Category: Diaspora

{{A Rwandan student Kwizera Elyahb Allie is among the 15 students from the University of Central Arkansas will attend US Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. on January 21.}}

The students will be among about 330 people traveling from Arkansas to the District with the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission. UCA is sponsoring the students’ trip, which includes two graduate assistants who will travel with the students.

The group leaves on Saturday, Jan. 19 and returns Tuesday, Jan. 22.

“A trip to Washington, D.C., and a chance to see and visit the seat of our nation’s government is a unique experience,” UCA President Tom Courtway said in the release. “This is especially true given the fact that it will give our students the opportunity to attend the inauguration of President Obama. They will ask questions, get to see things first hand, take a tour of important buildings and monuments and see the inauguration.”

Courtway said he believes the trip will add to students’ full educational experience at UCA.

“Reading and studying about our government and constitution is one thing, but seeing it work and how it operates makes the educational experience much more meaningful,” Courtway said.

DuShun Scarbrough, commission executive director, said two four-year schools and a high school have confirmed they plan to send student delegations.

He said students from Harding University in Searcy, Philander Smith College in Little Rock, and eSTEM High School will also travel to the Inauguration.

The UCA students were selected from a pool of 138 applicants who were asked about their on-campus leadership roles, grade point average and why they wanted to attend inauguration.

A committee of six staff members contacted selected students in December.

Portia Crawford, a senior biology major, said she was excited to be going to the swearing-in ceremony of the President. Going to D.C. gives her a chance to be part of history, she said.

“I’m very appreciative of this opportunity,” Crawford said.

Photo:{(from left to right, front row) Jade Edwards, junior; Paige Murphy, senior; Darlecia Williams, senior; Kristin Weatherford, senior; Portia Crawford, senior; (second row) William Edwards, freshman; Kailen Hardman, sophomore; Allison Rubio, junior; Christian Melendez, sophomore; Sarah Jurden, graduate assistant; (third row) Melodie Pride, freshman; Elyahb Allie Kwizera, junior; Jared LaReau, freshman; Arzalious Davis, sophomore; (back row) Adam Price, junior; UCA President Tom Courtway; Aarsenio Perry, graduate assistant, and Jason Riley, senior.}

{thecabin.net}

{{Members of Rwanda Patriotic Front party living in Belgium gathered in Bruxelles to mark the parties 25th Anniversary.}}

They honoured the late Minister Aloisea Inyumba who died last week.

After giving explanations on the existence of the Party, Musare Faustin, member of RPF and First advisor in Rwandan Embassy said that since RPF came to power, every Rwandan has a voice and that Rwandans are internationally recognized for their values.

Many young people have come to celebrate the event in which many singers who have played a role in liberation war were awarded.

Among them include; Cécile Kayirebwa, Muyango, Faina Numukobwa, Julienne Gashugi, Ben Ingabo Kipeti and De Gaulle Ufiteyezu among others.

Present were also Ambassador Masozera, Ndushandi Eric of the National University of Rwanda and representative of RPF in Louvain la Neuve in Belgium.

{{German authorities have arrested three men accused of being core members of the Congo-based Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia.}}

The three men possess German nationality and were only identified as Bernard T., 49, Felicien B., 43, and Jean Bosco U., 66.

Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, Christine Nkulikiyinka, confirmed the development but added that Rwanda did not ask for the extradition of the suspects.

The suspects were arrested n the western cities of Bonn and Cologne, German’s federal prosecutor’s office announced.

The spokesperson of Rwanda Public Prosecutions Authority, Alain Mukuralinda, confirmed the development but declined to release further details, saying that investigations were still ongoing.

It added that arrest warrants on charges including membership to a foreign terrorist organisation had been issued by an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice last month,

The arrested trio is suspected of having set up an FDLR cell in Germany and having taken over publicity and propaganda work for the rebel group after the arrests of several of its leaders.

German Investigators searched the men’s homes as well as those of 11 suspected FDLR supporters in several German states in an operation involving around 150 officers.

{{Five men allegedly assaulted, robbed and gang-raped a 24-year-old Rwandan lady in india while she was returning to her residence in the Timarpur area of north Delhi, India police said.}}

Shockingly, the police tried to keep the assault under wraps and initially did not file an FIR.

After getting flak from the police brass, cops swung into action and have arrested four accused, three days after the sexual assault on December 3. A hunt has started for the fifth accused.

The additional SHO of Timarpur police station has been sent to the district lines as punishment and an inquiry ordered into the police inaction.

Details of the incident were sketchy because cops were tightlipped about it.

It is likely the victim had been studying in Delhi University, which has a large number of foreign students, since she lived close to the North campus-IndiaTimes established.

The Rapists also took away the woman’s belongings.

Police said they have been identified as Deepak, Ashok, Vikas and Praveen, all aged 24 to 26 years.

A case of rape was registered after a medical examination of the woman confirmed she was raped.

They abducted her and later dumped her outside her rented accommodation in Timarpur after the assault.

They also snatched away her belongings including her mobile phone.
The girl managed to reach the local police station and informed her family members as well after seeking help from a local.

The victim is being provided medical help and counselling by an NGO, said police sources.

Further investigations are on and the fifth accused will be nabbed soon, said a police officer.

The Rwandan Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany , H.E. Christine Nkulikiyinka officially launched the Agaciro Development Fund in Germany, in the presence of the CEO of the Mainz municipal utility, DetlevHöhne, who sponsored the event in Mainz as contribution to the Agaciro Development Fund.

DetlevHöhneshortly welcomed the participants and commended the achievements made by the Rwandan people.

He stated that the Mainz municipal utility is engaged in several projects for many years and looks forward to further support Rwanda’s development efforts.

