Category: News

{{Egypt’s Islamist President-elect, Mohamed Morsi, has said that he wants to “reconsider” the 1979 peace deal with Israel.}}

“We will reconsider the Camp David Accord” that, in 1979, forged a peace between Egypt and Israel that has held for more than three decades, Morsi said in Cairo on Sunday, just before his election triumph was announced.

Morsi noted today that he wants to build ties with Iran to “create a strategic balance” in the Middle East.

“Part of my agenda is the development of ties between Iran and Egypt that will create a strategic balance in the region,” Morsi was quoted as saying.

Iran’s foreign ministry on Sunday welcomed Morsi’s triumph.

He said the issue of Palestinian refugees returning to homes their families abandoned in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and the 1967 Six-Day War “is very important”.

The islamist added though that “all these issues will be carried out through cabinet and governmental bodies because I will not take any decision on my own.”

Morsi also said he was ready to improve ties with Iran. The Islamic republic broke off diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1980, a year after Cairo signed the peace deal with the Jewish state.

Although Morsi resigned from Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood to take the top job, Israel is wary of his election, fearing his Islamist record could jeopardise the chilly peace it has long enjoyed with its huge neighbour.

{{Rwanda has been selected to host the Secretariat for the Group of UN Member States, UN entities, International Non-governmental Organizations and other friends of Corrections involved in international peacekeeping and peacebuilding.}}

Rwanda’s Selection was made during the Fourth Annual International Corrections Conference held in Berlin.

The Correctional Services in Rwanda will be at the forefront in implementation of the Secretariat objectives.

The Secretariat will prepare and chair the Group’s annual meetings, act as the focal point for all communications with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and other United Nations entities.

It will execute its functions in close collaboration with the UN Criminal Law and Judicial Advisory Services (CLJAS), and participate in all Expert Level Forum meetings.

In her acceptance speech on behalf of government of Rwanda, ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka noted that following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and the rapid achievements in institution-building, including in the correctional services;

“Rwanda is more than ever committed to share its success story with countries emerging from conflict, including in the area of security, Justice and corrections services”.

The United Nations hailed Rwanda for the great strides and rapid achievements in institution-building that has led to active contribution of troop, police and corrections personnel to UN-led international peacekeeping operations.

The hand-over and take-over ceremony between the out-going host – Sweden and the in-coming host – Rwanda, was witnessed by Dmitry Titov, Assistant Secretary General for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Deputy Commissioner General Mary Gahonzire, Rwanda Correctional Services.

Also present were Ina Lepel, Deputy Director General for Global Affairs, Germany Foreign Office, Thomas Dittman, the Director General, Federal Germany Ministry of Justice and representatives of UN Member States as well as other International Organizations.

At the Conference, Deputy Commissioner General Gahonzire, shared the Rwanda’s best practices in “Gender and Gender balance” including the role of Rwanda female Corrections Officers in peacekeeping Operations and achievements of Rwanda Corrections Services.

Rwanda delegation also comprised Assistant Commissioner of Police Jimmy Hodari, the Police Attaché at the Rwanda Permanent Mission who also doubles as the Liaison for Corrections affairs at the United Nations in New York.

The Secretariat is hosted on a rotational basis and at the end of its two years’ tenure of office Rwanda will host the International Corrections Conference.

{{President Paul Kagame honoured late Kosiya Kyamuhangire a pioneer of East Africa Revival Movement (EARM).

The commemoration service was held at Church of Gahini on 24 June.

Kyamuhangire reportedly died of meningitis during an Anglican missionary convention in 1952 at Gahini, Kayonza District in the eastern Province of Rwanda.}}

President Kagame noted that “Today, on both sides of the border, we are united in honouring him and what he stood for. We, in Rwanda, particularly feel greatly honoured that Gahini, was found fitting to be his final resting place”.

The President and his wife Jeannette Kagame laid a wreath and unveiled a tombstone in honour of the late Kyamuhangire.

“The Christian revival that Kyamuhangire’s contemporaries spread across East Africa was in many ways the first real regional movement and places them among the first true East Africans. Their work personified our current EAC motto: “One people, one destiny” long before the organisation even existed,” the President observed.

“It reminds us that for centuries we lived as one and that the border that divide us is not only artificial and superficial, but with increased integration, should in a sense become irrelevant.

“And as we know, Late Kyamuhangire’s generation were not hostages of this border. They had a vision of the people of Rwanda and Uganda living as a family, feeling genuinely at home on both sides of the border because they sincerely believed that we shared a common destiny,” Kagame explained.

The late Kyamuhangire born 1914 was the father to Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa. Kutesa was only four years when his father passed away.

Kutesa remarked, “The peace and stability that the Rwanda Patriotic Front government has brought to this country is what has enabled us to come and join our brothers and sisters in Rwanda that to honour my father 60 years after his death.”

“It was not possible to do so before the advent of the RPF government in Rwanda. I also want to Thank God for the excellent and brotherly relations that exist between our two countries Uganda and Rwanda,” Kutesa said adding that he his father had commitment and passion for spiritual revival.

