Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a recent interview with state broadcaster Rwanda TV, Gallo noted that Kigali hosting the BAL games over the past four years has not only energized the local basketball ecosystem but also highlighted Africa’s potential on the global stage.

According to Gallo, Kigali’s state-of-the-art facilities, such as the BK Arena, combined with strong governmental support and a commitment to excellence, have created an ideal environment for nurturing talent and hosting world-class events.

“We were very intentional in making sure that this is where we wanted to come and launch our African product when we did that in the middle of the pandemic because of the conditions that existed here. You have a world-class arena, world leadership that is extremely supportive, and visionary leadership that shared in what we saw that sports can do as a driver of the economy,” Gallo said while commenting about the launch of BAL in Rwanda four years ago.

He observed that the ongoing FIBA World Cup Women’s Qualifiers, coming to the continent for the first time, are happening in Rwanda because “Kigali has really established itself as a hub for global events”.

“When you see a filled arena like we saw in the past games—the two games that I’ve seen the Rwanda team play—for me, that’s a testament to the work that’s been done here by Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) and the entire leadership of this country to make sure that we continue to create platforms where Africa can be showcased at a major level now that we have created this interest,” Gallo said.

Rwanda’s efforts in promoting sports have not only inspired and empowered young athletes but have also driven economic growth through increased tourism and international partnerships.

“Rwanda has been at the forefront of looking to promote tourism, inviting visitors to their country with the partnerships they’ve done in other sports. So when they partnered with the NBA, they recognized that they were partnering with the best in class in terms of commercializing and operating a professional sports league,” he added.

To continue promoting economic empowerment and development through sports, the BAL boss emphasized the need to double efforts by building local expertise and continuing to grow talent both on and off the court.

“We’ve got to continue to work to build expertise, develop coaches, and we have a program for that where we send African coaches to intern in the Summer League in Las Vegas. I think there were two coaches from Rwanda who attended again this year,” Gallo explained.

He attributed South Sudan’s basketball team performance at the Paris Olympics to great leadership and consistency.

“I think in terms of governance and administration of the sport, the example of South Sudan shows that if you have leadership that is consistent, committed, and knows how to organize and identify talent both on and off the court, put it together, and prepare, the results will come because the talent has always been here,” he added.

South Sudan had an impressive run at the 2024 Paris Olympics but fell short of qualifying for the men’s quarter-finals after a heartbreaking loss to Serbia. Serbia defeated South Sudan 96-85 in their final Group C match on August 3, 2024.

The South Sudan team, known as the Bright Stars gained recognition as Olympic contenders thanks to the efforts of former NBA All-Star and president of the country’s basketball federation, Luol Deng.

As BAL prepares for season five, Gallo emphasizes the need to continue attracting partners:
“We’ve got to keep attracting partners like Bank of Kigali, MTN Rwanda, and other companies to invest with us and help us achieve the significant ambitions we have for our league and the sport of basketball.

Durov, holding French citizenship, was arrested on charges allegedly related to Telegram’s refusal to cooperate with French law enforcement, French media reported.

The accusations against Durov include terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering, reports said, adding that Durov could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The Russian Embassy in France took prompt steps to clarify the situation before the New People party’s representative Vladislav Davankov urged the Russian government to seek Durov’s release, TASS reported.

The Russian Embassy in Paris immediately began working on the case as it is the duty of Russian diplomats to respond to cases involving the detention of Russian citizens abroad, Zakharova said.

Durov was reportedly detained as he exited his private jet after landing at Le Bourget Airport on Saturday night.

Durov founded Telegram in 2013. The messaging app is influential in Russia and has become a critical source of information during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The addendum to the original Memorandum of Understanding, dated September 10, 2019, was signed on Thursday, August 22, 2024, and ensures that the ETM in Rwanda will continue until December 31, 2025.

Ambassador Charles Karamba, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the African Union, represented Rwanda at the signing ceremony.

In a joint statement, Rwanda, the AU, and the UN refugee agency emphasized that the extension reaffirms their commitment to providing protection and seeking durable solutions for those evacuated, offering them a safe haven in Rwanda.

“The Government of Rwanda reaffirms its unwavering commitment to receive and protect these individuals, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at-risk,” the statement reads in part.

The parties disclosed that the second addendum emphasizes a more transparent selection process for evacuees, ensuring equal opportunities for all potential candidates regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, or any criteria other than their vulnerability.

The agreement also reinforces and strengthens information-sharing and reporting mechanisms between UNHCR, the Government of Rwanda, and the African Union in the implementation of solutions for evacuated individuals. It seeks to expand comprehensive efforts to find alternative durable solutions for evacuees who do not qualify for refugee status and are not willing to request a longer stay in Rwanda, including exploring options such as voluntary return, resettlement, family reunification, and access to other solutions in third countries.

