Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

IMF disburses $164.6 million to Rwanda

In a statement, the IMF said the disbursement of the funds follows the conclusion of the third review under the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), the arrangement under RSF, and the first review under the SCF arrangement with Rwanda. The Executive Board’s decisions were taken without a meeting.

“Despite challenging external conditions and ongoing fiscal consolidation, Rwanda’s economy maintains robust growth. Going forward, the policy mix should prioritize macroeconomic and financial stability, fiscal sustainability, and the restoration of buffers,” IMF said.

Notably, RSF provides affordable long-term financing to countries undertaking reforms to reduce risks to prospective balance of payments stability, including those related to climate change and pandemic preparedness, while PCI is a non-financing instrument open to all IMF member countries.

On the other hand, SCF provides financial assistance to low-income countries (LICs) with short-term balance of payments needs.

The funds will, among others, help the government in its efforts to mitigate the impact of last year’s deadly flooding.

According to the IMF, sustaining the strong reform momentum under the RSF will enhance Rwanda’s economic resilience to future climate shocks.

“Going forward, the policy mix should prioritize macroeconomic and financial stability, fiscal sustainability, and the restoration of buffers. A carefully planned fiscal stance is needed to mitigate the impact of the 2023 floods while maintaining a credible and balanced fiscal consolidation over the medium term,” IMF added.

“Monetary policy should target inflation within the desired range, while maintaining exchange rate flexibility to manage external shocks. Furthermore, vigilant oversight of financial stability risks, particularly concerning large exposures and rapid credit growth, is important.”

The disbursement comes two months after IMF staff and Rwandan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on policies needed to complete the financing reviews.

The agreement followed the conclusion of a two-week mission led by Ruben Atoyan, who visited Kigali from 11–22 March 2024, to discuss the authorities’ policy priorities and progress on reforms regarding the reviews.

At the conclusion of the mission, Atoyan praised Rwanda’s economic gains and resilience, notwithstanding the challenging external environment.

“The 2023 GDP growth continued to be robust at 8.2 per cent year-on-year, on the back of strong performance in services and construction, as well as recovery in food crop production in the second half of the year. Inflation decelerated sharply in recent months. Headline inflation was 4.9 per cent in February 2024, down from the peak of 21.7 per cent in November 2022, owing to appropriately tight monetary policy stance and favourable developments in food prices as agricultural production rebounded at the end of last year,” Atoyan stated.

May 23, 2024
President Kagame says unity is the foundation for Rwanda’s development

Speaking during the Global Security Forum on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, President Kagame said the country has been healing for the last three decades, emphasizing that it’s not something he thought would happen so fast.

He attributed gains in the reconciliatory efforts to Rwanda’s young generation, constituting more than 70 per cent of the country’s population.

“The tragedy is behind us but it never gets that distant in the past… We have tried to build unity, and it is happening. It’s something that is benefiting from the young generation. Young people, who constitute 73 per cent of our population, are 35 and below,” he said, adding that, “We have to make sure that these divisions, to the extreme that led to the genocide, never happen again.”

President Kagame noted that Rwanda will continue to build on the unity by investing in its people.

“The foundation in this case for us is unity. We are building on that foundation by investing in people. “We invest in human capital, we provide the goods for education, and health, and food security and bring in technology, and therefore going to these other industries that will make our economy, our country, vibrant and grow and develop,” he added.

He pointed out that investments such as the construction of a modern airport in Bugesera District, in collaboration with Qatar Airways, the modernization of the mining sector, and the development of digital infrastructure add value to all aspects of the economy.

Weighing in on foreign investments and partnerships with foreign powers, President Kagame noted Rwanda had “learnt a lot of lessons” from the past.

Commenting on the rivalry between the United States and China, President Kagame insisted that Rwanda and Africa cannot be “crushed” in the issues and welcomed investments from America, China, and Europe in Rwanda and Africa.