Also the wife of Kyamuhangire late Elisabeth Kyozaire, William Nagenda and his wife, Rev. Musajaakawa, Yoweli Rutamwebwa, Abaishemwe, Mishakye Kikundo, Thomas Kabaho, Zabroni Rutafa Elimiya Kagyendagura, and Yeremiya Kagyendagura and others were honoured at the memorial event.

The function was attended by senior Rwandan and Ugandan politicians.

{{German media has reported that war crimes trial of Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, President and 1 Vice President of FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), could reportedly continue.}}

The challenge for bias against the defense of the senate at the German based Stuttgart Higher Regional Court in connection with the handing over of evidence to the UN, which had caused a disruption of the hearing had been denied and the trial may resume.

Musoni’s passport though long since expired – should be introduced as evidence, as the exhibit of rough diamonds from Musoni.

Concerns of rough diamond have been found during the search warrant for Musoni’s arrest in November 2009.

Its alleged Musoni in 2000, was at the time of founding of the FDLR in DR-Congo and in Zambia. The envelopes found with rough diamonds would come from Zambia, not from the DR-Congo.

German based media reported Straton Musoni, accused before the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart, worked from 2005 to July 2008 as a computer expert in the Ministry of Justice of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

He was noticed in security checks only when the FDLR militia became a topic in German media. A year later, on 12 July 2009, he boasted himself to have used the office service telephone for FDLR activities.

“I’m a real daredevil,” says Musoni on 12 June 2009 during a conversation with another exiled Rwandan. The intercepted telephone conversation was submitted as evidence in the ongoing trial against FDLR President Ignace Musoni and Murwanashyaka before the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart on 13 June.

“You know, it is difficult to use mobile phone,” says Musoni to his friend. “But then why do I have the service telephone? I have used it for two hours … I called on the expensive satellite phone, and the bill was 800 €. How the government pays the bill, I do not know.”

“If one asks about the phone calls, I’ll say: Forgive me. But no one has told me that until I left there, and I know they will not know that, because I know that phone numbers don’t appear in the bills were. You see, a ministry has a bill of 2,000 € and you alone have called for 1,000 €. ”

But don’t play the same game in the next job, advises Musoni’s friend. “It was suicide,” admits Musoni. “Yes, it was suicide,” warns his friend, adding: “If your wife finds out, you divorce …”

{{Just a Day after the US embassy in Nairobi had cautioned Kenyans about an ‘imminent threat’ of a terrorist attack, One person was later killed in an deadly explosion in Mombasa.}}

A police source said the blast happened inside Jericho Beer Garden Bar in Kisauni locality at about 10:00 local time where several were reportedly injured.

Sources said the bar was busy with people watching the quarter-final match between England and Italy in the Euro 2012 football tournament.

A witness told local media that he saw two men and a woman arrive in a car and walk towards the bar and shortly afterwards the blasts occurred as the car sped off.

“At first I thought it was electric transformer nearby which had blown up because it has been having problems. But a few minutes later I heard a second blast and then a third one and realised these were bomb explosions,” he said.

The Kenyan police had earlier arrested two Iranian nationals over suspected links to a terror network that was reportedly planning attacks in Mombasa.

Police also recovered suspected bomb-making material in the capital, Nairobi, on Saturday.

Kenyan security authorities including the US, France’s missions in Nairobi had also warned kenyans to be “extremely vigilant.

US officials had also been told to avoid the area until 1 July.

Meanwhile, people involved in terrorist activities on Kenyan soil risk being jailed for life and their properties seized if a proposed new law is passed.

The new law also provides compensation for terrorist victims. The proposed Compensation of Victims of Terrorism Fund would be funded from disposal of property seized from terrorists as well as fines imposed on those convicted.

However, some Kenyan Legistilators have vowed to reject the proposed law once it is taken to Parliament, but a section of Muslim religious leaders and professionals have supported the proposed law and called for some amendments.

The MPs claim that the Bill is sponsored by western governments. The latest developments come as the American embassy in Nairobi issued a warning of an imminent terrorist attack in Mombasa.

{{Police FC thrashed Marine FC in a tight game that was dominated by the Police side.

The match was a competition for quarter finals qualifications where Marine failed to resisit a thorough beating on an indisputable score of 4-1.}}

Completely dominated in the first half-time of the game, Marine FC was apparently suffocated by the avalanche of three consecutive goals scored by Rivaldo and Kagere Meddy.

In the second half time the Marine team, after pouring water on them while in break, tried their level best and scored their sole goal just to retain their tears for consolation.

Much as they were revived by the oxygen taken in break time, they could not do otherwise better, as Police FC strangled them by 4-1 after Rivaldo added another 4th goal.

When asked to comment on the victory, Goran Kopunovich said he was confident of his boys and that he was expecting even more than what he got as they played on home pitch.

He went on to say that there’s no bad surprise to be envisaged ahead of the race. “We are ready for AS Kigali and we will perform.

The race to the finals is tough but our chance to the cup is not far from our hands”. In all, Police FC scored 9 goals against 2 for Marine FC.

{{China’s state owned media announcement on Monday that the communist power will inject US$43 billion to recapitalise the International Monetary Fund.