Additionally, the second addendum reiterates the commitment of all parties to undertake bi-annual joint monitoring missions to inspect the entire process, thereby ensuring transparency and continuous improvement of the ETM operations.

As part of the agreement, the African Union Commission committed to continuing to provide high-level political support, capacity development, and resource mobilization, as well as enhancing joint coordination mechanisms.

Meanwhile, UNHCR will continue to provide protection and necessary assistance, including shelter, food, healthcare, and other essential services for evacuees during their stay in Rwanda.

Since the emergency evacuation mechanism was established more than four years ago, a total of 2,355 refugees and asylum seekers from Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali have been evacuated from Libya in 18 flights.

According to the parties, a total of 1,813 refugees have been resettled in third countries, finding a lasting solution to their displacement.

“UNHCR and the Rwandan authorities will continue to conduct individual registration of all evacuated individuals and issue Proof of Registration (POR) documents that allow them to travel within the country and access assistance provided at the center,” the statement added.

Both the AUC and UNHCR have called on other countries to follow Rwanda’s example in providing a safe haven for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.

In a letter seen by IGIHE, addressed to district leaders on August 22, 2024, and signed by the Minister of Local Government, Jean Claude Musabyimana, the ministry ordered the suspension of more than 40 religious organizations listed in the annex of the letter.

The decision was based on a letter from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and ongoing inspections of religious denominations, which revealed that some should be halted.

The letter states, “I am writing to request the suspension of the organizations and activities listed in the annex of this letter, as well as any other organizations operating illegally across the country.”

The annex includes well-known religious denominations in Rwanda, such as the Lutheran Church in Africa, which operated in various provinces, particularly in the Eastern Province.

Other organizations listed include Philadelphia Church, Umugeni wa Kristo, Abagorozi, Abakusi, Abanywagake, Abarokore, Abavandimwe Church, Agape Sanctuary, Assemblies of Lord, Bethel Miracle Church, Intumwa n’Abahanuzi, Isoko Ibohora, Ivugurura n’Ubugorozi, Redeemed Baptist Church, Salvation Church, and others.

This action follows the recent suspension of other churches in Rwanda, including Umuriro wa Pentekote and Ebenezer Rwanda, for allegedly spreading divisive messages among Rwandans.

Additionally, RGB, in collaboration with local authorities, had previously conducted inspections that led to the temporary closure of nearly 8,000 churches for failing to meet required standards.

Celestin Seburikoko, the head of the Lutheran Church in Africa’s Rwanda branch, confirmed the suspension to IGIHE. He acknowledged that they were aware of the requirement to be officially registered and that they had already initiated the process, although they had not yet received legal status.

“This does not surprise me because I know that every organization or activity in the country must be recognized, and we had complied with all requirements. We applied for the necessary documents, but there were some corrections requested, which I had prepared but had not yet submitted [to RGB].”

Seburikoko also mentioned that he intends to inquire whether they can continue the registration process or if they are permanently shut down, as they had been granted a temporary permit that has now expired.

The Lutheran Church in Africa started operating in Rwanda in 2015 and has 2,037 congregants across the country.

Africa remains one of the few untapped markets for Formula 1 in its recent years of global expansion. In fact, an F1 race has not been held on the continent since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

Motorsport officials have scheduled talks with Rwandan officials for September to discuss the country’s bid to host an F1 event.

Amid Rwanda’s push to make history as the first East African country to host the event, Hamilton believes it is the right time for a race to return to Africa. He made these remarks ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, August 25, 2024.

“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from,” Hamilton stated.

“No one gives anything to Africa. There’s a huge amount of work that needs to be done there. I think a lot of the world that haven’t been there don’t realise how beautiful the place is, how vast it is,” he added.

The 39-year-old Mercedes driver dismissed the excuse that there are no ready tracks, stating that F1 can utilize and build on what is available. He also noted that Africa stands to benefit immensely from tourism during and after the races.

“I think having a grand prix there, it would really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things. Why are we not on that continent? And the current excuse is that there’s not a track that’s ready, but there is at least one track that’s ready there.

“In the short term, we should just get on that track and have that part of the calendar and then work on building out something moving forward,” he explained.

He lauded Rwanda’s interest in hosting an F1 event saying, “Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to actually”.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background. I’ve spoken to people in Rwanda, I’ve spoken to people in South Africa. But that’s a longer project, Rwanda. It’s amazing that they’re so keen,” he added.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed the meeting with Rwandan officials earlier this. He described Rwanda as a ‘serious’ candidate for hosting a future Grand Prix and praised the Rwandan authorities for presenting a solid plan.

“They are serious,” said Domenicali. “They have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track.”