“We can be friends with others—United States, Europe, China, you name it—and not be dragged into these conflicts that benefit those conflicting while impoverishing the African continent.”

May 22, 2024
‘M23 is a Congolese problem’ – President Ruto weighs in on Rwanda-DRC conflict

In a recent interview with the French newspaper Jeune Afrique, the Kenyan Head of State weighed in on the conflict that has, in recent years, negatively impacted the relations between the DRC and Rwanda due to claims that the latter backs M23 rebels.

President Ruto maintained that the conflict was not about Rwanda and the DRC or about Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame but about Congolese citizens and their government.

“As heads of state, in a meeting, we asked M23 if the people in there are Rwandese or Congolese? And the DRC said these are Congolese, end of question. So if these are Congolese, how does it become a Rwanda problem, how does it become a Kagame problem? Since it is settled that M23 are Congolese, it’s a Congolese problem, and we need a Congolese solution,” President Ruto stated.

He emphasized the need for Tshisekedi’s administration to embrace dialogue with M23 to resolve the underlying issues.

This, he said, includes involving M23 groups in the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. He insisted that the military is not a solution to the conflict in eastern DRC.

“In our [heads of state] opinion, listening to all the sides, whether it’s using the Luanda or the Nairobi peace process, M23 wants to be involved in the dialogue. They are saying, ‘Why are you locking us out? We are Congolese; we have issues we want to talk to our government,’” President Ruto averred.

“I don’t find any better outcome than a citizenship that has grievances and is willing to engage their government in a discussion so that they can sort out their grievances.”

President Ruto said dialogue had helped sort out issues with the opposition in Kenya following his victory in the August 9, 2022, presidential election.

“When the opposition in Kenya raised issues about an election that I won fair and square, six months after the election they said, ‘We think we won the election,’ and they caused issues. I told them, ‘Okay, let us talk.’ We sat down and talked. It didn’t take anything from me. We engaged in a conversation and settled the issues. There is nothing anybody loses when you engage your citizens in dialogue,” President Ruto said while referring to anti-government protests that rocked Kenya last year.

May 22, 2024
‘The US can do better than just condemnation’ – Kagame on Rwanda-DRC conflict

Reacting to a recent statement from the United States calling on the Rwanda government to punish soldiers purported to be backing M23 rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kagame said such statements “simply add to the problem”.

“If I were talking to the leaders in the United States and others I would start by telling them that they can do much better than that [passing condemnation]. Because in the end, they are doing nothing. Passing statements of condemnation and blaming this and that without addressing the problem, I think, simply adds to the problem,” President Kagame stated.

The Head of State spoke virtually during his participation at the 2024 Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

“For every problem, there is a root cause. To solve it, you simply look at the root cause of the problem and work with the parties involved to address what needs to be addressed and reduce the politics and interests. Some of these things don’t just go away unless you do what needs to be done. It doesn’t need a lot of capacity to think. What all of us have can serve us to understand issues like this,” he added.

The US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller had early this month claimed that the attack on the Mugunga camp that claimed at least nine lives came from “Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and M23 positions.”

However, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed the US accusation as “ridiculous,” adding that Rwanda’s “professional army” would “never attack” a camp for displaced people.

Rwanda and DRC have been feuding over tension in the eastern DRC where the Congolese army has been fighting the M23 rebel group, part of the minority Tutsi ethnic group, which has accused the government of marginalization and persecution. On the other hand, Rwanda accuses DRC of backing FDLR, which consists of the remnants of the Interahamwe group that plotted and perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Coups in West Africa

Meanwhile, weighing in on the recent coups in West African countries such as Niger and Guinea, President Kagame emphasized that poor leadership should be blamed. He insisted that foreign powers should refrain from taking sides in the crises.

