Category: News

{{Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi September 12, received Hervé Ladsous the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations who is in a visit to Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.}}

Prime Minister thanked the UN delegation and stated that due to its past Rwanda knows the price of peace and this pushes the country to actively contribute to the peace keeping missions around the world.

“The security of our neighbour is our own security we can’t live peacefully while our neighbours are in crises” said Premier.

Hervé Ladsous, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations pleased Rwanda for its continuous support in the peace keeping missions around the world.

Hervé Ladsous is in Rwanda from Democratic Republic of Congo where he met President Kabila, and on his agenda is the preparation of the 27 September Summit scheduled to be held in NewYork on peace and security in DRC.

“Rwanda is among the 6 contributing counties in peace keeping missions in Africa and its contingents are disciplined and professional” said Hervé Ladsous.

{{The President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has told the {Africa Report} that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is one of the major causes of conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo.}}

Museveni told UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous that when some rebels were referred to the ICC, they became wild and continued fighting hard so they were not captured.

Ladsous led a team of 15 people including the Special Representative for the Secretary General and Chief of The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Roger Meece and the Special Advisor of security based in New York Gen. Babacar Gaye.

Museveni said to resolve issues in the Great Lakes, the region must handle the residual problems of the Democratic Republic of Congo including managing its own people instead of referring everything to the ICC.

He said the M23 rebels in Congo and other groups destabilising the region were partly as a result of a decision to refer people to the ICC.

“Uganda has many problems from Amin and Obote but we never referred anyone to the ICC. We must manage our people ourselves because this can be a constituency for trouble.

People sent to the ICC have followers. Congo and Rwanda were working very well before this but when that started there was a new outburst.

“The South African government handled this through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. If you use external groups to deal with your problem and neglect your own problems, it’s a big mistake,” he said.

He said that using foreign institutions to deal with internal conflicts instead of negotiating with opponents is a mistake.
“You can’t rely on the ICC to get rid of your rival,” he added.

The president said except for Kony, who had been flushed out of Uganda and was in foreign territory and had thus been referred to the ICC, Uganda integrated all its former enemies as part of its peace building processes.

He advised Congo to build a national army around a core of educated, capable, disciplined and loyal people. He also called for support and funding for the neutral force which he said must use dialogue and enforcement to maintain peace at the border.

“We need a new hybrid of troops who are ideologically committed and loyal. If we don’t do this, we don’t add any value in helping Congo build its army,” he said.

Tanzania has already committed troops for the neutral force but issues of funding are still a challenge.

Museveni expressed his unhappiness at the continued stay of terrorists in Congo who frequently cross into Uganda and kill innocent people, urging stakeholders to urgently address the issue.

“We can work with Congo and fight them. They have already crossed into Uganda and killed four sheiks. Am not happy with this type of situation, the UN is there, Kabila is there, the terrorists are there – to have these terrorists near our borders is not right.

Let’s clear the borders so that our people can do trade. These terrorists are interfering with our trade,” he continued.

Ladsous hailed Museveni’s efforts to find peace in the region through the Great Lakes Conferences and urged the region to come together to find a solution.

He said the UN Security Council needs to be presented with a clear and concise operation of the proposed neutral force, adding that they must find a way to stop the violence.

He said there has been something close to a ceasefire and a lull in the violence which leaders must try and consolidate.

“There must be a commitment of all to stabilise borders. There should be no threat from Congo to other countries and from other countries to Congo.

The neutral force should be about building confidence between countries. The solution in Congo will not be solely military but must be political as well,” he said.

{{Genocide suspect PasteurUwinkindi Jean has repealed to court insisting that he is not the person wanted for the alleged crimes arguing that he is a victim of mistaken identity.

The Nyarugenge court is slated to pronounce its decision on the case on September 19 on whether he will be granted bail or retained in detention.}}

Pasteur Uwinkindi lawyers asked court to disregard accusations against their client saying he is detained at the central prison yet he should be held at the Police station since he is still a suspect.

The lawyers claim that since their client is already in prison yet still a suspect, the court should disregard all accusations against him and release him.

They also claim that the ICTR didn’t grant Uwinkindi a chance to defend himself.

{{Police has arrested four people from different parts of the country, who are said to be part of the gang that sneaks narcotics into the country from the neighbouring countries.}}

Two of the suspects – Sifa Mukeshimana, 35, and Furaha Iribagiza 24 – were arrested on September 13 in Gisenyi Sector, Rubavu District, with over 5800 rolls of cannabis. They are currently held at Gisenyi Police Station.

The other two suspects identified as Emmanuel Ngoboka, 35, and Alexis Ntirushwa 26, were also arrested in Nyakabanda Sector in Nyarugenge District on the same day at about 18:00pm, with 1160 rolls of cannabis.

Both Ngoboka and Ntirushwa, who are currently detained at Nyamirambo Police Station, were intercepted by the night patrol in the area after they stopped them and checked their bag, where they had concealed the drugs.