Speaking to a large audience of members of the Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda, Ambassador Nkulikiyinka said that the Agaciro Development Fund is the first solidarity fund of its kind in Rwanda that was initiated by the Rwandan people to fast-track the development of the country and reach financial autonomy.

She further emphasized that the fund goes beyond finding financial means.

It highlights a mentality shift among Rwandans, best reflected in the efforts to finding home-grown solutions for the country’s challenges and achieving welfare for its citizens, said the Rwandan envoy.

Ambassador Nkulikiyinka also spoke about the current political situation in the region, stressing that contrary to circulating, yet false allegations against Rwanda, the Rwandan government is committed to finding a solution for durable peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo together with member states in the region.

She said that Rwanda’s vision of a prosperous future for generations could only be realized in a peaceful and secure region.

The participants of the event shared their motivation for supporting the fund and asked questions about planned projects.

Throughout the evening they had the opportunity to donate and give pledges for the Agaciro Development Fund, with contributions amounting to Frw11million.

Participants said that they wanted to actively participate in the development of their home country and promote ownership.

The highlight of the event was a joyful tombola function during which five lucky participants were awarded with various prices.

A Rwandan student from the University of Kaiserslautern won the first price, a flight ticket to Rwanda sponsored by the airline “Brussels Airlines”.

Ambassador Nkulikiyinka thanked the Rwandan community in Germany and friends of Rwanda, especially the sponsors of the event, for expressing their solidarity with the Rwandan people through their donations for the Agaciro Development Fund.

She said that while the launch of the Agaciro Development Fund is the first event in Germany to promote the fund, more activities are planned in collaboration with the Rwandan community.

{{Rwandans in France and friends convened on Saturday to officially launch fundraising drive for Agaciro Development Fund (AgDF), and pledged Rwf 24 Million to the Fund.}}

The Rwandan Ambassador to France, Kabare Jacques briefed Rwandans on the origin and significance of the fund and commended the efforts they had already made with their contributions since the fund was created.

“This shows the commitment to develop your country” Kabare noted.

He said that Rwanda is passing through difficulties adding that with the effort of every Rwandan nothing will be impossible.

Several Rwandan associations in France participated in the event.

{{Over US$120, 000 has been pledged by Rwandans resident in Sweden as their contribution to the Agaciro Development Fund.}}

Venetia Sebudandi, Rwanda’s Ambassador the Nordic countries noted, “Rwandans have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to create home-grown solutions for the most complex problems.”

She said, “Agaciro Fund is a vital component of Rwanda’s relentless fight against poverty as well as longstanding goal of gradually gaining financial independence.”

The event held Stockholm was organised by the Rwandan community in Sweden in collaboration with the Rwandan Embassy.

{{The Rwandan American Communities in the states of Indiana and Michigan became the first community to officially launch the Agaciro Development in the US, with a contribution of US$50,960 (Rwf33m).}}

In an event attended by over 200 guests, last week, Rwanda’s ambassador to US, James Kimonyo, applauded those who contributed for showing commitment to their country despite living outside.

“Rwandans in the US continue to mirror exemplary commitment in their actions- and this is all derived in the fact that they are proud of their country and want to show their value for it,” Kimonyo said.

Gaetan Gatete, the president of Rwandan Community in Michigan and Indiana emphasized the purpose of Agaciro Development Fund as a program that will in the future accelerate Rwanda’s development.

“This fund will supplement other sources of revenue so as to accelerate the country’s social-economic development,” said Edda Mukabagwiza, Rwandan High Commissioner to Canada, in a statement.

Rwandans living in Canada have contributed Frw115 Million to Agaciro Development fund.

During the event more than 300 people joined hands to support country’s economic progress.

Rwanda’s Ambassador in Canada, Edda Mukabagwiza has said that voluntary contribution came from all staff of Embassy, Rwandan Diaspora in Ottawa together with their friends.

The 10th edition of the National Dialogue to be held in December, will determine how the money that has been raised under the Agaciro Development Fund will be deployed, Finance and Economic Planning Minister John Rwangombwa said earlier October, 2012.

{{A Rwandan National identified as Butera Natacha was is recovering from Gun shot wounds in the US after she was shot Sunday.

Miss Butera is a Rwandan student in Iowa, US.}}

Sioux City Police identified the victim as Natacha Butera, a foreign exchange student attending Briar Cliff University.

Butera was shot in the arm and chest about 1:12 a.m. in the first-floor of Mac Behr’s, 1201 Fourth St., police say.

Soloman Harris, 24, was charged with assault while participating in a felony, willful injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and reckless use of a firearm with serious injury.

He made his initial court appearance Sunday. His next court date is Nov. 28. Sioux City Police Lt. Mark Kirkpatrick said it appears Butera and Harris did not know each other.

Harris, who was standing near the dance floor, fired a gun at a man he been in a fight with, Kirkpatrick said.

Police wrote in court documents the bullet fired from the .45-caliber pistol instead hit a woman, who was later identified as Butera.

It pierced her liver and a lung, according to the documents. Butera was taken to Mercy Medical Center – Sioux City.

She was listed in fair condition Monday morning, a hospital spokeswoman said. Harris was being held in the Woodbury County Jail Monday morning in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Briar Cliff University officials released the following statement about the shooting.

“The Briar Cliff community is very saddened about this unfortunate situation. Our main concern is for the well-being and continued recovery of the victim. We are working together to attend to her needs and those of her family and friends and of our students.”

The Minister of Health Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the US, James Kimonyo, members of the Rwandan Diaspora and friends of Rwanda are closely monitoring the situation and offering all the support they can to the family.