“If you look at where coups have been happening, nobody wishes to see coups happen in any place. There is nothing to celebrate about that. But at the same time, you don’t stop there. You don’t just condemn coups without even trying to find out what led to this coup. What was lacking for a coup to happen? This is when you start seeing signs of that in governance or lack of security, as we have seen in some of these countries in West Africa,” President Kagame said.

Citing Rwanda’s military support in fighting armed insurgents in Mozambique, President Kagame emphasized that African nations should find ways to work together to solve security and other common problems facing the continent instead of over-relying on the West.

“Why can’t people, first on our own continent, find ways of working together to address these problems like we did in Mozambique and the Central African Republic? With support from developed countries, it would happen faster and more easily. But they all concentrate on condemning.

“In fact, it is ridiculous that in some cases, they would condemn people in some places where coups have happened and be silent in similar cases. They will attack countries citing lack of freedom and human rights, and where some of these are lacking the most, because of interests people have in those countries, it will be muted.”

May 21, 2024
Rwanda ranks second as popular destination for business meetings in Africa

ICCA’s “Country and City Rankings for 2023” placed Rwanda behind South Africa, which hosted 98 international events, against Kigali’s 32 events.

Kenya came in third with 29 international events, followed by Egypt and Morocco, which hosted 28 and 26 international conferences and meetings, respectively.

ICCA, which has its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, offering data, education, communication channels, as well as business development and networking opportunities.

The organization publishes annual rankings on the number of meetings held in various countries and regions worldwide, offering a reliable indicator within the industry.

On the global stage, the United States topped the list with 690 meetings, while Italy and Spain were in second and third place with 553 and 505 meetings respectively. Other countries on the top 10 list are France (472), Germany (463), United Kingdom (425), Japan (363), Netherlands (304), Portugal (303) and Canada (259).

Rwanda becomes conferences hub

Rwanda has become a hub for high-profile conferences in recent years. Last year alone, the country played host to 165 conferences, attracting over 65,000 delegates from around the world.

Statistics from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) show that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) recorded a significant growth of 52 percent in 2023 generating revenue of $95 million (RWF 122 billion).

Among the high-profile events held in Rwanda last year was the 73rd FIFA Congress. The event, held on March 16, 2023, brought together more than 1,500 delegates representing 211 FIFA members, head of Confederations and other global players in football.

The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023) was held in Kigali from 17-20 July 2023, where more than 5,000 delegates gathered to advance gender equality.

Additionally, the Giants of Africa Festival took place in Kigali from 13– 19 August 2023. The event brought together more than 300 African youth from 16 countries, who participated in an intensive series of basketball clinics and leadership workshops designed to help them pursue their dreams.

Rwanda also hosted two other major entertainment events in 2023: the Trace Africa Music Awards and Festival, which brought together music, fashion, and arts, giving young and creative talents a global stage to showcase their skills; and The Move Afrika by Global Citizen, which was headlined by the globally renowned artist Kendrick Lamar.

Other notable events were World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Ironman, Cybertech Africa 2023, International Conference on Learning Representation, Africa Health Agenda International Conference, International Congress on Conservation Biology, Mobile World Congress, Global Anglican – GAFCON, nclusive Fintech Forum, Segal Family Foundation and the 19th Kwita Izina Ceremony.

Norrsken African Week Meeting, TIME 100 Summit + Awards and Unleash Rwanda were also among notable events hosted in Rwanda in 2023.

May 21, 2024
Unemployment rate in Rwanda drops by 4.3%

In the survey results announced on Monday, May 20, 2024, NISR said the significant decline brought back the unemployment rate to the pre-COVID-19 estimate of 13.1 per cent.

The latest trend shows that in the first quarter of 2024, one person was unemployed for every eight people in the labour force.

The report further indicates that gender disparities persist in unemployment, with females experiencing a higher rate at 14.5 per cent compared to males at 11.5 per cent.

Furthermore, youth face a notably higher unemployment rate of 16.6 per cent compared to adults at 10.3 per cent.