The Nyamirambo suspects, however, claimed they were taking the drugs to one Eric, who they didn’t even know the other name.

Drugs abuse related crimes are among the major crimes in Rwanda, and Rwanda National Police has held several campaigns against the crime, which has led to the arrest of hundreds of dealers and drugs seized and destroyed.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) appeals to the community to continue their partnership through community policing to fight crimes that might affect their day-today activities, thus hindering development.

{{30 police officers from Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Somalia, on September 14, completed a two-month supervisory course in Kigali to further meet today’s policing challenges.}}

Ten of the participants are from South Sudan, five from Somalia, five from Burundi and ten from the hosts, Rwanda. The Rwandan trainees also include one from Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS).

The Police Supervisory Course held at the Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru, was organized and conducted by Rwanda National Police (NPA) as one of the strategies to enable regional Police institutions to meet today’s policing challenges both locally and internationally.

Course participants exhausted areas of Police operations, command, administration and supervisory duties among others.

The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana, who presided over the event, lauded regional countries for having honored Rwanda National Police’s invitation noting that it’s a milestone in the regional police institutions’ professionalization process.

“We all know that today, security problems in the region or even in the world cannot be dealt with in isolation. It’s thus imperative that our law enforcement institutions train together, share best practices and come out with synergetic strategies to deter and to fight crimes in general and transnational organized crimes in particular,” said the Minister.

He urged course participants to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired in order to meet the demands and challenges of modern policing.

“Trust and cooperation should guide you to execute your responsibility diligently,” the Minister said, adding that these are key tools that would lead to professionalism of any police force.

Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa, the Programme Coordinator of National Police Academy commended the trainees for their hard working spirit and discipline portrayed during the course.

Lt Col Samson Lukwasa Peter Lomindait, one of the participants from South Sudan said that acknowledge the skills acquired will help to effectively fulfill their policing duties back in their home institutions.

“Given the new situations we are going through, this kind of training means a lot to us. It opened a new door to our knowledge and it brought us a light in the darkness,” Lt Col Lukwasa, who is also a Director in the Ministry of Interior, said.

He added that the training was an opportune to share views and experiences among colleagues.

“Computer skills, internal security operations, understanding command dimensions, contemporary issues in policing, especially stressing every time on command and control, were very important and relevant lectures to our careers,” Lt. Col Lukwasa stated.

“Though we come from different countries and have different cultures, we share a common problem and common desire to our lives…every successful programme is the result of a collective effort,” Lukwasa added.

Anne Marie Elise Nelly Umuhoza another participant from Burundi said she got vast experience and that the skills attained will help her to professionally execute her policing duties.

She commended the cooperation between Rwandan security organs, noting that this is an experience security organs from other countries should copy to effectively execute their duties.

“Such teamwork should be emulated in other countries and Burundi in particular, for sustainable security and peace,” said Muhoza.

{{UN will consider a proposal for a neutral force to help stop the violence that is causing significant suffering in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said Deputy Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations Hervé Ladsous.}}

A UN statement released Thursday, said Mr. Ladsous announced the decision during a press conference Wednesday in Goma in eastern DRC.

The head of the UN is currently visiting the Great Lakes region as a prelude to a high-level meeting on the issue that will take place later this month.

‘The proposed concept should be developed in more detail, knowing that after all, it is the Security Council of the UN vote on the approval of such a concept and its implementation,’ he said.

He pointed out that the concept of deployment of a neutral international force along the border between Rwanda and the DRC has been proposed by the countries of the Great Lakes during a regional summit in July.

The UN official also said that the decision follows months of violence in the DRC because of the repetitive operations of armed groups, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

One of the key players in the conflict is a group of renegade soldiers known as the March 23 Movement (M23).

The group clashed with national army troops backed by peacekeepers Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

The fighting resulted in the displacement of nearly half a million people in recent months, including about 220,000 people in the province of North Kivu, 200,000 in the province of South Kivu, more than 51,000 people who have fled to neighboring Uganda and Rwanda.

The activities of the M23 led to the condemnation of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.

{{For the past years, the Rwandan economy has benefited enormously from the mining industry.

Revenues have increased from US$10 million in 2003 to US $96.4million in 2010 and the year 2011 generated up to US$ 100million.}}

Earlier this week, in a discussion held at Novotel Hotel, Experts in Mining sector and stakeholders pointed out that some changes regarding mining law should be made in order to develop Rwanda mining sector and ensuring that mining incomes are increasingly contributing to national development.

While presenting some specific changes, Biryabarema Michael, The deputy director general of Mining and Geology in Rwanda said that revising mining law is to maximize impacts of Mining in Rwanda and ensuring that people joining this sector have complied with good practice of Mining.

The changes which are to be made are found in Law No 37/2008 of 11th/08/2008 regarding Mining and quarry exploitation in Rwanda.

