cards as travel documents.

The meeting also resolved that by the end of November, officials will have drawn up a plan to scrap visa fees for African nationals, and seek ways to reduce the cost of air transport.

{{New Times}}

{The rebel M23 Movement has started pulling out its combatants and military equipment from their stronghold positions in Eastern Congo towards the Virunga Mountains, saying DRC and its allied forces were employing a “scorched earth policy” in the restive Kivu region. }

“We strongly denounce the strategy used by the Congolese Government in the city of Kiwanja where it is using plain-clothed soldiers and militias such as FDLR to kill people and blame us for these atrocities,” said M23 publicist, Amani Kabasha.

He said these crimes were being committed with the help of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade and Mayi Mayi. Sources said M23 military commander, Brig Sultani Makenga, on Sunday morning directed all his fighters to quit the frontlines “to avoid destruction of lives and property.”

Chimpreports understands that FARDC and allied forces used heavy weaponry including tanks to shell all towns being occupied by the rebels, leaving hundreds dead. It remains unclear if FARDC are moving closer to defeating the M23.

While FARDC officials maintain victory over the rebel Movement is around the corner, rebels say tanks used in plain areas during recent battles will not reach their new mountainous bases.

Observers say M23 must have failed to successfully confront the allied forces who are well equipped with latest tanks, night vision equipment and thousands of militants. The rebel movement’s strength is estimated at 2,000.

FARDC reportedly deployed 10,000 soldiers in Goma, including some from the elite brigades, to join forces with Tanzania and South African troops under the UN mandate against the rebels.

The M23 waged war in 2012, protesting discrimination and corruption in the army, lack of basic social services in Kivu and government’s failure to return Congolese refugees living in neighbouring countries.

Peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict have since stalled, with DRC insisting on rebels’ unconditional disarmament and their prosecution for alleged war crimes. The weekend clashes saw over 4,000 Congolese fleeing to Rwanda.

Source: {{chimpreports.com}}

{A team of experts from member countries of the NBI (Nile Basin Initiative) visited Rusumo area where will happen activities of the construction of a hydroelectric plant that will produce 80 MW. }

The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydro-electric Project, a joint undertaking by Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania is due for implementation effective 2015. The project presents a major milestone in trans-boundary cooperation in the Nile and a significant achievement for the countries and NBI.

It has received a World Bank Support of $ 470 million.

Gustavo Saltiel, an official of the World Bank in charge of the management of water resources in Africa, said the project will have no negative effect of disparity of groundwater that poured into the Nile River.

Asked about the discontent in Egypt against the execution of the project, Gustavo Saltiel said Egypt is a country in all other forming the NBI; therefore it will not act against resolutions taken jointly. This is what, indeed, confirmed by the Egyptian Ambassador to Rwanda Khaled Abdel Rahman after he visited the site where the dam will be built.

The Rusumo Falls were earmarked as a potential area for hydro power generation as early as 1970s. However, civil conflict, absence of a mechanism for coordination and lack of investment prevented progress on the plan

The additional power will increase the access rates by 5.4% (520,000 people) in Burundi, 4 % (467,000 people) in Rwanda and 0.34% (159,000 people) in Tanzania. Other benefits from the project include reduction in electricity costs, lower final cost of goods and services, lower cost energy to homes as well as employment for 1000 people during construction and installation of the plant.

{An AFP report tells us that Vénuste Nyombayire has been indicted on the complaint that the CPCR had filed against him in December 2011. Released on bail, the prosecution appealed.}

The new indictment can only applaud all those who are fighting for justice for the victims of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994. Vénuste Nyombayire continued especially for having executed employees and young orphans of the Village SOS Gikongoro. The decision of the French court shows that the SCRC , by filing a complaint , had good reasons to do so : the judges have forged their own belief investigating place in Rwanda.

Of course, we can only regret the many attermoiements the French justice for years. But we must also acknowledge the work of the judges of the High Court of Paris ” crimes against humanity pole ” since the creation of this instance, as things have changed considerably. Many letters rogatory lead judges and investigators in the field, a prerequisite to advance justice. The new indictment strengthens us, the CPCR in the fairness and legitimacy of our struggle. More often , judges make decisions that are in line with our commitment to the victims. It’s not up to us to make justice. But without the hard work that we provide for years, with the support of other associations, it is likely that the Rwandan genocide suspects on French soil would sink happily in their home countries.

Our struggle, we will continue ” without hatred or revenge,” in the words of Simon Wiesenthal, but with great determination. In February will begin the trial in the Assize Pascal Simbikangwa historic trial, if any. An opportunity to appeal to all those who, like us, believe that justice must be done and who are willing to help us financially. We need all the good wishes.

CPCR: collectifpartiescivilesrwanda.fr