NISR also highlighted that urban areas continue to bear a heavier burden with an unemployment rate of 14 per cent compared to rural areas where the unemployment rate stands at 12.3 per cent.

“Despite these challenges, there is progress in narrowing the gender gap in unemployment, which was recorded at 3 percentage points in 2024(Q1), showing improvement from 3.7 percentage points in the same quarter last year,” NISR said.

“This data underscores the need for targeted interventions to address unemployment disparities across demographics and regions, ensuring inclusive economic growth and opportunities for all Rwandans.”

The latest survey also sheds light on the composition of Rwanda’s workforce. Out of an estimated working-age population of 8.2 million (16 years and above), approximately 4.37 million are employed. Another, 648,000 individuals are currently unemployed, while 3.2 million are categorized as out of the labour force. This means Rwanda’s labour force, encompassing both employed and unemployed individuals, stands at around 5 million.

The labour force participation rate, representing the proportion of the working-age population actively engaged in the labour force, has continued to record a steady increase since 2021 Q1. By 2024 Q1, this rate reached 61.0 per cent, marking a 2.4 percentage point rise from the previous year’s estimate of 57.6 per cent.

Additionally, the gender disparity in labour force participation persists, with males consistently exhibiting higher participation rates than females. In February 2024(Q1), this gender gap stood at approximately 14.6 per cent, mirroring the situation observed in the same quarter of the previous year.

EPR

The Employment-to-Population Ratio (EPR) increased significantly from 47.7 per cent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 to 53.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2024.

Although the overall picture is positive, there are still disparities in who gets jobs. Men have a significantly higher EPR (60.9 per cent) compared to women (46.3 per cent) in 2024 Q1.

Similarly, younger people (16-30 years old) have a lower EPR (47.7 per cent) compared to adults (57.4 per cent), pointing at challenges for youth entering the workforce.

May 21, 2024
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli PM Netanyahu and Hamas leader Sinwar

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Monday, Khan said there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Sinwar bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity since October 7, 2023.

Khan is also seeking the arrest of Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, along with the group’s military chief Mohammed Deif.

Khan said the charges against Sinwar, Haniyeh and al-Masri include “extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention.”

“The world was shocked on the 7th of October when people were ripped from their bedrooms, from their homes, from the different kibbutzim in Israel,” Khan told Amanpour, adding that “people have suffered enormously.”

On the other hand, Khan disclosed that Netanyahu and Gallant are targeted for arrest for “causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.

Hamas launched missile attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, saying the attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, threats to the status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners.

Israel responded to the attack with a devastating bombardment of Gaza. Palestinian authorities said Israel’s retaliatory attack killed more than 25,000 people – mostly women and children.

The merit of Khan’s application will be determined by the ICC judges.

Notably, this is the first time the Hague-based court has targeted a top leader of a close ally of the United States in its history.

Last month, Netanyahu dismissed the ongoing probe into Israeli’s actions in Palestine territories, saying any arrest warrants against its officials “would be an outrage of historic proportions.” He maintained that Israel “has an independent legal system that rigorously investigates all violations of the law.”

Israel and the US are not members of the ICC. However, the court asserts jurisdiction over Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank since Palestinian leaders formally accepted the court’s founding principles in 2015.

May 20, 2024
Interahamwe wanted to kill me in 1994 – American Missionary Carl Wilkens recounts (Video)

Speaking on Sanny Ntayombya’s podcast, Long Form, Wilkens disclosed that he learned of a plot to have him killed from a leader of the Interahamwe killer squad he met at 1930 Prison.

According to Wilkens, the convict intimated that the Interahamwe killers had resolved to kill him for witnessing their crimes. However, they were stopped by Tharcisse Renzaho, the then-Governor of Kigali-Ville prefecture, who is now serving a life sentence for his role in the killing of more than one million people during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Wilkens alleges that Renzaho opposed his killing, fearing repercussions from the American government.