This decision cemented China’s image as a responsible country and conformed to national interests, experts said.}}

“The announcement came against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties and mounting financial market turmoil.

“It aims to narrow the IMF’s funding gap and let it play a better role in safeguarding global economic and financial stability,” said He Fan, assistant director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China’s contribution was part of a pledge made by G20 finance ministers in April to increase the financial firepower of the IMF by over US$430 billion in order to shield the world economy from the European financial crisis.

Analysts said China’s decision to boost resources for the IMF offers China a good way to use its rich foreign exchange reserves.

“China’s capital commitment is not free aid. It is actually an investment and a useful foreign reserve management tool,” the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the country’s central bank, said on Tuesday in a statement on its website.

The nation’s foreign exchange reserves stood at US$3,04 trillion by the end of March, the largest in the world.

“It’s the IMF borrowing from China on the basis of guaranteeing safe and reasonable returns,” the statement said.

Ding Zhijie, an economics professor at the University of International Business and Economics, said such pledges can be regarded as a preventative measure or a credit line for the IMF, and the fund may only use a small amount of the pledged money.

For instance, “China promised to buy up to US$50 billion of IMF bills when the fund expanded in 2009, but has so far only purchased US$5,7 billion worth,” Ding said.

As a global intergovernmental organisation, the IMF takes necessary measures to ensure the capital safety of its member countries.

“China’s holdings of IMF bills are safe and with normal interest payments so far,” according to the PBOC statement.

“China’s capital increase to the IMF is line with China’s interests and China’s international status and international responsibility,” the statement said.

Experts and the PBOC called on the IMF to implement its 2010 quota and governance reform package and increase developing countries’ voting power in the financial organisation.

In 2010, the IMF’s Board of Governors agreed to shift over 6 percent of the IMF quota to emerging or under-represented countries by October this year.

{{Although the new French government promised to end France’s post-colonial Françafrique policy, diplomatic relations between France and Rwanda are still a major concern as France remains non commital on the appointement of an ambassador to Rwanda. }}

Rwanda is a major political player in the Great Lakes Region.

The new Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (in photo) said in May, “With Africa we should have a partnership of equal to equal.”

Fabius was responding to querries on how he intended to break with Françafrique, a policy that has become a byword for dubious business and political connections between the former colonial power and Francophone African leaders.

He added that, “We will deal with our African friends in a transparent manner in the hope of having a partnership for development.”

Fabius noted that the continent can expect “considerable growth” in both its population and its economic, “which implies extraordinary potential.”

{{The Rwanda National Police on Wednesday staged check point along the Kigali-Musanze road to search for drug distributors.}}

The operation focused on public transport vehicles, business as well as private cars.

During the three hour long operation no narcotics or any illict stuff was siezed.
However, Superintendent Emmanuel Ngondo, the director of anti-narcotics unit noted that the operations were necessary.

“We perform these exercises randomly or when we have information regarding narcotics being transported which we get from the public,” Superintendent Ngondo said.

Narcotic smugglers and distributors have become smarter and this has required Police to quickly adapt. Using sniffer dogs police are sure to flash out the smartest of drug smugglers.

Supply of drugs in Kigali city is believed to come from Rubavu and Kirehe districts in Western and Eastern provinces respectively.

“That is why our operations focus on the Kigali- Ngoma and Kigali-Rubavu highways,” Superintendent Ngondo added.

During the 16 day Police week activities, such operations were conducted along these routes where 22 narcotics dealers were arrested and more than 20 Kilograms of cannabis confiscated.

{{Imbuto Foundation has today hosted its 17 Youth Forum Series at Serena Hotel Kigali. This year’s Youth Forum, “Navigating Pathways: Lifeline to Success”, focuses on career guidance.}}

The forums form part of the Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Program (YEMP) which continuously engage, educate, and empower Rwandan youth through various activities.

One of the key activities of YEMP is to empower youth to set clear and high goals through the annual Youth Forum Series.

Career Guidance is the first to address the issues most youth face prior to attending university. The forum consisted of 300 participants some of which are high school graduates in their gap year and first year university students.

The forum aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary information and tools to make better and more informed educational and career decisions as they continue on to university.

Imbuto Foundation believes it is imperative for youth to make informed educational and career decisions for their next level of study especially since many youth depend on scholarships and often scholarship restrictions make it difficult to reverse decisions.

Among the student participants were guests such as First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Vincent Biruta, One UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative Mr. Opia Kumah, including representatives from government and university institutions.

In her address to the students Mrs. Jeannette Kagame said, “Career, as you all know, refers to a profession or occupation that one chooses as one’s life calling. Choosing a career is a delicate issue and often a dilemma for young people.”

The Minister if Education, Hon. Dr Vincent Biruta discussed in his address how important internships are for the youth, as skills are not only obtained at university but also through TVET. He encouraged youth the make use of any internship opportunities.

Topics that were covered during the forum were career options, self-discovery, and career paths.

Minister of Youth officially came to close the forum and told the students that they should embrace change and visualize the end, they should plan accordingly.