Many articles will be changed or improved, however at the beginning Article 2 regarding definitions and terms in Mining will be improved in order to clearly explain terms regarding the sector.

Under this article Mines were defined as mineral or fossil substance concerned with concession in legal terms while Quarry was defined as mineral or fossil substance not concerned with concession from the legal point of view. Technically, it is an open cast mine.

Under the New law, Mines will be defined as the inside part where by mines and quarry can be found while quarry itself will be defined as a deposit where you exploit materials such as building rocks, sand, etc by using different means of extraction.

Article 4 on search and exploitation of mine and quarry were renewed where experts highlighted that before starting mining activities, mining company should first explain its benefits to citizens and its contribution to the development of citizens.

Among other new changes made, Chapter 4 regarding mining licenses where small mine exploitation licence was 5 years which can be renewed, under the new law this licence should not exceed 5 years only.

The duration of Licence on medium mine which was not mentioned in the old law, under the new law will be ranged between 5 years and 15 years.

However, the licence for vast mining which was 30 years renewable, under article 63 of the new law the licence will be ranged between 15 years and 30 years.

Historically, since 1930, Rwanda invested in Mining Industry. The main concern was to address the growth of country’s economy and to increase the income among Rwandan population.

Today a growing number of people are joining Mining Sector and many jobs have been created locally. On one side, Mining contributes a lot in the Economic growth and on another side it can also contributes to the Environment destruction.

According to Biryabarema, the new law will define ways of adding values to Rwanda’s environment and protection of people.

Currently, before starting activities that would result in environmental degradation such as Mining investors should work under a basic EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)- A procedure that ensures that environmental consequences of project are identified and assessed before Authorization is given.

According to mining law, this approach is a way to direct Miners to evolve from illegal mining system that have previously degraded Environment and help them to adopt legal mining system.

In this way, Rwanda’s miners will register increased mineral productivity and also immensely contribution to the long term conservation of Environment for sustainable Development.

To keep sustaining mining Industry and Environment protection the Rwanda Geology and Mining Authority also encourages all people working in Mining Sector to give up the culture of Mining in disorder and join Rwanda Mining Forum in order to be able to access more knowledge on geological and mining issues and get loans that will facilitate their daily activities.

The new law of Mine and quarry exploitation will be sent to cabinet meeting for approval.

{{Three students at APEJERWA Nyange school have been expelled for possessing a mobile phone an act that contravenes school rules and regulations punishable by termination from school.}}

The school is located at Ngororero district in ngororero sector.

The three faulting students were served with termination letters on September 11, when they were required to have left the school premises.

IGIHE immediately visited the school to dig into the matter but the school headmistress Marie Claire Umutesiwase refused to expound on the matter referring us to what she termed as higher authorities. “am not authorized to speak to media.”

We managed to establish that among the expelled students, two were candidates awaiting to write their national exams. Efforts by some of the parents to seek pardon over the matter by their children were futile as the school administration couldn’t lift the ban.

“…we are sorry to send back home this student indefinitely terminated from APEJERWA ngange school for possessing and using a mobile phone on the school premises. The student is therefore discontinued from school effective September 11…” read part of the termination letter.

{{Female police officers have been urged to strengthen their cooperation, to ease the process in crime prevention, especially Gender Based Violence (GBV).}}

The appeal was made by RNP Commissioner for Human Resource Management and Development, ACP John Bosco Kabera at a workshop of Focal Point gender promotion police officers from all district police units in the country, held at Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

He urged them to be first actors in the anti-GBV campaign and gender promotion and to put discipline and professionalism at the forefront in their duties.

A total of seventy female officers attended the workshop organized by Rwanda National Police and sponsored by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

Kabera told the participants to know their rights as female officers and to follow up closely the implementation of GBV principles in their respective units and to encourage female civilians to join the force.

IP Beline Mukamana, the Director of anti-GBV in Rwanda National Police, said the workshop will facilitate them to understand better on how to investigate and handle GBV cases and to better understand ant-GBV legal provisions.

Assistant Inspector of Police Theresie Mushimiyimana, one of the trainees said the workshop will give them further understanding and guidance in their responsibilities.

{{Musanze District has moblised over Frw734, 240,222 as contribution to the Agaciro Development Fund. The event was held September 13 in Musanze.}}

Bosenibamwe Aime the Governor of Northern Province urged local leaders to provide better services to the citizens since they are servants of the citizens. By doing this it’s the only way of according value to themselves and citizens.

Dr. Rev.Fr. Niyibizi Déogratias the rector INES Ruhengeri institution urged residents not to wait for foreign help.

Contributions were made from schools, business persons, individual persons and several organizations in the district including public officials.

Minister Nsengiyumva Albert was the chief guest at the event. He said, “Rwandans should stop thinking of foreign Aid. This had taen us backward it should stop.”