“This guy, when I talked to him last July, did say we planned to kill you. We told Renzaho our plans. We told him where and when we were going to do it. And Renzaho said no, don’t kill him. If you kill him, the Americans will be all over us,” Wilkens said, adding, “I don’t think the American government could have lifted a finger, but perception is so powerful.”

Talking about the trauma and his battle with anger in the aftermath of the 1994 atrocities, Wilkens said he felt like vomiting when he first met the leader of the killer squad at 1930 Prison in 2015.

“I stumbled on the leader of the killer squad at 1930 Prison in 2015. It was a horrible experience. I felt like vomiting, to be honest,” he said.

The 66-year-old noted that he had resolved to embrace forgiveness to free himself from anger and bitterness about what he witnessed in Rwanda 30 years ago.

“I worked for years to try to reframe that man and to see him as more than a mass murderer—not because he deserved it, but because I deserve to be free from anger and bitterness,” he added.

Saved over 400 people

Wilkens was the only American left in the country during the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

At the time of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Wilkens was the Head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda. He was living in the country with his wife and three children when President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane was shot down.

Wilkens chose to remain behind with two domestic Tutsi workers after the American Embassy made it clear to them not to bring any Rwandans with them. He sent his wife and children with an American convoy to Burundi and stayed at his home in Kigali with the two workers for about three weeks over fears that they would be harmed.

“The American embassy was ordering us all out but they were also ordering us not to bring any Rwandans. So it’s like they were ordering to leave a part of our family behind,” he recounted.

Over the next 100 horrific days of the genocide, Wilkens managed to save the lives of 400 Tutsis, including orphans from Gisimba Orphanage, whom he moved to safety through deadly roadblocks, thanks to his influence and networks.

He recounted that on the day he rescued the orphans, more than 50 killers had surrounded the orphanage, waiting to kill everyone. But the children’s lives were spared after he reached out to Renzaho and Prime Minister Jean Kambanda.

May 20, 2024
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi killed in chopper crash

Officials and state media said the charred wreckage of the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was found early on Monday after an overnight search.

“President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash,” a senior Iranian official was quoted by Reuters moments before Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed the president’s death on state television and social media.

The Bell 212 helicopter carrying the president is said to have slammed into a mountain peak, although an official statement on the cause of the crash is yet to be released.

The 63-year-old was elected president in 2021. He was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Touted as a hardliner, he has in recent years tightened morality laws, crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.

May 20, 2024
Brussels Airlines to begin daily flights to and from Kigali

Speaking during the reopening of the airline’s check-in office at Kigali city center, the CEO said the move is aimed at providing convenience for the airline’s customers.

“We are very proud that we can offer this very good service again, which is to check in the city in the morning and spend the day not worrying about your luggage, then go to the airport and ensure the luggage is there,” the CEO stated.

“To further enhance convenience, we’re increasing service to daily flights from Kigali starting in June,” Von Boxberg announced.

The airline currently operates five flights per week between Kigali and Brussels. The new plans include reopening the Nairobi route that the airline previously served from 2002 to 2015. This new route allows the airline to increase flight frequencies to Kigali and provide daily service.

“We are starting six flights per week on the Nairobi-Brussels route. Two of these flights will connect to Kigali,” Brussels Airlines Country Manager Audrey Natukunda explained.
The additional flights between Brussels and Kigali will be operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Commenting on the resumption of check-in service, Natukunda noted that the unique service offers passengers the convenience of dropping off their luggage at the airline’s offices located within Hôtel des Mille Collines before heading to board their flights at Kigali International Airport, situated on the outskirts of Kanombe, about 5 kilometers from the city center.

Natukunda explained that the check-in service was halted after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in line with the government measures introduced to curb the spread of the virus.

“We, as Brussels Airlines, care for our staff and passengers. We needed to be compliant with the regulations to keep the distance and stay healthy,” Natukunda explained.

May 20, 2024