Domenicali’s comments followed a visit by representatives from the Rwanda Development Board to the Monaco Grand Prix in May, where they met with officials from the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

This comes days after WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern based on the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to at least 13 other African countries, with several imported cases in Europe and Asia.

In a recent opinion piece published in the French magazine Jeune Afrique, Dr. Mihigo questioned why Africa has been left to struggle with repeated Mpox outbreaks for decades, despite the infection being caused by a virus known for many decades, unlike recent health emergencies such as COVID-19, which was first reported in China.

Dr. Mihigo called for concerted efforts to eradicate the outbreak of the viral disease, which had also been declared a public health emergency of continental security by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

He emphasized that increased collaboration between different countries, the private sector, and research bodies is necessary to lower the cost of vaccine production and immunization, thereby improving access to vaccines in low-income countries, which are often the most affected.

“Continental and global public health institutions, including financial partners, must contribute. Significant investments in research and development for local pharmaceutical industries are still necessary. The accumulation of patents, technologies, and vaccines in one part of the world is a counterproductive tactic. On the other hand, the creation of platforms and mechanisms for inter-state solidarity is necessary,” Dr. Mihigo explained.

For the collaborations to materialize, Dr. Mihigo said, WHO and Africa CDC have a “crucial role to play”.

“Africa should not face this epidemic alone. Nor should it bear the human cost of a disease we can and must eradicate on its own. By acting today, we can not only contain and eradicate monkeypox but also prepare our health systems to face tomorrow’s health threats,” DR. Mihigo stated.

Dr. Mihigo argued that systematic vaccination efforts have been halted since the eradication of smallpox in 1977, even though smallpox vaccination provided cross-protection against monkeypox.

According to him, there are about 200,000 vaccine doses available worldwide for the Mpox virus, a figure that is far too low considering the actual needs.

To address the threat that Mpox poses, he explained that several million vaccine doses are necessary to meet the demands of the East African region alone.

At the same time, Dr Mihigo emphasized the need to strengthen local health systems to handle emerging diseases.

“Developing a comprehensive strategy to combat this disease by strengthening capacities and empowering our health systems must be our priority,” he observed.

“It is time for Africa to place health at the heart of its development. This requires better resilience of health systems, adapted to local contexts, including socio-cultural, economic, and environmental determinants.”

He observed that the resurgence of Mpox outbreak also calls for the emergence of an intra-African and international public health pact.

“The WHO Africa office, for which I am a candidate for leadership, must play a pivotal role in redefining, in collaboration with the concerned countries, health priorities,” he stated.
The Regional Committee of the WHO African Region will vote to nominate the next Regional Director in a closed-door meeting during its 74th session from 26th to 30th August 2024 in Congo Brazzaville.

Dr. Mihigo is running against Dr. N’da Konan Michel Yao from Ivory Coast, Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo of Niger, Senegalese Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall and Tanzanian Doctor Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile.

Sim Swap fraud is a type of identity theft where a malicious actor gains control of a victim’s mobile phone number by persuading or tricking a mobile network operator to transfer the SIM card associated with that number to a new device.

Once the scammer has control of the phone number, they can intercept calls and text messages, including those used for two-factor authentication (2FA). This allows the fraudster to gain access to the victim’s online accounts, such as banking, mobile money, email, and social media, potentially leading to financial loss and other types of identity theft.

To address such cases, RURA has outlined several measures aimed at preventing future incidents.

In a notice to the general public on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, the authority said SIM card registration or swaps are to be conducted only at permanent premises designated by mobile telecom companies and any SIM card involved in fraudulent activities will be immediately blocked, along with any other SIM cards registered to the ID of the suspected fraudulent individual.

Further, any telecom personnel/agents involved in fraudulent activities will have their business credentials revoked and their SIM cards deactivated.

Issuing or lending a SIM card registered under your ID to another person has been prohibited as it may be used in fraudulent activities.

RURA also announced that bulk Short Message Services (SMS) have been reviewed to enhance service delivery, stating that only telecom companies and licensed aggregators are permitted to send bulk SMS.

The authority further urged mobile users to be vigilant against unsolicited messages, calls requesting money or pretending to be from telecom or government personnel, especially those instructing you to dial certain phone numbers to avoid blocking your phone.

RURA reminded the general public to regularly check the SIM cards registered under their IDs by dialing *125# and following the instructions to self-deregister any unrecognized or undesired SIM cards.

The general public has also been urged to report any fraudulent activities to relevant telcos for assistance.

“In the event of any fraudulent activity, please contact your service provider by dialing the toll-free number 100, which is available for both MTN and Airtel. Alternatively, you may visit their respective service centers for further assistance,” RURA advised.

“For additional support, please contact RURA at the toll-free numbers 3988 or 2222.”